European Partnership for research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation

This call HORIZON-EURATOM funds the continuation of the PIANOFORTE European Partnership for Radiation Protection Research as an EURATOM-COFUND action. The indicative EU contribution is €15,000,000 for 2026–2027 (€7.5M per year) with a funding rate of 65% and financial support to third parties capped at €500,000 for PhD/postdoc positions and €100,000 for other activities. Proposals must be submitted by the current PIANOFORTE coordinator (GA 101061037) as an amendment to the existing grant, submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal in a single-stage procedure opening 24 March 2026 and closing 15 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The partnership scope includes multidisciplinary research, open co-funded calls, governance and transparency, access to research infrastructures, FAIR data, training and strengthened emergency preparedness aligned with the Basic Safety Standards Directive.

European Partnership for research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation

Call at a glance

HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-09 — EURATOM-COFUND

What it funds: establishment and continuation of a co-funded European Partnership (PIANOFORTE continuation) to coordinate and fund multidisciplinary research, innovation, training, infrastructure access, open calls and third-party grants on radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation across exposure situations (medical, natural, occupational, accidental). Activities include radiobiology, dosimetry, radioecology, emergency preparedness, QA/traceability, public engagement and SRIA implementation.

Indicative budget:EU contribution for this topic: around €7 500 000 (per budget year shown); indicative total contribution around €15 000 000 for the co‑fund action ¹.

1. 1Deadline: 15 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage).
2. 2Funding rate: 65% of eligible costs for additional activities under this amendment.
3. 3Maximum direct grants to third parties: €500 000 each for actions justifying a PhD/postdoc contract; €100 000 for other third‑party activities implementing the roadmap.
4. 4Type of implementation: amendment to existing grant agreement GA.101061037; the proposal must be submitted by that coordinator (additional partners may be included).

Who can apply: the coordinator of the consortium currently funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09 (GA.101061037) should submit the proposal for the continuation; additional partners may be proposed. The Joint Research Centre may participate. Eligible participants and detailed country eligibility follow the Euratom Work Programme General Annexes; at publication time Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to Euratom and eligible for funding.

Key scope and expectations: the Partnership must deliver an updated SRIA and at least one open co-funded call, ensure transparent governance and evaluation, facilitate access to research infrastructures, promote FAIR data, strengthen training and public engagement, coordinate with MELODI/ALLIANCE/EURADOS/EURAMED/NERIS/EMN RP/SHARE/SNETP and explore synergies with Horizon Europe clusters and industry.

Administrative & selection highlights: proposals must respect page limits and templates (Part A/B, annual work programme and financial support to third parties annexes). Evaluation, award criteria, timelines and legal/financial set-up follow the Euratom Work Programme General Annexes; beneficiaries may implement financial support to third parties in the form of grants and must prevent conflicts of interest in co-funded calls.

Footnotes

1. 1Full topic text, templates and annexes (application form Part A/B, annual work programme and financial support to third parties) are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal: Topic page.

European Partnership for research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation (HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-09)

Opportunity type: Call for Proposals under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027. Type of action: EURATOM-COFUND (Euratom Cofund Actions). Model Grant Agreement: EURATOM Action Grant Budget-Based [EURATOM-AG]. Planned opening: 24 March 2026. Deadline: 15 September 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time. Submission: single-stage via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

Purpose and Expected Outcomes

This topic continues the co-funded European partnership PIANOFORTE and constitutes the EU’s contribution for 2026-2027. It will amend and extend the on‑going grant agreement stemming from HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09 (GA 101061037). The partnership must establish and coordinate a pan-European, multidisciplinary research and innovation effort on radiation protection and ionising radiation detection, delivering scientific evidence, tools, procedures, training, and infrastructures that support EU policy, notably the Basic Safety Standards Directive, and medical, occupational, public, environmental and emergency preparedness domains.

