Ground Demonstration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Architectures for the Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft

HORIZON-JU funds Innovation Actions to develop and ground-demonstrate hybrid-electric propulsion sub-systems for Ultra-Efficient Short-Medium Range (SMR) aircraft at TRL5, targeting at least 5% aircraft-level CO2 reduction and a roadmap to TRL6 by 2030 to support EIS by 2035. The topic is managed by the Clean Aviation JU with an indicative topic budget of €60 million (potentially up to three projects, awards up to €20 million each) within a broader call budget of €329.5 million. Eligible applicants are consortia under Horizon Europe/CAJU rules (typically at least three independent legal entities from different countries, including EU Member States and Associated Countries); funding rates follow Horizon Europe IA rules (up to 70% for most beneficiaries, up to 100% for non-profits). The call opens 31 March 2026 and the single-stage submission deadline is 19 May 2026 (17:00 Brussels time) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Opportunity overview

Ground Demonstration of Hybrid‑Electric Propulsion Architectures for the Ultra‑efficient SMR aircraft

Call: Clean Aviation CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-SMR-03)

What it funds: development and ground demonstration of hybrid‑electric propulsion sub-systems integrated into ducted or unducted engines for an Ultra‑Efficient short‑and‑medium‑range (SMR) aircraft at TRL5 through ground testing. Projects must demonstrate at aircraft level at least 5% CO2 emissions reduction and deliver a clear roadmap to TRL6 by 2030 supporting a product launch compatible with entry into service by 2035.

Who can apply:Consortia of legal entities (industry, OEMs, engine integrators, system suppliers, research organisations, test centres and relevant public bodies). Applicants must follow Horizon Europe/CAJU eligibility rules (Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries primarily; specific topic and work‑programme rules apply).

Action type and model: Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) under Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking; budget‑based grant (HORIZON Action Grant). CAJU and EASA engagement foreseen for technical advice and certification readiness work.

Deadlines and timing:Planned opening of submission system: 31 March 2026. Deadline (single‑stage): 19 May 2026 (17:00 Brussels time). Proposal templates and call documents available on the Funding & Tenders Portal F&T Portal topic page ¹.

1. 1Scope: ground demonstrations of hybrid‑electric sub‑systems in ducted/unducted engines at TRL5 targeting ≥5% aircraft CO2 reduction and roadmap to TRL6 by 2030
2. 2Eligible applicants: consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries (see Work Programme Annex B); public bodies, research organisations and industry are typical participants
3. 3Call model: single‑stage Innovation Action; CAJU rules, Horizon Europe General Annexes and specific Clean Aviation submission/evaluation rules apply

Practical notes: proposals must respect CAJU and Horizon Europe admissibility, eligibility, ethics and security rules; required templates and financial annexes are provided on the Portal and will be updated in March–April 2026. Expect CAJU‑specific evaluation templates and possible EASA involvement for certification readiness tasks described in the call documentation.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, topic description, templates and Q&A are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal topic page: see Topic HORIZON-JU.

Ground Demonstration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Architectures for the Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-SMR-03)

Programme: Clean Aviation CfP 04 (HORIZON-JU-Clean-Aviation-2026-01). Type of action: HORIZON-JU-IA (Horizon Europe Joint Undertaking Innovation Action). Deadline model: single-stage. Planned opening date: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page Topic page ¹.

Topic scope and expected outcomes

The topic targets the development and ground demonstration of hybrid-electric propulsion architectures for Ultra-Efficient Short and Medium Range (SMR) aircraft. It covers hybrid-electric sub-systems integrated into ducted or unducted aero-engines at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 through ground demonstrations. Proposals must demonstrate the benefits of such propulsion architectures, targeting at least 5% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level, and include a clear roadmap to achieve TRL 6 by 2030 in support of a future product launch compatible with entry into service (EIS) by 2035.

