Key enabling technologies for fusion power plants (European Partnership on Fusion Energy)

This HORIZON-EURATOM call (Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027) funds EURATOM Innovation Actions to mature and demonstrate key enabling technologies for fusion power plants at TRL 6–8. The total budget is €45,000,000 with an indicative EU contribution of around €15,000,000 per project; funding rates are typically 60% for for-profit entities and up to 100% for non-profits, using a lump-sum model. Eligible participants are legal entities established in EU Member States and Euratom-associated countries (currently Ukraine and Switzerland) and consortia must demonstrate close cooperation between public research and private companies. The call opens 15 April 2027 and uses a single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal with a deadline of 04 November 2027 17:00 Brussels time; proposals must address specified technology areas (e.g., tritium breeding, fuel cycle, fusion-grade materials, lasers/targets, digital modelling, engineering design) and will be evaluated on Excellence, Impact and Implementation criteria.

Key enabling technologies for fusion power plants (European Partnership on Fusion Energy)

What it funds

Innovation actions to mature and demonstrate technologies at TRL 6‑8 for key functions of future fusion power plants: development, integration and close-to-real-life testing of components or systems, qualification under relevant plasma/neutron conditions, digital modelling, and business case and safety assessment to support commercialisation ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States and countries associated to the Euratom programme (currently Ukraine and Switzerland). Proposals must enable close cooperation between public research and private companies (start-ups, SMEs, industry); third-country participants are ineligible for funding.

Eligible technology areas (examples)

1. 1Tritium breeding and fuel cycle technologies
2. 2High‑power lasers, targets and optics for inertial confinement fusion
3. 3Fusion-grade materials and component qualification under high neutron load
4. 4Digital technologies, modelling and simulation; engineering design of enabling fusion facilities
5. 5Other technologies directly relevant to future fusion power plants

Funding Range:Call budget €45,000,000 (2027); indicative EU contribution per selected project around €15,000,000; funding rate 60% of eligible costs (up to 100% for non-profit entities); lump sum financing and lump-sum rules apply.

Quick facts

Proposals must identify the targeted technology area, quantify gaps and KPIs, describe test and demonstration in relevant conditions, include a clear plan for monitoring technology maturation and commercial potential, and explain alignment with the Partnership’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda when available ¹.

How to apply:Submit a single‑stage proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by the deadline; follow Euratom WP admissibility and eligibility rules, General Annexes and lump-sum guidance.

Footnotes

1. 1See official call page on the Funding & Tenders Portal and Fusion for Energy for partnership context and SRIA alignment details Funding & Tenders Portal Fusion for Energy.

Call overview: Key enabling technologies for fusion power plants (European Partnership on Fusion Energy)

Basic facts and timelines

Call identifier: HORIZON-EURATOM. Call title: Key enabling technologies for fusion power plants (European Partnership on Fusion Energy). Call type: Call for proposals under the Euratom Research and Training Programme (EURATOM). Type of action: EURATOM Innovation Actions (EURATOM-IA). Type of Model Grant Agreement: EURATOM Action Grant Budget-Based [EURATOM-AG]. Planned opening date: 15 April 2027. Submission deadline: 4 November 2027, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage (one-stage submission). Application system: EU Funding & Tenders Portal (Submission System).

Indicative financial envelope and expected award:Total indicative call budget (2027): €45,000,000. Indicative contribution for this topic within the call: around €15,000,000 in the 2027 budget line. Typical indicative EU contribution per awarded project: around €15,000,000 (the work programme example indicates around €15 million per project for this call context, and the call overview shows around €45M with indicative contribution around €15M per grant, i.e. roughly 2–4 grants may be funded depending on final budgets and distribution among technology areas).