• Improve risk estimates for justification and optimisation of radiological protection for the public, patients, workers, and the environment across medical, natural, occupational and accidental exposures, including co-exposures and overlapping risks.
• Advance understanding of links between exposure characteristics (radiation quality, dose, dose-rate, dose effects versus gravity) and cancer and non-cancer effects; optimise detection and dosimetry.
• Develop knowledge base and analytical tools on variability in radiation response (tissue reactions, cancers, cellular ageing, radio-induced immunoresponse) in humans and ecosystems.
• Advance integrative radiobiology from basic mechanisms to clinic and epidemiology, including human and social sciences.
• Provide scientific basis and priorities for medical applications of ionising radiation, reinforce risk/benefit analysis, advance individual patient dosimetry drawing on radiobiology, and develop recommendations, procedures and tools to improve patient radiation protection and transfer optimised procedures into clinical practice.
• Provide scientific basis for recommendations, procedures and tools to improve radiation protection of workers and the public, aligned with the Basic Safety Standards Directive.
• Strengthen preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergency response and recovery, including values relevant for stakeholder involvement; enable direct population monitoring and indirect environmental monitoring, including computational approaches using big data and AI; and improve hospital emergency support capabilities.
• Provide quality assurance for measurements, including metrological traceability and uncertainty assignment.
• Reinforce training through research, promote continuous training and career development in radiation protection.
• Facilitate access to research infrastructures and promote data integration and FAIRisation (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
• Improve public engagement and understanding of radiation risks; identify stakeholder target groups; communicate and involve the public to promote acceptance of radiation protection measures.

Scope and Implementation Requirements

The Commission invites a proposal to establish and implement the European Partnership for research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation, meeting Horizon Europe criteria for co-funded European Partnerships. The action will be implemented as an amendment to the existing grant agreement from HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09. The proposal must present additional activities and any additional partners primarily as grant agreement revisions. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate; its staff and infrastructure operational costs are borne by the JRC. The partnership must build on and further develop its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), align with the Euratom Scientific and Technical Committee’s opinion, the SAMIRA initiative, and the EU research roadmap for medical applications of ionising radiation, developed in EURAMED rocc‑n‑roll Medical applications of ionising radiation roadmap and EURAMED rocc-n-roll.

• Governance must ensure transparent, open calls, proposal evaluation and selection for at least one open call launched by the partnership.
• Stakeholder co-definition of call priorities is mandatory; links with other partnerships and international organisations beyond Euratom are encouraged.
• Synergies with Horizon Europe Health cluster and the Cancer Mission should be explored via dedicated working groups.
• Collaboration with industry is expected for technological developments and accelerating translation to market and practice.
• Ensure availability of, and access to, required research infrastructures, consistent with action HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-04 (European Facility in Nuclear Research).
• Develop competences and culture in radiological protection; propose solutions to communicate outcomes to non-specialist audiences (policy makers, public).
• Partners are expected to make financial commitments and in-kind contributions for governance, joint calls and national coordination.
• Pooling of participating national or regional programme resources is expected, to implement joint transnational calls resulting in grants to third parties.

Who Should Apply

Eligible Applicant Types

The proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the consortium funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09 (PIANOFORTE, GA 101061037). Additional partners may be included. The JRC may participate as a consortium member. The partnership is expected to involve the entire European radiation protection research community, implying potential participation of research institutions, universities, metrology institutes, dosimetry networks, radioecology platforms, emergency preparedness platforms, medical exposure communities, social sciences and humanities actors, and industry partners for technological development and uptake. Expected eligible applicant types therefore include: university, research institute, metrology institute, hospital and healthcare provider engaged in medical imaging and therapy, nonprofit and NGO active in radiation protection or patient safety, government and public authorities including national research funding organisations and emergency preparedness agencies, European and national research infrastructures, industry including SMEs and large enterprises developing detection, dosimetry, imaging, radiobiology and data/AI solutions, and public-private partnerships.

Consortium Requirement

Consortium. Mandatory coordinator: the coordinator of the on‑going PIANOFORTE consortium (GA 101061037). The action is a continuation via amendment to the existing grant agreement, and may include additional partners.

Eligibility and Geographic Scope

Eligible Countries: As per the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes, eligibility follows Horizon Europe/Euratom rules. At the time of call publication, Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to the Euratom Programme and therefore eligible for funding alongside EU Member States. Other countries may participate according to Horizon Europe rules; funding for non-associated third countries is subject to standard eligibility conditions set in the General Annexes and topic text List of Participating Countries (Horizon Europe and Euratom).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States; Euratom associated countries explicitly mentioned: Ukraine and Switzerland. Other participation as per Horizon Europe rules; funding may be limited for non-associated countries unless conditions for exceptional funding are met.