Key identifiers and timeline

Funding, legal, and evaluation framework

This topic is implemented by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) under Horizon Europe rules. Proposals are subject to Horizon Europe General Annexes (admissibility, eligibility, award criteria, procedures, legal and financial set-up) and CAJU-specific rules for submission, evaluation, selection, award and review (including use of the CAJU Large Scale Projects evaluation form for IA actions). Award criteria follow Horizon Europe (Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of the implementation) with Impact weighted 1.5 for Innovation Actions. Thresholds: 3/5 per criterion; overall threshold 10/15.

Technical content expectations

• Hybrid-electric propulsion sub-systems integrated into ducted or unducted engines demonstrated at TRL 5 via ground test campaigns.
• System- and aircraft-level assessment that evidences at least 5% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level for the Ultra-Efficient SMR configuration.
• A credible roadmap to reach TRL 6 by 2030, enabling a product launch pathway compatible with entry into service by 2035.
• Integration, performance, safety, reliability, certification readiness and scalability aspects consistent with the CAJU SRIA and Work Programme 2026–27.

Who can apply and how to build a consortium

Horizon Europe collaborative eligibility rules apply unless a CAJU topic-level derogation is explicitly set (none is stated here). Standard eligibility for collaborative projects requires a consortium of at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country, with at least one established in an EU Member State. The CAJU rules note that, where applicable at topic level and duly justified, a single legal entity established in a Member State or Associated Country or consortia not meeting the standard minimum may be eligible; applicants must verify any topic-specific derogation in the Work Programme and topic page.

• Typical consortia in this topic area include aero-engine OEMs, airframe manufacturers, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers (electric machines, power electronics, energy storage, thermal management), specialized SMEs, certification and testing houses, universities, and research and technology organizations (RTOs).
• EASA collaboration: A dedicated Clean Aviation service contract template exists for engaging the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to advise on compliance and certification-readiness aspects (e.g., CONOPS, architectures, MoC, standards, gap analysis, and certification readiness levels). This support is procured by beneficiaries as other goods and services and can be claimed as eligible purchase costs under Horizon Europe rules (via Article 6.2.C.3 type costs).

Budget and funding rate

The overall 2026 Clean Aviation CfP 04 indicative budget is €329,500,000 across all topics in the call. A topic-specific or project-specific budget ceiling is not published here. Under Horizon Europe financial rules for Innovation Actions, the funding rate is up to 70% of eligible costs for most beneficiaries and up to 100% for non-profit legal entities. Co-funding is therefore required for for-profit beneficiaries.

Eligibility of countries and participation restrictions

• Eligible for funding: EU Member States (including OCTs), Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and specific low- and middle-income countries as listed in the Horizon Europe General Annexes, subject to topic conditions.
• China restriction for Innovation Actions: Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in IA projects in any capacity, except by duly justified exception. Applicants must consult the current General Annex B and Programme Guide at submission time.
• Russia/Belarus/non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine: Legal entities established in these territories are not eligible to participate in any capacity.
• Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are not eligible in any capacity.
• Standard Horizon Europe security, ethics, gender equality plan (where applicable), and EU classified/sensitive information rules apply.

Evaluation, selection and grant preparation

• Single-stage evaluation using independent external experts; use of the CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA) evaluation form; consensus and topic panel review ensure consistency and establish ranked lists.
• Award criteria weighting: Impact x1.5 for IAs; proposals must pass both individual criteria thresholds (3/5) and overall threshold (10/15).
• CAJU may hold hearings with applicants during consensus phase to clarify technical scope, synergies, and budget optimization.
• Feedback: Evaluation Summary Reports (ESRs) provided; reserve lists may be established; subject to Governing Board approval.
• Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) may require alignment adjustments to scope, methodology, planning, budget, synergies and “linked actions” to ensure portfolio consistency with CAJU SRIA objectives. A Cooperation Agreement may be required to connect related CAJU-funded actions.

