Demonstration of an Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage and Its Integrated Industrial System enabling EIS2035 for the SMR Aircraft

This call HORIZON-JU under Clean Aviation CfP 04 funds the development and demonstration of an ultra-efficient rear fuselage and empennage and its integrated industrial system for ultra-efficient SMR aircraft targeting TRL6 and Entry Into Service by 2035. Maximum EU contribution per project is €40 million (call-level envelope €329.5 million) and the action type is HORIZON-JU Innovation Action with typical funding rates of 70% for for-profits and up to 100% for non-profits. Submission is single-stage via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with planned opening 31 March 2026 and deadline 19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries complying with Horizon Europe and CAJU rules and demonstrating certification, industrialisation and high-rate manufacturability readiness.

Opportunity

Demonstration of an Ultra‑Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage and Its Integrated Industrial System enabling EIS2035 for the SMR Aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-SMR-02)

What it funds

Development and demonstration of a rear fuselage and empennage full component assembly plus its integrated industrial system (advanced manufacturing and assembly processes) to reach TRL 6, reduce component weight and enable certification, industrialisation and exploitation towards Entry Into Service 2035 for an Ultra‑Efficient Short‑Medium Range aircraft.

Who can apply:Consortia of legal entities (industry, OEMs, tier suppliers, research organisations, test houses, SMEs) established in eligible Horizon countries (EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries). Standard Horizon/CAJU eligibility, ethics, security and financial capacity rules apply; EASA engagement is foreseen for technical/certification advice. ¹

1. 1Action type: HORIZON-JU-IA (Innovation Action)
2. 2Deadline: 19 May 2026 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage; submission system opens ~31 March 2026)

Funding: standard JU rules for Innovation Actions apply (typical funding rate up to 70% of eligible costs for industrial beneficiaries; non-profit entities may receive up to 100%). Proposals must follow CAJU submission templates and evaluation forms; Q&A documents and topic description on the Portal provide full technical requirements.

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic description, submission rules, templates and Q&A schedule are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page.

Clean Aviation JU CfP 04 Topic: Demonstration of an Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage (RFE) and Integrated Industrial System for SMR Aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-SMR-02)

This Innovation Action targets the development and full-scale demonstration of an Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage and the associated integrated industrial system enabling high-rate, certifiable production for a next-generation Short and Medium Range (SMR) aircraft by Entry Into Service 2035. The project is expected to deliver a complete RFE component assembly and validate advanced manufacturing and assembly processes at TRL 6, achieving significant component-level weight reductions and competitiveness gains through co-development of product and production processes, and by ensuring a clear route to certification, exploitation and industrialisation.

Call and Topic Reference:Programme: Horizon Europe, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2026-01). Topic ID: HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON-JU-IA (Innovation Action). Official topic page and submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

Timeline and Process

• Planned opening date: 31 March 2026
• Deadline: 19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time
• Deadline model: Single-stage submission
• Evaluation model: CAJU-specific four-step expert evaluation process for single-stage IA submissions: Individual Evaluation, Consensus Group, Topic Panel Review, optional Call Panel Review. Post-evaluation steps include grant preparation and Governing Board approval of selections

Budget Context:Indicative total call budget for Clean Aviation CfP 04: €329,500,000 (across all topics in the call). The specific topic budget is not published on the call page; applicants should consult any future topic updates or the Full Description of Topics for precise allocations when available.

Technical Scope and Expected Outcomes

• Design, build and demonstrate a full Ultra-Efficient RFE assembly at TRL 6 in a relevant environment
• Deliver an integrated industrial system enabling high-rate, certifiable manufacturing and assembly of RFE structural components
• Achieve significant component-level mass reduction to improve aircraft efficiency
• Co-develop product and production processes to reduce cost, cycle time and variability while enabling scale-up
• Establish a credible route to certification, exploitation and industrialisation in line with EIS 2035 targets

The scope implies advanced aerostructures design and integration, multi-material and advanced composite or metallic architectures, joining and assembly innovations, out-of-autoclave or high-rate composite processing where applicable, automation and digital threads for manufacturing execution and quality assurance, jigless or modular assembly concepts, non-destructive inspection strategies at rate, and industrial engineering for factory readiness.

