Fostering 2-Dimensional Materials (2DM) based emerging and enabling technologies (CSA)

The opportunity presented is called "HORIZON-CL4," which focuses on fostering 2-Dimensional Materials (2DM) based emerging and enabling technologies through a Coordination and Support Action (CSA). The eligible applicants are legal entities established in EU member states or associated countries, including research organizations, universities, enterprises, and other entities that can contribute to coordination and networking within the 2DM research community. This grant is a fixed lump sum of €1,000,000, aimed specifically at coordination activities and support rather than research and product development. The application process is a single-stage submission, requiring complete proposals to be submitted directly without prior screening. The submission period opens on January 15, 2026, and closes on April 15, 2026. The primary focus of the project encompasses an array of sectors including advanced materials, photonics, semiconductors, and sustainable manufacturing processes. The goal is to enhance collaboration, standardization, and dissemination of knowledge related to 2DM technologies, particularly supporting the existing European initiatives like the Graphene Flagship. While a specific success rate for applications is not disclosed, historical data on similar CSA calls suggest success rates may vary between 10-30%. Notably, there is no co-funding requirement imposed on beneficiaries, as the grant covers 100% of eligible costs. The proposal must demonstrate mechanisms for fostering synergies among various EU-funded projects and facilitating community building within the 2DM ecosystem. Activities such as R&I roadmapping, innovation support, and landscape monitoring are critical to achieving the intended outcomes. Beneficiaries will also have access to the broader Horizon Europe ecosystem, which offers networking opportunities with other funded projects and key stakeholders. In summary, this grant opportunity is part of the EU's strategic efforts to promote technological autonomy and leadership in emerging technologies related to 2D materials, addressing crucial challenges while bolstering collaboration across the European research and innovation landscape.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to digital, industry, space, and emerging technologies, specifically focusing on 2D materials, data, and human-centric approaches. The calls are part of the DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04) call under the Horizon Europe Programme.

The overarching goal is to foster European leadership in frontier technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, Quantum technology, Photonics, and Semiconductors, and to ensure Europe's economic security and global competitiveness. The funding aims to consolidate Europe's research ecosystem, support the digital and green transitions, and secure a cohesive, sovereign, and future-proof European industrial base.

A key focus is on maximizing the impact of EU-funded Research and Innovation in 2D Material (2DM)-based emerging and enabling technologies and reinforcing the related Research and Innovation community in Europe.

The funding instruments include:

Research and Innovation Actions (RIA):These actions aim to establish new knowledge or explore the feasibility of new or improved technology, products, processes, services or solutions. These may include basic and applied research, technology development and integration, testing and validation on a small-scale prototype in a laboratory or simulated environment.

Innovation Actions (IA):These actions primarily consist of activities directly aimed at producing plans and arrangements or designs for new, altered or improved products, processes or services. These may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.

Coordination and Support Actions (CSA):These actions support activities such as standardisation, dissemination, awareness-raising and communication, networking, coordination or support services, policy dialogues and mutual learning exercises and studies, including design studies for new infrastructure and may also include complementary activities of strategic planning, networking and coordination between programmes in different countries.

Key areas of focus and requirements for proposals include:

2D Materials (2DM):Proposals should provide key support functions fostering a dynamic R&I community in 2DM-based emerging and enabling technologies, facilitating synergies and collaboration among relevant EU-funded projects, including those of the Graphene Flagship, and associated entities. Support for R&I roadmapping, innovation, and standardization activities in 2DM-based technologies is expected. Establishing and maintaining up-to-date European and global R&I and funding landscapes in 2DM-based technologies is also required, along with relaying and amplifying communication and dissemination activities in the domain of graphene and other 2DMs. Fostering interactions and synergies with relevant national and regional initiatives, partnerships (particularly the Innovative advanced materials for Europe partnership), projects such as InnoMatSyn, and infrastructures in the domain is crucial.

Data:Several calls focus on data-related research and innovation.

Digital and Emerging Technologies:Calls target various aspects of digital and emerging technologies.

Human-Centric Approaches:Calls emphasize human-centric innovation.

General Conditions:

Admissibility:Proposal page limits and layout 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:Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding.

Other Eligible Conditions:Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks, as described in Annex B.

Financial and Operational Capacity and Exclusion:Described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and Award:Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F.

Legal and Financial Set-up:The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action's end. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific Conditions:

Application Form Templates:Available in the Submission System.

Model Grant Agreements (MGA):Lump Sum MGA.

Additional Documents:Various documents are listed, including the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme, Framework Programme, Specific Programme Decision, EU Financial Regulation, and guidance documents.

