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Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU's funding programme for research and innovation for 2021-2027, with a total budget of €95.5 billion. The UK is an Associated Country which means York researchers can apply, lead consortia, and receive European Commission funding on the same terms as researchers in EU Member States.

The programme is now in its final phase with the 2026-27 Work Programmes, which are the last of the current framework, adopted in December 2025.

How Horizon Europe is structured

Horizon Europe comprises three Pillars and a cross-cutting programme to widen participation and strengthen the European Research Area (HE structure). It also includes the EU Missions that are portfolios of projects addressing global challenges:

  • Pillar 1 Excellent Science: European Research Council grants, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and research infrastructures;
  • Pillar 2 Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: collaborative research organised in six thematic clusters: Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment;
  • Pillar 3 Innovative Europe; the European Innovation Council, European innovation ecosystems, and the EIT;
  • EU Missions; and
  • Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area.

Participation is not limited to European and Associated Countries and there are opportunities for international partners, including funded participation for many low- and middle-income countries.

Current opportunities: the 2026-27 Work Programmes

The European Commission adopted the main 2026-27 Work Programme in December 2025, with a budget of €14 billion. The first calls opened on 16 December 2025, with further deadlines running through 2026 and 2027.

Features of the final Work Programmes include:

  • New cross-cutting "horizontal" calls, including a €540 million call supporting the Clean Industrial Deal and an AI in Science call (indicative budget around €90 million);
  • At least 35% of funding directed to climate objectives;
  • An expanded Choose Europe for Science initiative, including around €50 million under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions; and
  • Continuing annual cycles for the European Research Council and European Innovation Council, alongside the six Pillar 2 cluster calls and the Missions Work Programme.

Find open and forthcoming calls on the Funding & Tenders portal and the full call texts in the Work Programme reference documents.

Applying from York

Everything you need for an application, where to get help, University identifiers (including our PIC number), track record and key facts, priming funds, open access requirements, and arrangements for awards funded under the UK guarantee is on our Information for York applicants page.

What comes next: the successor programme (2028-2034)

The European Commission has proposed the next Framework Programme, which will keep the Horizon Europe name and run from 2028 to 2034 with a proposed budget of €175 billion. Negotiations are ongoing and UK participation is subject to future UK-EU agreement.

Further Information

Resources