Mentioned Countries:Ukraine; Switzerland; region: EU/Euratom.

Thematic Focus and Target Sectors

Primary sectors: radiation protection science and technology; detection and metrology of ionising radiation; radiobiology; dosimetry; medical applications of ionising radiation; emergency preparedness and response; radioecology; AI and big data in radiation monitoring and analysis; public health, patient safety and hospital emergency capabilities; research infrastructures and data FAIRisation; social sciences and humanities for risk perception, stakeholder engagement and communication.

• Health, pharma/healthcare, medical imaging and therapy
• Nuclear research and training
• Environment and radioecology
• Metrology and dosimetry
• Emergency management and civil protection
• Artificial intelligence, big data and computational modelling
• Education, training and research infrastructures
• Social sciences and humanities for risk communication and public engagement

Funding, Budget and Financial Provisions

Action set-up: Euratom Cofund Action implemented as amendment to the existing PIANOFORTE grant agreement.

• Indicative EU budget for this topic: €7,500,000 (budget year 2026 and 2027 combined as shown on the topic page). Indicative number of grants: 1. The topic page lists an indicative contribution around €15,000,000 for the grant.
• Funding rate for additional activities under this action: 65% of eligible costs.
• Co-funding: Required. Partners must provide financial commitments and in-kind contributions to support governance, joint calls, and national coordination. Pooling of national or regional programme resources is expected.
• Financial support to third parties (cascade funding via the partnership’s open calls): Grants only; up to €500,000 per third party for actions justifying a PhD or postdoctoral contract; up to €100,000 per third party for other roadmap implementation activities. Conflict-of-interest avoidance and equal treatment must be ensured through appropriate communication, independent evaluation and fair complaints procedures.
• Legal-financial set-up: General provisions per Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annex G apply.

Application, Evaluation, and Award

• Deadline model: single-stage.
• Submission system: Funding & Tenders Portal; the submission system opens on the call opening date.
• Admissibility: Application page limit and layout per the call’s Conditions. The call page indicates a 100-page limit for the application and Part B layout requirements; the latest HE Cofund Part B template indicates a 65-page cap for sections 1–3. Follow the admissibility conditions on the topic page and the current Part B template provided in the Submission System ¹.
• Eligibility: Proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the consortium funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09; additional partners may be added. The JRC may participate as a member of the consortium.
• Evaluation: Horizon Europe award criteria and thresholds apply for Cofund actions; standard scoring 0–5, thresholds 3/5 per criterion and 10/15 overall. Evaluation and award processes follow the General Annexes and Online Manual. Evaluation forms adapted for HE Cofund will be used.
• Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: As per General Annex F; details provided after submission.
• Legal set-up: The action is intended to be implemented via amendment of the existing grant agreement pursuant to HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09.

Project Stage and Types of Activities

This co-funded partnership spans the full research-to-practice spectrum as appropriate to radiation protection: research, development, validation, demonstration, clinical translation, data infrastructure and FAIRisation, training, and emergency preparedness. It will run at least one open call to fund third-party projects aligned with the SRIA priorities.

Governance, Stakeholders and Strategic Alignment

The partnership must ensure robust, transparent governance for open calls and evaluations, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and alignment with European priorities and platforms, including MELODI (low-dose radiation), ALLIANCE (radioecology), EMN RP (metrology), EURADOS (dosimetry), NERIS (emergency preparedness), EURAMED (medical exposures), SHARE (SSH), and SNETP (sustainable nuclear energy). Citizens and stakeholders must be involved through open and participatory approaches. Synergies with Horizon Europe Health cluster and the Cancer Mission should be operationalised via working groups. Collaboration with industry is encouraged to mature technologies and accelerate uptake. Access to critical research infrastructures must be ensured.

Detailed categorizations and extractions

Eligible Applicant Types:University; research institute; metrology institute; hospital and healthcare provider; nonprofit; NGO; government and public authority; national or regional research funding organisation; public research infrastructure operator; SME; large enterprise; public-private partnership; Joint Research Centre (JRC). The mandatory coordinator is the coordinator of the PIANOFORTE consortium (GA 101061037); additional partners can join.

