The European Commission has added €500 million to Horizon Europe for 2026–2027 and opened two new calls worth €487 million: one on a nature-positive economy and one called "Bridging Actions 2027". Deadlines run from 14 January to September 2027. Here's what's in them, which topics matter for startups and SMEs, and the catch: none of them can be won by a startup on its own.
What was announced
On 29 September 2026, the Commission added €500 million to the Horizon Europe budget for 2026–2027, bringing it to about €14.8 billion. The money funds two new calls in the work programme, and the Commission's announcement (updated on 2 October) puts the nature call at €227 million rather than the €237 million first reported:
- Nature-Positive Economy and Society: €227 million across 11 actions, from PFAS pollution and biodiversity monitoring to a €60 million living-labs topic and a €50 million ocean observing system.
- Bridging Actions 2027: €260 million across 16 actions, bridging this programme and the next. It introduces what the Commission calls an "innovation to investment journey", with topics on AI platforms, autonomous mobility, climate resilience and helping SMEs hire researchers.
An online info day takes place on 16 October and a brokerage event for the nature call on 19 October, according to DG Research and Innovation.
The topics that matter for startups and SMEs
Every topic requires a consortium or a specific type of organisation. None is open to a single startup. These three are the most relevant for small companies, according to the work programme:
Advancing promising Pillar II results (deadline 28 January 2027)
An innovation action with €32.5 million for about 13 projects of up to €2.5 million each, paid as a lump sum, with at most six participants. The catch: your proposal must build on a completed Horizon Europe Pillar II project (Clusters 1–6), starting at TRL 6 for Clusters 3–6. If your startup was a partner in such a project, this is the most direct route to take its results to market. Topic HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-02-05.
Skills for innovative SMEs (deadline 3 March 2027)
A €30 million coordination action for one project, which only Enterprise Europe Network beneficiaries can apply for. At least 90% of the budget goes to cascade grants for innovative SMEs, of up to €300,000 each, to recruit PhD-level researchers from abroad for one to two years. SMEs don't apply now; watch for the open calls once the project starts. Topic HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-05-01 opens on 1 December 2026. See how cascade funding works.
Valorising results through innovation ecosystems (deadline 16 February 2027)
A research and innovation action with €20 million for five projects of €2.5–4 million each, aimed at turning research results into innovations through local ecosystems. Startups can join as consortium partners.
All deadlines
Topic texts, partner searches and submission are on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. All deadlines are also in our grant deadlines calendar.
How to get in as a startup
- Join a consortium rather than leading one. Universities and research centres building Nature-Positive and Bridging proposals need companies to test and commercialise results. Use the brokerage events and partner search on the portal. See managing multi-partner consortia.
- Check your past projects. If you were a partner in a completed Pillar II project, the 28 January topic is written for you.
- Prepare for the SME cascade grants. The skills topic will pay SMEs up to €300,000 to hire researchers from abroad, but only after an EEN consortium wins it.
- For single-company funding, look at the EIC instead. See the last EIC deadlines of 2026 and our guide to Horizon Europe opportunities for SMEs.
Horizon Europe in numbers
The same announcement included a progress report. Horizon Europe has awarded €61 billion in grants and €1.3 billion in equity to about 23,000 projects, involving 34,000 organisations, including 20,000 companies. More than €11 billion has gone to the private sector, and 55% of beneficiaries are newcomers to the programme.
New to EU funding?
Start with our encyclopedia of EU funding programmes and the grant application process guide.
FAQ: Horizon Europe's new €500M calls
What is the extra €500 million for Horizon Europe?
On 29 September 2026, the European Commission added €500 million to Horizon Europe for 2026–2027, bringing the two-year budget to about €14.8 billion. It funds the new Nature-Positive and Bridging Actions 2027 calls.
When are the deadlines?
The first deadlines are 14 January 2027 (Nature-Positive calls 01 and 02) and 28 January 2027 (Bridging topic 02-05). Others follow on 16 February, 3 March, 15 June and 16 September 2027, all at 17:00 Brussels time.
Can a startup apply alone?
No. All topics require a consortium or a specific type of organisation. Startups can join consortia as partners or benefit from the SME cascade grants.
What is the Skills for innovative SMEs topic?
A €30 million coordination action that only Enterprise Europe Network beneficiaries can apply for. At least 90% goes to grants of up to €300,000 for SMEs to recruit PhD-level researchers from abroad.
What is Bridging Actions 2027?
A €260 million call with 16 actions that bridges Horizon Europe and the next research programme, introducing an "innovation to investment journey".
Where do I apply?
On the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with one single-stage proposal per topic.
