Participation in Horizon Europe

Who can participate?

Legal entities from an EU Member State, an Associated Country or a Third Country (countries that are neither members nor contracting parties to the EU). In collaborative research projects, a consortium must consist of at least three independent institutions from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. 
In Horizon Europe, a consortium must consist of at least three independent institutions from at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries (‘3-from-3 rule’). At least one partner must come from an EU Member State.

The European Commission provides an up-to-date list of Eligible Countries on its website:
European Commission list of Eligible Countries

The overview lists all countries outside the EU that are eligible for funding from the Research Framework Programme. You can find the latest version on the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal (see link above).

It also shows which third countries will soon conclude an association agreement with Horizon Europe and are therefore eligible for funding. Transitional arrangements may apply until the association agreements take legal effect, either through provisional application or entry into force, if provided for in the relevant Horizon Europe work programme.  

Are there any special conditions for Third-Country participation?

Partners from Third Countries can participate in Horizon Europe projects together with institutions from EU Member States and Associated Countries. In some cases, calls for proposals even explicitly provide for the involvement of non-European partners. The framework programme is therefore open to researchers and innovators worldwide.

Horizon Europe distinguishes between low- and middle-income countries and other countries. Low-income third countries are automatically eligible for funding under Horizon Europe. A list of these Eligible Third Countries can be found on p. 3 ff. of the European Commission's portal.

All other Third Countries are generally not eligible, unless explicitly mentioned in the work programme or unless the granting authority considers that their participation as beneficiaries is essential for the implementation of the project, e.g. in terms of outstanding competence or expertise, access to special research infrastructure, access to a specific geographical environment or to specific data.

Can individual applicants receive funding?

Individual applicants can receive funding for the following measures and programmes:

• The European Research Council (ERC) promotes excellence in research and it supports frontier research projects in different funding lines for the appropriate career level (from 2 years after the doctorate): ERC grants, such as Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants and Advanced Grants;
• Coordination and Support Actions (CSA measures) from the ERC budget;
• Individual Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for researcher mobility and career development;
• EIC Transition, EIC Accelerator, EIC Prizes

Good to know: If your EU consortium includes at least one partner from Bavaria, BayFOR will provide you with free support!

Contact at BayFOR