The Commission is investing over €7.3 billion through its Horizon Europe programme to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation engine and enhance competitiveness.
This is aimed at driving cutting-edge science, accelerating the EU’s green and digital transitions, and enhancing Europe’s competitiveness.
The programme will help attract and retain top researchers in Europe and offer targeted support to those affected by war and displacement.
As part of these efforts, the Commission is updating the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 2023-25 work programme part to offer more support for Ukrainian scientists and to launch a new MSCA ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot, which will offer more support and opportunities for early-career researchers, including competitive allowances and longer contracts. This pilot is part of a €500 million package for 2025–2027 and the wider ‘Choose Europe’ initiative to make Europe a magnet for researchers, presented by President von der Leyen last week.
The work programme allocates 35% of the budget to climate action and 8.8% to biodiversity. This includes €1.14 billion for climate, energy and transport projects, and €833 million for food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. 36% of its Horizon Europe funding supports the digital transition, with €1.6 billion earmarked for artificial intelligence development.
The Commission has started a simplification effort with the 2025 work programme to make it more accessible and user-friendly. Where appropriate, wider use of simplified cost options, such as lump sum grants, removes unnecessary financial reporting requirements for beneficiaries. 29 two-stage topics will allow applicants to first submit shorter proposals and only prepare full proposals if selected for the second stage. This will reduce the administrative burden for applicants.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s €93.5 billion research and innovation programme running from 2021 to 2027. Most of the programme’s funding is allocated based on competitive calls for proposals, set out in work programmes which outline the objectives and specific topic areas. The work programme also includes the applicable rules such as the standard admissibility conditions and eligibility criteria, selection and award criteria.
Funding & Tenders portal – funding opportunities