Who Should Apply and Consortium Profile

Given the large-scale demonstration and industrialisation objectives, a consortium is expected to include aircraft OEMs, tier-1 and tier-2 aerostructure integrators and suppliers, advanced manufacturing technology providers, materials companies, digital manufacturing and inspection specialists, certification and airworthiness expertise, and research organisations and universities providing underpinning R&D and validation.

Eligibility Highlights

• Type of action: Innovation Action (IA) under Clean Aviation JU with standard Horizon Europe eligibility rules and Clean Aviation specific rules
• Single-stage submission with extensive CAJU IA evaluation template for large-scale projects
• General admissibility and eligibility: Horizon Europe General Annexes A to G apply; specific CAJU rules for submission, evaluation, selection and award apply per the CAJU rules document
• Eligible countries: EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe per Annex B; participation and funding rules for other third countries per the Work Programme General Annexes
• Restrictions: Entities established in Russia, Belarus or in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine are not eligible to participate. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Horizon Europe Innovation Actions in any capacity, except by duly justified case-by-case exception under the Work Programme rules

Funding Rates and Cost Eligibility:For Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, the maximum funding rate is 70 percent of eligible costs for for-profit entities and up to 100 percent for non-profit legal entities. Actual cost eligibility, budget categories and reporting follow the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement and General Annex G. Where applicable, costs related to EASA service contracts for certification-oriented support may be charged under Other goods, works and services.

Application Package, Templates and Guidance

• Proposal templates are available in the Submission System upon call opening; model forms and examples can be consulted on the Reference Documents page
• Mandatory financial annex templates expected mid-March 2026: Estimated budget per reporting period; Work Package descriptions (Detailed); Work Package effort (Detailed); Cost breakdown per beneficiary; Budget summary per applicant and WP; In Kind Contribution
• CA JU Model Consortium Agreement available
• Clean Aviation contract template to procure EASA services under Article 71 SBA available to beneficiaries
• Evaluation form: CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions), with award criteria Excellence, Impact (weighted 1.5 for IA), and Quality and efficiency of the implementation per Horizon Europe Annex D
• General conditions, admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, legal and financial setup per Horizon Europe General Annexes A to G, and Clean Aviation specific rules

Two formal Q&A releases are foreseen prior to the deadline to clarify topic and call conditions. Applicants should monitor the topic page for updates and the posted Q&A documents.

Evaluation Workflow and Contracting Specifics

• Expert evaluation in four phases: Individual Evaluation; Consensus Group; Topic Panel Review; optional Call Panel Review
• Impact criterion weighted 1.5 for Innovation Actions
• Governing Board approval of selected proposals based on ranked lists and budget availability
• Grant preparation may involve technical, scope and budget adjustments to optimise alignment with CAJU SRIA and HLOs, as well as linking of actions and cooperation agreements across topics when required
• EASA Involvement: Applicants or CAJU may invite EASA to advise on compliance with aviation safety, interoperability and environmental standards to facilitate certification, per SBA Article 71. Services by EASA are delivered under a dedicated service contract between the coordinator and EASA; applicable fees are eligible as purchase costs under the grant when contracted by the consortium

Structured Opportunity Extraction and Categorisation

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs and large enterprises in aerospace and advanced manufacturing, aircraft OEMs and tier-1 and tier-2 aerostructure suppliers, materials and process technology firms, engineering consultancies, universities, research organisations and RTOs, nonprofit entities, and other entities with relevant capabilities. Public bodies can participate as beneficiaries where appropriate. EASA engagement is via a separate service contract and not as a beneficiary.

Funding Type:Grant under Horizon Europe, Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking, Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA).

Consortium Requirement:Standard Horizon Europe collaborative eligibility applies, typically requiring a consortium of at least three independent legal entities each established in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. The Clean Aviation rules foresee a possible derogation allowing a single legal entity or other specific consortia where justified at topic level, but such derogation is only applicable if explicitly provided in the topic description. As this topic page does not specify a derogation, applicants should plan for a multi-beneficiary consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe are eligible for funding as set out in General Annex B. Some low and middle income third countries may also be eligible per Annex B. Entities established in Russia, Belarus, and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine are not eligible to participate in any capacity. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions in any capacity, except under narrowly justified exceptions. International organisations and non-associated third country entities may participate without funding, unless exceptional funding is justified and allowed.

