Can I apply to Horizon Cluster 5?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?Yes
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?Yes
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?Yes
• Can a company from Norway apply?Yes
• Can a company from Israel apply?Yes
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?Yes
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?Yes
• Can a company from Canada apply?Yes
• Can a company from Japan apply?Yes
• Can a company from South Korea apply?Yes
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries associated with Horizon Europe.

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?Yes, ifRegister a company first: the applicant must be an incorporated SME.
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?Yes
• Can a large company apply?Yes
• Can a university apply?Yes
• Can a research organisation apply?Yes
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?NoYou need a consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 different countries.

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?NoToo early: this starts at TRL 3 (a proof of concept).
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?Yes
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?Yes
• Can I apply with a product on the market?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 8.

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or countries associated with Horizon Europe

Any partner in an EU or associated country can coordinate, including the UK, Switzerland, Norway and Israel.

Who can apply

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body or a non-profit

Any legal entity can take part, from start-ups to universities. Individuals and teams without a company cannot apply.

Who can join as a partner

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body or a non-profit

Partners from other countries can join as associated partners without EU money. Entities in the listed low and middle income countries are also funded.

Alone or with partners

Consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 countries

At least 3 independent organisations, each in a different country: 1 in an EU Member State and 2 more in EU or associated countries. Affiliates of the same group do not count. Coordination and Support Actions can be a single organisation.

Stage

TRL 3 to 8

Set per topic. Most topics ask for TRL 4 to 8 at the end of the project; Innovation Actions (pilots and demonstrators) are the largest share.

What you get

grants, up to €30M

Expected EU contribution per project is mostly EUR 4M to 30M (median about EUR 14M); a few large demonstrators reach EUR 90M to 100M. The amount is shared by the whole consortium.

Funding rate

Research and Innovation Actions: 100% of eligible costs. Innovation Actions: 70% for companies, 100% for non-profits. Coordination and Support Actions: 100%. Actual-cost grants add a 25% flat rate for overheads.