The European Commission has announced an additional funding boost of €500 million for the Horizon Europe work programme for the years 2026 and 2027. This significant increase brings the overall budget for the two-year period to approximately €14.8 billion. Among the newly allocated funds, €237 million is earmarked for research and innovation initiatives focused on biodiversity, while €260 million is designated for projects aimed at bridging the current Horizon Europe opportunities with the future European research and competitiveness framework.
In a bid to enhance the existing research programmes, the Commission has introduced two transversal calls for proposals: one focused on biodiversity and advanced technologies, and the other on preparation for the future research framework. This adjustment shifts funding priorities ahead of the conclusion of the current Horizon Europe period.
The first call, titled „Transformative Change Towards a Nature-Positive Economy and Society,” comes with a budget of €237 million. It seeks to fund 11 research and innovation actions that contribute to a more nature-friendly economy. The Commission aims to direct 10% of the expenses outlined in its strategic plan for Horizon Europe (2025-2027) towards biodiversity. These funded projects are intended to transform economic models to align with nature restoration efforts while simultaneously enhancing competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy in Europe. This initiative is connected to various existing European undertakings, such as the Ocean Pact and the EU Ocean Eye.
The second call, known as „Bridging Actions 2027,” allocates €260 million and is constructed with the goal of preparing for the next European research and innovation programme spanning 2028 to 2034, while also establishing a connection with the future European Fund for Competitiveness. This call introduces the concept of an „innovation to investment journey,” which aims to expedite the process of transforming research results into market-ready products. The €260 million will support 16 actions rather than a single project, covering diverse sectors.
Key areas of focus include next-generation AI-based digital platforms for a more accessible and sustainable European energy system, skills enhancement for innovative SMEs, and research infrastructures capable of retaining talent in Europe. Notably, one of the initiatives is the EU AI Media Platform, which aims to create a multilingual infrastructure for European media and audiovisual sectors, leveraging AI technologies. However, the budget for this initiative is part of the larger Bridging Actions envelope, which means it isn’t solely dedicated to the media sector.
Additionally, the revised work programme will support the New European Bauhaus Academy, which aims at improving skills in the construction ecosystem to align industrial transformation with innovation objectives.
These funding measures come at a critical juncture as the Horizon Europe programme, which spans from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of €93.5 billion, enters its final two years. Earlier reports from the Commission indicate that around €61 billion has been invested in grants, impacting nearly 23,000 projects that involve over 34,000 organizations—primarily universities and research centers.
Highly innovative companies have received over €11 billion in funding through this initiative, contributing to the publication of more than 32,300 peer-reviewed articles and supporting over 151,000 early-career researchers, including doctoral and postdoctoral candidates. Moreover, 55% of beneficiaries have participated in Horizon Europe for the first time, indicating a successful outreach to new entities, particularly companies.
Despite these successes, a challenge remains: new beneficiaries tend to participate in only a single project, while experienced organizations often secure funding across multiple projects. This distinction underscores the need for targeted support for newcomers when analyzing overall program data.
For potential applicants interested in the new calls for proposals, this funding announcement signifies a real opportunity to secure support under the current Horizon Europe framework, rather than merely suggesting future possibilities. Detailed information regarding each topic, individual budgets, eligibility requirements, and submission deadlines can be found in the amended documents of the work programme and on the Funding & Tenders Portal.