Funding Type:Grant. Euratom Cofund Action with 65% funding rate for additional activities, plus cascade funding (grants to third parties) via the partnership’s own open calls.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the consortium funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09; the action continues via amendment to the existing grant agreement and may include additional partners. The JRC may participate.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Euratom associated countries. At publication time, Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to Euratom and eligible for funding. Other participation per Horizon Europe rules; non-associated third countries typically self-financed unless exceptional funding conditions are met List of Participating Countries.

Target Sector:Health; pharma/healthcare; nuclear research and training; environment; metrology; dosimetry; emergency management; AI and big data; education and training; social sciences and humanities; research infrastructures.

Mentioned Countries:Ukraine; Switzerland; region: EU/Euratom.

Project Stage:Research; development; validation; demonstration; clinical translation; scale-up of procedures and infrastructures; training and capacity building; emergency preparedness. The partnership also funds third-party projects across these stages via open calls.

Funding Amount:Topic budget: €7,500,000 (EU contribution) with indicative number of grants: 1; the topic page indicates an indicative contribution around €15,000,000 for the award. Funding rate: 65% for eligible additional activities. Cascade funding caps: up to €500,000 per third party for PhD/postdoc-justified actions; up to €100,000 for other roadmap implementation activities.

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

Nature of Support:Money. Beneficiaries receive grants; third parties receive cascade grants through partnership open calls. Non-monetary benefits include access facilitation to research infrastructures, coordination, networking, training and stakeholder engagement.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation).

Success Rates:Not specified. The topic foresees one grant for the continuation of the existing partnership, to be submitted by the incumbent coordinator.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Funding rate is 65% of eligible costs for additional activities; consortium partners must commit financial and in-kind resources; pooling of national or regional programme funds is expected to implement transnational joint calls.

Conditions, Templates, and How to Apply

• Admissibility and page limits: Application page limit 100 pages; layout in Part B of the Application Form. Other admissibility conditions per Euratom WP 2026-2027 General Annex A. Note the latest HE Cofund Part B template indicates a 65-page cap for sections 1–3 ¹.
• Eligible countries and entities: per General Annex B of the Euratom WP 2026-2027; at publication, Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to Euratom and eligible for funding.
• Financial and operational capacity, exclusion: per General Annex C.
• Submission and evaluation processes: per General Annexes E and F and the Online Manual.
• Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: per General Annex D, using HE Cofund evaluation forms; thresholds typically 3/5 per criterion and 10/15 overall.
• Legal and financial set-up: per General Annex G; implemented as an amendment to the existing grant agreement pursuant to HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09.
• Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties only in the form of grants, within the stated caps; must ensure no conflict of interest or unequal treatment.

Templates to prepare your application (HE Cofund):Applicants must use the specific templates available in the Submission System for this topic. Key templates and documents include: Application form Part A; Project proposal Part B (HE Cofund) with sections on Excellence, Impact, and Implementation; Annual Work Programme annex for Cofund calls describing Year-1 activities, resources, and governance; Information on Financial Support to Third Parties annex detailing objectives, eligible recipients, activity types, selection criteria, maximum amounts, calculation method, communication channels, COI safeguards and complaints procedures; Standard evaluation form (HE Cofund); Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement and EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement; Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

Outline of key Part B elements to address (HE Cofund):Excellence: common vision and ambition; clear intervention logic with general, specific, and operational objectives; methodological soundness including interdisciplinary integration, SSH and gender dimension where relevant; open science practices and research data/output management; level of ambition in pooling national/regional resources and programme coordination. Impact: credible pathways to outcomes and destination-level impacts; barriers and mitigation; scale and significance estimates; robust dissemination, exploitation and communication plan; IP strategy; contributions to alignment of national activities and durable cooperation. Implementation: work plan with annual plan for Year 1, Gantt and PERT; distinct WPs for management, co-funded call preparation, evaluation and selection (with independent observer report, ranking lists and joint selection list, formal fund commitments), monitoring of funded projects, and communication-dissemination-exploitation; additional activities WPs (if any); deliverables, milestones, risks and mitigation; staff effort; subcontracting and equipment justifications; consortium capacity, governance, openness and recruitment policy; stakeholder consultation and annual work programme process; access to critical infrastructures; international dimension and EU added value.

