Enhancing the European nuclear competence area

HORIZON-EURATOM is an EURATOM Coordination and Support Action funding a pan-European education and training programme to maintain and enhance competences in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management and radiation protection. The topic has an indicative EU contribution of around €5,000,000 (€2.5M in 2026 and €2.5M in 2027), permits financial support to third parties up to €20,000 per recipient, and follows a single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU Member States and Euratom Associated Countries (notably Ukraine and Switzerland at publication), proposals are limited to 40 pages for Part B, and the submission deadline is 15 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Enhancing the European nuclear competence area

Call at a glance

HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-03 — EURATOM-CSA

What it funds: a single pan-European, sustainable education and training (E&T) programme to maintain and enhance EU nuclear competences in safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management and radiation protection. Key activities include coordination and best-practice sharing, attractive education programmes, a robust transnational mobility scheme, a one-stop EU E&T portal, specialised training (e.g. decommissioning, waste management, SMRs, safeguards, medical/space applications), and strategic actions for safe use of AI in nuclear education.

Who can apply:Consortia led by experienced EU actors (universities, research organisations, industry and training providers). Proposals should involve HR specialists and may include the JRC as partner. Eligible applicants follow Euratom general annexes; entities from EU Member States and associated countries (notably Ukraine and Switzerland at publication) are eligible. International cooperation is encouraged. Proposals must be submitted as a consortium (Coordination and Support Action).

1. 1Type of action: EURATOM-CSA (Coordination and Support Action).
2. 2Deadline: 15 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage).
3. 3Page limit for Part B: 40 pages; follow Part B template and submission rules.
4. 4Third-party grants allowed for activities to enable student/young researcher participation; capped at €20,000 per individual third party.
5. 5The JRC may participate and cover its own operational costs; use of prior Euratom projects (e.g. ENEN2plus, Skills4Nuclear) is expected.

Indicative budget and award size: topic budget allocated across 2026–2027 totals around €5,000,000 for this CSA topic (€2.5M per year at topic listing). Applicants should check the call page for exact figures and the final budget distribution.

Scope and expected impact: projects must create EU added value by complementing national programmes, increasing attractiveness of nuclear careers, expanding mobility and access to infrastructure, addressing skills gaps (including attracting professionals from adjacent sectors), and delivering practical outputs (templates, case studies, governance model for the portal, mobility procedures). A structured evaluation of AI (SLMs/LLMs) in nuclear education and practical guidance for safe implementation is required.

Administrative and eligibility highlights: follow the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes for admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, award criteria and grant setup. Proposals must respect page/layout rules, include required annexes (e.g., financial support to third parties if applicable), and will be evaluated against Excellence, Impact and Implementation criteria.

Submission and support: call opens 24 March 2026 (submission system planned to open on that date). Apply via the Funding & Tenders Portal. For guidance use the Application Form templates and Online Manual available on the Portal.

Useful reference:Background projects and initiatives to consider when preparing a proposal include Skills4Nuclear and ENEN2plus; the Skills4Nuclear activity developing a nuclear skills strategy is directly referenced in the topic description Skills4Nuclear ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Skills4Nuclear project page: cordis.europa.eu

Enhancing the European nuclear competence area — HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-03

This is a forthcoming single-stage Coordination and Support Action (EURATOM-CSA) under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027. It funds a pan-European initiative to maintain and enhance EU nuclear competences in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management and radiation protection, with strong emphases on education and training (E&T), mobility, career attractiveness, and the safe integration of AI tools in nuclear education.

Opportunity Scope and Objectives

The action will implement a comprehensive, sustainable, pan-European education and training (E&T) programme across nuclear engineering and technologies, including ionising radiation applications beyond nuclear energy. It must build on existing Euratom and EU activities and complement national efforts to ensure sufficient, skilled staff for the sector. Human resources specialists should be involved and the action should be led by experienced EU actors to ensure continuity and avoid duplication, notably referencing ENEN2plus and Skills4Nuclear.

