Horizon Europe: EU increases 2026–2027 budget by €500 million

The European Commission is providing an additional €500 million for Horizon Europe in 2026 and 2027. This brings the budget of the EU’s research and innovation programme for these two years to around €14.8 billion. At the same time, the Commission is expanding the 2026–2027 work programme with two new cross-cutting calls focusing on areas including biodiversity, artificial intelligence, energy, innovative SMEs and the translation of research results into market-ready innovations.

The additional funding creates new opportunities for universities, research institutions, companies, start-ups and SMEs under Horizon Europe. The Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) supports stakeholders in Bavaria in identifying suitable EU funding opportunities, developing project ideas, building European consortia and preparing competitive Horizon Europe proposals.

Two new cross-cutting calls under Horizon Europe

With the additional funding, the European Commission is expanding the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 with two new cross-cutting calls:

• “Transformative Change Towards a Nature-Positive Economy and Society”, with a budget of €237 million
• “Bridging Actions 2027”, with a total budget of €260 million

The two calls bring together different areas of Horizon Europe and address key strategic challenges facing the European Union.

€237 million for a nature-positive economy and society

The new “Transformative Change Towards a Nature-Positive Economy and Society” call comprises eleven research and innovation actions. They are designed to contribute to the EU’s biodiversity objectives and support the transition towards an economy and society that place greater emphasis on protecting and restoring nature.

The call is also linked to several EU strategies and initiatives, including the European Ocean Pact, the EU Nature Restoration Regulation, the Clean Industrial Deal and the European Water Resilience Strategy.

In this way, the European Commission is strengthening the links between research and innovation in areas such as biodiversity, industrial transformation and sustainable economic development.

Bridging Actions 2027: From research and innovation to investment

A total of €260 million is available for the “Bridging Actions 2027”. The call is also intended to prepare the transition to the EU’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation from 2028 onwards.

A key element is the so-called “Innovation to Investment Journey”. The aim is to translate research results and innovative technologies more effectively into application and scale-up and to connect them with investment. In doing so, the European Commission aims to strengthen the pathway from research and innovation to market deployment.

A total of 16 actions are planned. They address, among other areas, advanced technologies with strong commercial potential. Topics include AI-driven digital platforms, innovative solutions for the European energy system, skills for innovative SMEs and research and technology infrastructures.

The Bridging Actions also establish a link with the proposed Horizon Europe 2028–2034 programme and the future European Competitiveness Fund. The European Commission has proposed a budget of €175 billion for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

When do the new Horizon Europe calls open?

The new funding opportunities will open from October 2026. The individual topics under the two cross-cutting calls have different submission deadlines.

The first topics under “Transformative Change Towards a Nature-Positive Economy and Society” will open on 13 October 2026. Depending on the individual topic, submission deadlines are 14 January, 16 February or 16 September 2027.

The “Bridging Actions 2027” also have several submission deadlines. Depending on the topic, proposals can be submitted until 28 January, 16 February, 18 March or 15 June 2027.

The individual topics, eligibility and funding conditions, deadlines and application documents are available via the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants should check the specific requirements and deadline for the topic relevant to their project.

Further support for the New European Bauhaus

The amended work programme also strengthens support for the New European Bauhaus Academy. Funding will focus in particular on upskilling and reskilling workers in the construction ecosystem.

This will further link EU research and innovation funding with the transformation of Europe’s construction sector and the objectives of the Clean Industrial Deal.

Horizon Europe continues to attract new participants

Alongside the additional funding, the European Commission has published new data on the implementation of Horizon Europe. Since the programme was launched in 2021, around €61 billion in grants and a further €1.3 billion in equity have been invested in nearly 23,000 projects. More than 34,000 organisations are involved, including around 20,000 companies.

The share of new participants is also high: according to the European Commission, 55% of beneficiaries are participating in an EU research and innovation programme for the first time. Around two-thirds of these newcomers are businesses.

These figures underline the importance of Horizon Europe not only for universities and research institutions, but also for companies and innovative SMEs.

Horizon Europe: EU funding for research and innovation

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation. It has a budget of €93.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period and supports international research and innovation projects in areas including health, digitalisation, industry, artificial intelligence, climate, energy, mobility, bioeconomy and the environment.

Specific funding opportunities are defined in the Horizon Europe work programmes. The Work Programme 2026–2027 sets out the calls and funding topics for the final two years of the current programme period.

Are you planning a Horizon Europe proposal?

The Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) advises universities, research institutions, companies, start-ups and SMEs in Bavaria on funding opportunities under Horizon Europe and other European research and innovation programmes.

We support you in assessing your project idea and identifying a suitable call, finding international project partners, building a competitive European consortium and preparing your proposal.

Contact us to find out which EU funding opportunities could be suitable for your research or innovation project.