Microelectronic – Front-End Module (FEM)

Opened

Code: 40402 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-JU-SNS-2026-FEM-STREAM-B-02 | Programme name: 26685 | Start submission calls: 26/05/2026 | End submission calls: 03/09/2026

The work is expected to cover mainly the system aspects of a 6G FEM with some PoCs at TRL 4/5 for specific integrated and critical subsystems, whilst the Chips JU work targets the detailed design and the technology choices of the FEM constituents. This compounded work is expected to lead to industrialisation of FEM in later European 6G offers. The full integration at the chip level of a FEM prototype is not in scope for this call.

The work must consequently be backed with a very solid combination of European industrial leaders in the radio communication and microelectronic domains with demonstrated track record and capabilities to industrialise and market the solution in Europe and at a global level, and with adequate support from relevant academics and RTO’s, notably for what concerns the linkages to the pilot lines. The work may also consider existing FEM initiatives in Member States, which should hence be compatible with wider industrial exposure in an EU collaborative environment.

The work should contribute to the sovereignty of the European supply chain in the domain of microelectronics for telecom and networked services platforms. In that context, it targets the control of FEM design, implementation and packaging with European solutions up to the prototyping level, and guarantees the absence of backdoor implementation through firmware, as well as the full security of the final solution.

Raising awareness of and building capacity for the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights

Opened

Code: 40399 | Identifier Code: CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CHARTER | Programme name: 2926 | Start submission calls: 20/05/2026 | End submission calls: 15/09/2026

The Charter strategy underlines the importance of strengthening the application of the Charter through awareness raising and capacity building initiatives. Accordingly, projects under this priority are intended to raise the fundamental rights knowledge of relevant actors. While building on the central role of civil society organisations and human rights defenders, funded projects could involve national, regional and local authorities as partners (co-applicants), with the aim of supporting joint capacity building and awareness raising efforts.

Promoting an enabling civic space

Opened

Code: 40395 | Identifier Code: CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CIVIC | Programme name: 2926 | Start submission calls: 20/05/2026 | End submission calls: 15/09/2026

A thriving civic space requires an enabling legal, administrative and regulatory environment in which civil society organisations (CSOs) are supported and empowered, protected from threats, and able to operate freely. This call therefore aims to reinforce the conditions for such an environment by supporting actions that strengthen both the monitoring of civic space and the protection and resilience of CSOs and human rights defenders working to uphold EU values.

Monitoring of civic space

Projects should establish or enhance systematic and comprehensive monitoring systems to regularly assess the environment in which CSOs operate at national level. These should build on and align as closely as possible with existing frameworks—such as the indicators developed by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights and data from international organisations—as well as national monitoring systems, to ensure comparability and consistency.

Green Grid Europe (Eurocluster for Renewable Energy Growth) – Scaling Green Innovation with Industry – Growth Box Call

Opened

Code: 40392 | Identifier Code: Green Grid | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 07/05/2026 | End submission calls: 07/07/2026

GreenGrid brings together industrial companies, cleantech innovators, and clusters to promote smart energy use, grid flexibility, and decarbonisation. GreenGrid Eurocluster supports European startups and SMEs in developing and adopting innovative solutions that make the energy system cleaner, smarter, and more resilient. The project focuses on strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy by boosting innovation across renewable integration, energy storage, grid flexibility, digitalisation, and circular technologies.

The Growth Box stream provides direct financial support to SMEs aiming to address a specific energy related challenge linked to the green and digital transition. Applicants will be able to apply for funding to tackle one of the predefined challenges identified by GreenGrid, as described in detail in Chapter 16 of this document. SMEs selected for funding will be expected to collaborate directly with the respective Challenge Owner to validate, pilot, or scale their solution in a real operational environment and to actively participate in the GreenGrid Accelerator programme.

CIRCAT (Cybersecurity Infrastructure Resilience, Collaboration, and Advanced Training) – Open Call 1: Penetration Testing Scenarios Development

Opened

Code: 40389 | Identifier Code: CIRCAT | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 08/05/2026 | End submission calls: 09/07/2026

CIRCAT aims to provide a solution that leverages cutting-edge AI-enhanced tools and processes to support organisations, in particular large industrial installations and infrastructures, in their efforts to increase the level of protection and resilience to cyber threats. CIRCAT will complement the existing efforts of these organisations towards effective and continuous risk assessment along with testing and training in a secure, controlled environment.

Boosting creative startups for disruptive innovation

Opened

Code: 40372 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Societies (Cluster 2)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 12/05/2026 | End submission calls: 23/09/2026

The cultural and creative industries (CCIs) count a high rate of startups. Data indicate that CCIs are among the early adopters of new technologies, especially in the digital realm. For instance, the European Monitor of Industrial Ecosystems (2024) notes that artificial intelligence-based technology startups were most common among the CCIs and in the health sector. Furthermore, creative startups drive innovation through crossovers with other sectors. They can be a motor of growth in local economies, unlocking opportunities, investment, jobs and higher productivity. That is why a host of initiatives like creative clusters, innovation hubs, smart specialisation strategies, innovation ecosystems, etc. foster the emergence of creative startups. Also at EU level, there are a number of initiatives to support startups and/or cultural and creative industries, and there is a clearly stated ambition to make EU the preferred choice for startups and scaleups, as expressed in the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy.

