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Overview
Horizon Europe Cluster 4, "Digital, Industry and Space," is one of the largest non-dilutive funding sources in Europe for hard technology: artificial intelligence, data, robotics, advanced manufacturing, circular and clean industry, semiconductors, next-generation internet, raw materials, and space systems. It sits under Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the EU's flagship research programme. The 2026-2027 Work Programme, adopted in December 2025, carries roughly 1.5 billion euros for Cluster 4 alone. Funding is 100% grant with no equity and no repayment: Research and Innovation Actions are covered at 100% of eligible costs, Innovation Actions at 70% for companies. Individual projects usually receive 2 to 5 million euros, shared across a cross-border consortium of at least three organisations from three different countries, though strategic flagships go far higher. Companies like SALTO, building reusable space launcher technology, and QSNP, building a pan-European quantum-secure communications network, took this collaborative route, as did the EROSS IOD team demonstrating robotic servicing of satellites in orbit. The common thread is hard tech with clear EU strategic value, built with partners rather than alone.
Be honest with yourself about the odds.
Is this for you?
- Consortium of 3+ organisations from 3+ EU/associated countries
- Universities, research institutes, SMEs and large companies all eligible
- Project matches a named topic in digital, industry, space or raw materials
- TRL 2–6 for research actions (RIA), TRL 5–8 for innovation actions (IA)
- At least one partner based in an EU Member State
- Lone startup that wants to apply solo → EIC Accelerator
- Seeking equity investment alongside the grant → EIC Accelerator (blended finance)
- Breakthrough idea that fits no published topic → EIC Pathfinder Open
- Single-country national project → your national innovation agency
Associated countries (UK, Norway, Israel and others) count toward the three-country minimum, but the consortium must include at least one EU Member State partner. Calls are topic-driven: if your project does not match a topic text in the Work Programme, evaluators will score it down no matter how good it is.
Call destinations
Manufacturing 4.0, circular economy, digital twins for industry
Semiconductors, advanced materials, raw materials, batteries
AI, data, cloud, IoT, next-gen internet, HPC
Digital health, creative industries, cultural heritage
Earth observation, navigation, secure connectivity
Open science, technology transfer, standards
Success rates — the honest picture
Roughly 1 in 6 applications gets funded. A sharp, evidence-backed proposal is what separates the funded from the rejected.
| Call | Submitted | Funded / passed | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 single-stage | 382 | 46 funded | 12.0% |
| 2024 two-stage (final) | 239 | 15 funded | 6.3% |
| 2025 single-stage | 639 | 72 funded | 11.3% |
| 2025 two-stage, stage 1 | 243 | 59 passed to stage 2 | 24.3% |
Two-stage maths: roughly 24% pass stage 1, then about one in four stage-2 proposals gets funded — around 6% end to end. Single-stage odds of 11–12% beat EIC Pathfinder's ~2%. There is no resubmission penalty: rejected consortia can revise and resubmit to the next call, and many winners are second attempts. The 2025 Space call was the outlier at 30% (27 of 90 eligible proposals, €138.6M).
Eligibility
- 1You need a consortium of at least three independent legal entities based in three different EU member states or Horizon-associated countries; a single company cannot win on its own.
- 2The coordinator (the partner that submits and manages the grant) must be established in an EU member state, not just an associated country.
- 3Any legal entity qualifies regardless of size: startups, SMEs, large industry, universities, research institutes, and public bodies are all eligible, and most winning consortia mix all of these.
- 4Your proposal must respond to a specific open topic in the Cluster 4 Work Programme and hit that topic's listed expected outcomes; an excellent idea that does not match an open topic is automatically out of scope.
- 5Your technology must sit roughly at TRL 3-7 (lab-validated up to demonstrated in a relevant environment); pure blue-sky research and shelf-ready products both fit poorly.
- 6UK applicants are now eligible as an associated country, but check the specific call, because a handful of topics tied to strategic assets carry security restrictions on non-EU participation.
Cluster 4 runs on the standard Horizon Europe rule: at least three independent legal entities from three different countries, of which at least one in an EU Member State and two more in Member States or associated countries. A brilliant solo SME (small or medium-sized enterprise) cannot apply alone — unless a specific topic says otherwise, single-applicant proposals are inadmissible. Affiliates of the same group do not count as independent.
Cluster 4 is the cluster where the EU guards its 'open strategic autonomy'. A subset of space topics — notably EU non-dependence work on EEE (electrical, electronic and electromechanical) components and in-space operations — is restricted to entities established in the EU/EEA, shutting out all other countries, associated or not. Restrictions can also bite entities established in an eligible country but controlled, directly or indirectly, from a non-associated third country. The lockout is topic-by-topic: always read the 'specific conditions' block of your topic before assembling a consortium.
