Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications in the Apply AI sectors (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)

Opened

Code: 39154 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

Next-generation AI agents are autonomous systems powered by large AI language models (e.g., large language models or large multimodal models), that can plan, utilize tools and perform actions autonomously to achieve specified goals based on high-level instructions.

The large AI model acts as the agent’s “brain,” capable of interpreting instructions, generating plans, and using tools. This capability enables agents to autonomously plan and adapt behaviour in real-time to accomplish complex, multi-step tasks.

AI Agents hold significant promise in numerous applications areas such as data analytics and coding.

Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster in Apply AI prioritised sectors (RIA) (AI/Data/Robotics Partnership)

Opened

Code: 39151 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

Generative AI (GenAI) promises to transform most industry sectors. This challenge-driven initiative aims to boost both Europe’s developer community and the adoption of powerful trustworthy generative AI solutions in the strategic sectors of aerospace, pharma/drugs and telecommunication networks, key for their competitiveness.

In pharmaceuticals, it can, for instance, accelerates drug design by rapidly creating target-specific molecules, reducing development time from years to seconds, and potentially preventing prolonged health crises like COVID-19.

In aerospace, generative AI can for instance optimize aircraft design, streamline manufacturing processes, predict maintenance needs through sensor data analysis, route optimisation, and enhance pilot training with diverse, realistic simulations.

By embracing generative AI, telecom companies can position themselves at the forefront of a new era of intelligent and automated telecommunications. Specific use-cases include for instance network management, network optimization, network slicing, network healing, predictive maintenance, network mapping and optimization.

Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)

Opened

Code: 39148 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

The proposed project aims to significantly enhance robotics capabilities in manufacturing by developing advanced robotics skills (for example, task and environment aware autonomous pick and place with high precision and speed, human-robot collaboration, etc).

Grand Challenge on Quantum Sensors for Inertial Navigation

Opened

Code: 39145 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-11 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

The Grand Challenge on Quantum Sensors for Inertial Navigation aims to advance the development of quantum-enabled navigation systems for use in GNSS-denied or contested environments. Q-INS combines quantum sensors with classical inertial measurement subsystems to deliver reliable, resilient, and sovereign positioning capabilities.

The topic supports the EU’s ambition to strengthen technological sovereignty in strategic navigation infrastructures, aligned with the objectives of the STEP and the Digital Decade.

Networking and Future Photonics Strategy (CSA) (Photonics Partnership)

Opened

Code: 39142 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-14 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

Apply AI: Pilot of the “Science for AI” Pillar of RAISE (“Resource for AI science in Europe”) (RIA)

Opened

Code: 39140 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 15/04/2026

Ensuring Europe’s technological sovereignty in AI requires reinforcing and leveraging Europe’s strengths, particularly its world-class AI research community.

The selected consortium should be composed by leading European AI research institutions. These AI research institutes should be entities with legal structure, dedicated facilities and, a significant number of research teams focusing on AI research. This category also includes multidisciplinary research institutions that host AI-focused branches meeting these criteria. The consortium will pilot a network of excellent European AI research institutes that will collaboratively address fundamental AI research topics, pushing the frontier of the domain. Participants will cooperate within a virtual institute, attracting talents, stimulating industrial initiatives, providing inputs for moonshot projects and developing research agendas for the ones retained by the EC. A substantial share of the project effort should be dedicated to advancing research.

Mapping and service finder for Technology Infrastructures (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39137 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

For many innovative startups, finding and accessing highly specific research and technology infrastructures services is a major hurdle. Information about the available services is limited, especially on infrastructures located beyond their local ecosystems.

Cooperation on innovative advanced materials with Japan (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39134 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

Advanced materials are an important factor for the competitiveness of Japanese and European industries and are a crucial building block for strengthening resilience and open strategic autonomy, including through international collaboration. Against this background, the European Commission and the Japanese Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, have in April 2024 announced the launch of the EU-Japan Enhanced Dialogue on Advanced Materials.

