The European Commission has officially released the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme, marking a major investment of €14 billion to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation landscape. This final programme of the 2021–2027 cycle places strong emphasis on climate neutrality, trustworthy artificial intelligence, sustainable and inclusive urban development, and resilient innovation ecosystems across the EU.
One of the most significant developments in this edition is the introduction of horizontal calls, designed to tackle challenges that cut across sectors and disciplines. These include:
- €540 million for R&I supporting the Clean Industrial Deal, targeting decarbonisation in energy-intensive industries and market-ready clean technologies.
- €90 million for AI in science, supporting safe and ethical AI applications in fields such as healthcare, materials science, and agriculture.
- more than €210 million for the New European Bauhaus Facility, focused on sustainable and socially inclusive neighbourhood transformation.
Additionally, the 2026–2027 programme further expands the Choose Europe initiative, which aims to attract top global talent and strengthen Europe’s position as a hub for scientific excellence. Investments include:
- €50 million for Marie Skłodowska–Curie Actions to support long-term fellowships and researcher mobility
- €50 million for research infrastructures to improve cross-border access and training
- €240 million for ERA Chairs to draw outstanding scientists to underperforming regions
- new support for innovation ecosystems, including European Startup and Scaleup Hubs.
We have listened to researchers and innovators and made Horizon Europe simpler and more accessible to SMEs, start-ups and newcomers. We are also expanding Choose Europe and making our continent even more attractive to researchers and innovators worldwide.
We will unpack the new Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ Work Programmes during the upcoming Project Matchmaking and Training Lab, organised in partnership with the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) in January 2026.
To access the full Work Programme, visit the European Commission’s website here.
