Demonstration of cabin acoustic optimization technology

Research and Innovation Action under the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking HORIZON-JU to develop and demonstrate lightweight, low-volume cabin acoustic treatment technologies for hybrid-electric ultra-efficient regional aircraft. Topic budget is €5,000,000 for up to one project, funding rate 100% for RIA actions, with an award ceiling of €5,000,000 per project. Single-stage submission opens 31 March 2026 and closes 19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, targeting ground demonstrations to TRL5 in representative noise and vibration environments. Eligible applicants are Horizon Europe eligible legal entities, typically consortia of at least three independent entities from different Member States or associated countries, and proposals will be evaluated on Excellence, Impact and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation.

Opportunity Overview

Demonstration of cabin acoustic optimization technology — Clean Aviation CfP 04

Call / Topic

HORIZON-JU — Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research & Innovation Action). Single-stage call; planned opening 31 March 2026; deadline 19 May 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Apply via the Funding & Tenders Portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

What it funds:Development and ground demonstration (to TRL 5) of innovative lightweight, low‑volume cabin acoustic treatment technologies for an Ultra‑Efficient Regional Aircraft concept with hybrid‑electric propulsion; demonstrations must address representative noise and vibration environments and be compatible with regional aircraft integration.

Who can apply:Legal entities eligible under Horizon Europe (see Work Programme General Annexes Annex B). Typical applicants are consortia of research organisations, industry partners and SMEs able to deliver TRL‑5 ground demonstrations; participation rules and eligibility follow Clean Aviation and Horizon Europe procedures.

1. 1Type of proposal: Research & Innovation Action (RIA)
2. 2Project maturity target: ground demo to TRL 5
3. 3Expected focus: lightweight, low-volume acoustic treatments compatible with regional aircraft integration

Budget: the Clean Aviation CfP 04 call publication shows an indicative combined call budget of €329,500,000 across topics in this CfP; no project‑level award ranges are published on the topic page. Applicants should consult the topic description and application templates for any topic‑specific financial details.

Read the topic description, submission rules and templates on the call page and follow the Programme Guide and General Annexes for admissibility, eligibility and evaluation rules. Application templates and supporting documents will be available in the submission system when the call opens; Q&A documents will be released according to the schedule on the call page EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and submission system for this topic: ec.europa.eu (search topic HORIZON-JU).

Demonstration of cabin acoustic optimization technology — Clean Aviation JU HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-FTA-02

This is a Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) Call for Proposals under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-JU-RIA). The topic seeks projects that will develop and demonstrate innovative cabin acoustic treatment technologies to mitigate noise for an Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft concept based on hybrid-electric propulsion. The targeted maturity is ground demonstration to TRL 5 in representative noise and vibration environments, with lightweight, low-volume solutions compatible with integration into a regional aircraft. The call is single-stage and will open on 31 March 2026 with a deadline on 19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Call identifiers and timing:Programme: Horizon Europe — Clean Aviation CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2026-01). Topic ID: HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Action). Deadline model: single-stage. Planned opening date: 31 March 2026. Deadline date: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

What the topic funds: scope and expected outcomes

• Objective: Develop and demonstrate innovative acoustic treatment technologies that reduce aircraft cabin noise for a hybrid-electric Ultra-Efficient Regional Aircraft concept.
• Expected maturity: TRL 5 through ground demonstrations in representative noise and vibration environments.
• Integration: Solutions must be lightweight, low volume, and compatible with integration into a regional aircraft.
• Testing: Ground-based representative demonstrations; focus on acoustics and vibro-acoustics consistent with hybrid-electric propulsion aircraft architectures.

