Horizon Europe
About Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports the creation and better diffusion of excellent knowledge and technologies.
It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimises investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.
Horizon Europe has four main categories for funding: Excellent Science (Pillar 1), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness (Pillar 2), Innovative Europe (Pillar 3) and Widening Participation (focusing on developing countries).
Work Programmes 2026
The European Commission has published the Work Programmes 2026-27 for the final two years of Horizon Europe to help prepare in advance for upcoming calls for proposals. Please click on the below links for a summary of the upcoming Horizon Europe calls in 2026 and 2027:
Pillar I: Excellent Science
Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
- Cluster 1: Health summary sheet [XLSX 29KB]
- Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society summary sheet [XLSX 35.3KB]
- Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society summary sheet [XLSX 28.9KB]
- Cluster 4: Digital Industry and Space summary sheet [XLSX 29.1KB]
- Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility summary sheet [XLSX 34.9KB]
- Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment summary sheet [XLSX 40.2KB]
- Missions summary sheet [XLSX 32.7KB]
- New European Bauhaus summary sheet [XLSX 26KB].
Pillar III: Innovative Europe
Useful documents and links
- Sussex Horizon Europe Cluster Proposal Template with examples and guidance (Part A) [PDF 562.2KB]
- Horizon Europe Overview [1.5MB]
- Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027
- Horizon Europe 2028-2023 Factsheet
- Who should apply
- Support for applicants
- Horizon Dashboard
- Lump sum funding in Horizon Europe
- EU funded projects.
The Funding and Tenders portal is the single entry point for applicants, contractors and experts in funding. All Horizon Europe funding calls and Work Programmes will be published on this portal.
The UK Research Office (UKRO) portal will enable you to obtain tailored EU news and funding; registration is free for Sussex staff members.
Introduction to Horizon Europe 2026
Date: Wed 27 May 2026 and Wed 24 June 2026
Time: 10-11am
Location: Online
Details: Innovate UK will be running a one-hour webinar entitled ‘Introducing Horizon Europe’. The online sessions will be run by Perry Guess (the UK Horizon Europe Cross-Cutting National Contact Point (NCP)), and will provide attendees with an overview of: the structure of Horizon Europe; the types of funding mechanisms; finding funding Calls; understanding Work Programmes and finding partners. The sessions – which are all identical – have been purposefully designed to help if participants have little to no knowledge on Horizon Europe.
ERC Advanced Grant Webinar
Date: Thursday 28 May 2026
Time: 2-3pm
Location: Zoom
Details: Please join Sussex Research Development for an informative session about the ERC Advanced Grant, including hearing from two successful awardees: Tom Baden (Neuroscience) and Anil Seth (Informatics). ERC Advanced Grants are targeted at senior research leaders with a significant track record over the last 10 years. They promote substantial advances in the frontiers of knowledge – in any research discipline – by encouraging new, innovative thinking. Up to €2.5m per grant is available for a maximum of five years. The Call budget for 2026 is expected to result in around 294 awards being made. The Call runs annually and this year’s deadline is 27 August.
If you have any questions about the session please email Lucy Bell l.c.bell@sussex.ac.uk or Shelley Jenkins S.L.Jenkins@sussex.ac.uk
MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 Call Information Webinar
Date: Thursday 18 June 2026
Time: 10am-12pm
Location: Online
Details: The UK National Contact Point for the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is holding an information webinar for organisations and individuals interested in applying to the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call (opening date: 28 May 2026 and deadline: 24 November 2026).
Online COST Info Day 2026
Date: Tuesday 16 June 2026
Time: 10am-11.50am
Location: Online
Details: This online info session is open to all researchers and innovators at any career stage, and from any field of research, especially young researchers. The aim is to inform the research community on how to participate in COST Actions or submit a COST Action proposal, the role and impact of the COST programme, and the benefits of the COST offer.
Slides and recordings from past events
- Eastern Arc European Funding Training Series – Eastern Arc
- Horizon Implementation Day: Finding opportunities and submitting a proposal in Horizon Europe
- New European Bauhaus
- Dissemination and exploitation in Horizon Europe
- ERC Grants: What to Expect in 2026 Calls
- ERC Work Programme 2026
- ERC Consolidator Grant 2026
- ERC Plus Grants
- European Research and Innovation
- Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe: How does it work? How to write a proposal?
- The Gender Equality Plan eligibility criterion in Horizon Europe: Who is concerned? How to comply with it?
National Contact Point (NCP) help and support
The network of National Contact Points (NCP) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. You can find the relevant NCP on this page (select ‘Associated Countries’ > ‘United Kingdom’).
The NCPs are appointed by the UK government to give you impartial advice on Horizon Europe. Their service is free to use.
Each team member has expert knowledge in a specific area of funding. Contact your NCP expert for help with any aspect of Horizon Europe. For example:
- choosing funding opportunities
- finding partners
- preparing your proposal
- applying
- liaising with the European Commission on the scope of projects
- administrative procedures
- contractual issues.