Horizon 2020 is divided into three pillars:

Excellent science - includes the following programs: European Research Council (ERC; personal grant), Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions (MSCA; personal mobility fellowship), Future and Emerging Technologies (FET; consortium grant), and Research infrastructures (RI; consortium grant). These programs are built on a bottom-up approach, where the applicant suggests the research idea.

Industrial leadership -

Societal challenges - This pillar contains calls designed to approach problems Europe is facing at present or is expected to face in the near future. These calls are built on a top-down approach. Topics include: Health, demographic change and wellbeing; Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine and maritime and inland water research; Secure, clean and efficient energy; Smart, green and integrated transport; Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; Europe in a changing world - inclusive, innovative and reflective Societies; Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens. All calls in this program require the application of consortiums with members from at least three EU/associated countries.

Apart from these, there are the following programs:

Spreading excellence

Science with and for society

EIT

JRC

EURATOM - (Israel is not elligible)