This builds on the success of EU-Japan collaboration in R&I in material sciences. It aims to create a platform for sharing information on policy developments and exploring the opportunities to pursue collaborative research in the areas of mutual interest.

E-Mobility promotion plan in Cyprus 4th announcement November 2025

Opened

Code: 39130 | Identifier Code: C2.2I3b | Programme name: 13600 | Start submission calls: 28/11/2025 | End submission calls: 30/06/2026

See the Greek text.

Monitoring of secondary raw materials (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39127 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

A successful transition to a climate-neutral, biodiversity friendly, circular and digitised EU economy relies heavily on a secure supply of raw materials. In order to strengthen EU autonomy and reduce over-dependency, we must boost domestic sourcing, both for primary and secondary raw materials.

Circular innovative advanced materials: facilitating the transition from design to markets (RIA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships)

Opened

Code: 39124 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

The focus of this topic is on enabling circularity and resilient supply networks through R&I in advanced materials, in particular recyclable polymers and composites, magnets and metal (alloys) for additive manufacturing, and on accelerating their pathway to market. Proposals should develop new innovative advanced materials (IAMs) with superior or novel functionalities designed for circularity.

The scope includes necessary developments of related processes and technologies to ensure integration in industrial manufacturing facilitating uptake of the developed solutions. Proposals should also develop circular business models considering the cost of changes needed along the life cycle of these new materials to facilitate their uptake.

Accelerating the discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (IA) (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU partnership)

Opened

Code: 39121 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

Proposals should accelerate the pathway to market of new substances (chemicals or advanced materials) with superior or novel functionalities.

This can be achieved with novel tools or proofs of concept using digital methods to accelerate development of new materials and demonstration of their properties.

Where possible this should explore collaboration with other initiatives such as the Materials Commons for Europe or DIGIPASS, contributing data, modelling, digital tools applicable to the design, development, production, manufacturing, use and end of life phases, which connect to repeatable workflows.

These workflows and tools may include the use of artificial intelligence as well as self-driving labs and their interconnection and design of experiment/design of simulation methods.

They should also drive innovation in risk assessment, new test methods and support and facilitate the operationalisation and use of the SSbD framework. Projects should include demonstrators which help to validate the materials development in realistic conditions.

Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39118 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

Startups, scaleups and other innovative SMEs require access to state-of-the-art research and technology facilities, equipment and expertise to test, upscale, validate new products and technologies, shortening the time-to-market and increasing the chances for a successful commercialisation. Access mechanisms to Technology Infrastructures as well as access contracts and collaboration or service provision agreements are often complex, while the costs of using such infrastructures can significantly surpass the financial capacities of growing innovative companies.

Attracting management talent for capacity building for Technology Infrastructures staff members (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39115 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

A combination of factors including rapid technological advancements, inefficient strategic planning, skills gaps, and budget limitations can create sub-optimal technology infrastructure management. Proposals are expected to develop and provide schemes to attract management talent (including but not limited to organisational sciences) to technology infrastructures in EU member states. These management talent schemes should be aimed at attracting talents that will study the technology infrastructures needs, in terms of competencies, skills, organizations, and business models, to deliver more efficiently their services to industry, especially to SMEs, startups and scaleups.

Based on this sound understanding of Technology Infrastructures needs, the attracted management talents are expected to both develop and provide advice to Technology Infrastructures senior management and trainings to their staff members aimed at increasing their capacity to develop and provide services to industry. The developed trainings should be sector-agnostic, open-source, accessible remotely, easy to update, and take stock of other existing similar initiatives and experiences in Research and Technology Infrastructures.

Enhancing industry-academia knowledge exchange in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) (CSA)

Opened

Code: 39112 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

This action aims to leverage the strengths of social sciences, humanities and arts (SSH) to address companies’ specific needs, fostering a dynamic and productive industry-academia co-creation for knowledge valorisation.