Joint transnational calls run by the Partnership (key compliance points):Publish calls on the Funding & Tenders Portal and beneficiaries’ websites; keep calls open for at least 2 months; 2-step selection with national/eligibility review then single international peer review with at least three independent experts per proposal; apply Horizon Europe award criteria; ensure independent observer report; rank proposals and select strictly following ranking list(s); after evaluation, submit deliverable with ranking list(s), observer report, and joint selection list including formal, duly signed funding commitments from each participating funder; ensure clear information barriers and fair complaints procedures if any consortium beneficiaries are eligible to apply under the co-funded call; avoid conflicts of interest and unequal treatment.

Key Links and References

• Topic page and submission: HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-09
• Information on financial support to third parties template: FS3P template (HE)
• Annual Work Programme template (HE Cofund): AWP template (HE Cofund)
• Application form (Part A) example (HE Cofund): Part A example
• Project proposal Part B template (HE Cofund): Part B template
• Evaluation form (HE Cofund): Evaluation form (HE Cofund)
• Participating countries guidance: List of Participating Countries (HE/Euratom)
• Medical applications of ionising radiation roadmap (SAMIRA): EU Research Roadmap
• EURAMED rocc-n-roll: Project site

Summary: What this opportunity is about

This call funds the continuation of the European Partnership for research in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation (PIANOFORTE) for 2026–2027 via an amendment to the existing grant. The mandatory applicant is the incumbent PIANOFORTE coordinator; additional partners may join, and the JRC may participate. The partnership coordinates a multidisciplinary, Europe-wide research and innovation programme that delivers science, tools, training, infrastructures and open calls to improve radiation protection for patients, workers, the public and the environment, strengthen emergency preparedness, ensure measurement quality, and engage stakeholders and citizens. The work spans radiobiology, dosimetry, metrology, detection, radioecology, medical applications, AI and big data, risk perception and communication. Governance must ensure transparent, stakeholder-driven, open calls and rigorous evaluation, with cascade grants to third parties of up to €500,000 for PhD/postdoc-centred projects and €100,000 for other roadmap activities. The EU contribution is indicated at €7.5 million for one grant under this topic, with a 65% funding rate for eligible additional activities, requiring substantial co-funding and in-kind commitments from partners and pooled national resources. Eligible beneficiaries are entities in the EU and Euratom-associated countries (explicitly including Ukraine and Switzerland), with broader international cooperation encouraged under Horizon Europe rules. Proposals must adhere to Euratom WP 2026–2027 General Annexes for admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, and legal-financial set-up, and use HE Cofund templates including the Annual Work Programme and Financial Support to Third Parties annex. In practical terms, this is a programme-level grant to organise, fund and coordinate Europe’s priority radiation protection research and translation into clinical practice and emergency capabilities, while reinforcing training, infrastructures, FAIR data integration and societal engagement.

Footnotes

1. 1The topic Conditions state an application page limit of 100 pages for the application, with layout in Part B of the Application Form. The Horizon Europe Cofund Part B template (version 5.1 of 22.01.2026) indicates a 65-page cap for sections 1–3. Applicants must follow the admissibility conditions and templates made available in the Submission System for this specific topic at submission time. See the topic page HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-09.

Funding Opportunity Analysis: European Partnership for Research in Radiation Protection and Detection of Ionising Radiation

Opportunity Overview

Official Call Identifier:HORIZON-EURATOM

Partnership Name:PIANOFORTE - European Partnership for Radiation Protection Research

Programme:Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027, under Horizon Europe

Action Type:EURATOM Cofund Actions (EURATOM-COFUND)

This is a continuation and expansion call for the established PIANOFORTE partnership, which was launched in 2022 with 58 partners and has grown to encompass 108 partners from 26 countries as of January 2025. The partnership is coordinated by the French Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR) and is co-financed by the European Union's EURATOM programme and participating country governments. This call represents the EU's contribution for 2026-2027 and foresees an amendment to the existing grant agreement ¹.

Key Deadlines and Timeline

Call Opening Date:24 March 2026

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

Submission Model:Single-stage procedure

Funding Information

Total Budget Available:€15,000,000 for 2026-2027 (€7,500,000 for 2026 and €7,500,000 for 2027)

Funding Rate:65 percent of eligible costs. This rate reflects the high impact of radiation protection research for health policies and the need to involve a wider research community.