The UK is associated to Horizon Europe since 1 January 2024 and participates in everything except the EIC (European Innovation Council) Fund equity arm. Switzerland is associated retroactively from 1 January 2025 under the EU Programmes Agreement signed in November 2025, with confirmed access to Cluster 4's strategic areas — AI, quantum, communication networks and space — in the 2026–2027 work programme. Caveat: where a topic is restricted to Member States or EU/EEA entities under Article 22(5), associated-country status does not help.
If the requested EU contribution for the action is €500,000 or more, the coordinator's financial capacity is formally verified (public bodies and most universities are exempt). A private coordinator with thin equity or no closed accounts — typical of a newly created company — risks being asked for guarantees or told to hand coordination to a sturdier partner. The Commission can also extend the check to other beneficiaries where it sees risk.
Topics flagged as security-sensitive — common across Cluster 4's space, quantum and advanced-computing strands — undergo a security appraisal on top of the ethics review every proposal faces. Outcomes range from security requirements written into the grant agreement to classification of deliverables, and in extreme cases a proposal can be dropped. Budget time for it: the screening sits between evaluation and grant signature and can slow grant preparation.
Where you need to be
Your project should sit at TRL 2–7 when you apply. The eligible band is highlighted below.
- 1Basic principles observedFundamental research
- 2Technology concept formulatedConcept development
- 3Experimental proof of conceptLab validation
- 4Technology validated in labComponent testing
- 5Validated in relevant environmentPrototype in relevant conditions
- 6Demonstrated in relevant environmentPilot demonstration
- 7System prototype in operational environmentSystem demonstration
- 8System complete and qualifiedFinal qualification
- 9Actual system proven in operationMarket ready
The money — consortium grants, no equity
Cluster 4 pays grants split across a consortium — the EU takes no shares and asks for no repayment. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA, early-stage research) reimburse 100% of eligible costs for everyone. Innovation Actions (IA, prototyping and demonstration) reimburse 70% for for-profit companies and 100% for non-profits. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA, networking and policy work) pay 100%, typically €0.5M–€4M.
If you are a company in an IA, you cover 30% of your own costs from your own pocket. A €1M work package means €700K from Brussels and €300K from you. Budget for it before you sign up — it is the most common nasty surprise for first-time industrial partners.
A growing share of 2026–2027 topics use lump-sum grants: the budget is fixed per work package and paid when the work package is completed — no timesheets, no financial audits, no cost reporting. The catch: a half-finished work package earns nothing until it is done. Check the topic page on the Funding & Tenders Portal to see which regime applies.
The Commission pays a pre-financing instalment shortly after signature, then interim and final payments against periodic reports. All money flows through the coordinator, who distributes it to partners under the consortium agreement — negotiate that agreement carefully before the project starts.
How to apply — step by step
- 1Create EU Login account10 min
Go to the EU Authentication Service and create an account.
Create EU Login → - 2Register your organisation1–2 hours
Register in the Participant Register and obtain a PIC.
Participant Register → - 3Find your topic1–2 weeks
Browse the Cluster 4 Work Programme or use our topic finder to identify calls matching your research. Each topic defines the scope, expected outcomes, and budget.
- 4Build your consortiumWeeks–months
Most Cluster 4 calls require a consortium of at least 3 entities from 3 different EU/associated countries. Use the Partner Search tool or attend info days/brokerage events.
Partner Search → - 5Write your proposal8–16 weeks
Part B covers Excellence, Impact, and Implementation. Follow the topic scope closely — evaluators check alignment. Typical length 40–50 pages for RIAs.
- 6Submit electronicallyBefore deadline
Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal before the topic deadline. Most 2026 deadlines fall between February and September 2026.
- 7Expert evaluation~5 months
At least 3 independent experts evaluate your proposal. Scored on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation — each out of 5. Threshold: 3/5 on each of Excellence, Impact and Implementation (minimum total 10/15).
- 8Grant agreement~8 months after deadline
If selected, Grant Agreement signed ~8 months after deadline. Pre-financing (typically 40-50%) paid within 30 days.
What evaluators look for
Excellence
Clarity and pertinence of objectives, soundness of methodology, ambition, novelty.
- Clear alignment with the topic scope
- Sound and credible methodology
- Ambitious but achievable objectives
- Novelty beyond state of the art
Impact
Credibility of pathways to impact, expected outcomes and benefits for clearly identified audiences, communication and exploitation strategy.
- Clear pathways to expected outcomes and impacts
- Who will benefit and how — concrete, audience-specific effects
- Suitability of dissemination, exploitation and communication measures
- Contribution to EU policy objectives
Quality & Efficiency of Implementation
Work plan quality, consortium competence, resource allocation.
