Grants

This grant supports advanced manufacturing technologies and machinery aimed at producing key and high-performance products in Europe. The objectives are to increase circular use of secondary raw materials, incorporate innovative advanced materials for better product performance, and enhance resource efficiency in materials and energy. The action is focused on manufacturing components critical to Europe’s competitiveness and technological leadership, especially where dependence on imported materials exists. Solutions may include innovative additive or hybrid manufacturing, photonics, advanced joining, composite manufacturing, surface treatment, lightweight materials, and in-line testing. Proposals must contribute to Europe's industry resilience by increasing circularity, productivity, and competitiveness, and are required to include a business case and exploitation strategy. Battery production is out of scope. International collaboration, especially with Japan or Taiwan, is encouraged.

The grant supports the creation of an interactive, open-source online portal to map and provide access to technology infrastructures across Europe. The platform aims to improve visibility and understanding of technology infrastructure facilities and services, support industrial innovation and product development (especially for SMEs, startups, and scaleups), and foster cooperation and knowledge sharing among technology infrastructure operators and users. The developed portal should contribute to long-term European competitiveness, facilitate transnational and multisite collaboration, and help identify new technology infrastructure needs. Proposals should also plan for communication, dissemination, long-term sustainability, and promote the uptake and use of the portal.

This grant supports small consortia, such as spin-offs, startups, and SMEs, to explore the commercial and market potential of results from ongoing or completed Horizon Europe Cluster 4 'Digital, Industry and Space' or its predecessor activities under Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEIT) of Horizon 2020. The aim is to bridge the gap between knowledge generated in EU research projects and innovations with economic or societal value by enabling activities like demonstrating technology, market analysis, IP consolidation, user testing, and regulatory compliance. Applicants may be either owners of these results or, with proper access agreements, new participants. Proposals must present a pathway to commercialization and include business partners.

This grant aims to generate new information and knowledge to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA) evidence base. Applicants should propose diverse research and innovation activities supporting the design, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of ERA policies and practices in one of six distinct areas, including open science, research ethics, gender equality, gender-responsive budgeting, research careers, and international research talent flows.

This grant supports effective and sustainable structural changes within research and innovation (R&I) organisations aligned with the priorities of the European Research Area (ERA). Through cascading grants, it enables capacity-building activities, development of open access publishing models, research assessment reforms, inclusive practices, and the recognition of diverse research outputs. Proposals must choose between supporting non-profit open access publishing (Area 1) or institutional reforms for research assessment (Area 2), with broad geographical and disciplinary inclusivity and gender equality promoted throughout.

This grant aims to strengthen citizen engagement, participation, and science communication within research and innovation (R&I) by supporting projects that connect R&I with citizens and societal stakeholders. The scope is to increase trust in science, align R&I with society’s needs, expectations and values, and enhance the democratic nature and impact of science in the European Research Area (ERA). Projects must select and clearly identify one of two specific areas: enhancing democratic governance through citizen science or developing guiding principles for inclusive engagement in R&I. Activities should reach broad and diverse communities and support inclusivity, accessibility, and gender equality. Project duration is expected to be up to 3 years.

This grant supports sustainable structural institutional changes in Research and Innovation (R&I) organizations, advancing the adoption of European Research Area (ERA) policies and practices. It funds capacity-building and mutual learning activities—tools, resources, training, recommendations, and good practice sharing—to promote ethics, equity, inclusiveness, and openness in the ERA. Applicants select one of four areas: ethics and integrity in the digital era; gender equality and inclusivity; equity and inclusion in open science; and improving quality, efficiency, and equity in peer-review for publishing.

The European Citizens' Hackathon Championship aims to foster stronger translation of research and innovation results into society and the economy by upscaling knowledge valorisation capacities. The initiative brings together researchers, citizens, and various stakeholders in transnational, transdisciplinary teams to co-create innovative solutions that address societal challenges. Supported activities include mentoring, business and technical advice, and entrepreneurship training, ultimately promoting new business startups and a greater awareness of societal challenges. The hackathon consists of annual competitions over three years (2027-2029), starting with multiple local hackathons across Europe and culminating in a European-level championship among winning teams, which will receive financial awards to support market uptake of their solutions. The project also focuses on inclusiveness, accessibility, and gender equality throughout its phases.

This grant aims to strengthen ecosystems for knowledge valorisation and innovation by supporting academic startups and spinoffs to engage directly with end-users, industry, and society. Projects should provide upgraded guidance and services to help early-stage academic startups and spinoffs bring innovative solutions to market, test and share valorisation best practices, and facilitate broader participation, inclusivity, and gender equality. At least 20 pilot actions will enable university spinoffs and technology startups to connect with stakeholders, improve their value proposition, and increase their prospects for growth and collaboration.