Scope, expected outcomes and technology focus

Overall objective: fund innovation actions that mature and demonstrate technologies reaching technology readiness levels (TRLs) approximately TRL 6 to TRL 8, addressing technologies that are key enablers for future fusion power plants (FPPs). Projects should develop and advance the technology readiness of innovative components and/or integrated systems that perform key FPP functions, test them in close-to-real-life conditions, demonstrate ability to deliver fusion-grade components/systems, and produce a credible commercialisation/business case showing benefits for EU competitiveness and energy security.

1. 1Primary technology areas in scope: tritium breeding; fuel cycle; high-power lasers and optical technologies for inertial confinement fusion (ICF); ICF targets; fusion-grade materials; qualification of reactor components in relevant operational plasma scenarios (including high neutron load); digital technologies (including modelling and simulation); engineering design of future key enabling fusion facilities; and any other technology relevant to fusion power plants.
2. 2Proposals must clearly indicate which one (or more) of the key areas they address and must: identify technology gaps and bottlenecks; set quantitative targets or KPIs for the innovation; describe approaches to testing and demonstration and the TRL target; define monitoring of technology maturation; enable close cooperation between public research and private companies (start-ups, SMEs, industry) and reflect that in the consortium; demonstrate business potential and commercialisation pathway; address safety constraints when relevant; and explain alignment with the Partnership SRIA and other EU initiatives (e.g. EUROfusion or Fusion for Energy).

Eligibility and geographic scope

Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and countries associated to the Euratom Research and Training Programme. At the time of topic publication, only Ukraine and Switzerland are associated to the Euratom Programme and therefore eligible. Entities established in countries outside Member States and these associated countries will render a proposal ineligible. The call text emphasises safeguarding the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy and security; participation is therefore restricted to entities from Member States and Euratom-associated countries only.

Mentioned countries / geographic references:EU Member States (all) and as of publication: Ukraine and Switzerland (Euratom-associated countries) are explicitly referenced as eligible; proposals including entities from other third countries will be ineligible.

Who should apply and eligible applicant types

This is an innovation action call aimed at consortia combining public research organisations and private companies with capabilities to mature technologies to near-commercial TRLs and demonstrate them in realistic environments. The call explicitly requests close cooperation between public research and private companies (including start-ups, SMEs and industry). Eligible applicant types therefore include: universities and research institutes, public research organisations, large enterprises and industrial partners, SMEs, start-ups, non-profit legal entities and consortiums composed of combinations of the above. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of a consortium but will not receive funding from the indirect-action budget when it participates.

Funding instrument, legal & financial setup

Financial mechanism: grant (lump sum funding model). The work programme specifies that eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision authorising use of lump sum contributions under Horizon Europe and Euratom. The lump sum approach requires applicants to provide a detailed estimated budget in the proposal (broken down by work package and cost categories) that will be used to calculate the lump sum. The funding rate: typically 60% of eligible costs for for-profit entities; for non-profit legal entities the funding rate can be up to 100% of the total eligible costs (work programme text).

Lump sum reference:The call uses lump sum payments for eligible costs and applicants must prepare a detailed budget breakdown in the proposal and follow the lump sum calculation rules in the EU decision on lump sums ¹.

Consortium requirement and project structure

Consortium requirement: consortium-based collaborative projects are expected. The call targets innovation actions that require contributions from multiple partners (public research and private industry). Proposals should reflect close cooperation between the public research sector and private companies (start-ups, SMEs, industry). Where the topic text or specific conditions indicate, the JRC may join consortia as a non-funded partner for indirect actions. The call is single-stage; applicants must submit full proposals in one submission.

Project maturity and expected TRL

Expected maturity at project start and end: the call targets TRL 6 to TRL 8 demonstrators. Projects must demonstrate testing in close-to-real-life conditions and show credible progression to commercially viable fusion-grade components and systems.

Funding amount and project scale

Indicative contribution per awarded project: around €15 million (this is the indicative expected EU contribution per project as referenced in the topic and the budget overview). The overall call envelope is about €45 million for the topic/year indicated. These values are indicative and the final grant amount per project will be determined by the evaluation and grant preparation process.