Submission package, forms and templates

• Proposal Application Form for this topic (Part A online forms; Part B technical annex via the Submission System).
• Financial annex templates (mandatory; available around mid-March 2026): Estimated budget per reporting period, Work Package description (Detailed), Work Package effort (Detailed), Cost Breakdown per beneficiary, Budget summary per applicant and work package, In Kind Contribution.
• CA JU Model Consortium Agreement.
• Clean Aviation service contract template for EASA engagement (advice on safety, standards and certification-readiness).
• Evaluation form templates (Horizon Europe standard templates for RIA/IA/CSA, including stage 1 where relevant, and CAJU-specific Large Scale Projects IA template).
• Model Grant Agreements (HE MGA variants), Programme Guide, Online Manual, General Annexes, Work Programme 2026–27, and CAJU SRIA.
• Q&A documents released on 17 February 2026 (first release) and 17 April 2026 (second release). Applicants should monitor the topic page for updates.

Administrative and legal compliance highlights

• Admissibility: page limits and layout as per the Application Form; single-stage submission before deadline; complete, readable, accessible, printable proposal.
• Financial and operational capacity: assessed under Horizon Europe and CAJU rules; applicants must demonstrate capability to perform the proposed work.
• Gender Equality Plan (GEP): Public bodies, research organisations and higher education institutions from EU/Associated Countries must have a GEP in place by grant signature, where applicable.
• Ethics and security: Full compliance with Horizon Europe ethics requirements, screening/assessment where applicable; security appraisal for EU-classified/sensitive information if relevant.
• Intellectual Property: Ownership remains with beneficiaries; access rights as per consortium agreement; granting authority has rights of use for policy communication purposes; CAJU-specific IPR and communication rules in Annex 5 of the HE MGA apply.
• Financial support to third parties: Only if permitted by topic conditions and Work Programme; standard Horizon Europe caps and requirements apply.
• Purchases, subcontracts, and in-kind contributions must follow Horizon Europe cost eligibility rules and value-for-money principles.

Support and partner search

• Partner search announcements can be posted and consulted on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for this topic by registered users with appropriate roles.
• National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, Research Enquiry Service, IT Helpdesk, and European IPR Helpdesk provide assistance.

Structured categorisation and detailed extraction

Eligible Applicant Types:Industrial companies (aircraft and engine OEMs, tier-1 and tier-2 suppliers), SMEs, startups with relevant technology and demonstration capacity, universities, research and technology organisations (RTOs), testing/certification and standardisation bodies, and non-profit entities. Public bodies may participate where relevant to the scope. Engagement of EASA is via a separate services contract for advisory support; EASA is not a beneficiary.

Funding Type:Grant under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-JU-IA Innovation Action) managed by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium. Standard Horizon Europe collaborative eligibility applies: at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different EU Member State or Associated Country, with at least one in an EU Member State. The CAJU rules note a possible derogation allowing a single legal entity or consortia not meeting Article 22(2) under topic-specific conditions; no such derogation is stated in the topic text provided, so applicants should assume the standard minimum consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries are fully eligible. Participation by certain low- and middle-income non-associated countries may be eligible for funding per Horizon Europe rules. Restrictions apply: entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Innovation Actions (except by explicit, justified exception); entities established in Russia, Belarus, or in non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are not eligible in any capacity. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.

Target Sector:Aviation and aerospace propulsion systems; hybrid-electric propulsion; energy systems for aircraft (electric machines, power electronics, batteries and other energy storage, thermal management); aircraft systems integration; climate and environmental performance of air transport; certification and standardisation for novel propulsion architectures.

Mentioned Countries:Regionally, the opportunity applies across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Policy-based mentions include China (participation restriction for IAs), Russia and Belarus (ineligible), and non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine (ineligible). The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is headquartered in Cologne, Germany, in the context of the service contract template provided.

Project Stage:Development and demonstration at TRL 5 via ground tests, with a mandated roadmap to TRL 6 by 2030. The work encompasses design, integration, ground demonstration, validation, performance assessment, and certification-readiness activities aligned to a 2035 EIS objective.

Funding Amount:The total indicative budget for the 2026 Clean Aviation CfP 04 portfolio is €329,500,000 across all topics. A topic-specific or per-project budget ceiling is not published in the provided materials. Proposals should size budgets commensurate with a large-scale IA and the CAJU SRIA ambitions; excessively inflated budgets may be scored down during evaluation.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, via electronic submission on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposal must follow the Part A online forms and Part B technical annex, respect page limits and formatting, and include mandatory annexes.