Key call conditions, guidance and documents

• General rules: Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes apply (admissibility, eligibility, capacity, award criteria, procedures, legal and financial set-up).
• Specific CAJU rules: Clean Aviation-specific rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award, review, and the CAJU Fast Track Activities (FTA) evaluation template apply.
• Evaluation criteria: Excellence; Impact; Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Scoring 0–5 per criterion; thresholds typically 3 per criterion and 10 overall; single-stage evaluation.
• Evaluation process: Individual evaluation; consensus group; Topic Panel review; optional Call Panel review at call level for cross-topic portfolio coherence.
• Submission system and templates: Part A (online forms), Part B (technical annex PDF), with mandatory financial annex templates including Estimated budget per reporting period, Work Package description (Detailed), Work Package effort (Detailed), Cost Breakdown per beneficiary, Budget summary per applicant and WP, and In Kind Contribution forms.
• Model agreements and support: CA JU Model Consortium Agreement; Clean Aviation service contract template for EASA involvement when applicable; Online Manual and Programme Guide.
• Q&A schedule: Call Q&A foreseen in two releases, on 17 February 2026 and on 17 April 2026, published on the topic page.
• Partner search: Available through the Portal’s Partner Search; LEARs, Account Administrators, or public profiles can post partner requests.

Categorisation and structured information

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants are any legal entities meeting Horizon Europe rules, including startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research organisations, public research bodies, nonprofit organisations, NGOs, and public authorities. International European research organisations and EU bodies (where eligible) may participate under the specific conditions set out in the Work Programme. Entities from non-associated third countries may participate, with eligibility for funding as per Annex B of the General Annexes or if essential to the action.

Funding Type

Grant funding under Horizon Europe, via HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Action). Funding rate: up to 100% of eligible direct costs, plus 25% flat-rate for indirect costs, as per Horizon Europe General Annexes for RIAs.

Consortium Requirement

Standard Horizon Europe RIA consortium composition applies: at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country, with at least one established in an EU Member State. The Clean Aviation JU rules include a legal basis for derogation allowing a single legal entity or consortia not meeting Article 22(2) of the Horizon Europe Regulation to be eligible where justified at topic level; unless explicitly provided in the specific topic conditions, applicants should plan for the standard multi-beneficiary consortium.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Participation is open to legal entities worldwide, subject to Horizon Europe rules. Entities eligible for funding are those established in EU Member States (including their outermost regions), Overseas Countries and Territories linked to Member States, and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Other third-country participants may be funded under the conditions of the General Annexes (e.g., essential participation). Additional restrictions may apply for specific policy reasons (e.g., protection of European communication networks) and to entities subject to EU restrictive measures. Eligibility of specific countries is defined in Annex B of the General Annexes.

Target Sector

Aviation and aerospace; aircraft structures and systems; acoustics and vibro-acoustics; hybrid-electric propulsion integration; advanced materials and treatments; noise and vibration engineering; cabin interior systems; environmental performance of aircraft.

Mentioned Countries

Regional eligibility is EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries as per the General Annexes. The General Annexes also list Overseas Countries and Territories (e.g., French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Greenland) and eligible Associated Countries (e.g., Norway, Iceland, Israel, Türkiye, United Kingdom, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Tunisia, New Zealand, Armenia, Kosovo). Additionally, a broad set of low- and middle-income countries is referenced for general participation rules in Annex B.

Project Stage (TRL/Maturity)

Research, development, validation and demonstration up to TRL 5 (technology validated in a relevant environment). The topic seeks ground demonstrations in representative noise and vibration environments, aiming at integration-ready, lightweight and low-volume acoustic treatments for regional aircraft.

Funding Amount

The call budget for Clean Aviation CfP 04 (all topics) is €329,500,000. No specific per-topic budget or indicative number of grants is published for this topic in the provided material. Applicants should consult the call’s Budget Overview on the topic page for any updates prior to submission.

Application Type

Open competitive call, single-stage submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Application Part A (online forms) and Part B (technical description PDF), with mandatory financial annex templates.

Nature of Support

Monetary grant support. Standard Horizon Europe cost eligibility rules apply. For any optional involvement of EASA services, costs are charged to beneficiaries under Other goods, works and services and can be declared as eligible costs in the budget (as per the Clean Aviation EASA service contract template).

Application Stages

Single-stage application. The evaluation process comprises multiple phases: individual evaluation by external experts; consensus group; Topic Panel Review; optional Call Panel Review to ensure portfolio coherence.

Success Rates

Success rates are not published for this topic in the available documentation.