Application and evaluation process

Application type and submission: open single-stage call through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must complete Part A (administrative data and budget in the Portal) and upload Part B (technical description) as a PDF following the standard HE RIA/IA templates. For topics using lump sum funding the page limit for the Innovation action technical description is 45 pages. Required annexes and templates are available in the Submission System and in the Euratom Work Programme annex documents.

Evaluation criteria, scoring and thresholds:Evaluation uses the standard Euratom/Horizon approach: three award criteria — Excellence, Impact and Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Scoring: 0 to 5 per criterion (half points allowed). Per-criterion threshold: 3/5. Overall threshold: 10/15. For two-stage calls only Excellence and Impact are assessed at stage 1, but this specific call is single-stage. The evaluation committee includes EU institutional representatives and the panel aims to produce a balanced portfolio across the technology areas; within budget available the Agency may award grants not only by rank order but also to at least the highest-ranked proposal in each technology area, provided thresholds are met.

Selection, award and contract model

Type of grant agreement: EURATOM Action Grant Budget-Based [EURATOM-AG]. The legal and financial set-up of grants is described in the General Annexes to the Euratom Work Programme. Lump sum grants will be paid based on achievement of work package milestones and deliverables; the lump sum calculation and distribution across work packages is determined during evaluation and grant preparation. The Commission retains rights to suspend or reduce payments if conditions and deliverables are not met. JRC participation is possible as a consortium partner but with specific funding rules (the JRC does not receive funding from the indirect actions budget when participating).

Eligible costs, funding rates and co-funding

Eligible costs: lump sum model — applicants must provide an estimated breakdown of eligible costs in categories (personnel, subcontracting, purchase costs including equipment and consumables, other costs such as financial support to third parties where permitted, and indirect costs). Indirect costs are captured through the lump sum calculation; Horizon rules reference a 25% flat rate indirect cost rule used in lump sum calculations where applicable. Funding rate: 60% of eligible costs for for-profit participants; for non-profit legal entities the funding rate can be up to 100%.

Co-funding obligation:Co-funding is required for for-profit beneficiaries: the EU contribution does not normally cover 100% of eligible costs (60% funding rate typical). Beneficiaries must provide the remaining share from their own or third-party resources. Non-profit entities may receive up to 100% funding where specified. Applicants should ensure that the project budget shows the total estimated costs larger than the requested EU contribution (co-financing principle).

Consortium composition guidance and partner roles

Consortia must combine public research organisations and private companies (industry partners, SMEs, and startups) to ensure close cooperation across technology maturation, demonstration, testing in relevant environments, and industrial uptake. Proposers should justify each partner’s role and resources, demonstrate access to necessary research and test infrastructure (or plan to use transnational access facilities), and explain how the consortium addresses the entire technology-to-market chain where relevant (materials, manufacturing, integration, verification, regulatory readiness, and business case). JRC inclusion is permitted with specified conditions.

Project implementation expectations

Work plan expectations: applicants must present a coherent work plan structured in work packages with tasks, quantification of effort (person-months), milestones and deliverables. Projects should include dedicated activities for testing/demonstration at TRL 6–8, monitoring of technology maturation, a detailed dissemination and exploitation plan (including IP management), data management plan (DMP) and a clear pathway to commercialisation and EU competitiveness. Applicants are expected to define quantitative KPIs and targets for performance improvements. Safety, safeguards, dual-use and export control aspects must be considered where relevant.

Application forms and templates

Applicants must use the standard application form templates in the Submission System: Part A (online administrative and budgetary forms) and Part B (technical description) using the HE RIA/IA template. For lump sum calls the detailed lump sum budget template (Detailed budget table for HE lump-sum) must be completed. The work programme and call page provide links to the model grant agreements, General Annexes, guidance documents, evaluation forms and detailed templates (DMP, dissemination/exploitation plan, lists of deliverables, etc.). The Part B technical template requires sections on Excellence, Impact and Implementation and a mandatory DMP and dissemination/exploitation plan as deliverables in the first 6 months if the proposal is funded. The page limit for innovation actions under lump sum is 45 pages for Part B. Applicants should follow formatting rules (A4, font, margins) described in the application template.