Nature of Support:Money (action grant). Non-financial elements include access to guidance, Q&A, partner search tools, and optional EASA advisory services via a separate services contract procured by the consortium.

Application Stages:1 stage (single-stage submission and evaluation). Within evaluation, multiple internal phases are applied by CAJU (individual evaluation, consensus group, topic panel review, and optional call panel review), but only a single applicant submission stage is required.

Success Rates:No success rates are published for this call or topic in the provided materials.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. For Innovation Actions, the EU funding rate is up to 70% of eligible costs for most beneficiaries; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities. Consortia with for-profit participants must provide the remaining co-funding.

Templates and structure of application forms

1. 1Administrative forms (Part A): Online entry of participant data, budget summary, ethics/security questionnaires, declarations, and topic-specific questions.
2. 2Technical description (Part B): Structured narrative annex covering Excellence, Impact (with exploitation and dissemination plan and communication), and Quality and efficiency of implementation (work plan, risk management, resources, consortium composition and roles).
3. 3Mandatory financial annexes (available around mid-March 2026): Estimated budget per reporting period; Work Package description (Detailed); Work Package effort (Detailed); Cost Breakdown per beneficiary; Budget summary per applicant and work package; In Kind Contribution.
4. 4CA JU Model Consortium Agreement: Sets internal governance, IPR/background/results access rights, decision-making, and settlement of disputes.
5. 5EASA service contract template (optional procurement by beneficiaries): Defines scope, tasks, deliverables, hours, and budget for advisory services on compliance with aviation safety, interoperability and environmental standards; supports certification-readiness planning (e.g., MoCs, standards gap analysis, CRLs).
6. 6Evaluation Form: CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions), applying Horizon Europe criteria with Impact weighting; applicants are advised to self-check proposals against this template before submission.
7. 7Model Grant Agreements and guidance: Horizon Europe MGA, Programme Guide, Online Manual, General Annexes, Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026–27, Clean Aviation SRIA.
8. 8Q&A schedule: First release 17 February 2026; second release 17 April 2026. Applicants should regularly monitor the topic page for updates.

Comprehensive summary

This Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking topic seeks large, industry-led, multi-stakeholder Innovation Actions to ground-demonstrate hybrid-electric propulsion architectures for Ultra-Efficient Short and Medium Range aircraft at TRL 5, integrated in ducted or unducted engines, and to provide a robust path to TRL 6 by 2030. Proposals must quantify at least a 5% CO2 reduction at aircraft level and align with a 2035 entry-into-service ambition. The call is single-stage, opening 31 March 2026 and closing 19 May 2026. Horizon Europe eligibility, evaluation, and legal-financial rules apply, complemented by CAJU-specific procedures. Consortia are expected to bring together OEMs, tiered suppliers, SMEs, RTOs, universities, test and certification actors, and may optionally engage EASA via a provided service contract template to de-risk certification-readiness. Funding is provided as a Horizon Europe Innovation Action grant, with standard IA funding rates (up to 70% for most participants and up to 100% for non-profits), implying co-funding from for-profits. The 2026 Clean Aviation CfP 04 portfolio has an indicative budget of €329.5 million across all topics; no per-topic ceiling is specified here. Applicants must submit through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, using the official application forms and mandatory annex templates (budget per period, detailed WPs and effort, beneficiary cost breakdown, in-kind contributions), and should self-assess their proposals against the CAJU Large Scale Projects IA evaluation form. Evaluation is single-stage, with Impact weighted 1.5, and includes consensus and panel reviews to ensure portfolio alignment and possible synergies or linked actions during grant preparation. Geographic eligibility follows Horizon Europe rules, with specific restrictions for Chinese entities in Innovation Actions and exclusions for Russia, Belarus, and non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine. The topic’s emphasis on integration, performance, safety, and certification-readiness underscores the need for credible system architectures, scalable technologies (electric machines, power electronics, energy storage and thermal management), and a well-structured work plan to progress to TRL 6 by 2030. The opportunity is designed to accelerate decarbonisation of aviation through hybrid-electric propulsion, contributing measurably to CO2 reduction at aircraft level and supporting Europe’s leadership and competitiveness in sustainable aviation technologies.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page and submission: HORIZON-JU at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

