The European Commission has approved the new Horizon Europe 2026-2027 work programme. This means that a budget of € 14 billion will be made available during this period to support research and innovation that contribute to the EU’s strategic objectives. Several new elements have also been introduced within the programme.

EU strategic objectives

The European Union has defined a number of long-term objectives, to which the Horizon Europe programme actively contributes. These objectives include:

• Achieving climate neutrality;
• Stimulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in research and innovation;
• Ensuring resilience in a rapidly changing world.

The various calls launched under the Horizon Europe programme support these ambitions by attracting global talent and driving innovation across Europe.

New elements within Horizon Europe 2026–2027

A new component has been introduced within the programme: horizontal calls. These calls address cross-cutting challenges that span multiple research and innovation (R&I) domains.

One of these horizontal calls, R&I in support of the Clean Industrial Deal, will allocate € 540 million to accelerate the market uptake of advanced clean technologies and carbon-free industrial solutions. In addition, € 90 million will be made available under the AI in Science call to support the development of trustworthy AI applications across various sectors, including advanced materials, agriculture and healthcare.

Furthermore, through the New European Bauhaus facility, a funding instrument aimed at fostering innovation and scaling up neighbourhoods and communities, € 210 million will be allocated to address a range of overarching EU challenges, with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusion.

Attracting and nurturing talent

Another key pillar of the work programme is the Choose Europe initiative, which aims to attract talent from around the world. To support this ambition, € 50 million will be allocated to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, enabling researchers to build impactful careers in Europe.

In addition, € 50 million will be invested in research infrastructures, while € 240 million will be made available to attract leading scientists to less-developed regions.

A simplified work programme for 2026–2027

Alongside the new content, several administrative changes have been introduced to simplify the programme and reduce the administrative burden for applicants and participants. For example, the new work programme is significantly shorter and focuses on fewer large-scale projects in order to maximise impact. This also makes it easier for newcomers and smaller organisations to participate.

Many topics will also follow a two-stage evaluation process, allowing applicants to first submit a short proposal and only prepare a full application if the project is successful in the initial round.

Support with your Horizon Europe application?

Curious to know whether you may be eligible for Horizon Europe 2026–2027 funding? Our specialists are happy to explore your funding opportunities. Contact us via info@hezelburcht.com or call us on 088 495 20 00 to schedule a meeting. You can also complete the contact form, and we will get in touch.

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