Horizon Europe Framework Programme

The budget includes €5.4 billion from NextGenerationEU to boost the European recovery and make the EU more resilient for the future, as well as an additional reinforcement of €4.5 billion. It represents a 30% increase vis-à-vis Horizon 2020 (for EU27 and in constant prices) and makes it the most ambitious research and innovation programme in the world.

It is expected to be ‘the main tool to strengthen our scientific and technological base, develop solutions for healthier living, drive digital transformation and fight climate change, for our collective resilience’ as highlighted by the

 The key goals

• to strengthen the EU’s scientific and technological bases
• to boost Europe’s innovation capacity, competitiveness and jobs
• to deliver on citizens’ priorities and sustain our socio-economic model and values

The EU missions

The EU missions are commitments to solve some of the greatest challenges facing our world like fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting our oceans, living in greener cities and ensuring soil health and food. They will contribute to the goals of the European Green Deal, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

They are an integral part of the Horizon Europe framework programme beginning in 2021. Each mission will operate as a portfolio of actions – such as research projects, policy measures or even legislative initiatives – to achieve a measurable goal that could not be achieved through individual actions.

Association of third countries to Horizon Europe

The association of third countries to Horizon Europe has significantly expanded. As of 2026, 22 non-EU countries are associated with Horizon Europe, allowing their researchers and organisations to participate in the programme under conditions equivalent to those of EU Member States, within the scope of their respective association agreements.

• Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine are associated with Horizon Europe.
• The United Kingdom has been associated with Horizon Europe since 1 January 2024.
• Canada is associated with Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, with retroactive application from 1 January 2024.
• New Zealand is associated with Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, applicable from the 2023 Work Programmes onwards.
• The Republic of Korea became associated with Pillar II in 2025, becoming the first Asian country associated with Horizon Europe.
• Switzerland became associated with Horizon Europe in November 2025, with retroactive application from 1 January 2025.
• Egypt became associated with Horizon Europe in October 2025, with retroactive application from 10 April 2025.
• Negotiations on association have been successfully concluded with Japan and Australia. Transitional arrangements may apply before their respective association agreements formally enter into force. Australia’s association will cover Pillar II.
• Exploratory discussions with India have concluded, while association negotiations with Morocco are currently paused.

For the latest information, consult the European Commission’s regularly updated Association to Horizon Europe – State of Play page.

The official List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe (updated in February 2026) provides detailed information on associated countries, transitional arrangements and eligibility conditions.

Strategic Plan, Work Programme and Calls for proposals

Horizon Europe Strategic Plan

• The first Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021–2024 was adopted in March 2021. It set the strategic orientations for research and innovation investments during the first four years of Horizon Europe.
• The second Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027 was adopted by the European Commission on 20 March 2024. It sets out the key strategic orientations for EU research and innovation funding for the final three years of Horizon Europe.
• The Strategic Plan 2025–2027 focuses on three key strategic orientations: green transition; digital transition; and a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.
• Open strategic autonomy and securing Europe’s leading role in developing and deploying critical technologies are identified as general principles applying across the three strategic orientations.
• The Strategic Plan also identifies nine new European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships, provides an overview of achievements of the EU Missions during their first years, and introduces the New European Bauhaus Facility.

More information and the Strategic Plan 2025–2027 are available on the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Strategic Plan page.

Work Programme

• Horizon Europe is implemented through multiannual Work Programmes setting out the funding opportunities, calls and topics available under the different parts of the programme.
• The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 was adopted by the European Commission on 11 December 2025 and covers the final two years of the current Framework Programme. The 2026–2027 Work Programme includes dedicated sections covering Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Research Infrastructures, the six thematic Clusters, European Innovation Ecosystems, Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area, EU Missions and horizontal activities, as well as the General Annexes.
• The 2026–2027 Work Programme introduces further simplification measures, including shorter and less prescriptive topics, fewer topics, increased use of lump-sum funding, more newcomer- and SME-friendly topics, and greater use of two-stage calls.

The complete Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 and its different sections are available on the European Commission website.

Open Calls for proposals

• Current and forthcoming Horizon Europe calls for proposals are published on the European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal.
• The Portal provides detailed information on each call and topic, including scope, expected outcomes, eligibility conditions, available budget, opening dates and submission deadlines, as well as access to the electronic submission system.

Applicants are advised to consult the Funding & Tenders Portal regularly for the latest call information and updates.