"Euresearch Info" January/February 2026
Horizon Europe – The Final Sprint
The R&I community has been busy preparing for the last two years of Horizon Europe. On 11 December 2025, the Work Programmes for 2026 and 2027 were finally adopted, revealing where and how the remaining budget of €14 billion will be distributed. There is a rich portfolio of opportunities open to Swiss research institutions and companies, who can now also coordinate projects and apply for mono-beneficiary grants like those of the European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
Calls in the thematic clusters of Pillar 2 continue to be shaped by the green and circular transition, digital transformation and resilience-enhancing activities, to ultimately deliver on the EC's long-term objectives. However, other calls align with new policy priorities and bring fresh opportunities. For example, the "Choose Europe for Science" initiative is reflected in extra funding for the ERC and MSCA. The implementation of policies such as the Clean Industrial Deal, AI in Science, and Strategy for Life Sciences also feeds into the call topics.
In parallel, the geopolitical situation has seen the reinforcement of topics in the areas of critical raw materials, advanced materials, energy, and manufacturing, as well as in the funding of activities to consolidate European values, society and democracy. Furthermore, emphasis is being placed on the valorisation of research results, and the European Innovation Council has introduced a new "Advanced Innovation Challenges" scheme for start-ups, inspired by the Advanced Research Projects Agency model developed in the U.S.
Finally, Horizon Europe is a powerful enabler for international networking and collaboration. In 2026, Japan will join countries such as the Republic of Korea and Canada that are associated to Pillar 2, attracting talents and companies well beyond our continent.
There is no reason to shy away from Horizon Europe. Contact your Euresearch Regional Office or your thematic expert (National Contact Point). They can help you identify the scheme best-suited to boost your career, enhance your research activities, or mature your technology towards a market-ready product. And take part in one of our events to help make the most of the upcoming opportunities!
Author: Francesco Kienzle, Director of Euresearch
Illustrator: Katja Stähli
