What this call funds
Expected Outcome
- Advanced manufacturing technology and machinery becomes available in Europe for the manufacturing of key and high-performance products;
- Where relevant, production becomes increasingly circular through the reuse of secondary raw materials; and/or innovative advanced materials are incorporated in manufactured products, leading to better performance and quality;
- Resource efficiency in terms of materials and energy is increased significantly; and
- Circularity, productivity and competitiveness are increased, and hence resilience of European industry is enhanced.
Scope
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.
Proposals should develop technologies and machinery to enable the manufacturing of these components with a minimal use of critical raw materials [reference to overall targets] or imported materials. This includes an increased use of secondary raw materials or biobased materials or revalorised components.
Where appropriate to enhance performance and quality, proposals should target the use of innovative advanced materials (such as lightweight, functionalised or self-healing materials). In this case, the development of the advanced materials should not be the main focus of proposals, nevertheless the necessary steps to adapt such innovative advanced materials to the needs of the manufacturing application should be included. These can include digital twins for materials as well as SSbD-design steps.
Examples of advanced manufacturing technologies and machinery include, but are not restricted to:
- Innovative additive manufacturing;
- Hybrid manufacturing (additive, subtractive);
- Photonics;
- Advanced joining technologies;
- Polymer composite manufacturing;
- Advanced technologies for surface treatment and structuring, to tailor surface properties for specific applications;
- Manufacturing of components with lightweight materials; and
- In-line testing.
Proposals should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.
Applications in the automotive industry may be considered. However, the production of batteries is not within the scope of this topic.[1]
International cooperation is encouraged, especially with Japan or Taiwan.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership Made in Europe.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
[1] The production of batteries (including for automotive use) is addressed by topic HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D2-03: Integrated Production and Product Development for Next-Generation Lithium-based Batteries for Mobility.
Eligibility & conditions+
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
In order to include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination, the page limit is exceptionally extended by 3 pages.
Admissibility conditions are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
In line with the “restriction on control in innovation actions in critical technology areas” delineated in General Annex B of the General Annexes, entities established in an eligible country but which are directly or indirectly controlled by China or by a legal entity established in China are not eligible to participate in the action.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) 
Guidance
HE Programme Guide 
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA 
Operating Grants MGA 
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA 
Call-specific instructions 
Information on financial support to third parties (HE) 
Information on clinical studies (HE) 
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual 
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions 
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal · synced 2026-10-13