• Establish EU added value by coordinating, sharing best practices, and creating a single point for nuclear E&T at EU level.
• Promote Euratom competences in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management and radiation protection via attractive programmes and expanded mobility, including access to world-class infrastructure.
• Deploy strategic actions for the safe implementation of AI in nuclear education, especially assessing small and large language models (SLMs/LLMs), their efficacy and risks, and producing evidence-based guidance, practical templates, case studies, and a risk-mitigation checklist for education providers.
• Improve career attractiveness through internships, technical visits, training programmes, and career events; target students, doctoral candidates, and workers from other sectors.
• Support specialised E&T in demanding competence areas such as decommissioning, radioactive waste management, radiation protection, SMRs, nuclear safeguards, and non-power applications (e.g., medicine, space).
• Manage a robust, extensive, sustainable, and well-resourced mobility scheme co-designed with industry, universities and research institutions; use prior programmes’ lessons; align with EU/national strategies including the nuclear skills strategy developed under Skills4Nuclear.

The action must also deliver a one-stop, single-entry-point website for nuclear E&T in the EU, covering EU, national and international levels, and including university, applied sciences, and vocational opportunities. A governance and funding model to sustain the site after project end is required.

International cooperation and mobility exchange beyond Euratom are encouraged, particularly with international organisations and entities with advanced nuclear research programmes, e.g. IAEA ETKM and OECD/NEA NEST. See references: Skills4Nuclear CORDIS project and OECD NEA (NEST framework context).

Expected Outcomes

• Complement national workforce programmes by coordinating E&T, sharing best practices and providing a single EU-level E&T point.
• Enhance nuclear career pathways and availability of Euratom competences through more attractive programmes and widened mobility/job perspectives.
• Advance nuclear E&T through evidence-based, safe implementation of AI tools, including SLMs/LLMs, with practical provider resources.
• Increase attractiveness and awareness of nuclear careers among diverse communities and age groups, including upskilling routes for professionals from adjacent industries.

Key Activities Required

• Pan-European nuclear E&T programme design and delivery that complements national programmes, leverages prior EU/Euratom results, and responds to labour market needs.
• Early engagement actions to spark interest among pupils and students; targeted activities for teachers at all levels; outreach to influential individuals in education ecosystems.
• Attraction and transition pathways for students, doctoral candidates, and cross-sector workers; identification and replication of best practices for career attractiveness.
• Specialised training tracks addressing current and future skills gaps in decommissioning, waste management, radiation protection, SMRs, safeguards, and non-power nuclear applications in medicine and space.
• AI in education workstream: evaluate efficacy and risks of SLMs/LLMs in E&T; pilot safe use; produce guidance, templates, case studies, and a risk-mitigation checklist to support critical thinking and academic integrity.
• Mobility scheme management: co-design with industry, universities, and RTOs; align with assessments and EU/national strategies including the Skills4Nuclear-developed nuclear skills strategy; ensure scale, sustainability and sufficient resources.
• Single-entry-point nuclear E&T website: comprehensive listings across EU/national/international levels, higher education, applied sciences, and vocational opportunities; governance and sustainable funding model post-project.
• International cooperation: facilitate exchanges with IAEA ETKM, OECD/NEA NEST, and leading non-EU nuclear research institutions.

Budget, Scale, and Indicative Awards

Beneficiaries may include financial support to third parties to enable student and young researcher participation, strictly as grants and capped at €20,000 per individual. Applicants must include a specific annex describing this scheme when applicable. Template: Information on financial support to third parties (HE).

Who Should Apply

Eligible Applicant Types

All legal entities established in EU Member States and Euratom Associated Countries are eligible per the Euratom Work Programme General Annexes. The action explicitly refers to a consortium led by experienced EU actors. Suitable applicants include: universities and higher education institutions; research institutes and laboratories; vocational and applied sciences education providers; SMEs and large enterprises active in nuclear engineering, nuclear medicine applications, radiation technologies, decommissioning and waste management; nuclear industry associations; nonprofit organisations and NGOs active in education and skills development; public authorities and government agencies; the Joint Research Centre (JRC), which may participate as a consortium member; international organisations may cooperate, with funding subject to eligibility conditions. Human resources specialists should be involved.