Evaluation timeline and award process

The call is single-stage. Evaluation and award criteria follow the General Annexes. Timelines for evaluation, hearings (if any), and grant preparation are described in General Annex F of the Euratom Work Programme. The evaluation committee may include EU institutional representatives. To ensure coverage of all technology areas in the topic, the awarding authority may fund top-ranked proposals in different technology areas, not only strict top‑rank overall, provided they meet thresholds and subject to budget availability.

Application stages, success rate and competitiveness

Application stages: this call uses a single-stage submission process (1 stage). Success rates: not explicitly published; the call budget and indicative number of grants suggest a competitive process with a small number of awards (illustrative expectation around 2–4 grants for the €45M envelope, with typical indicative EU contribution per project ~€15M). The overall success rate will depend on the number and quality of proposals; applicants should assume competition is high given the specialised and strategic nature of fusion technologies.

Co-funding and financial management details

Co-funding: applicants must provide own resources or third-party contributions for the portion of project costs not covered by the EU contribution (i.e. typically 40% for for-profit beneficiaries). Non-profit entities may be funded up to 100%. Lump sum approach: the EU lump sum is determined by the evaluation on the basis of applicant-provided detailed cost estimations and expert assessment (see the Decision authorising the use of lump sums) ¹. Payment is conditional on achievement of the work package conditions, deliverables and milestones defined in the grant agreement. Retentions for common EU mechanisms (e.g., mutual insurance) may apply as per the grant agreement rules.

Legal, security and export-control considerations

The call explicitly highlights safeguarding EU strategic assets, interests, autonomy and security. Dual-use technologies, export controls and classified information issues must be addressed in proposals where relevant. Participation by entities controlled by ineligible third countries may be limited. Projects should address compliance with EU rules on exports, transfer of dual-use items and follow applicable national and EU legal frameworks. Proposals including participants or activities involving classified information must follow the EU CI rules and obtain necessary clearances in advance.

Partner search and support

Partner search: the Funding & Tenders Portal allows registered users to publish partner requests. The call page and portal provide partner search announcements. For technical or submission support applicants should use the Funding & Tenders Portal helpdesk and the Online Manual; for IT issues contact the IT Helpdesk. The call Q&A (topic Q&As) section will be available on the portal and should be consulted for clarifications.

Templates and application structure guidance

Required documents and templates (available via the call page and Submission System): Standard application form (HE RIA IA) specific to the call (Part A and Part B templates), Detailed budget table for lump sum (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Standard evaluation form (HE RIA IA) used with necessary adaptations, Model Grant Agreement templates (Horizon Europe MGA, Lump Sum MGA), Euratom Work Programme and General Annexes (A to G), Data management plan template guidance, and other reference documents (EU financial regulation, annotated grant agreement, LEAR rules). Part B must follow the standard structure: Excellence (objectives, ambition, methodology, gender dimension, open science), Impact (pathways to impact, dissemination/exploitation/communication plan), Implementation (work plan, work packages, deliverables, milestones, risks, resources and partner roles). Page limits: for innovation actions with lump sums, Part B maximum 45 pages; follow font and layout constraints in the template.

Specific call-level requirements and recommendations

1. 1Proposals must clearly indicate the technology area(s) addressed and provide a detailed state-of-the-art and gap analysis for that area.
2. 2Proposals must define quantitative KPIs and performance targets showing expected improvements and enabling objective assessment of success.
3. 3Testing and demonstration must occur in close-to-real-life conditions; proposals must describe the testing environment and how it simulates operational demands and neutron loads where relevant.
4. 4A credible business case and commercialisation pathway is required: show market potential, EU competitiveness benefits, value chain readiness and supply-chain considerations.
5. 5Consortia must demonstrate cooperation between public research and private companies; the consortium composition and planned activities must reflect this requirement.
6. 6Where relevant, address safety constraints, regulatory readiness and linkages with other EU fusion initiatives (EUROfusion, Fusion for Energy), and explain alignment with the forthcoming Partnership SRIA.

