The European Commission has taken a major step towards strengthening the objectives of climate neutrality, AI-supported research and a resilient economy by announcing a comprehensive €14 billion investment package under the Horizon Europe Programme for the 2026–2027 period.
Aiming to reinforce Europe’s strategic goals, the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–2027 seeks to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality, increase the use of artificial intelligence in research and innovation, and support the creation of a more resilient society and economy in a rapidly changing world. This substantial budget aligns with the Commission’s previously defined green and digital transition priorities and aims to generate new momentum in the research and innovation ecosystem.
The new work programme stands out with its horizontal calls, particularly those dedicated to clean industrial solutions and AI in science. While €540 million is allocated to R&I projects supporting clean industry under the “R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal” call, €90 million is foreseen for calls supporting trustworthy and ethical AI applications. For the New European Bauhaus Facility, more than €210 million is allocated to support neighbourhood revitalisation through sustainability and inclusion.
The Commission also places special emphasis on the Choose Europe initiative, designed to make Europe a more attractive destination for researchers worldwide. Under this initiative, €50 million is allocated to the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) to support long-term fellowships, postdoctoral career stability and relocation incentives. An additional €50 million for Research Infrastructures will improve transnational access and training, enabling researchers to benefit from state-of-the-art facilities. Another key component, the European Research Area Chairs (ERA Chairs), foresees €240 million to attract leading scientists to underperforming regions, supporting balanced strengthening of research capacity across Europe.
Horizon Europe, the EU’s €93.5 billion research and innovation programme running from 2021 to 2027, allocates most of its funding through competitive calls for proposals set out in work programmes, which define objectives and specific topic areas. These work programmes also set the standard admissibility conditions, eligibility, and selection and award criteria. The 2026–2027 Work Programme was prepared on the basis of the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027, adopted in March 2024 and co-created with Commission services, Member States, countries associated to Horizon Europe, the European Parliament and more than 2,000 stakeholders and citizens.
All details on the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 calls can be accessed on the European Commission’s official website:
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_3022