Funding Type

Grant funding under EURATOM-CSA (Coordination and Support Action) via a budget-based Euratom Action Grant (EURATOM-AG). See the Model Grant Agreements and AGA guidance: Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement and EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium. The topic repeatedly refers to a consortium, including leadership by experienced EU actors and close cooperation between industry, universities and research institutions. Participation rules follow the Euratom Work Programme General Annexes. The JRC may participate.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Eligibility follows the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes. As of publication of this call, Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to the Euratom Programme and eligible for funding. Refer to the up-to-date list of participating countries: List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe (incl. Euratom) — v3.8, 12.02.2026.

Target Sector

• Nuclear energy and nuclear technologies
• Nuclear safety, security, safeguards
• Radioactive waste management and decommissioning
• Radiation protection
• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
• Non-power nuclear applications (medicine and space)
• Education and training, skills and workforce development
• Artificial intelligence applied to education and training in the nuclear domain

Mentioned Countries/Regions and Organisations

• Countries explicitly mentioned: Ukraine, Switzerland
• Regions/eligibility context: EU Member States and Euratom Associated Countries
• International organisations and frameworks: IAEA ETKM and OECD/NEA NEST

Project Stage

Coordination and Support Action focused on programme implementation, capacity building, education and training delivery, mobility scheme operation, AI-in-education pilots, and digital platform creation and sustainment. This is not a technology R&D action but includes development, piloting and validation of educational approaches and tools.

Funding Amount

Indicative EU contribution around €5,000,000 for a single grant under this topic. Financial support to third parties is allowed as grants, capped at €20,000 per recipient.

Application Type

Open call; single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Topic page: HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-03.

Nature of Support

Money. Beneficiaries receive grant funding to implement coordination and support activities. Additionally, the action may use the JRC’s services; the JRC covers operational costs for its own staff and infrastructure when participating.

Application Stages

1 stage. Single-stage evaluation and grant preparation.

Success Rates

Not specified. The indicative number of grants for this topic is 1 and the indicative contribution is around €5,000,000.

Co-funding Requirement

No explicit co-funding requirement is stated in the topic text. Proposals may pool financial resources from national or regional programmes to implement transnational activities and may award grants to third parties (up to €20,000 each). Legal and financial set-up follows the Euratom Work Programme General Annexes.

Conditions, Eligibility, and Evaluation

• Admissibility: Part B page limit 40 pages; proposal layout per Part B template.
• Eligible countries: As per Euratom WP 2026-2027 General Annexes. At publication time, Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to the Euratom Programme and eligible for funding.
• Other eligibility: The JRC may participate as a consortium member.
• Financial/operational capacity and exclusion: As per General Annexes, section C.
• Evaluation process and award criteria: As per General Annexes; standard CSA criteria apply.
• Legal and financial set-up: Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, up to €20,000 per recipient. General conditions per section G of the General Annexes.

Evaluation criteria and scoring (CSA):Excellence; Impact; Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Scoring from 0-5, thresholds of 3/5 per criterion, overall threshold 10/15. See evaluation form: Evaluation form (HE CSA), v5.0, 12.11.2025.

Submission, Forms, and Templates

• Submission system: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Standard single-stage process.
• Part A (web forms): General information; Participants; Budget; Ethics and security; Other questions.
• Part B (PDF upload): Technical description structured across Excellence; Impact; Implementation, with a 40-page limit for Sections 1–3 combined.
• Annexes: If using financial support to third parties, upload the dedicated annex describing objectives, maximum amounts per third party (max €20,000 here), eligible activities, recipient categories, and award criteria using the standard template.
• Ethics and Security: Complete ethics issues table and, where applicable, self-assessment in Part A; complete security table and self-assessment if relevant.
• Standard CSA application and evaluation templates are used with call-specific adaptations.