Co-funding Requirement

Horizon Europe RIAs are funded at up to 100% of eligible direct costs plus a 25% flat-rate of indirect costs. No additional co-funding is required beyond the standard cost share implied by the funding rate. Any services procured (e.g., EASA advisory services) are eligible as purchase costs within the budget.

Evaluation and award details

• Award criteria: Excellence; Impact; Quality and efficiency of the implementation.
• Scoring: 0 to 5 per criterion; thresholds typically 3 per criterion and 10 overall for full proposals.
• Panels: Topic-specific external expert panels; optional cross-topic Call Panel may advise on portfolio alignment with CAJU SRIA High Level Objectives.
• Ethics and security: Proposals recommended for funding undergo ethics review; security considerations apply where relevant. Projects must focus exclusively on civil applications.
• Gender Equality Plans: For public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions in EU Member States/Associated Countries, a compliant Gender Equality Plan must be in place by grant signature.

How to apply: templates and structure

Forms and annexes:Use the application forms provided in the Submission System. Mandatory annexes include: Estimated budget for the action per reporting period; Work Package description (Detailed); Work Package effort (Detailed); Cost Breakdown per beneficiary; Budget summary per applicant and work package; In Kind Contribution templates. A CA JU Model Consortium Agreement is available. Templates and supporting documents are accessible on the topic page prior to system opening.

Proposal structure (indicative outline):Part A: Administrative forms (applicants, abstracts, keywords, ethics, security, declarations). Part B: Technical description covering (1) Excellence (objectives, ambition beyond state of the art, soundness of methodology, open science, gender dimension if relevant), (2) Impact (pathways to outcomes and impacts, measures for dissemination, exploitation and communication, market and environmental considerations, standardisation and regulatory aspects), (3) Quality and efficiency of implementation (work plan, deliverables, milestones, risk management, consortium roles, resources and budget). Include detailed WP descriptions, effort, and budget tables using the provided templates.

Evaluation templates:The CA JU Specific Evaluation Template for this topic is the Evaluation Form CAJU Fast Track Activities (FTA). Standard Horizon Europe evaluation forms for RIAs/ IAs/ CSAs are also provided as references.

Administrative, legal and financial notes

• Legal framework: Horizon Europe Regulations and the Clean Aviation Single Basic Act (Regulation (EU) 2021/2085).
• Grant model: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].
• Funding rate: RIA up to 100% of eligible direct costs, plus 25% indirect.
• Mutual Insurance Mechanism applies; prefinancing, interim, and final payments per GA Data Sheet.
• Financial support to third parties: If foreseen by the topic, use the dedicated template with thresholds, selection, and award rules; maximum €60,000 per third party unless the Work Programme explicitly allows higher amounts.
• Gender, ethics, values: Compliance with the highest ethics standards, EU values, data protection (GDPR), and open science practices. Projects must be exclusively civil.
• GEP requirement: Public bodies, research organisations, and HEIs in MS/AC must have a Gender Equality Plan by grant signature.
• Country restrictions: Participation and funding eligibility per Annex B; entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible. Additional restrictions can apply for strategic interests (e.g., 5G-related topics), not indicated as applicable to this topic.

Call budget overview and related topics

Budget year 2026; Clean Aviation CfP 04 includes multiple topics across RIA and IA strands (e.g., TRA, ACI, HPA, REG, SMR, CSA, FTA). The overall call budget is €329,500,000. The submission system is planned to open by end of March 2026. Applicants should monitor the topic page for budget updates and the number of grants.

Summary: what this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking topic funds research and innovation to mature and ground-demonstrate to TRL 5 novel cabin acoustic treatments that significantly reduce interior noise in future hybrid-electric regional aircraft. Solutions must be lightweight, low volume, and integration-ready for regional platforms, validated under representative noise and vibration conditions. The action sits within the Clean Aviation strategic drive to decarbonise aviation through disruptive airframe, propulsion and systems technologies, and it addresses passenger comfort, systems integration, and hybrid-electric aircraft design constraints. Applicants form Horizon Europe-compliant consortia and propose a clear work plan to achieve TRL 5, including robust experimental validation, vibro-acoustic modelling, material or metamaterial-based treatments, integration concepts, and verification under relevant environmental loads. Proposals are evaluated on excellence, impact, and implementation quality, with standard Horizon Europe RIA funding rates (up to 100% of eligible costs) and a single-stage process. All application templates, budget annexes, and guidance are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, with CAJU-specific evaluation rules and a dedicated FTA evaluation form. The call opens on 31 March 2026 and closes on 19 May 2026.