Budget Overview:

The calls for proposals have a single-stage submission process with a planned opening date of January 15, 2026, and a deadline of April 15, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The following table summarizes the budget and indicative number of grants for each topic:

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-02 - HORIZON-RIA:€20,500,000, contributions of 7,000,000 to €10,250,000, 2 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-03 - HORIZON-CSA:€4,000,000, contribution around €4,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06 - HORIZON-IA:€46,500,000, contributions of 11,500,000 to €23,500,000, 3 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01 - HORIZON-RIA:€17,000,000, contribution around €17,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08 - HORIZON-RIA:€18,000,000, contribution around €18,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09 - HORIZON-IA:€6,000,000, contribution around €6,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-11 - HORIZON-CSA:€2,000,000, contribution around €500,000, 3 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-12 - HORIZON-CSA:€1,000,000, contribution around €1,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-14 - HORIZON-CSA:€3,000,000, contribution around €3,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-15 - HORIZON-CSA:€1,000,000, contribution around €1,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4 - HORIZON-CSA:€1,000,000, contribution around €1,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-18 - HORIZON-RIA:€10,000,000, contribution around €10,000,000, 1 grant

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19 - HORIZON-RIA:€45,000,000, contribution around €15,000,000, 3 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01 - HORIZON-IA:€30,000,000, contributions of 4,000,000 to €5,000,000, 7 grants

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-02 - HORIZON-RIA:€16,800,000, contributions of 2,800,000 to €8,400,000, 3 grants

Partner Search:

A partner search function is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal to help organizations find partners for their proposals.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bolster Europe's position in key digital and emerging technologies by funding research, innovation, coordination, and support actions. It emphasizes strategic autonomy, technological sovereignty, and a human-centric approach, while also addressing specific challenges and opportunities in areas like 2D materials, data, AI, quantum technology, photonics and semiconductors. The funding is structured to support a range of activities, from basic research to market replication, with a focus on maximizing the impact of EU-funded initiatives and fostering collaboration within the European research and innovation ecosystem.

Eligible Applicant Types:The opportunity is open to legal entities. The specific types of legal entities eligible are not explicitly defined in the provided text, but it can be inferred that the call is targeted towards research and innovation actors, including those involved in R&I roadmapping, innovation, and standardization activities. This could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation related to 2DM-based technologies.

Funding Type:The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the Type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being "HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]". There are different types of actions including HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA), and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope of the projects, which involves fostering a dynamic R&I community and facilitating synergies and collaboration, it is highly probable that a consortium of multiple applicants is preferred, or even required, to effectively address the goals of the opportunity. The partner search announcements also suggest that collaboration is encouraged.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, which describes eligible countries. However, the text also mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants, referencing the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more details. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs).

Target Sector:The program targets the digital and emerging enabling technologies sector, with a specific focus on 2-Dimensional Materials (2DM) based technologies. This includes graphene and other 2DMs. It also encompasses related fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Photonics, and Semiconductors, as these are identified as key technologies for Europe’s economic security and global competitiveness.

Mentioned Countries:China is explicitly mentioned as a country whose legal entities are not eligible to participate in Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs). The text refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries, and the European Union is implicitly mentioned as the primary region of focus.

Project Stage:The project stage varies depending on the type of action. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) focus on research and development, while Innovation Actions (IA) focus on demonstration and validation. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) focus on networking, coordination, and dissemination. Therefore, the project stage can range from research to demonstration and validation, depending on the specific action type.

Funding Amount:The funding amount varies significantly depending on the specific topic and type of action. Some examples from the budget overview include:

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-02 (RIA):€7,000,000 to €10,250,000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-03 (CSA):around €4,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06 (IA):€11,500,000 to €23,500,000

HORIZON-CL4 (CSA):around €1,000,000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01 (IA):€4,000,000 to €5,000,000

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

Nature of Support:The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant.

Application Stages:The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, it is common for Horizon Europe grants to require some level of co-funding, which may be detailed in the specific call documents.

Summary:This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within the DIGITAL call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-04). It aims to foster and reinforce the R&I community in Europe related to 2-Dimensional Materials (2DM) based emerging and enabling technologies. The call includes various types of actions: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), each with different scopes and funding levels. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process is single-stage. While the call is primarily targeted towards EU member states and associated countries, some non-EU countries may also be eligible. Legal entities from China are not eligible. The program targets the digital and emerging enabling technologies sector, with a focus on 2DM-based technologies, Artificial Intelligence, Quantum, Photonics, and Semiconductors. Proposals should provide key support functions, facilitate synergies, and amplify communication and dissemination activities within the 2DM domain.