Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

The Hop-on Facility allows for legal entities from low R&I performing countries to join already funded Horizon Pillar II ‘main’ Work Programme and EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I actions, subject to the agreement of the respective consortium and provided that legal entities from such countries are not yet participating as beneficiary, associated partner, or affiliated entity. The scheme aims to improve the inclusiveness of Horizon Europe.

Expected EU contribution per project: between €200000 and €600000

• Enlargement
• Research, Technological Development and Innovation

• Legal Entities
• Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions

A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

The following additional eligibility criteria apply:

• The proposal must include only:
  • One legal entity, as a beneficiary, established in a Widening country.
  • One legal entity which is the coordinator of an ‘eligible already funded action’.
• The proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the ‘eligible already funded action’. No more than 10% of the maximum grant amount can be allocated to the coordinator as a coordination fee for the integration of the new widening beneficiary. No less than 90% of the max grant amount must be allocated to the Widening beneficiary.

An ‘eligible already funded action’ refers to an action stemming from a Horizon Europe grant agreement that also meets the following conditions:

1. No legal entity established in a Widening Country is already a beneficiary, affiliated entity or associated partner in the Horizon Europe grant agreement.
2. At the time of submission of the proposal (and for any grant agreement signature), the granting authority of the Horizon Europe grant agreement is the European Commission or an Executive Agency.
3. The Horizon Europe grant agreement was awarded to Horizon Pillar II ‘main’ Work Programme or EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I actions.
4. The first reporting period of the Horizon Europe grant agreement is ongoing at the submission deadline. Furthermore, the ongoing grant agreement is between 1 to 12 months from its starting date by the submission deadline.

Research and Innovation Foundation

Address: 29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia, P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/

Persons to Contact:

Ms. Marcia Trillidou
Scientific Officer A’
Legal and Financial Issues
Email: trillidou@research.org.cy

Ms. Nedi Kaffa
Scientific Officer
Email: nkaffa@research.org.cy

https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/widening-participation-and-spreading-excellence_en

• Funding&Tenders
• “Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area” Work Programme 2023-2025, page 10