- Well-structured work plan with milestones
- Complementary consortium expertise
- Appropriate resource allocation
- Risk management
Documents you'll need
All open topics, budgets, deadlines, and scope definitions for Cluster 4.
- Contains:
- Every Cluster 4 topic for 2026-2027 with detailed scope, expected outcomes, budget, and type of action.
- Length:
- ~300 pages
- Why:
- Source of truth for finding your topic and understanding what the EC wants.
- When:
- Read first — find your topic
Official Part B template for Research & Innovation Actions.
- Contains:
- Template structure for Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections.
- Length:
- ~45 pages
- Why:
- Your actual proposal document.
- When:
- When writing
Full guide to the Horizon Europe grant contract.
- Contains:
- Every clause explained.
- Length:
- ~300 pages
- Why:
- Legal reference.
- When:
- After selection
Cross-cutting rules for all Horizon Europe calls.
- Contains:
- Eligibility, evaluation procedures, funding rates.
- Length:
- ~50 pages
- Why:
- Check eligibility.
- When:
- If unsure about rules
Typical Budget Breakdown
2026 Deadlines
- 10 Mar 202610 Mar 2026EU Space Research call 2026 opens
HORIZON-CL4-2026-03 (SPACE) opens on the Funding & Tenders Portal: €90.97m across 8 topics, from access to space to EU non-dependence in critical technologies.
- 3 Sep 2026, 17:00 Brussels3 Sep 2026, 17:00 BrusselsSubmission deadline
Single-stage electronic submission via the Portal; the system closes to the second, so upload the final Part B well before 17:00.
- 13 Oct 202613 Oct 2026Parallel track: two-stage industry call, stage-2 deadline
Consortia that passed the 17 March 2026 first stage of HORIZON-CL4-2026-02 submit full proposals.
- Sep–Dec 2026Sep–Dec 2026Evaluation window
Remote evaluation by independent experts, then consensus meetings and panel ranking against the three Horizon Europe criteria: excellence, impact, implementation.
- By ~3 Feb 2027 (T+5 months)By ~3 Feb 2027 (T+5 months)Evaluation results out
Horizon Europe's maximum 'time to inform' is five months from deadline: you receive the Evaluation Summary Report and, if ranked high enough, an invitation to grant agreement preparation.
- Feb–Apr 2027Feb–Apr 2027Grant agreement preparation
Consortium completes legal-entity validation, financial-capacity checks, ethics and security requirements, and the final budget on the Portal; the technical annex is locked.
- By ~3 May 2027 (T+8 months)By ~3 May 2027 (T+8 months)Grant signature
The standard 'time to grant' is eight months from the call deadline; coordinator and Commission e-sign on the Portal.
- T+30 days after entry into forceT+30 days after entry into forceFirst pre-financing lands
Pre-financing is paid within 30 days of the grant agreement entering into force or 10 days before the action's start date, whichever is later — the first real money in the project account.
After you're funded
Funded projects are managed by HaDEA (the European Health and Digital Executive Agency), which assigns a project officer to each grant. They approve reports, sign off on amendments and are your single point of contact with Brussels for 24–48 months — most RIAs run 36 months.
Pre-financing arrives shortly after the grant agreement is signed, then interim payments follow each approved periodic report (every 12–18 months) and a final payment closes the project. Actual-cost grants above €430K per beneficiary need a certificate on financial statements from an auditor; lump-sum projects skip cost audits entirely.
Periodic technical and financial reports every 12–18 months, a data management plan, open-access publication of results, and a dissemination and exploitation plan you are contractually bound to deliver. Budget real person-months for this — it is not a formality.
Intellectual property, access rights between partners, money distribution and what happens when a partner underdelivers are all set in the consortium agreement, not the grant agreement. Sign it before the project starts, ideally before submission.
There is no resubmission limit or penalty in Cluster 4. Take the Evaluation Summary Report, fix what the three independent evaluators flagged, and come back to the next call — second-attempt proposals routinely win.
Practical notes
Cluster 4 spans Digital, Industry and Space, and each strand has its own dedicated EU-wide National Contact Point network with its own free brokerage and partner-search tools: Ideal-ist for Digital, NCP4Industry+ (coordinated by APRE) for Industry, and COSMOS4HEplus for Space. Identify which one owns your topic and contact your national NCP through that network rather than a generic helpdesk.
The thematic NCP networks offer applicants free services such as project-idea checks, partner-search facilitation, brokerage events and full draft-proposal reviews. Ideal-ist in particular runs a proposal check service free of charge, where experienced external experts and NCPs give written feedback to improve quality before submission — a genuine odds-mover that most applicants never use.
