Horizon Europe
The programme introduces horizontal calls, fewer topics and stronger support for research talent in Europe
At a glance: the essentials of this article
The European Commission presents the new 2026–2027 Work Programme of Horizon Europe, characterised by significant administrative simplification, fewer topics, new horizontal calls and strengthened support for research talent. The plan prioritises clean industry, artificial intelligence and scientific recruitment, while opening the door to more SMEs and emerging actors.
Horizon Europe is being reorganised. Following the release of the draft documents in July, the European Commission unveiled the new 2026–2027 Work Programme of the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding scheme, designed to boost excellent science, competitiveness, and the green and digital transitions. At the heart of the strategy guiding European investment in research and innovation over the next two years are a reduction in the number of topics, streamlined procedures, reinforced cross-cutting funding lines dedicated to clean industry and artificial intelligence, and expanded support for research careers in Europe.
Among the simplification measures, the document details a shortening of topic descriptions and a 35% cut in their number compared with the 2023–2024 programme, along with a 33% reduction in the programme’s overall length. Brussels is introducing more open, less prescriptive topics, alongside an expanded use of lump-sum funding, which will account for the half of the budget. The number of two-stage calls is also increasing, many of them with blind evaluation in the first stage, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and speeding up the awarding of grants.
The programme also incorporates topics designed to ease the entry of new actors, particularly SMEs, civil society organisations and small public administrations. Some calls will allow third-party funding and make use of the Fast Track to Research and Innovation scheme, with the aim of broadening participant diversity. These measures seek to make participation more accessible in a framework whose scale tends to concentrate demand in certain sectors and experienced organisations.
Further novelties include the creation of horizontal calls connecting different parts of the programme. The first, dedicated to supporting the Clean Industrial Deal, has an indicative budget of €540 million and focuses on the decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries and the development of clean technologies ready for deployment. The second, centred on the application of artificial intelligence in science, allocates around €90 million to networks of excellence, automated scientific discovery and doctoral networks linked to the RAISE pilot.
The plan also advances the Choose Europe for Science initiative, which aims to attract and retain research talent. In this framework, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) assign around €50 million to improving the stability of postdoctoral careers and offering relocation incentives, linking grants to competitions for permanent positions. Other components of the programme provide additional resources to strengthen scientific infrastructures and attract top researchers to institutions in countries with lower R&D capacities.
The MSCA prioritise more stable career paths for postdoctoral researchers, introduce incentives to attract international talent and link grants to selection processes facilitating transitions to permanent positions. They also strengthen knowledge circulation among European institutions.
The programme provides funding to improve transnational access to scientific infrastructures and to reinforce their international dimension. It also contributes to developing the EOSC Federation through FAIR data and services that promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
This section addresses the resilience of health systems, biotechnology, applied artificial intelligence, and the prevention of climate- and environment-related health impacts. It includes actions focused on mental health and solutions to improve the availability of essential medicines.
This part boosts research on democratic participation, social cohesion and the protection of fundamental rights. It introduces a new European partnership dedicated to social transformations, the future of work, essential services and the just transition.
Civil security actions support tools for law-enforcement agencies, the protection of critical infrastructure, risk management and strengthened borders, in line with the ProtectEU and Preparedness Union strategies.
This chapter backs key digital technologies, smart industry and strategic autonomy in space. It connects directly with the horizontal calls on clean industry and AI in science, and collaborates with European industrial partnerships.
The climate and energy section concentrates efforts on mitigation and adaptation, industrial decarbonisation, sustainable mobility and the security of energy supply. It includes large-scale demonstrations of connected and automated mobility, aligned with the industrial roadmap for the automotive sector.
This cluster focuses on food security, ecosystem restoration, water management and the climate transition of resource-based sectors. It supports the implementation of the Nature Restoration Regulation and strategies such as the Water Resilience initiative and the Ocean Pact.
The programme encourages stronger links between innovation actors and boosts the growth of European deep tech. It includes a pilot of Startup and Scaleup Hubs to promote transnational networks with a strong research base.
WIDERA addresses fragmentation in the European Research Area through ERA Chairs, capacity-building programmes and measures to improve the conditions of research careers, in line with Choose Europe for Science.
The EU five missions address climate, health and environmental goals with defined timelines: climate resilience, cancer, restoration of waters and oceans, climate-neutral cities, and soil health. They include local actions, urban climate contracts, living labs and clinical trials.
The initiative promotes innovative solutions combining sustainability, inclusion and urban transformation, with circular models applied to the built environment.
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MFF 2028–2034
This boost aims to consolidate scientific leadership, strengthen competitiveness, and foster a more resilient, inclusive, and innovative Europe
Opinion
Horizon Europe
Camino Correia
Head of European Programmes / Executive Commitee
Publication
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