This action will implement SSH–industry co-creation (for example hackathons, team-based approaches, targeted mentorship and exchange programmes etc) focussing on specific challenges from industry and SMEs including, but not limited to understanding the socio-technical implications of new technologies and innovations, broadening the perspectives of companies’ strategic actions, creating a deeper understanding of customer needs, legal requirements and pathways to the market, strengthening the integration of social, economic and cultural inequality considerations into industry practices and innovation processes, developing new ideas and innovations and contributing to organisational development, sustainability and long-term profitability.

‘Proof of market’ to improve valorisation and commercialisation of Horizon generated R&I results (IA)

Opened

Code: 39109 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

The EU must do better in translating the knowledge generated by the Framework Programme into innovations with economic and societal value.

The objective of this action is to provide financial support (‘Proof of market’) to small consortia (i.e. spin-offs, startups, SMEs) to explore the exploitation potential, in the EU, of achieved results from ongoing or completed projects funded under Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ or its predecessor activities under the Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies (LEIT) part of Horizon 2020.

Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA) (Made in Europe partnership)

Opened

Code: 39106 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

This topic addresses technologies and machinery for advanced manufacturing, focusing on manufacturing excellence and on increasing circularity, including through the better use of innovative advanced materials and secondary raw materials. The focus is on key manufactured components and products that are competitive and have enhanced performance, and contribute to Europe’s technological leadership in manufacturing, but which are at risk of being lost to Europe or rely on raw materials or parts whose supply is mostly coming from outside Europe.

Technologies for innovative extraction of critical raw materials (RIA)

Opened

Code: 39103 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

Actions should develop and validate new sustainable concepts and technological solutions, for mining of complex or difficult to access mineral deposits, including abandoned mining sites, particularly addressing the challenges of accessibility, efficiency, industrial viability, safety and environmental and health impacts, including but not limited to water use, water, soil and air pollution, deforestation, biodiversity, ecosystem health, erosion, desertification, and GHG intensity of extraction.

Innovative technologies and tools for exploration and data modelling of raw materials (RIA)

Opened

Code: 39100 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 06/01/2026 | End submission calls: 21/04/2026

Actions should develop and validate advanced geological modelling and mineral system analysis using multi-source data (geological, geophysical, and geochemical) from ground-based and remote-sensing techniques to develop high-resolution 3D models of mineral deposits.

The integration of new (AI and machine learning) and conventional methods will be necessary to predict with the greatest accuracy the location of mineral deposits of critical raw materials and their carrier minerals. Actions contributing to the National exploration programmes under the article 19 of CRMA is encouraged.

European Partnerships – Accelerating farming systems transition (AGROECOLOGY)

Opened

Code: 39097 | Identifier Code: EP/AGROECOLOGY/0126 | Programme name: 2799 | Start submission calls: 15/01/2026 | End submission calls: 25/02/2026

The “European Partnerships” Programme aims to encourage entities from Cyprus to participate in international cooperation networks for the development of research and innovation projects in important priority areas for the country, which are implemented within the framework of the Joint Programmes of the European Partnerships of the EU Framework Programme “Horizon Europe” in which Cyprus participates. At the same time, it promotes the extroversion, cooperation and networking of research organisations and businesses of Cyprus with entities from other countries through their participation in the projects.

Participation in the AGROECOLOGY European Partnership aims to encourage businesses and other entities from Cyprus to participate in international research and development projects concerning the transition of agricultural systems towards agroecology. Additionally, it aims at networking and cooperation between Cypriot institutions with foreign institutions, through their participation in international research and development projects.

1st stage: Preliminary Proposals

• 18 February 2026, 14.00 (CET)
• 25 February 2026, 13.00 (Cyprus time)

2nd stage: Full Proposals

• 8 July 2026, 14.00 (CEST)
• 15 July 2026 13.00 (Cyprus time)