Target Sector:Aerospace and aviation, aerostructures, advanced manufacturing and assembly, materials and processes, industrial engineering and digital manufacturing, certification and airworthiness. Cross-cutting elements include sustainability, environment, and climate targets aligned with Clean Aviation SRIA and European Green Deal objectives.

Mentioned Countries:EU and Associated Countries per Horizon Europe Annex B. Explicit restrictions include Russia, Belarus and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine (exclusion from participation), and China (entities ineligible to participate in Innovation Actions). The deadline is specified in Brussels time.

Project Stage:Development, validation and demonstration at TRL 6 in a relevant environment. The industrial system readiness, manufacturability, and certification pathways are key, enabling industrialisation and commercial Entry Into Service by 2035.

Funding Amount:The total Clean Aviation CfP 04 call budget is €329,500,000 across multiple topics. The specific budget for HORIZON-JU is not indicated on the topic page. Large-scale IA projects in Clean Aviation typically command substantial budgets; consult the Full Description of Topics and subsequent updates for any topic-specific indicative contributions.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Electronic submission only; paper submissions are not accepted.

Nature of Support:Direct financial support in the form of a grant. Non-financial assistance includes access to guidance, helpdesks, NCP support, and the possibility to contract EASA advisory services (at cost) to de-risk certification aspects.

Application Stages:1 submission stage. The evaluation process internally follows 4 steps: Individual Evaluation, Consensus Group, Topic Panel Review, and optional Call Panel Review.

Success Rates:No success rate statistics are published for this topic at call launch. Applicants should monitor the topic page and any Clean Aviation reporting for ex-post statistics where available.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes, for-profit entities in Innovation Actions typically receive up to 70 percent EU co-funding and must co-finance the remaining share. Non-profit legal entities may be funded up to 100 percent. Standard Horizon Europe cost eligibility and co-financing rules apply.

Templates and Application Structure

• Part A (online forms): administrative data, participant PICs, contact points, budget summary, ethics and security questions
• Part B (PDF upload): technical proposal structured per the Horizon Europe IA template, addressing Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of the implementation; include a clear work plan, WPs, deliverables, milestones, risks and mitigation, resources per WP and partner, and detailed exploitation, dissemination and communication plans
• Mandatory financial annexes: estimated budget per reporting period; detailed Work Package descriptions; Work Package effort; cost breakdown per beneficiary; budget summary per applicant and WP; In Kind Contribution
• Specific Clean Aviation documents: CA JU Model Consortium Agreement; Clean Aviation contract template for EASA services; Clean Aviation Rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award and review procedures
• Evaluation templates: CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions) evaluation form; general Horizon Europe IA evaluation criteria with Impact weighted 1.5
• Optional, if applicable in the topic: Information on financial support to third parties template (only if FS3P is allowed under the topic), Information on clinical studies template (normally not applicable for this aviation topic)

Compliance, Ethics, IPR and Certification Pathway

• Ethics and values: The action must comply with EU and national ethics laws and highest standards; prepare the ethics self-assessment and address any potential ethics requirements in grant preparation
• Security: If any sensitive or classified information is expected, follow relevant security appraisal and EUCI handling rules; this topic is primarily industrial and not expected to involve EUCI by default
• IPR: Ownership of results remains with beneficiaries; background and access rights per consortium agreement; CAJU may require collaboration and linkage of actions to maximise programmatic impact
• Certification: EASA advisory services can be contracted to identify applicable certification requirements, Means of Compliance and standardisation gaps, and to assess certification readiness

Support and Resources

• Online Manual for procedures and Portal use
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide for structure, budget and policy priorities
• NCPs for guidance and practical information, including in many non-associated countries
• Enterprise Europe Network for SME-focused support
• European IPR Helpdesk for IP matters
• Standards helpdesks (CEN-CENELEC, ETSI) for standardisation integration
• Funding & Tenders Portal IT Helpdesk for technical submission issues

Comprehensive Answers to the Required Classification Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Large enterprise, SME, startup, university, research institute, nonprofit, public body, NGO (where relevant), and other industry or technology providers along the aerostructures and advanced manufacturing value chain. Public-private partnerships can participate through their constituent legal entities. EASA is not a beneficiary; it may provide services under a separate contract.

