Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe diagram

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 Draft Work Programmes 2026-27 for the final two years of Horizon Europe to help prepare in advance for upcoming calls for proposals. However, it is important to note that they are provisional documents and may be subject to changes. Please click on the below links for a summary of Clusters under Pillar 2 and 3.

Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Cluster 1: Health summary sheet
Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society summary sheet
Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society summary sheet
Cluster 4: Digital Industry and Space summary sheet
Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility summary sheet
Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment summary sheet.

Pillar III: Innovative Europe

European Innovation Council (EIC) summary sheet

Other Areas

Useful documents and links

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.

Horizon Europe Energy Series – Part 2: How to Write a Competitive Horizon Europe Energy Proposal

Date: Tuesday 17 March 2026
Time: 2pm-3.30pm
Location: Online
Details: This is the second part of a webinar series hosted by Conall McGinley the Horizon Europe UK National Contact Point for Energy & Global Innovation Lead for Energy, to provide a practical, end‑to‑end introduction to developing competitive proposals for Horizon Europe Energy calls under Cluster 5. This webinar guides participants through the full proposal writing process, offering clear structuring advice, impact driven thinking, credible work plan development, and alignment with European Commission requirements. Using practical examples, templates and insights from evaluators, the series shows how to transform an initial idea into a well-designed, fundable Horizon Europe proposal. Find out more.

Introduction To Horizon Europe 2026

Dates: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Times: 10am-11am GMT
Details: This webinar is designed to help those with no or low recent knowledge about Horizon Europe gain an understanding of the opportunities it offers, and the basics about how to explore these opportunities further for yourself.

Horizon Europe Health 2026/27 – Introduction and Overview Session

Date: Wednesday 25 March 2026
Time: 12pm-2.30pm
Location: Online
Details: Join this webinar to gain an understanding of the health research and innovation funding opportunities under Horizon Europe. Delivered by the UK National Contact Points (NCPs) for Horizon Europe Health, this webinar will provide a brief introduction to Horizon Europe, cover the Horizon Europe research and innovation funding opportunities related to Health, including from the Health Work Programme, Cancer Mission, and Health Partnerships. Furthermore, a brief overview of the many Health funding opportunities across the rest of Horizon Europe, including the European Innovation Council (EIC), European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Find out more.

Horizon Europe Cluster 2 Culture, creativity and inclusive society

Date: Thursday 26 March 2026
Time: 8.30am-5pm GMT
Details: This cluster aims to meet EU goals and priorities on enhancing democratic governance and citizens’ participation, on the safeguarding and promotion of cultural heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), and on to responding to and shaping multifaceted social, economic, technological and cultural transformations.