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 1 grant (this is a continuation partnership for the existing PIANOFORTE consortium)

Financial Support to Third Parties:Maximum €500,000 per third party for actions justifying the establishment of a PhD or postdoc contract. Maximum €100,000 per third party for other activities for implementation of the radiation protection research roadmap. These maximum amounts are justified to allow the partnership to achieve one of its primary objectives: organizing open calls ensuring wide participation of the radiation protection research community ².

Eligibility Criteria

Primary Applicant Requirement

The proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the consortium funded under HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09 (grant agreement 101061037). This is a critical requirement as this call is designed to continue and expand the existing PIANOFORTE partnership. The award of a grant is based on a proposal submitted by this existing coordinator, with the possibility to include additional partners as part of the continued partnership.

Eligible Countries and Participants

As of the call publication date, Ukraine and Switzerland are the only countries associated to the Euratom Programme and therefore eligible for funding. EU Member States and their legal entities are eligible to participate. For non-EU countries, participation may be allowed but funding eligibility depends on specific association agreements or exceptional circumstances. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium selected for funding, with the JRC bearing operational costs for its own staff and research infrastructure costs.

Additional Eligibility Conditions

• Legal entities must not be subject to exclusion grounds under EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
• Participants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to carry out proposed activities
• All applicants must comply with EU ethical principles and the ALLEA European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
• Proposals must have exclusive focus on civil applications
• Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are not eligible to participate in any capacity

Scope and Expected Outcomes

This partnership aims to improve radiological protection of members of the public, patients, workers and the environment in all exposure situations (medical, natural, occupational and accidental, including co-exposure and overlapping risks) and provide solutions and recommendations for optimized protection in accordance with the Basic Safety Standards Directive ³.

Core Partnership Objectives

• Establishing improved risk estimates for justification of practices and optimization of radiological protection
• Advancing understanding of the link between exposure characteristics and cancer and non-cancer effects
• Developing knowledge bases and analytical tools for variability in radiation response in humans and ecosystems
• Advancing integrative radiobiology from basic mechanisms to clinical applications and epidemiology
• Providing scientific basis for priorities in medical applications of ionising radiation
• Providing scientific basis for recommendations to improve radiation protection of workers and the public
• Ensuring preparedness for nuclear and radiological emergency response and recovery
• Providing quality assurance for measurements including traceability and uncertainty assignment
• Reinforcing training through research and encouraging continuous career development in radiation protection
• Facilitating access to research infrastructure and promoting data integration and FAIRisation
• Improving public engagement and understanding of radiation risks and protection measures

Research and Innovation Priorities

The partnership builds on and further develops its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) while considering input from the Euratom Scientific and Technical Committee, the SAMIRA initiative (Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications), and research roadmaps from six European research platforms: MELODI (low dose radiation), ALLIANCE (radioecology), EMN RP (European Metrology Network for Radiation Protection), EURADOS (dosimetry), NERIS (nuclear emergency preparedness), EURAMED (medical exposures), and SHARE (social sciences and humanities).

Application Requirements

Proposal Structure and Format

Proposal Page Limit:100 pages maximum. Excess pages beyond this limit will be automatically made invisible and not considered by evaluators.

Proposal Layout:Part A (administrative information) is generated by the submission system. Part B (narrative technical description) must be uploaded as a PDF document following templates downloaded from the submission system.

Formatting Requirements:Font must be Times New Roman or equivalent with minimum 11 point size, standard character spacing and minimum single line spacing. Page size A4 with minimum 15mm margins on all sides. All tables, figures and references count toward page limit.

Mandatory Proposal Components

• Clear and realistic exit strategy and measures for phasing-out from Framework Programme funding
• Description of how the proposal goes beyond state-of-the-art and the ambition level
• Comprehensive methodology explanation including concepts, models and assumptions
• Interdisciplinary approach description showing integration of different scientific disciplines
• Gender dimension analysis in research and innovation content
• Open science practices implementation plan
• Data management plan describing how research outputs will be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable)
• Pathways to impact narrative with quantitative estimates where possible
• Dissemination, exploitation and communication plan with concrete actions for all project phases
• Intellectual property management strategy
• Detailed work plan with Gantt charts or similar timing representations
• Work package descriptions with tasks and resource justification
• List of deliverables with delivery dates and dissemination levels
• List of milestones with means of verification
• Risk assessment table with mitigation measures
• Consortium capacity and expertise description
• Annual work programme for first year of activities ⁴

Consortium and Partnership Requirements

The PIANOFORTE partnership currently comprises 108 partners from 26 countries representing public research organizations, authorities in radiation protection, universities, and six European research platforms. The partnership must maintain and extend a comprehensive pan-European scientific and technological foundation while bringing together disciplinary and interdisciplinary expertise from radiation biology, medical dosimetry, ethics, clinical practice, regulatory bodies, health policy, artificial intelligence, and industry.

