Horizon Europe: The New EU Research and Innovation investment programme (2021-2027)
Horizon Europe (HEU) is the European Framework Program for Research and Innovation for the period 2021–2027.
Calls for proposals under the Horizon Europe Framework Program for Research and Innovation are available on the European Commission’s “Funding & Tender Opportunities” portal, which is also the only channel through which proposals can be submitted.
The Horizon Europe program is structured around three main pillars:
- Pillar I – Scientific Excellence: frontier research (ERC), mobility and training (Marie Skłodowska-Curie), and research infrastructures;
- Pillar II – Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness: collaborative projects across six thematic clusters (Health; Culture and Society; Security; Digital and Industry; Climate and Energy; Food and Environment) and the Joint Research Center;
- Pillar III – Innovation Europe: Pioneering Innovations (EIC), Regional and Local Innovation Ecosystems, and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
These are complemented by cross-cutting themes aimed at widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence), as well as the European Missions and a streamlined approach to Partnerships.
Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Effectiveness of Implementation are the three key evaluation criteria. In the event of a tie, the presence of SMEs in the consortium and gender and geographic diversity within the team are considered advantageous factors.
Note: You can become a project evaluator by registering on the F&T Portal as an external expert. Take advantage of this opportunity for professional growth, which will allow you to better understand the evaluation process and meet potential partners as you prepare future successful project proposals.
The ERC promotes cutting-edge research of the highest quality by funding a wide range of projects based solely on the criterion of scientific excellence and driven entirely by the researchers' own initiative (bottom-up).
Starting Grants: 0–10 years of experience since completion of PhD. Funding of 2 million euros for projects with a maximum duration of 5 years (+ an additional contribution for extra costs, if necessary and adequately justified). Approximately 373 proposals to be funded under the ERC-2027-StG Call.
Opening date: 22 July 2026 | Deadline:14 October 2026 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 1: 11 May 2027 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 2: 24 August 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: 22 December 2027
LINK to the Call: EU Funding & Tender Portal
Consolidator Grants: 5-15 years of experience since completion of PhD. Funding of 1.5 million euros for projects with a maximum duration of 5 years (plus an additional contribution for extra costs, if necessary and adequately justified). Approximately 296 proposals to be funded under the ERC-2027-CoG call.
Opening Date: 24 September 2026 | Deadline: 12 january 2027 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 1: 16 July 2027 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 2: 17 December 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: 8 April 2028
Advanced Grants: Funding of 2.5 million euros for projects with a maximum duration of 5 years (plus an additional contribution for extra costs, if necessary and adequately justified). Approximately 294 proposals to be funded under the ERC-2026-AdG call.
Opening: 28 May 2026 | Deadline: 27 August 2026 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 1: 29 January 2027 | Date to Inform Applicants – Step 2: 11 June 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: 16 November 2027
LINK alla Call: EU Funding & Tender Portal
Synergy Grants: It promotes substantial progress at the forefront of knowledge and encourages new lines of research, as well as new methods and techniques. It is intended for groups consisting of a minimum of two and a maximum of four principal investigators.
Through its supplementary Proof of Concept Grant, the ERC supports grantees in exploring the innovative potential of their ideas or research findings.
Finally, starting in 2026, the ERC Plus Grant has been introduced.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) fund the training and career development of researchers at every stage and across all disciplinary fields, promoting their professional growth and competitiveness through international, cross-sectoral, and interdisciplinary mobility.
Doctoral Networks (DN): Designed to support doctoral programs, these initiatives involve the establishment of partnerships between universities, research institutions, and companies. There are three types of Doctoral Networks: Standard Doctoral Networks, Industrial Doctoral Networks, and Joint Doctoral Networks. It is estimated that approximately 130 projects will be funded under the 2026 Call.
Opening Date: 28 May 2026 | Deadline: 24 November 2026 | Date to Inform Applicants: April 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: July 2027
LINK to the Call: Funding & Tender Portal
Postdoctoral Fellowships (PFs): These opportunities are aimed at postdoctoral researchers interested in international or cross-sector mobility experiences, with the goal of opening up new career prospects or returning to Europe. There are two types of postdoctoral fellowships: European Postdoctoral Fellowships and Global Postdoctoral Fellowships.
Opening Date: 9 April 2026 | Deadline: 9 September 2026 | Date to Inform Applicants: February 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: February-May 2027
LINK to Call: Funding & Tender Portal
Staff Exchanges: The Staff Exchanges initiatives aim to support cross-sectoral and international collaboration at the European level through exchanges of high-caliber professionals.
Opening Date: 15 December 2026 | Deadline: 15 aprile 2027 | Date to Inform Applicants: September 2027 | Grant Agreement Signature Date: November 2027
Co-funding of programmes (COFUND): These initiatives aim to support doctoral programs and postdoctoral fellowships that are co-funded at the regional, national, and international levels. The goal is to steer regional, national, and international planning toward excellence in training, mobility, and the professional development of researchers, while promoting better working conditions and research standards.
A new initiative under Horizon Europe, the European Innovation Council (EIC) aims to support the commercialization of high-risk, high-impact technologies in the European Union.
The program’s goal is therefore to guide research from the inception of an idea through the establishment of a company to the commercialization of the final product. It offers three main instruments:
- EIC Pathfinder (based on the FET Open and FET Proactive programs), which supports ambitious collaborative research projects focused on emerging technologies;
- EIC Transition which supports the intermediate phase of startup establishment and product validation;
- EIC Accelerator (based on the SME Instrument program), which is dedicated to highly innovative companies and startups, with the goal of accelerating their growth in European and global markets (scaling up).