Useful links

• Topic page and submission: HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-FTA-02
• EU Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual: Online Manual
• Horizon Europe Programme Guide: HE Programme Guide
• Horizon Europe General Annexes: General Annexes 2023-2025
• Clean Aviation Rules for submission and evaluation: CAJU Rules document
• CA JU Work Programme and Full Description of Topics: Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27

Demonstration of Cabin Acoustic Optimization Technology

Funding Opportunity Overview

This is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) call under the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU), part of the Horizon Europe programme. The opportunity focuses on developing and demonstrating innovative acoustic treatment technologies to reduce cabin noise in ultra-efficient regional aircraft based on hybrid-electric propulsion. The call is part of the Clean Aviation Call 4 HORIZON-JU, classified as a Fast Track Activity.

Key Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€5,000,000 for this specific topic, with up to 1 project expected to be funded.

Funding Rate:100% for Research and Innovation Actions under Horizon Europe.

Award Ceiling:€5,000,000 maximum per project.

Call Timeline

Opening Date:31 March 2026

Submission Deadline:19 May 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Expected Evaluation Timeline:Approximately 5 months from deadline for evaluation results; grant agreement signature expected around 8 months from deadline.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include academic institutions, private sector organizations, and research and technology organizations (RTOs). Consortia of at least three independent legal entities from different countries are typically required, with at least one from an EU Member State and two from different EU Member States or associated countries. Single legal entities established in Member States or associated countries may be eligible under specific derogations.

Eligible Countries:All EU Member States, associated countries to Horizon Europe, and numerous non-associated third countries including countries from Africa, Asia, Americas, and other regions. The call conditions specify eligible countries in detail.

Project Scope and Objectives

The project must develop and demonstrate innovative acoustic treatment technologies that ensure cabin noise mitigation for ultra-efficient regional aircraft concepts based on hybrid-electric propulsion. The work should cover ground demonstrations to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 in representative noise and vibration environments. Solutions must be lightweight and low volume, compatible with integration on regional aircraft platforms.

Expected Outcomes:Development of innovative acoustic treatment technologies with ground-level demonstrations achieving TRL5, targeting lightweight and low-volume solutions suitable for regional aircraft integration.

Context and Strategic Alignment

This opportunity is part of the Clean Aviation programme, which aims to develop disruptive aviation technologies supporting the European Green Deal. The programme focuses on three coordinated technology development areas: ultra-efficient short and medium-range aircraft (SMR), hybrid-electric regional aircraft (HER), and hydrogen-powered aircraft (H2). The cabin acoustic optimization topic directly supports the HER thrust, which targets hybrid-electric regional aircraft with approximately 50-100 passenger capacity and 500 nautical mile range, aiming for 30% CO2 emission reduction and entry into service by 2035.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against three main criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation. Each criterion is scored 0-5, with individual thresholds of 3 and an overall threshold of 10 points. For Innovation Actions, the Impact criterion receives a weighting of 1.5 for ranking purposes.

Excellence Criterion:Clarity and pertinence of objectives; soundness of proposed methodology including interdisciplinary approaches, gender dimension consideration, and open science practices.

Impact Criterion:Credibility of pathways to achieve expected outcomes; suitability and quality of dissemination and exploitation measures including communication activities.

Quality and Efficiency Criterion:Quality and effectiveness of work plan; assessment of risks; appropriateness of effort assigned to work packages; capacity and role of each participant; extent to which consortium brings together necessary expertise.