Key references and tools:Official topic page HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-03; List of participating countries HE/Euratom countries list v3.8; Template for financial support to third parties HE FSTP template; Model Grant Agreement and AGA guidance as linked on the portal; Funding & Tenders Online Manual.

Templates: What the application looks like

Applicants will use the standard Horizon Europe/Euratom CSA templates available via the Submission System for this topic. Key structural elements are summarised below to guide preparation.

1. 1Part A web forms: 1. General information (acronym, title, abstract, duration, keywords, declarations, topic, type of action, call, etc.). 2. Participants (organisation data, contacts, roles, researchers involved, role in project, achievements, prior projects, infrastructures, Gender Equality Plan status). 3. Budget (personnel, subcontracting, purchase costs, other cost categories including financial support to third parties; indirect costs; requested EU contribution). 4. Ethics and Security (ethics issues table and self-assessment if applicable; security-sensitive elements and self-assessment if applicable). 5. Other questions (e.g., for two-stage calls; clinical studies only where relevant).
2. 2Part B narrative (PDF upload, 40 pages total for Sections 1–3): Section 1. Excellence (objectives and ambition; methodology; interdisciplinarity; integration of social sciences and humanities where relevant; gender dimension in R&I content; open science practices). Section 2. Impact (pathways to expected outcomes and impacts; measures to maximise impact through dissemination, exploitation, communication, IP management). Section 3. Implementation (work plan and resources, Gantt/Pert, WPs, deliverables, milestones, risks and mitigation, person-months, subcontracting and equipment justifications; capacity of participants and consortium as a whole).
3. 3Mandatory early deliverables: Plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities and Data Management Plan, typically within the first 6 months, where applicable to the call-specific requirements.
4. 4Annex on Financial Support to Third Parties (if using FSTP): Must specify objectives, maximum per third party (up to €20,000 under this topic), calculation method, eligible activities (closed list), eligible recipients, and award criteria.

Administrative and Practical Details

• Page limit for Part B Sections 1–3: 40 pages. Formatting per template instructions. Excess pages will not be evaluated.
• Deadline model: single-stage; proposals submitted electronically; resubmission possible until deadline.
• Partner search: Available via the Funding & Tenders Portal partner search functionality for this topic.
• Help and guidance: Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ; IT Helpdesk; Online Manual; call-specific Q&A when available on the topic page.

What the Project Is Expected to Deliver

• A pan-European, sustainable nuclear E&T programme covering nuclear engineering and radiation applications beyond energy.
• Evidence-based framework for safe adoption of AI in nuclear education, including practical templates, case studies and a risk-mitigation checklist for EU education providers, with pilots of SLM/LLM-supported learning that preserve critical thinking and academic integrity.
• A robust, extensive, sustainable mobility scheme connecting students, young professionals and cross-sector workers with industry, universities and RTOs, aligned to EU/national skills strategies.
• A comprehensive one-stop EU website for nuclear E&T opportunities across higher education, applied sciences and vocational pathways, with a defined governance and funding plan for long-term maintenance.
• Targeted outreach to teachers at all levels and to pupils/students to strengthen the future talent pipeline; dedicated activities to attract candidates from other industries.
• Specialist training modules and pathways in priority competence areas such as decommissioning, waste management, radiation protection, SMRs, safeguards, and non-power applications in medicine and space.
• Mechanisms and procedures to award small grants to third parties (students and young researchers) up to €20,000 to facilitate participation in project activities.

Consortium Composition Guidance

Proposals should be led by experienced EU actors in nuclear E&T and skills initiatives and closely involve industry, universities and research organisations to ensure relevance and uptake. Human resources specialists are expected to contribute to career pathway design, attractiveness measures and labour market alignment. Cooperation with international organisations and leading non-EU actors is encouraged for mobility and knowledge exchange.

