Horizon Europe
EU's primary research and innovation funding programme with a budget of 95.5 billion euros for 2021-2027, funding collaborative research, ERC grants, innovation, and global partnerships.
Overview
Horizon Europe is the European Union's flagship research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, with a budget of 95.5 billion euros, making it the world's largest multilateral research funding programme. It succeeds Horizon 2020 and is structured around three pillars: Excellent Science (including European Research Council grants and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness (collaborative research in health, culture, climate, energy, mobility, food, and digital sectors), and Innovative Europe (European Innovation Council for breakthrough innovations and European Institute of Innovation and Technology). Research missions and partnerships complete the programme architecture.
What You Can Find Here
- European Research Council (ERC) grants - Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, and Synergy grants for frontier research
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) - fellowships, doctoral networks, and staff exchanges for researchers
- Collaborative research projects in health (ECSEL, cancer mission), climate, energy, mobility, food, and digital sectors
- European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder - grants for breakthrough deep tech research up to 4 million euros
- EIC Accelerator - blended finance (grant + equity) for high-growth innovative SMEs up to 17.5 million euros
- Research infrastructure grants and European Open Science Cloud projects
- Widening participation grants for countries with lower research and innovation performance
- Global partnerships with associated countries and international cooperation calls
Who Should Use This
- Researchers at European universities and research institutes applying for ERC or MSCA individual grants
- University and research institute consortia building collaborative projects in Horizon Europe's thematic clusters
- Deep tech startups and SMEs applying for EIC Pathfinder or EIC Accelerator funding
- Established technology companies as industrial partners in collaborative research consortia
- Organisations from associated countries (including UK, Switzerland, Israel, Norway, and others) applying on same terms as EU
- Research managers and project officers building large research consortia and coordinating applications
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Visit ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders and search for Horizon Europe open calls
- Step 2: Identify the relevant work programme: ERC, MSCA, Pillar 2 cluster, EIC, or other scheme
- Step 3: Read the full call text - it specifies topic, eligibility, consortium requirements, budget, and evaluation criteria
- Step 4: Register on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and obtain a PIC number for your organisation
- Step 5: Build a consortium meeting the minimum requirement (typically 3 legal entities from 3 different member/associated states for collaborative projects)
- Step 6: Prepare the full proposal in the portal's submission system and submit before the deadline
Things to Check Before Applying
- Standard collaborative projects require at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU member or associated countries
- EIC Accelerator grants are for SMEs only - large companies cannot apply as lead (only as collaborators in other schemes)
- Funding rates are standardised: research institutions and SMEs receive 100% of eligible costs; other entities receive 70%
- ERC grants are for individual researchers affiliated with EU or associated country institutions - the PI's institution is key
- Horizon Europe work programmes are published annually - always check the current work programme for open topics and deadlines
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the EIC Accelerator and how much can I get?
EIC Accelerator provides blended finance to innovative high-growth SMEs: up to 2.5 million euros as a grant and up to 15 million euros as equity investment (total up to 17.5 million euros). It targets breakthrough innovations with significant market potential.
Can UK organisations participate in Horizon Europe?
The UK became an associated country to Horizon Europe in 2024. UK organisations can now participate and receive Horizon Europe funding on the same terms as EU member state organisations.
What is the success rate for Horizon Europe proposals?
Horizon Europe is highly competitive. Collaborative project success rates are typically 10-15%. ERC success rates vary by scheme: ERC Starting Grants around 13-15%, Advanced Grants around 12-14%.
What is MSCA and who can apply?
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions fund researcher mobility and training. Individual Fellowships (now MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships) are for experienced researchers moving between countries. Doctoral Networks fund PhD programs. Applicants can be from any country globally.
How long does Horizon Europe project approval take?
From submission to grant agreement signature typically takes 6-9 months. EIC Accelerator has a two-step process (short application + full proposal + interview) taking up to 12 months.
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