Ground Demonstration of Hybrid-Electric Propulsion Architectures for the Ultra-efficient SMR Aircraft

Opportunity Overview

This funding opportunity under Clean Aviation CfP 04 (topic ID: HORIZON-JU) supports the development and ground demonstration of hybrid-electric propulsion architectures for the Ultra-Efficient Short-Medium Range (SMR) aircraft. The focus is on demonstrating hybrid-electric sub-systems integrated into ducted or unducted engines at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, targeting at least 5% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level, with a roadmap to TRL6 by 2030 for Entry Into Service (EIS) by 2035.

The call is part of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU) programme under Horizon Europe, with a total call budget of €329,500,000 across multiple topics. This specific topic has an indicative budget of up to €60 million, potentially funding up to three projects with awards up to €20 million each.

Key Objectives and Expected Outcomes

• Demonstrate hybrid-electric sub-systems in ducted or unducted engines at TRL5 via ground tests.
• Achieve at least 5% CO2 emissions reduction at aircraft level.
• Develop a clear roadmap to TRL6 by 2030, supporting product launch and EIS by 2035.
• Address integration challenges including thermal management, energy management, and controls.

Projects must align with the Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and contribute to high-level objectives for ultra-efficient SMR aircraft.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries (e.g., Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom). Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate under specific provisions, but funding eligibility is limited.

Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from different countries, with at least one from an EU Member State. Derogations may apply for single entities or consortia not meeting standard rules, as justified in the Work Programme.

Ideal Consortium Composition:Aircraft manufacturers, engine makers (e.g., Safran, Rolls-Royce, MTU), system suppliers, research centres, universities, and certification authorities. Up to three projects expected, potentially involving different engine architectures.

Funding Details

Indicative Budget:€60 million total for the topic, with awards up to €20 million per project. Overall call budget: €329.5 million.

Funding Rate:Up to 70% for Innovation Actions (IA), 100% for non-profit entities. Budget-based actual cost grants (HORIZON-AG).¹

Key Dates

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals evaluated on Excellence (threshold 3/5), Impact (threshold 3/5, weighted 1.5 for IA), Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (threshold 3/5). Overall threshold 10/15. Specific template: Evaluation Form CAJU Large Scale Projects (IA Actions).

Application Process and Documents

1. 1Single-stage submission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal (opens late March 2026).
2. 2Proposal templates available now; financial annexes mid-March 2026.
3. 3Key documents: Proposal Application Form, Work Package descriptions, Budget summaries, CAJU Model Consortium Agreement.
4. 4Q&A releases: 17 February 2026 and 17 April 2026.
5. 5Partner search available on Portal.

Admissibility: Page limits per Annex A/E. Eligibility: Annex B. Financial capacity: Annex C. Full details in Horizon Europe General Annexes and CAJU-specific rules.

Technical Requirements and Roadmap

Demonstrations at TRL5 via ground tests. Roadmap to TRL6 by 2030. Compatible with EIS 2035. Synergies with related projects (e.g., HE-ART, OSYRYS, PHARES, HERACLES, DEMETRA) encouraged.

TRL Progression:TRL4+ at start; TRL5 at end; TRL6 roadmap by 2030.²

Additional Considerations

• EASA involvement possible via service contracts for certification advice.
• Ethics self-assessment required; no hESC or embryo use expected.
• Gender equality plans for public bodies/research organisations.
• Open science practices encouraged.

Applicants should monitor the topic page for updates, Q&As, and templates. Submission system opens end of March 2026.

Primary source: EU Funding Portal. Check periodically for topic updates and Q&A documents.

Footnotes

1. 1Horizon Europe General Annexes and CAJU Work Programme 2026-27.
2. 2Topic description and related Clean Aviation projects (e.g., HE-ART, OSYRYS).