The Commission's Cluster 4 Info Days for the 2026 Work Programme ran online on 29-30 January 2026 (Day 1 Industry and Space, Day 2 Data, Digital, Human and Horizontal), and are paired with free B2Match matchmaking platforms: the Industry Brokerage Event ran 12 January-17 April 2026 with a pitching session on 10 February, and a Space Brokerage Event was held on 5 February 2026. Registration is mandatory but free; recordings of Info Days are published afterwards.
A large share of Cluster 4 topics flow from co-programmed public-private partnerships — Made in Europe, Processes4Planet (A.SPIRE), AI-Data-Robotics, Photonics, Clean Steel — whose Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas feed directly into which topics appear and how they are worded. Engaging early with the relevant partnership association (e.g. joining EFFRA for Made in Europe) gives you visibility into the agenda and access to its consortium-building network before topics are even published.
Who's been funded
519 projects funded · €3.0B in EU contribution · sourced from CORDIS.
SALTO
€39.0MreuSable strAtegic space Launcher Technologies & Operations
NGI0 Commons Fund
€27.5MCreate, mature and grow internet commons
EROSS IOD
€26.0MEuropean Robotic Orbital Support Services In-Orbit Demonstration
QSNP
€25.0MQuantum Secure Networks Partnership
ELLIOT
€25.0MEuropean Large Open Multi-Modal Foundation Models For Robust Generalization On Arbitrary Data Streams
DVPS
€25.0MDiversibus Viis Plurima Solvo
QLSI2
€25.0MInitiative for european Semiconductor-based Large-scale Quantum computer
QIA-Phase1
€24.0MQuantum Internet Alliance - Phase1
COP-PILOT
€22.5MCollaborative Open Platform for PILOTing services across energing smart IoT and Edge computing environments
OpenSuperQPlus100
€20.0MOpen Superconducting Quantum Computers (OpenSuperQPlus)
Millenion-SGA1
€20.0MModular Industrial Large-scaLE quaNtum computing with trapped IONs, phase 1
ENLIGHTEN-ED
€20.0MEuropean iNitiative for Low cost, Innovative and Green High Thrust ENgine - Engine Demonstration
Key Features
Official links & resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Any legal entity can take part: companies of any size, universities, research institutes, and public bodies. Most calls require a consortium of at least three independent organisations from three different EU member states or Horizon-associated countries. SMEs and startups usually join a larger consortium rather than applying alone, which is the realistic route for a founder.
Cluster 4 is 100% grant money with no equity taken and no loan to repay. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) are funded at 100% of eligible costs and Innovation Actions (IA) at 70% for companies (100% for non-profits). Individual projects typically receive between roughly €4 million and €7 million, shared across the whole consortium, with some large collaborative topics going significantly higher.
For almost all Cluster 4 topics, yes. The standard rule is a minimum of three independent legal entities based in three different EU or associated countries, and the coordinator must be in an EU member state. A typical winning consortium has 6 to 12 partners mixing industry, research, and end users, so a single startup cannot win on its own.
The 2026-2027 Work Programme was adopted on 11 December 2025 and opened five major calls in early 2026. As of July 2026, three upcoming deadlines remain open: the Space call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-03, €90.97 million across 8 topics) closes 3 September 2026; the Clean Industrial Deal call (HORIZON-CID-2026-01, €275 million across two topics — €125M for decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries and €150M for clean technologies for climate action) closes 15 September 2026; and Stage 2 of the Industry two-stage call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-02, €98 million, 3 topics) closes 13 October 2026. The large Industry single-stage call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-01, €319 million, 15 topics, April 21), both Digital calls (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04 at €221.8 million and HORIZON-CL4-2026-05 at €85.5 million, both April 15), and Stage 1 of the Industry two-stage call (March 17) are now closed for 2026.
It is highly competitive. Horizon Europe overall runs around a 12% to 16% success rate, with calls oversubscribed by roughly 4 to 5 times the available budget. Single-stage calls demand a complete, polished proposal up front, while two-stage calls let you pass a shorter first round (a higher hit rate) before submitting the full proposal.
Budget on €4 million to €7 million across a consortium, plan for time. The Commission aims to inform you of the outcome within about 5 months of the deadline, followed by roughly 3 months of grant agreement preparation, so the standard time-to-grant target is around 8 months. Pre-financing (often 60% to 80% of the EU contribution) is usually paid shortly after the grant is signed.
Pick a topic and read the call text literally, because each topic has specific expected outcomes you must hit. Proposals are scored on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation, each out of 5, and Impact is where most applications fail, so quantify the market, jobs, and EU strategic benefit. A credible consortium with clear roles, a realistic work plan, and a genuine path to deployment beats a stronger idea that is vaguely described.
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