EU Programme · 2021–2027

Horizon Europe funding

Horizon Europe

The largest EU research and innovation programme. Funds collaborative R&D, breakthrough innovation, and research infrastructure across all scientific disciplines.

Budget: €95.5 billionPeriod: 2021–2027
Browse 1+ open Horizon Europe callsOfficial European Commission page ↗

Part of our complete EU funding guide.

Open Horizon Europe calls

Live from our database. Updated daily from official sources.

See all 1 open calls →

Who Horizon Europe is for

Typical eligible applicant profiles. Each guide links through to open calls and eligibility notes.

How to apply

The standard EU funding process. Each Horizon Europe call publishes its own detailed requirements.

  1. 1

    Find open calls that match your profile

    Search by country, sector, applicant type, and deadline. EU funding is published across dozens of portals, so consolidation saves significant time.

  2. 2

    Check eligibility before investing effort

    Review applicant mode (single vs consortium), entity type requirements, geographic restrictions, and co-financing obligations. Disqualify early to protect team bandwidth.

  3. 3

    Build your consortium if required

    Many Horizon Europe calls require partners from multiple EU countries. Identify complementary organisations early — consortium formation often takes longer than proposal writing.

  4. 4

    Write and submit your proposal

    Follow the call documentation precisely. Most EU proposals require a work plan, budget breakdown, impact statement, and consortium description. Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

  5. 5

    Evaluation and grant agreement

    Proposals are evaluated by independent experts against published criteria. Successful applicants negotiate a grant agreement that defines deliverables, reporting, and payment schedule.

Common questions

What does Horizon Europe fund?

Horizon Europe funds collaborative research, breakthrough innovation, and research infrastructure across three pillars: Excellent Science (ERC, MSCA), Global Challenges (health, climate, digital, food, security), and Innovative Europe (EIC, European Innovation Ecosystems). Most calls require a consortium spanning multiple EU or associated countries.

How much funding can a single Horizon Europe project receive?

Award sizes vary by call type. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) typically award €3–10M per consortium project. Innovation Actions (IA) often reach €5–15M. ERC grants for individual researchers range from €1.5M (Starting) to €2.5M (Advanced). MSCA fellowships fund individual researchers for up to 24–36 months.

Do I need a consortium to apply for Horizon Europe?

Most collaborative calls require a minimum of three independent legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries. Exceptions include ERC grants (single principal investigator), MSCA individual fellowships, and some EIC actions, which accept single applicants.

What is the success rate for Horizon Europe calls?

Average success rates sit around 10–15% for collaborative R&I calls, with some thematic clusters dropping below 8%. ERC grants typically run 12–14% success. Strong evaluation scores (≥13/15) and a coherent consortium narrative are the main differentiators.

Can UK organisations participate in Horizon Europe?

Yes. The UK is an associated country to Horizon Europe under the post-Brexit agreement, so UK entities participate as full beneficiaries in most calls and receive Commission funding directly. Some sensitive technology areas (e.g. EIC Accelerator equity) remain restricted.

How long does the Horizon Europe application process take?

From call publication to grant agreement signature, expect 8–12 months: 3–4 months proposal preparation, 5 months evaluation, then 2–3 months for grant agreement negotiation. Most calls open once per year on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Other EU programmes

Start tracking Horizon Europe calls today

One workflow for monitoring, qualifying, and shortlisting Horizon Europe opportunities.

Browse open callsSee pricing