Funding Type:Grant (Innovation Action) under Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. As a default, at least three independent entities from three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. A Clean Aviation derogation allowing single applicant or non-standard consortia applies only if explicitly stated at topic level; not indicated here.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Associated Countries to Horizon Europe are eligible for funding. Certain third countries may be eligible for funding per Annex B. China-based entities are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions; Russia, Belarus, and entities in non-government controlled territories of Ukraine are excluded from participation. International organisations and non-associated third-country entities may participate without funding unless exceptional funding is allowed and justified.

Target Sector:Aerospace and aviation; advanced manufacturing and industrialisation; materials and processes; engineering and digital manufacturing; certification and airworthiness; sustainability and environment.

Mentioned Countries:EU and Associated Countries as per Horizon Europe Annex B. Explicit exclusions: Russia, Belarus, and non-government controlled territories of Ukraine. Entities established in China are excluded from Innovation Actions. Times referenced are in Brussels time.

Project Stage:TRL 6 technology demonstration in a relevant environment, with strong industrialisation and certification-readiness focus aimed at EIS 2035.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €329.5 million across all CfP 04 topics. Topic-level budget is not specified on the topic page; applicants should consult the Full Description of Topics and updates for any topic-specific contribution guidance.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, electronic submission only via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Nature of Support:Money (grant). Additional advisory services from EASA can be contracted as eligible costs to support certification-readiness.

Application Stages:1 submission stage. Internally, evaluation proceeds through 4 steps: Individual Evaluation, Consensus Group, Topic Panel Review, and optional Call Panel Review.

Success Rates:Not published for this topic at launch; no indicative success rate is available.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. For-profit beneficiaries in IA receive up to 70 percent EU co-funding and must co-finance the remainder; non-profit legal entities may be funded up to 100 percent.

Practical Submission Checklist

• Confirm eligibility of all beneficiaries against Horizon Europe Annexes and Clean Aviation specific rules
• Assemble a consortium covering design, manufacturing, assembly, inspection, digitalisation, industrialisation, certification, and exploitation
• Define technical objectives, KPIs and TRL 6 demonstration plan for the RFE assembly and industrial system
• Detail production-rate enabling technologies, automation, quality assurance and cost/cycle-time reductions
• Provide a robust certification and standardisation pathway; consider budgeting for EASA advisory services as Other goods and services
• Include exploitation, dissemination, communication and IPR strategies, with quantified impact aligned to Clean Aviation SRIA and HLOs
• Prepare detailed Work Packages, resources, risks and mitigation; ensure budget consistency and cost reasonableness
• Upload all required annexes and use official templates; submit before the Brussels time deadline

Apply through the official Funding & Tenders Portal and regularly check the topic page for any updates, Q&A releases and document revisions.

Summary

This Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking Innovation Action seeks a large-scale, industry-led consortium to design, manufacture and demonstrate a full Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage and the associated integrated industrial system for a future SMR aircraft. The project must achieve TRL 6 for the aerostructure assembly and validate advanced, high-rate, certifiable manufacturing and assembly processes, delivering meaningful weight reductions and competitiveness improvements, and providing a credible route to certification and industrialisation by EIS 2035. The call follows Horizon Europe and Clean Aviation specific rules, is open to EU and Associated Countries, and requires a strong plan for impact and implementation. Funding rates are typical of Innovation Actions, with 70 percent for for-profits and up to 100 percent for non-profits. Applicants should leverage the provided templates, CAJU evaluation guidance and may consider EASA advisory services to de-risk certification. Submission is single-stage with a rigorous expert evaluation sequence. The overall CfP 04 budget is €329.5 million across topics; applicants should consult topic documents for any budgetary updates and ensure comprehensive coverage of technical, industrial, and certification-readiness elements in their proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: HORIZON-JU on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page. Clean Aviation rules and templates referenced are available via Clean Aviation and the Portal. General conditions as per Horizon Europe General Annexes A to G.