Required Partnership Elements

• Meaningful collaboration with EU Member States and Associated Countries and their relevant national and regional authorities
• Appropriate type and composition of partners (public, private, foundations, international organizations)
• Access to critical research infrastructure required for SRIA implementation
• Complementary expertise covering the value chain where appropriate
• Industrial and commercial involvement to ensure exploitation of results
• Transparent governance structure ensuring open calls and fair project proposal evaluation
• Proactive and dynamic recruitment policy across the Union and relevant international partners
• Coherence and synergies with EU research and innovation landscape
• Involvement of citizens and civil society in participatory research approaches
• Links and collaboration with other partnerships and international cooperation beyond Euratom

Financial Contributions and In-Kind Support

Consortium partners are expected to make financial commitments and in-kind contributions to support the partnership governance structure, joint calls, and dedicated implementation actions for national coordination. Partners may pool resources from participating national or regional research programmes to implement joint transnational calls for proposals, resulting in grants to third parties selected through these open calls.

Joint Call Requirements

The partnership must address identified research and innovation priorities through at least one open call for proposals. Call priorities must be determined in close connection with stakeholders. The partnership must ensure that the governance structure provides for transparent, open calls with fair project proposal evaluation and selection procedures.

Co-funded Call Implementation Requirements

• Two-step selection procedure: Step 1 for eligibility checking at national or transnational level; Step 2 for single international peer review
• Call must be published on the Funding and Tenders Portal and beneficiaries' websites
• Call must remain open for at least 2 months
• Evaluation in Step 2 must involve at least three independent experts per proposal
• Proposals must be evaluated on basis of Horizon Europe award criteria
• Selection procedure must be followed by an independent expert observer producing a report
• Projects must be ranked according to evaluation results
• Transnational projects must be selected based on ranking list order
• Measures to avoid conflict of interest or unequal treatment of applicants must be described in detail, including information barriers and independent complaints procedures ⁵
• Deliverable required at end of evaluation including ranking lists, observer report, and joint selection list with formal commitments on fund availability from each participating member

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals are evaluated against three main criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation. The threshold for each individual criterion is 3 out of 5 points. The overall threshold is 10 points out of 15. Proposals are evaluated as submitted without possibility for significant modifications during grant preparation.

Excellence Criterion

Evaluators assess clarity and pertinence of partnership objectives; ambition level and advancement beyond state-of-the-art; soundness of proposed methodology including concepts, models and assumptions; interdisciplinary approaches; gender dimension in research and innovation content; and quality of open science practices including research output management and citizen engagement.

Impact Criterion

Evaluators assess credibility of pathways to achieve expected outcomes and impacts; identification of potential barriers with proposed mitigating measures; scale and significance of project contribution to expected outcomes; suitability and quality of dissemination and exploitation and communication measures; identification of target groups; intellectual property management strategy; and potential for alignment of national activities and policies.

Quality and Efficiency of Implementation Criterion

Evaluators assess work plan quality and effectiveness; risk assessment appropriateness; effort assignment to work packages; consortium capacity and expertise; appropriate types and composition of partners; access to critical infrastructure; governance and management approach; transparency and openness of partnership; proactive recruitment strategy; and process for establishing annual work programmes with open stakeholder consultation.

Legal and Financial Framework

Type of Grant Agreement:EURATOM Action Grant Budget-Based (EURATOM-AG)

Nature of Action:This is a continuation action that foresees an amendment to the existing grant agreement concluded pursuant to HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09. The proposal should present additional activities (including additional partners) to be covered by the award primarily in terms of grant agreement revisions.

