Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship research and innovation funding programme for 2021–2027, with a total budget of €93.5 billion dedicated to strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, accelerating the green and digital transitions, and tackling major societal challenges.
With the publication of the 2026–2027 Work Programmes, the final and most strategic phase of Horizon Europe is now officially underway unlocking €14 billion in funding opportunities across all pillars.
For innovative companies and research-driven organisations, this represents a decisive moment to position projects, secure partnerships, and access large-scale non-dilutive financing.
What Are the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programmes?
Published on 11 December 2025 and now available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, the 2026–27 Work Programmes define all calls, topics, budgets, and evaluation criteria for the final two years of Horizon Europe.
They cover funding opportunities across:
-
u003cliu003eCollaborative Ru0026amp;D projects u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://leyton.com/be/insights/articles/innovation-and-sustainability/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eInnovationu003c/au003e and scale-up actions u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eResearch infrastructures u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eTalent and researcher mobility u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eEU Missions and strategic initiatives u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eWidening participation and ERA strengthening u003c/liu003e
This phase is particularly competitive, as it concentrates high-impact topics, increased industrial relevance, and strong policy alignment with EU priorities.
What Is the Structure of Horizon Europe and How Do Its 3 Pillars Work?
Pillar I : Excellent Science
Focused on strengthening Europe’s scientific excellence through:
-
u003cliu003eMarie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eResearch Infrastructures u003c/liu003e
Ideal for research-intensive organisations, universities, and R&D-driven companies.
Pillar II : Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness
The core pillar for companies, structured around 6 thematic clusters (health, digital, climate, mobility, food, security).
Designed to fund collaborative, applied R&D with clear industrial and societal impact.
Pillar III : Innovative Europe
Supports:
-
u003cliu003eEuropean Innovation Ecosystemsu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eMarket-oriented innovation u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eEcosystem building and scale-up readiness u003c/liu003e
Horizontal Actions & EU Missions
Including:
-
u003cliu003eWidening Participation u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eERA strengthening u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eMission-driven projects addressing climate, health, mobility, cities, and oceans u003c/liu003e
Who Can Apply to Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe is intentionally broad and inclusive.
Eligible applicants include:
-
u003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eCompanies of all sizesu003c/strongu003e (start-ups, SMEs, mid-caps, large groups)u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eResearch organisations and universitiesu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003ePublic authorities and agenciesu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eNGOs, non-profits and civil society organisationsu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eInternational partnersu003c/strongu003e from associated countries u003c/liu003e
Most calls require consortium-based applications, making partner strategy a critical success factor.
What Types of Funding Exist and Which Costs Are Eligible?
Horizon Europe primarily offers non-dilutive grants, typically awarded through highly competitive calls.
Types of Support:
-
u003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://leyton.com/be/grants/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noreferrer noopeneru0022u003eProject grantsu003c/au003e (Research u0026amp; Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions, CSA) u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eLump-sum funding models, increasingly used to simplify financial managementu003c/liu003e
Eligible Costs Include:
-
u003cliu003ePersonnel and internal resources u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eSubcontracting and external expertiseu003c/liu003eu003cliu003eEquipment and depreciation u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eTravel, dissemination and communication u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eOverheads u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eFinancial support to third parties (for specific actions)u003c/liu003e
Funding rates vary by action type, with up to 100% funding for certain research activities.
Timeline : When Do Calls Open?
-
u003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eWork Programmes adopted:u003c/strongu003e 11 December 2025 u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eCalls opening:u003c/strongu003e Throughout 2026 and 2027 u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eu003cstrongu003eDeadlines:u003c/strongu003e Defined per topic on the Funding u0026amp; Tenders Portal u003c/liu003e
Given the complexity of consortium building and proposal development, early preparation is a decisive advantage.
Why Horizon Europe Matters for Innovative Companies
For companies with strong R&D and innovation ambitions, Horizon Europe enables:
-
u003cliu003eAccess to u003cstrongu003esignificant funding without equity dilutionu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eCollaboration with u003cstrongu003etop European research and industrial partnersu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eReduced risk for early-stage or pre-commercial innovation u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eIncreased u003cstrongu003einternational visibility and credibilityu003c/strongu003e u003c/liu003eu003cliu003eEntry into new European value chains and markets u003c/liu003e
Successfully funded projects also strengthen positioning with investors, customers, and public stakeholders.
Why Choose Leyton?
As Horizon Europe enters its final two years, the programme presents exceptional opportunities for organisations committed to cutting-edge research, sustainable innovation, and cross-border collaboration. With €14 billion still available across a wide array of thematic areas, now is the ideal moment for companies, research institutions, and public bodies to position themselves for success and shape the future of European innovation.
Navigating these opportunities, however, can be complex — from identifying the right calls to preparing competitive proposals and managing awarded projects.
This is where Leyton brings significant added value. Leveraging deep expertise in EU funding mechanisms, strong sector knowledge, and a proven track record in Horizon Europe, Leyton supports organisations throughout the entire process: from strategic alignment and consortium building to proposal drafting, budget optimisation, and post-award project management.
By partnering with Leyton, applicants can increase their chances of success, reduce administrative burden, and maximise the impact of their innovation efforts. As the final phase of Horizon Europe unfolds, Leyton stands ready to help organisations unlock funding, accelerate innovation, and drive meaningful societal and economic outcomes across Europe.