Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme: What Applicants Need to Know

The European Commission has published the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme, defining the research and innovation priorities and funding opportunities for the coming years of the Horizon Europe framework. With €14 billion available across a wide range of thematic areas. the programme represents one of the largest EU research and innovation funding opportunities for organisations across Europe and beyond.

Strategic priorities of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027

The new Work Programme continues to support research and innovation contributing to a more sustainable, resilient and competitive Europe. It places particular emphasis on strengthening research careers, advancing research infrastructures, and ensuring clearer alignment with overarching EU policy objectives.

In parallel, the European Commission has reinforced measures aimed at simplifying application procedures and streamlining evaluation processes, responding to long-standing feedback from applicants and stakeholders.

Key strategic objectives include:

Advancing the green and digital transitions
Strengthening research careers and talent development
Investing in world-class research infrastructures
Improving alignment between research projects and EU policy objectives
Simplifying application and evaluation procedures for applicants

As the final phase of Horizon Europe (2021–2027), this Work Programme places a strong focus on delivery, impact and implementation.

Horizon Europe 2026–2027 funding opportunities

The Work Programme covers a broad range of thematic areas, offering opportunities for universities, research organisations, industry, SMEs, public authorities and non-profit organisations. Key funding areas include:

Core Horizon Europe pillars and actions

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – supporting researcher mobility and career development
Research Infrastructures – strengthening Europe’s research capacity
Health – addressing major societal and healthcare challenges
Digital, Industry and Space – supporting technological leadership
Climate, Energy and Mobility – enabling climate neutrality and sustainable transport
Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources and Environment – promoting sustainability.

Horizontal and policy-driven initiatives

Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
EU Missions addressing climate, health and societal challenges
Horizontal activities linked to the Clean Industrial Deal, artificial intelligence and other strategic EU initiatives.

This broad scope allows organisations from diverse sectors to engage with Horizon Europe, whether through collaborative research projects, individual fellowships or innovation-driven actions.

Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027

Preparing for Horizon Europe calls 2026–2027

Organisations planning to apply for Horizon Europe funding in 2026–2027 should begin preparations early. Key success factors include:

Identifying the most relevant Horizon Europe calls
Developing project concepts aligned with expected impacts
Building strong and balanced international consortia
Ensuring coherence with EU policy priorities and implementation pathways.

How Innovayt supports Horizon Europe applicants

Innovayt provides comprehensive support across the entire Horizon Europe project lifecycle, from call analysis and consortium building to proposal strategy development and full proposal writing. Our team helps organisations position their projects strategically within the Horizon Europe Work Programme and respond effectively to evaluation criteria.

If you are interested in Horizon Europe funding and would like to discuss how to best position your project for upcoming calls, our team is ready to support you.

For further information on the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Work Programme and its funding opportunities, please check the following link

If you would like to know more about the Horizon Europe programme and its different elements, you can also check the following information.