European Commission adopts main Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2026–2027

The European Commission has adopted the main Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2026–2027, setting out €14 billion to support research and innovation in line with the EU’s strategic priorities. The programme focuses on climate neutrality, the uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) in research, and strengthening Europe’s resilience.

A key novelty is the introduction of horizontal calls that tackle cross-cutting challenges. The “R&I in support of the Clean Industrial Deal” call will provide €540 million to speed up the deployment of clean technologies and decarbonised industrial solutions. A dedicated AI in science call, worth €90 million, will fund trustworthy AI applications in areas such as advanced materials, agriculture and healthcare, contributing to the Resource for AI Science in Europe initiative. The New European Bauhaus Facility will invest over €210 million to support sustainable and inclusive neighbourhoods.

The ‘Choose Europe’ initiative will receive €50 million under Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to attract and retain global talent, alongside €50 million for Research Infrastructures and €240 million for European Research Area Chairs. Startups and scaleups will benefit from reinforced European Innovation Ecosystems.

The EC points out that the Work Programme is 33% shorter than its 2023–2024 predecessor and introduces lump-sum funding in half of the calls, two-stage evaluations for 41 topics, and simplified templates to cut red tape and broaden participation, especially for newcomers and SMEs.

For more information:

EC News