Horizon Europe: Key Spring 2027 Call Deadlines

After a busy autumn, some of whose deadlines are still to come, spring 2027 is going to be just as full. Several of the major collaborative Horizon Europe calls close between February and May, and some deadlines are earlier than many people expected when the 2026–2027 work programmes were first published.

If you are thinking about a proposal, the planning window is already open, and I have already started supporting several applications. With the Christmas break approaching and the first deadline in February, now is the last good moment to finalise your concept and start writing.

This post gives an overview of the main Pillar II collaborative calls closing in spring 2027, covering Cluster 1 (Health), Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space), Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility) and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment). I have focused on the calls and topics most likely to interest research teams. The links take you to the relevant pages on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

For earlier deadlines, see our posts on Clusters 3 and 6 and Clusters 2 and 5 for autumn 2026.

A Quick Note on Timing

Some of these deadlines are closer than they look. With the Health calls closing on 17 February, there are only around three and a half months to build a consortium, shape the idea and write a competitive proposal. For a first-time coordinator, that is tight and, in most cases, not realistic. I would treat anything closing before April as a prompt to start planning now rather than in the new year.

February 2027 Deadlines

Cluster 4 – Materials, Production and Digital Technologies

Call deadline: 2 February 2027

Call: Leadership in Materials and Production for Europe – HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD

Topics include:

• Innovative advanced materials and new production processes: reducing dependencies on Critical and Strategic Raw Materials (IA)
• Advanced manufacturing for key products (IA)
• Factory processes and automation for de- and re-manufacturing (RIA)
• Textile circularity through advanced processing and manufacturing technologies and system approaches (IA)
• Unlocking the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, SMEs and startups (CSA)
• Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs (CSA)
• “Proof of market” to improve valorisation and commercialisation of Horizon-generated R&I results (IA)

Call: Raw Materials – HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD

• Technologies for innovative processing of raw materials (IA)
• Expert network on Critical raw materials (CSA)

Call: Leadership in materials andproduction for Europe – two-stage – HORIZON-CL4-2027-02-MAT-PROD

• Efficient energy input from renewable sources and energy management in the process industries (IA)

Call: Achieving Open Strategic Autonomy in Digital and Emerging Enabling Technologies – HORIZON-CL4-2027-02-DIGITAL-EMERGING

• New approaches for Human/AI collaboration for the workforce of the future (RIA)

Cluster 1 – Health

Call deadline: 17 February 2027 (brought forward from the April date in earlier versions of the work programme)

The Health calls are scheduled to open on 29 October 2026. Topics in the single-stage call (HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01) and stage 1 of the two-stage call (HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02) share this deadline.

Call: Staying Healthy in a Rapidly Changing Society – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-STAYHLTH

• Addressing disabilities through the life course to support independent living and inclusion (RIA)

Call: Living and Working in a Health-Promoting Environment – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-ENVHLTH

• Integrating climate-related exposures into the human exposome and characterising its changes in response to climate change (RIA)

Call: Tackling Diseases and Reducing Disease Burden – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE

• Development of novel small molecule antiviral therapeutics for pathogens with epidemic potential (RIA)
• Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from Flaviviruses (RIA)
• Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from Filo-, Nairo-, Phenui-, Picorna- and Toga viruses (RIA)
• Development of innovative antimicrobials against pathogens resistant to antimicrobials (RIA)
• Prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases in children and young people (RIA)

Call: Ensuring Equal Access to Innovative, Sustainable and High-Quality Healthcare – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-CARE

• Personalised approaches to reduce risks from Adverse Drug Reactions due to administration of multiple medications (RIA)

Call: Maintaining an Innovative, Sustainable and Competitive EU Health Industry – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-IND

• Development of cell-free protein synthesis platforms for discovery and/or production of biologicals (RIA)

Two-stage topics (first-stage deadline)

Tackling Diseases and Reducing Disease Burden – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-DISEASE-two-stage

• Innovative healthcare interventions for non-communicable diseases (RIA)
• Clinical trials for advancing innovative interventions for neurodegenerative diseases (RIA)

Developing and Using New Tools, Technologies and Digital Solutions for a Healthy Society – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-TOOL-01-two-stage

• Development of predictive biomarkers of disease progression and treatment response by using AI methodologies for chronic non-communicable diseases (RIA)

Maintaining an Innovative, Sustainable and Competitive EU Health Industry – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-IND–02-two-stage

• Portable and versatile point-of-care diagnostics (IA)

March 2027 Deadlines

Cluster 5 – Climate Sciences

Call deadline: 4 March 2027

Call: Climate Sciences and Responses for the Transformation towards Climate Neutrality – HORIZON-CL5-2027-01-D1

• Advancing understanding, modelling and prediction of extreme events in a changing climate (RIA)
• Palaeoclimate science for a better understanding of Earth system dynamics (RIA)
• Assessing the performance of policy instruments to inform climate change mitigation action (RIA)
• Understanding and avoiding maladaptation to climate change (RIA)
• Better understanding and attribution of land and ocean carbon sources and sinks (RIA)
• Next generation scenarios for informing climate and sustainability transitions (RIA)

Cluster 4 – Data, AI and Digital Technologies

Call deadline: 18 March 2027

Call: Agile and Secure Single Market and Infrastructure for Data Services and Trustworthy AI Services – HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA

• Demand-side 3C pilot demonstrators on converged Telco Edge Cloud Infrastructure (IA)
• New approaches for decentralised, federated and sustainable AI data processing (RIA)
• Energy efficiency and sustainability of AI data processing in Data Centres (IA)

Call: Achieving Open Strategic Autonomy in Digital and Emerging Enabling Technologies – HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING

