Fast Track to Research and Innovation for breakthroughs in industrial technologies (Research and Innovation Action)

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal has announced an upcoming grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically labeled as Horizon-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61. This initiative promotes the Fast Track to Research and Innovation for breakthroughs in industrial technologies. The grant is designated as a Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of 20 million euros, set to fund approximately 8 projects. Each project can receive funding in the range of 2 million to 2.5 million euros.

Eligible applicants comprise collaborative consortia of 2 to 6 independent entities, including universities, research institutes, SMEs, and large enterprises from EU member states and associated countries. The target sectors focus on advanced manufacturing technologies, circular economy practices, and sustainable industrial processes, addressing themes like the Made in Europe, Process4Planet, Clean Steel, Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU, and Textiles for the Future partnerships. Projects must be in the early stages of development, with a maximum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4.

The application procedure follows a single-stage model with an open call. Proposals must align with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas of the relevant partnerships and demonstrate a credible path from outcomes to impact. The submission opens on September 22, 2026, and closes on February 2, 2027. Grants will be issued under a budget-based reimbursement system, and co-funding is not a requirement outlined in the provided information.

The evaluation process is designed to be efficient, with decisions expected within four months of the deadline and grant agreements finalized within six months. This call represents an opportunity for small research consortia to receive funding quickly and efficiently, aligning with European goals for innovation in technology and sustainability.

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically the INDUSTRY-FTRI (HORIZON-CL4-2027-06) call, focusing on Fast Track to Research and Innovation for breakthroughs in industrial technologies. This is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget-based HORIZON Action Grant. The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of September 22, 2026, and a deadline of February 2, 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome is for proposals to demonstrate a credible pathway from project results to the expected impact of the Destination, enabling open-ended breakthrough innovations in industrial technologies. The scope of the topic is open, covering breakthrough innovations up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4. These innovations should align with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) of the partnerships Made in Europe, Process4Planet, Clean Steel, Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU (IAM4EU), and Textiles for the Future. Proposals must describe their contribution to the R&I objectives of the relevant SRIA.

The general conditions include admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, which are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions specify that consortia may include a maximum of 6 independent eligible entities. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The evaluation and award process includes award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. The indicative timeline includes a maximum of 4 months for the outcome of the evaluation and a maximum of 6 months for the signing of grant agreements from the final submission date. Grants will be funded under a Fast Track to Research and Innovation Procedure (FTRI) to allow faster access to funds for small collaborative consortia. Submission and evaluation processes are detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F. The legal and financial set-up of the grants allows the granting authority to object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action's end, as per Annex 5. Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes provides further details. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and the standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide and HE Model Grant Agreements (MGA). Call-specific instructions, information on financial support to third parties, and information on clinical studies are also provided. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 sections on General Introduction, Digital, Industry and Space, Horizontal Activities, and General Annexes, as well as the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview includes two topics: HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61 with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 8 grants, and HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62 with a budget of 15,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 6 grants. Both are HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions with a single-stage submission process, opening on September 22, 2026, and closing on February 2, 2027.

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited by LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header. Support resources include the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and a Partner Search function.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on funding breakthrough innovations in industrial technologies, specifically targeting projects up to TRL 4 that align with the SRIAs of several key European partnerships. It aims to foster advancements in areas such as manufacturing, materials, clean processes, and textiles. The call utilizes a Fast Track to Research and Innovation procedure to expedite funding for smaller consortia. Applicants should carefully review the general and specific conditions, including eligibility criteria, proposal guidelines, and evaluation processes, as well as consult the provided support resources to prepare a competitive proposal. The call provides funding opportunities for research and innovation actions that contribute to the strategic objectives of the Horizon Europe program and the European industrial landscape.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the information suggests that consortia are eligible. The Enterprise Europe Network is mentioned, suggesting that SMEs are a target applicant type. LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants can publish partner requests.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG], under the HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required. The call specifies that consortia may include a maximum of 6 independent eligible entities as participants. The grants under this topic will be funded under a Fast Track to Research and Innovation Procedure (FTRI) to allow faster access to funds for small collaborative consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. This suggests that EU, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU countries are eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets breakthrough innovations in industrial technologies. Specifically, it focuses on the Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) of the partnerships Made in Europe, Process4Planet, Clean Steel, Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU (IAM4EU) and Textiles for the Future.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are explicitly mentioned, but the text refers to EU, non-EU, and non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The program targets projects up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates two topics: HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-61 with a budget of EUR 20,000,000 and HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-62 with a budget of EUR 15,000,000. The indicative number of grants are 8 and 6 respectively.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic is provided (8 and 6 respectively).

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, INDUSTRY-FTRI (HORIZON-CL4-2027-06), aims to fund breakthrough innovations in industrial technologies. It is structured as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget-based grant. The call is open to consortia of up to 6 independent entities, including those from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU countries. The projects should be at TRL 4 or lower and align with the Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) of partnerships like Made in Europe, Process4Planet, Clean Steel, IAM4EU, and Textiles for the Future. The application process is single-stage, with a planned opening date of September 22, 2026, and a deadline of February 2, 2027. The total budget is split between two topics: one with EUR 20 million and another with EUR 15 million, with an indicative number of 8 and 6 grants respectively. The call utilizes a Fast Track to Research and Innovation (FTRI) procedure to expedite funding for small collaborative consortia. The overall goal is to enable open-ended breakthrough innovations in industrial technologies, feeding the pipeline of knowledge and contributing to the expected impact of the Horizon Europe Destination.