Summary: What this opportunity is about

Enhancing the European nuclear competence area HORIZON-EURATOM will fund one large Coordination and Support Action to coordinate and scale nuclear education and training across Europe, complementing national systems while producing EU-level added value. The project will deliver a durable pan-European E&T programme spanning nuclear engineering and radiation applications, prioritise strategic skills areas, and build an extensive mobility scheme aligning with current and future nuclear workforce needs. It requires practical, evidence-based integration of advanced digital tools, especially AI language models, into nuclear education through pilots and codified guidance that preserve critical thinking and academic integrity. The action will also establish a comprehensive one-stop website for nuclear E&T opportunities and develop a sustainable governance and funding plan to maintain it beyond the grant. Proponents should engage pupils, students, teachers and cross-sector professionals, and involve human resources specialists and experienced EU actors in nuclear education. The single-stage call offers an indicative EU contribution around €5 million, allows grants to third parties up to €20,000 for students and young researchers, and encourages international cooperation with organisations such as IAEA ETKM and OECD/NEA NEST. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, industry, SMEs, nonprofits, public bodies and the JRC, within the geographical scope set by the Euratom Work Programme. Proposals are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using standard CSA templates, with a 40-page limit for the technical narrative and standard Horizon Europe evaluation criteria for CSAs.

Enhancing the European Nuclear Competence Area - HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-03

Funding Opportunity Overview

This call invites proposals for a comprehensive pan-European education and training programme to address workforce and skill shortages in the European nuclear sector. The opportunity is part of the broader Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027, which allocates €330 million to advance nuclear technologies, with a strong emphasis on developing skilled professionals capable of supporting the EU's energy transition and nuclear innovation goals ¹.

Call Identifier:HORIZON-EURATOM

Type of Action:EURATOM Coordination and Support Action (CSA)

Submission Deadline:15 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Submission Portal Opening:24 March 2026

Budget and Funding Information

Total Budget Available for 2026-2027:€5,000,000 (€2,500,000 in 2026 and €2,500,000 in 2027)

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 1 project expected to be funded

Typical Grant Size:Around €5,000,000 (full project duration)

Funding Rate:100% of eligible costs for Coordination and Support Actions

Financial Support to Third Parties:Maximum €20,000 per third party recipient to enable students and young researchers to participate in project activities

Eligibility and Eligible Countries

Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible countries. As of the call publication date, the countries eligible for Euratom funding are EU Member States and Associated Countries. Ukraine and Switzerland are currently the only countries associated to the Euratom Programme and therefore eligible for funding. Legal entities from other countries may participate as associated partners without EU funding, unless their participation is considered essential and exceptional funding is justified.

Eligible Organisation Types:Research organisations, universities, higher education establishments, industry partners, and other legal entities meeting financial and operational capacity requirements. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a consortium member.

Project Objectives and Scope

This call supports projects aimed at maintaining and enhancing EU nuclear competences in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection. The action requires implementing a comprehensive and sustainable pan-European education and training (E&T) programme covering nuclear engineering, technologies, and ionising radiation applications beyond nuclear energy.

Expected Project Outcomes

• Complementing national programmes by ensuring a sufficient and competent nuclear workforce through EU-level coordination and sharing of best practices
• Creating a single point of reference for nuclear education and training at the EU level
• Enhancing nuclear careers by promoting competences in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection through attractive education programmes
• Expanding mobility opportunities and job perspectives with access to world-class infrastructure and facilities
• Advancing nuclear education through strategic actions for safe implementation of artificial intelligence tools
• Making nuclear education more attractive to diverse communities and experienced professionals from adjacent industries seeking career transitions