• EU Frontier AI Initiative: developing frontier AI solutions that are safe and computationally efficient within Apply AI (RIA)
• Apply AI: Challenge-Driven AI Innovation Booster in Apply AI prioritised sectors (RIA)
• Apply AI: AI-Driven Robotics for Industry: enabling system integration and adoption (IA)
• International cooperation in AI (IA)
• Horizon scanning and foresight in future enabling digital technologies (CSA)

Call: Digital and Industrial Technologies Driving Human-Centric Innovation – HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN

• Advanced and innovative hardware components for Virtual Worlds (RIA)
• Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA)
• Facilitate the engagement of European stakeholders in international digital standardisation (CSA)

Call: Digital and Emerging Enabling Technologies – HORIZON-CL4-2027-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING

• Advanced integrated photonic devices for extended features and ultra-low power consumption (RIA)

Cluster 5 – Cross-Sectoral Solutions and Energy

Call deadline: 31 March 2027

Call: Cross-Sectoral Solutions for the Climate Transition – HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D2

• Improvement of adaptability, flexibility and efficiency of existing recycling processes (IA)
• Sustainable and competitive cell production techniques for lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries (IA)

Call: Sustainable, Secure and Competitive Energy Supply – HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3

• Concentrated solar thermal systems for decarbonising industrial processes (IA)
• Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wave and tidal energy systems (IA)
• Renewable Energy Valleys in Africa to increase energy security and energy access in Africa (IA)
• Production technologies for solar photovoltaics beyond the state of the art (IA)
• Large-scale operational validation and upscaling of state-of-the-art (generative) AI tools and models powering a next-generation digital energy system (IA)
• Advancements in Direct Air Capture (IA)
• Support to the implementation of an EU policy framework for CO2 transport and storage infrastructure (CSA)

April 2027 Deadlines

Cluster 6 – Circular Economy, Food Systems and Water

Call deadline: 8 April 2027 (first stage of two-stage calls)

Call: Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Sectors – HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO

• Deploying circular systemic solutions through living labs in cities and regions (IA)
• Open topic: using the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative to strengthen urban manufacturing in support of the Clean Industrial Deal (IA)

Call: Fair, Healthy and Environment-Friendly Food Systems – HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-FARM2FORK

• Strengthening plant health by addressing emerging plant pest risks (RIA)
• Optimising the water-nutrient-energy nexus for sustainable and climate-smart agriculture in Africa (RIA)

Call: Land, Ocean and Water for Climate Action – HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-CLIMATE

• Open topic: innovative solutions for the European Water Resilience Strategy (IA)

Cluster 5 – Transport

Call deadline: 14 April 2027

Call: Clean and Competitive Solutions for All Transport Modes – HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5

• Data-driven circular economy for e-mobility ecosystem (IA)
• Demonstration of zero emission coaches and buses in long-distance operations (IA)
• Higher voltage, Megawatt Charging System compatible, modular powertrain for heavy-duty vehicles (IA)
• Fire prevention and mitigation for EVs in confined areas (IA)
• Sustainable aircraft circular design and additive manufacturing, towards climate-neutral aviation (RIA)
• Onboard renewable energy solutions and energy-saving measures to reduce ship fuel consumption by at least 55% (IA)
• Prospective evaluation of nuclear power potential for shipping (CSA)
• Autonomous vessels in short sea shipping and inland waterways (IA)
• Innovative solutions for mitigating the environmental impact of waterborne transport in marine and aquatic ecosystems (RIA)
• Enhanced electric operation and battery durability (IA)
• Assessing the effect of airport operations on air quality and noise in nearby communities (RIA)

Two-stage topics

• Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition (HORIZON-CL5-2027-04-Two-Stage-D2): Novel approaches towards next-generation battery concepts, leveraging the enabling role of innovative advanced materials (RIA)
• Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes (HORIZON-CL5-2027-04-Two-Stage-D5): Noise reduction breakthroughs for new ultra-efficient aircraft (RIA)

May 2027 Deadline

Cluster 6 – Governance and the Green Deal

Call deadline: 11 May 2027

Call: Innovative Governance, Environmental Observations and Digital Solutions in Support of the Green Deal – HORIZON-CL6-2027-03-GOVERNANCE

• Strengthening the resilience of European farmers through improved capacity in coping with risks and crises (RIA)
• Improving analytical capacity for sustainable competitiveness of the agricultural sector (RIA)
• International dimension of the circular biobased economy: seeking win-win opportunities (CSA)
• AI supporting informed advice for farmers and foresters to improve competitiveness and sustainability (IA)
• Increasing knowledge flows to practice within AKIS via EU thematic knowledge hubs (CSA)
• Fostering generational renewal in agriculture via EU advisory network (CSA)
• Strengthening strategic advice and synergies between EU and national R&I agendas and investments (CSA)

What to Do with This List

If a topic has caught your eye, the links in the call titles will take you to the relevant page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, where you will find the full topic description, expected outcomes and eligibility details. A few practical points:

• Read the topic, not just the title. Whether a topic is an RIA, IA or CSA affects funding rates, expected TRL and the kind of consortium you need.
• Two-stage calls reward early clarity. A strong stage-1 submission is short but unforgiving.
• UK organisations can take part. The UK is associated to Horizon Europe, as explained in our posts on UK association and EU funding after Brexit. Check each topic page for any call-specific conditions.
• These are among the last calls under this programme. Horizon Europe runs to 2027, so teams planning longer term should also keep an eye also on the autumn 2027 deadlines. I will publish a summary about those in early 2027.

Planning to Apply for Horizon Europe in 2027?

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