Co-financing:EU EURATOM programme co-financing combined with national government financing from participating countries

Beneficiary Obligations

• Provide financial support to third parties only in the form of grants to transnational research project consortia
• Ensure compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
• Maintain transparency and avoid conflicts of interest in call implementation and project selection
• Produce annual work programmes detailing activities, deliverables and resource allocation
• Submit deliverables including data management plans and dissemination and exploitation plans within 6 months of grant signature
• Maintain detailed records of co-funded projects and their results
• Ensure compliance with Horizon Europe open science and data management requirements
• Implement information barriers and independent complaints procedures where consortium members participate in co-funded calls
• Report on project progress, financial management and results achievement

Critical Application Guidance for Applicants

Given the nature of this continuation call, the existing PIANOFORTE coordinator and consortium should note that the proposal will be evaluated not only on the merits of additional activities but also considering the existing partnership context and performance to date. The evaluation will consider the implementation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, the effectiveness of governance structures, the breadth and quality of stakeholder engagement, and the potential for achieving the ambitious objectives outlined in the PIANOFORTE White Paper which advocates for sustained €75 million funding envelope within the Tenth Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) to support a partnership of this scope ⁶.

Proposers should clearly demonstrate how the additional activities will enhance the partnership's capacity to deliver on radiation protection research priorities, particularly regarding medical applications (given the European Commission's focus on the cancer action plan), emergency preparedness and response, worker and public protection, and the development of radiation protection culture across Europe. The proposal must show how the partnership will leverage existing infrastructure investments and coordinate effectively with the six European research platforms and relevant EU programmes such as the Health Cluster and proposed cancer mission.

Particular attention should be paid to demonstrating how the partnership will address the gender dimension in research and innovation content, implement open science practices including FAIR data management, and ensure meaningful involvement of stakeholders from research, regulatory, policy and practitioner communities. The proposal should clearly articulate the governance mechanisms that ensure transparency, fairness and independence in managing any co-funded open calls while avoiding conflicts of interest.

Key Resources and Support

Applicants should consult the following key documents and resources when preparing proposals: the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes; the Horizon Europe Programme Guide; the Online Manual for the Funding and Tenders Portal; the Standard Application Forms (Part A and Part B templates) available in the Submission System; the Annual Work Programme template for CoFund actions; the Information on Financial Support to Third Parties template; Model Grant Agreement documentation; and the Annotated Grant Agreement (AGA) guidance. The Commission recommends that consortia use Joint Research Centre (JRC) services where appropriate, with the JRC bearing its own operational costs.

Contact and Submission Information

Proposals must be submitted through the Funding and Tenders Portal electronic exchange system. Submission is available from 24 March 2026 with deadline of 15 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. All communication regarding the call will be made through the Portal. Technical support for the portal is available through the IT Helpdesk. For guidance on submission procedures, applicants should consult the Funding and Tenders Portal FAQ and the Online Manual accessible through the portal website. Additional support is available through the HelpDesk contact service listed on the call page.

Footnotes

1. 1The PIANOFORTE partnership was originally launched in June 2022 with 58 partners coordinated by the French Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection (ASNR), now known as IRSN after organizational changes. As of January 2025, it has expanded to 108 partners from 26 countries including the six European research platforms in radiation protection.
2. 2The higher maximum amounts for financial support to third parties (€500,000 for PhD/postdoc contracts and €100,000 for other activities) are specifically justified in the work programme to recognize the substantial costs involved in organizing transnational open calls that ensure wide participation of the radiation protection research community across Europe.
3. 3The Basic Safety Standards Directive referenced is Council Directive 2013/59/Euratom on establishing basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation, applicable across EU Member States and participating countries.
4. 4The annual work programme for the first year is a key component of the proposal and must be submitted as an annex to Part B. This detailed description of planned activities over the first 12 months of the partnership implementation is critical for evaluators to assess feasibility and appropriateness of the proposed approach.
5. 5Information barriers refer to structural and procedural mechanisms to prevent consortium members or departments of the same beneficiary that may apply for funding under co-funded calls from having access to information about competing proposals or evaluation decisions, ensuring fair and independent treatment of all applicants.
6. 6The PIANOFORTE White Paper titled 'The Vital Role of Radiation Protection Research in Europe's Future' has been distributed to EU Commissioners, the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), the EURATOM Scientific and Technical Committee, and Member State Science Attachés, advocating for sustained investment in radiation protection research as essential to Europe's competitiveness, security and quality of life.