Key Scope Requirements

• Build on previous Euratom and EU programme activities and complement national efforts appropriately
• Spark early interest among pupils and students through targeted outreach to key groups at different educational levels
• Pay specific attention to teacher engagement at all educational levels with targeted activities for each level
• Attract students, doctoral candidates, and workers from other sectors to nuclear careers
• Identify and implement best practices to increase attractiveness of nuclear careers through internships, technical visits, training programmes, and career events
• Provide specialised training in demanding competence areas including decommissioning, radioactive waste management, radiation protection, small modular reactors (SMRs), nuclear safeguards, and non-power nuclear applications (medicine and space)
• Evaluate and propose strategic actions for safe implementation of artificial intelligence (particularly large language models and small language models) in nuclear education
• Manage a robust and extensive mobility scheme with sufficient resources to meet demand
• Establish a single-entry point website (one-stop shop) for EU nuclear education and training opportunities
• Facilitate international cooperation particularly with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and OECD/NEA, and non-EU countries with advanced nuclear research programmes
• Develop governance and funding models to ensure the website remains operational after project completion

Consortium Requirements and Leadership

Projects must be led by experienced EU actors with proven track records in nuclear education and training. To ensure continuity and avoid duplication, the consortium should build upon activities from previous initiatives such as ENEN2plus and Skills4Nuclear ². The consortium must include close cooperation between industry, universities, and research institutions to ensure training programmes remain aligned with technological advancements and safety standards.

Minimum Consortium Composition:At least two independent legal entities from different eligible countries are typically required for Coordination and Support Actions. The specific consortium composition should be justified based on the project's objectives and required expertise.

Application Requirements and Conditions

Proposal Page Limit:40 pages maximum (including all tables, figures, and references)

Admissibility Conditions:Proposals must comply with all General Admissibility conditions outlined in the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes, including eligibility of participants, absence of exclusion grounds, and demonstration of financial and operational capacity ³.

Mandatory Deliverables:Within 6 months of grant agreement signature, beneficiaries must submit a detailed plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities, and a data management plan if applicable. These plans must be regularly updated throughout the project.

Plan for Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication:An initial version is required as an admissibility condition. This plan should include concrete actions addressing scientific community, end users, financial actors, and the public at large. Communication measures must be strategically planned, include clear objectives, and continue throughout the project lifetime.

Evaluation Process and Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against three main criteria, each with a minimum threshold score of 3 out of 5. An overall threshold of 10 out of 15 points must be achieved for funding consideration.

Evaluation Criterion 1: Excellence:Assessment of clarity and pertinence of project objectives and soundness of proposed coordination and support measures including methodology. Evaluators will consider how well the proposal addresses the work programme scope and demonstrates quality in approach.

Evaluation Criterion 2: Impact:Credibility of pathways to achieve expected outcomes and impacts specified in the work programme, and suitability of measures to maximise outcomes including the dissemination, exploitation, and communication plan. Proposals must demonstrate specific, quantified benefits where possible.

Evaluation Criterion 3: Quality and Efficiency of Implementation:Quality and effectiveness of the work plan, assessment of critical risks, appropriateness of effort assigned to work packages and resources, capacity of each participant, and whether the consortium brings together necessary expertise in nuclear education, training, safety, and related domains.

Important Conditions and Restrictions

Gender Equality Plan:Public bodies, higher education establishments, and research organisations from Member States and Associated Countries must have a Gender Equality Plan covering publication, dedicated resources, data collection and monitoring, and training on gender equality. This is an eligibility requirement if the proposal is selected for funding.

Ethical Compliance:All proposals must comply with ethical principles including the highest standards of research integrity as outlined in the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, and applicable international and national law. Activities excluded from funding include human cloning, modification of human genetic heritage, creation of human embryos for research purposes, and destruction of human embryos.

Civil Applications Only:Proposals must have an exclusive focus on civil applications. Military applications are not permitted unless explicitly stated in call conditions. Dual-use items requiring authorisation must comply with applicable regulatory frameworks.

Intellectual Property Management:A consortium agreement is required to manage ownership and access to key knowledge, intellectual property rights, and research data. An ownership list of results must be provided in the final periodic report.

JRC Participation:The JRC may participate in proposal preparation and submission, with operational costs for its staff and research infrastructure borne by the JRC itself. JRC facilities and expertise are listed in General Annex H of the work programme.

