Daily edition ·
EU Research Funding Calls Worth Preparing For
This collection spans demonstration projects in bioenergy and social innovation, frontier research consolidation grants, place-based mission experimentation, and cybersecurity deployment for small and medium enterprises. Researchers and research offices working across Horizon Europe, the European Research Council, and Digital Europe will find distinct preparation angles for each opportunity.
HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
Demonstration of solid biofuel supply and conversion to high efficiency CHP from fully sustainable regional value chains
Open Closes on 32 days left
Indicative budget: around EUR 6.8 million per grant, about 2 grants expected (2026).
This Innovation Action targets the demonstration of fully sustainable regional bioenergy value chains that convert locally sourced solid biofuels from upgraded biogenic residues and wastes into high efficiency combined heat and power. It directly supports EU climate and energy targets while creating opportunities for small and medium enterprises and strengthening European competitiveness in the bioenergy sector. The emphasis on regional sourcing and compliance with the Renewable Energy Directive makes it especially relevant for consortia that can mobilize local biomass supply networks.
Preparation step. Map out a concrete regional value chain, from the sourcing of biogenic residues and wastes through upgrading and conversion in a high efficiency combined heat and power plant, ensuring every link aligns with the provisions of the Renewable Energy Directive and demonstrating tangible benefits for local industries and small and medium enterprises.
HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
Structurally addressing homelessness through coordinated social infrastructure and services in neighbourhoods
Open Closes on 32 days left
Indicative budget: around EUR 3.5 million per grant, about 3 grants expected (2026).
Homelessness affects over 1.2 million people in Europe, and nearly half of surveyed homeless individuals face chronic homelessness lasting more than two years. This Innovation Action goes beyond housing-led approaches by demanding systemic interventions in social infrastructure and services at the neighbourhood level. It seeks to produce evidence that stakeholders can use to structurally address the multidimensional causes of homelessness.
Preparation step. Identify specific neighbourhoods where coordinated social infrastructure and services can be demonstrated, and begin engaging local stakeholders (municipal authorities, social service providers, community organizations) who can contribute evidence on the structural causes of homelessness in those areas.
HORIZON-ERC HORIZON ERC Grants
ERC Consolidator Grant
Open Closes on 74 days left
The European Research Council Consolidator Grant is designed for excellent Principal Investigators who are consolidating an independent research team or programme, requiring demonstrated evidence of research independence. It offers funding for up to 60 months, with the possibility of requesting additional funding when justified by the proposed work. This makes it a substantial instrument for researchers at a pivotal career stage seeking to deepen and expand a distinctive line of inquiry.
Preparation step. Prepare a compelling narrative that clearly documents your track record of research independence, and if your proposed work requires resources beyond the standard grant ceiling, draft a detailed justification for the additional funding request well before the deadline.
HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
Demonstrating place-based experimentation and innovation spaces as enabling environments for scaling EU Missions
Open Closes on 75 days left
Indicative budget: EUR 1.0 to 1.5 million per grant, about 3 grants expected (2026).
This Innovation Action serves as a strategic instrument for the transition of EU Missions into their scaling phase, focused on wider deployment of mission-relevant solutions across territories. It calls on countries, regions, and interregional partnerships to design governance frameworks, regulatory experimentation, and innovative public-public and public-private collaboration models. The emphasis on turning analytical insights into territorial experimentation and replicable best practices distinguishes it from purely research-oriented calls.
Preparation step. Begin assembling a coalition of territorial actors (regional governments, interregional partnerships, public agencies) that can credibly demonstrate multi-layered governance and regulatory experimentation, and outline how your proposed enabling environment will translate novel solutions into practices replicable across multiple EU funding instruments.
DIGITAL-JU-SME DIGITAL JU SME Support Actions
Strengthening cybersecurity capacities of European SMEs with cybersecure AI-powered solutions
Open Closes on 76 days left
Indicative budget: EUR 3.0 to 5.0 million per grant, about 5 grants expected (2026).
This Digital Europe action focuses on strengthening the cybersecurity posture of European small and medium enterprises through the deployment of market-ready, AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. It covers a broad scope: preparing, protecting, and responding to cybersecurity threats while also integrating trustworthy AI into cybersecurity processes. The call explicitly encourages uptake of results from EU-supported research and innovation projects, linking prior Horizon Europe outputs to real-world deployment.
Preparation step. Survey existing AI-powered cybersecurity tools, particularly those developed under EU-supported research and innovation projects, and design a deployment plan that shows how these solutions will be integrated into SME cybersecurity processes, including employee training on the use of AI for threat detection and response.