Important Conditions and Requirements

• Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal before the deadline
• Applicants must register in the Participant Register and obtain a participant identification code (PIC)
• All beneficiaries must remain eligible throughout the action duration
• Consortium agreement required for multi-beneficiary grants specifying internal organization, payment distribution, and dispute settlement
• Gender equality plan required for public bodies, research organizations, and higher education establishments from Member States and associated countries
• Ethics self-assessment mandatory; proposals may undergo ethics review and be subject to specific ethics requirements
• Open science practices must be integrated into research methodology
• Communication and dissemination plan required with visibility of EU support through European flag and funding statement
• Intellectual property rights provisions apply; beneficiaries retain ownership of results but granting authority has usage rights for policy and communication purposes
• Record-keeping required for minimum 5 years after final payment (3 years for grants under €60,000)
• Financial statements and certificates on financial statements may be required depending on grant amount
• No-profit rule applies; surplus of revenues plus EU grant over costs must be deducted from final grant amount
• Double funding prohibited; costs cannot be declared under multiple EU grants

Grant Agreement and Payment Arrangements

Successful applicants will receive a budget-based mixed actual cost grant. The grant agreement will specify reporting periods, payment schedules, and deliverables. Prefinancing payments will be made to provide working capital, with interim and final payments linked to periodic reports. A Mutual Insurance Mechanism contribution (5-8% of maximum grant amount) will be retained from prefinancing payments.

Reporting Requirements:Continuous reporting through the Portal Continuous Reporting tool; periodic technical and financial reports due 60 days after each reporting period; final report due 60 days after project end.

Payment Timeline:Initial prefinancing within 30 days of grant agreement entry into force; interim payments within 90 days of receiving periodic reports; final payment within 90 days of receiving final report.

Specific Guidance for Applicants

• Submit proposals well in advance of deadline to avoid technical issues; late submissions will not be accepted
• Use mock evaluation forms available on the topic page to self-assess proposal quality before submission
• Ensure all consortium members have appropriate expertise in acoustic treatment, hybrid-electric aircraft systems, and regional aircraft integration
• Demonstrate clear pathways from ground-level demonstrations (TRL5) toward flight demonstration and eventual aircraft integration
• Address lightweight and low-volume design constraints specific to regional aircraft cabin integration
• Include detailed risk assessment and mitigation strategies for acoustic technology validation
• Plan for synergies with other Clean Aviation projects, particularly HERACLES and DEMETRA projects led by ATR
• Provide realistic budget justification with cost breakdown by work package and participant
• Ensure gender balance in project team and address gender dimension in research content
• Plan for open access to research data and publications in line with Horizon Europe requirements
• Identify potential end-users and stakeholders for dissemination activities
• Clarify intellectual property strategy and background knowledge access arrangements

Support and Resources

Applicants can access comprehensive guidance through multiple channels. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed information on programme structure and requirements. National Contact Points (NCPs) in each country offer guidance on participation. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal includes an online manual with submission procedures. Questions about the call can be directed to the Clean Aviation mailbox (CFP-2026-01@clean-aviation.eu). Two Q&A document releases are planned: first on 17 February 2026 and second on 17 April 2026.

Additional Considerations

This Fast Track Activity is part of a broader Clean Aviation initiative addressing urgent decarbonization needs in aviation. The cabin acoustic optimization technology directly supports the development of next-generation regional aircraft that can operate sustainably with reduced environmental impact. Successful projects will contribute to European technological leadership in sustainable aviation and support the achievement of climate neutrality targets outlined in the European Green Deal and Fit for 55 package ¹.

Applicants should note that the Clean Aviation programme emphasizes impact-driven research with clear pathways to technology deployment. Projects demonstrating strong synergies with other Clean Aviation initiatives and clear commercialization potential will be particularly competitive. The programme also values international collaboration and contributions to standardization and regulatory development for new aircraft technologies.

Footnotes

1. 1The Clean Aviation programme is structured to support the European Green Deal objectives and the Fit for 55 package, which aims to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. The programme targets entry into service of next-generation aircraft by 2035, with regional aircraft expected to demonstrate 30% CO2 emission reduction through hybrid-electric propulsion and other advanced technologies.