However, in order to better support European creative startups to grow into scaleups and to multiply their potential as high-impact disruptive innovators, in line with the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, additional measures are needed.

The challenge is to deepen the knowledge of the most important factors that favour the scaling up of creative startups in Europe and unleashing their potential for disruptive innovation, with a particular focus on those factors that distinguish them from startups in other sectors.

The European Capital of Innovation Award

Opened

Code: 40369 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: European Innovation Council-EIC (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 05/05/2026 | End submission calls: 04/08/2026

The European Capital of Innovation Awards aim to champion inspiring cases of municipality-enabled innovation flourishing in cities. The Awards are a prestigious recognition for city administrators who are courageous enough to open up their governance practices to experimentation, to boost innovation by all means, to be a role model for other cities, and to push the boundaries of technology for the benefit of their citizens.

In addition to the monetary reward, the prize brings high visibility in the form of renewed public interest and increased media coverage.

The award will raise the profile of the cities that have developed and implemented innovative policies; established frameworks that boost breakthrough innovation; enhanced the city attractiveness towards investors, industry, enterprises and talents; helped to open up connections and strengthen links with other cities, promoting the replication of best practices in the innovation field; enhanced citizens’ involvement in the decision-making process; and supported cities resilience.

The Awards will feature two categories:

1. European Capital of Innovation 2027 category (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-01)
2. European Rising Innovative City 2027 category (HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-02)

PowerUp NetZero (Powering Up Net Zero applications through the European Single Market) Open Call for Business Innovation and Technology Adoption Services

Opened

Code: 40365 | Identifier Code: PowerUp NetZero | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 21/05/2026 | End submission calls: 30/07/2026

The PowerUp NetZero Open Call for Business Innovation and Technology Adoption Services provides funding to support SMEs in their digitalisation planning activities related to net-zero technologies and applications. The call focuses on the following five Net-Zero Technologies:

• Solar energy
• Battery and energy storage
• H2 technologies
• Sustainable biogas and biomethane
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

All activities must have linkages with at least one of the project’s 5 Net-Zero Technologies (listed above). When applying to this call, SMEs must select at least one of these technologies in the application form.

COSMIC (Combined AI and Data Solutions for Large Scale Resource Optimization with Green Deal Impact) 2nd Open Call: AI & Data Solutions to Boost the Green Transition

Opened

Code: 40363 | Identifier Code: COSMIC | Programme name: 20613 | Start submission calls: 20/05/2026 | End submission calls: 20/07/2026

COSMIC is a European-funded initiative aligned with the Green Deal objectives. It aims to harness the power of AI and big data for large-scale energy resource optimisation. The project brings together a diverse consortium of large industries, research institutions, public authorities, NGOs, and SMEs to co-develop impactful, scalable digital solutions that address key sustainability challenges.

The COSMIC consortium comprises highly experienced and complementary key players across 10 European countries. The COSMIC project offers a strategic support programme designed to bring the best data/AI-based innovations into our energy resource optimisation ecosystem.

Strand II ‘Supporting access to the labour market of Roma NEETs’

Opened

Code: 40360 | Identifier Code: ESF-SI-2026-ROMA NEETs-01 | Programme name: 20859 | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 30/09/2026

The European Commission and the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation launched a new transnational Call: ‘Strengthening the European Child Guarantee national governance systems and supporting access to the labour market for Roma NEETs’ under the European Social Fund+ Social Innovation+ initiative. Under the Strand II “Supporting access to the labour market of Roma NEETs”, the Call will aim to support transnational social experimentation projects which test innovative approaches to improve Roma NEETs’ access to employment through tailored activation strategies.

Strand I ‘Strengthening the European Child Guarantee national governance systems’

Opened

Code: 40348 | Identifier Code: ESF-SI-2026-ECG-01 | Programme name: 20854 | Start submission calls: 06/05/2026 | End submission calls: 30/09/2026

The European Commission and the European Competence Centre for Social Innovation launched a new transnational Call: ‘Strengthening the European Child Guarantee national governance systems and supporting access to the labour market for Roma NEETs’ under the European Social Fund+ Social Innovation+ initiative.

Under the Strand I “Strengthening the European Child Guarantee national governance systems”, the Call will aim to support transnational projects which aim at testing new approaches and transferring or scaling up social innovations that strengthen the governance and implementation of the European Child Guarantee, ensuring children in need have access to key services.

I3-2026-INV1 – Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1

Opened

Code: 40345 | Identifier Code: I3-2026-INV1 | Programme name: 16401 | Start submission calls: 13/05/2026 | End submission calls: 12/11/2026

Strand 1 of the I3 instrument seeks to increase the competitiveness and the resilience of EU value chains on the basis of interregional cooperation and shared smart specialisation areas.

The objective of the I3 Instrument Strand 1 call for proposals is to support interregional innovation investments by offering consortia of innovation actors from the quadruple helix ecosystems the necessary financial and advisory support to bring their innovations to a mature level, ready for scale-up and commercialisation, while bridging and reducing the innovation divide in Europe with a strong cohesion policy focus of integrating all regions and in particular the less developed regions into European value chains.