Contextual Information: EU Nuclear Strategy

This call is positioned within the EU's broader nuclear renaissance. In March 2026, the European Commission adopted the 2026-2027 work programme for the Euratom Research and Training Programme, committing €330 million to nuclear research and training ⁴. Of this amount, €222 million targets fusion energy development to bring this technology from laboratories to the power grid, while €108 million supports nuclear fission research including radioactive waste management and new reactor technologies. This substantial investment reflects the EU's strategic commitment to nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its energy independence and climate neutrality objectives by 2050 ⁵.

Related Reference Projects

Applicants should be aware of related ongoing and recently completed projects in the nuclear workforce development space. The Skills4Nuclear project (CORDIS ID 101213280), funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2024-NRT-01-02, addresses workforce and skill shortages through establishing a European Forum for Nuclear Workforce and Skills and developing a Nuclear Skills Strategy. Applicants should review this project's outputs and build upon its findings to avoid duplication and ensure synergy ⁶. The ENEN2plus network is another key reference for nuclear education coordination at the EU level.

Submission and Support Resources

• Proposals must be submitted through the Funding & Tenders Portal (submission system opens 24 March 2026)
• Standard application forms (HE CSA template) are available in the submission system
• Detailed guidance documents including the online manual, programme guide, and annotated model grant agreement are accessible via the portal
• The Participant Register provides organisation registration and legal entity validation information
• IT Helpdesk support is available for technical submission issues
• Partner search functionality is available on the portal for identifying consortium members

Timeline and Key Dates

Financial Aspects and Cost Eligibility

Eligible costs for Coordination and Support Actions include personnel costs, subcontracting, travel and subsistence, equipment, other goods/works/services, and indirect costs calculated at 25% of the sum of personnel, travel, equipment, other goods/works/services, and financial support to third parties. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum of €20,000 per third party to enable student and young researcher participation. All costs must comply with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and the Euratom Work Programme eligibility conditions.

Indirect Cost Rate:25% of eligible direct costs (personnel, travel, equipment, other goods/works/services, and financial support to third parties)

Key Resources and References

• Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027 Work Programme (Council Regulation 2025/1304)
• EU Grants AGA - Annotated Model Grant Agreement for Horizon Europe
• Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual and Terms and Conditions
• How to Complete your Ethics Self-Assessment guidance document
• List of Participating Countries in Horizon Europe (including Euratom)
• Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
• EU Sanctions Map and Eligibility Checklist
• Skills4Nuclear project outputs and recommendations (²)
• OECD/NEA Nuclear Education, Skills and Technology (NEST) Framework resources

The broader Euratom investment of €330 million for 2026-2027 demonstrates the EU's strategic priority for nuclear technology development. This includes €222 million for fusion energy research, €108 million for fission research and related areas, and support for nuclear education and training initiatives like this call.

The Skills4Nuclear project (CORDIS ID 101213280) is funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2024-NRT-01-02 and addresses similar objectives of establishing European forums for nuclear workforce and skills development. Applicants must review this project's outputs to ensure complementarity and avoid duplication of effort.

Detailed eligibility conditions are specified in the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes sections on Admissibility (A) and Eligibility (B). All participants must meet financial and operational capacity requirements and be free from exclusion grounds under EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

The European Commission adopted the 2026-2027 Euratom Work Programme on 19 March 2026, allocating €330 million across multiple calls including fusion energy research (€222 million), fission and waste management (€108 million), and supporting activities. This reflects the EU's commitment to nuclear as a key clean energy source for achieving climate goals.

The EU's nuclear investment strategy is anchored in the European Green Deal and climate neutrality objectives. The 2026-2027 allocation emphasizes bringing fusion technology to commercial viability while maintaining expertise in fission safety, waste management, and emerging technologies like small modular reactors.

The OECD/NEA Nuclear Education, Skills and Technology (NEST) Framework represents international best practice in nuclear workforce development. Applicants should familiarize themselves with this framework and ensure their proposals align with or build upon its principles and recommendations for sustainable nuclear workforce development.