Demonstration of an Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage and Its Integrated Industrial System enabling EIS2035 for the SMR Aircraft

Opportunity Overview

This call topic HORIZON-JU under Clean Aviation CfP 04 targets the development and demonstration of an Ultra-Efficient Rear Fuselage and Empennage (RFE) and its integrated industrial system for the Ultra-Efficient Short-Medium Range (SMR) Aircraft. The objective is to deliver a full RFE component assembly and an industrial system with advanced manufacturing and assembly processes supporting high-rate production at TRL6. Key aims include significant weight reduction at component level, enhanced competitiveness via co-development of product and production processes, and a clear path to certification, exploitation, and industrialisation for Entry Into Service (EIS) in 2035.

The topic is part of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) programme, focusing on disruptive technologies for ultra-efficient SMR aircraft architectures. It aligns with the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), targeting 30% CO2 emission reduction through technology advancements.

Key Dates and Process

1. 1Planned opening date: 31 March 2026
2. 2Deadline: 19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)
3. 3Evaluation timeline: Indicative details in Annex F of Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
4. 4Grant agreement signature: Approximately 8 months from deadline
5. 5Q&A releases: First on 17 February 2026, second on 17 April 2026

Submission system opens end of March 2026. Proposal templates and financial annexes available now on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Check the topic page regularly for updates.

Funding Details

EU Contribution:Maximum EU contribution per project: €40 million. Up to 1 project expected. Total Call 4 budget: €329.5 million across 18 topics.

Type of Action:HORIZON-JU-IA (Innovation Action). Budget-based Action Grant (HORIZON-AG). Funding rate: 70% (100% for non-profit entities).

Total Research Effort:Estimated €824 million including private in-kind contributions across Call 4.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Consortia of at least three independent legal entities from different EU Member States or Associated Countries (at least one from an EU Member State). Single entities or consortia not meeting minimum conditions may be eligible if specified in topic conditions. SMEs, RTOs, and universities encouraged; large-scale topics require minimum 15% EU funding allocation to these entities.

• Eligible countries: EU Member States, Associated Countries (see Annex B of Work Programme General Annexes)
• Non-EU entities: Eligible if essential, subject to conditions
• Special conditions: Coordinator must be European-based aircraft integrator for some topics
• Admissibility: Proposal page limits and layout per Annex A/E; complete, readable submissions

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Evaluation uses CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions) template. Process: Individual evaluation, consensus, topic panel review. Specific Clean Aviation rules apply. Full details in topic conditions and Work Programme Annexes.

Technical Scope and Requirements

• Deliver RFE full component assembly at TRL6
• Develop industrial system for high-rate production
• Significant weight reduction and competitiveness gains
• Co-development of product and production processes
• Clear certification, exploitation, and industrialisation route for EIS 2035
• Integration with SMR aircraft concepts (150-250 PAX, 1000-2000nm range)

Focus on advanced manufacturing/assembly supporting sustainability. Complements other SMR thrust activities (e.g. propulsion, wing). Related projects: FASTER-H2 (integrated fuselage/empennage), UP Wing (high aspect ratio wing).

Key Documents and Resources

• Proposal templates available now (application form, financial annexes mid-March 2026)
• CAJU Model Consortium Agreement
• Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27
• Horizon Europe General Annexes
• Partner search on Funding & Tenders Portal

Apply via EU Funding & Tenders Portal Funding & Tenders Portal. Topic description document essential for full details.

Additional Considerations for Applicants

• Strong emphasis on SMEs/RTOs/universities (15% minimum funding allocation)
• Widening participation across EU countries encouraged
• EASA collaboration possible via service contract template
• Ethics screening and security appraisal if applicable
• Gender equality plans required for public bodies/research organisations/HEIs

Call 4 promotes hydrogen technologies and fast-track activities. Pitch & Connect event: 13 February 2026. Info Day: 18 February 2026. Contact: CFP-2026-01@clean-aviation.eu ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: Primary Opportunity. Clean Aviation website: Clean Aviation.