Risk management and monitoring

Proposals should include a risk register identifying critical technical, commercial and programme risks; include mitigation measures and contingency plans. Because the call incentivises portfolio balance across technology areas, applicants should also explain dependencies on external programmes and how the project will be monitored (TRL progression, KPIs and milestone verification).

Frequently observed commercial and technical expectations

The evaluators will look for (a) convincing evidence of the technology’s ability to scale to fusion-grade conditions, (b) demonstration plans and realistic test environment access, (c) a clear route to industrialisation and manufacture, (d) strong consortium with industrial partners able to exploit results, and (e) transparent IP and exploitation plans that protect European strategic interests while enabling commercial take-up.

Success factors for competitive proposals

1. 1Clear articulation of measurable, ambitious objectives and KPIs linked to TRL progression (6–8).
2. 2High-quality test plans showing access to relevant infrastructure and realistic operational conditions.
3. 3Balanced consortium with industrial lead(s), SMEs/start-ups, research institutions and demonstration/test facility operators.
4. 4Robust business case and market analysis demonstrating EU competitiveness benefits, supply-chain development and energy security contributions.
5. 5Detailed work plan with realistic resource allocations, milestones and deliverables; strong project management and risk mitigation.
6. 6Well-structured dissemination, exploitation and communication plan, and an IP management strategy aligned with commercialisation.

Templates: structure and recommended content for application forms

The application consists of Part A (online forms) and Part B (technical PDF). Part B follows the Horizon template structure: Section 1 Excellence (1.1 Objectives & ambition; 1.2 Methodology including gender dimension and open science), Section 2 Impact (2.1 Pathways to impact; 2.2 Dissemination, exploitation and communication plan; 2.3 Optional summary canvas), Section 3 Quality and efficiency of the implementation (work plan with work package list and descriptions, deliverables, milestones, risk register, person-month table, subcontracting justification and equipment justification). For lump sum proposals applicants must also provide a detailed cost breakdown per work package and per beneficiary using the provided budget template (Detailed budget table for HE LS). Deliverables that must be included as early project deliverables if funded: Data Management Plan (DMP) and plan for dissemination and exploitation including communication activities (both as deliverables within the first 6 months).

Assessment and scoring specifics (what evaluators will check)

1. 1Excellence: clarity of objectives; state-of-the-art and gap analysis; ambition beyond the state of the art; soundness of methodology; interdisciplinarity; sex/gender analysis in R&I content where applicable; appropriate open science practices and DMP approach.
2. 2Impact: credibility of pathways to the expected outcomes listed in the topic; quality of dissemination/exploitation/communication actions; realism of the business case and commercialisation plan; contributions to EU energy security and competitiveness.
3. 3Implementation: quality and coherence of the work plan; realism of work package tasks and resource allocations; risks and mitigation; consortium capacity and complementarity; access to infrastructure and demonstration facilities; appropriateness of the lump sum cost estimations where applicable.

Summary: what this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This HORIZON-EURATOM call funds innovation actions under the co-programmed European Partnership on Fusion Energy to mature and demonstrate technologies required for future fusion power plants. Projects should target TRL 6–8, test components or integrated systems in realistic conditions, and provide clear evidence of ability to deliver fusion-grade performance together with a credible commercialisation case. The call focuses on enabling technologies across multiple areas (tritium breeding, fuel cycle, lasers and targets for inertial confinement, fusion-grade materials, qualification under high neutron load, digital modelling and simulation, engineering design of enabling facilities and any other relevant FPP technology). Proposals must be submitted by consortia composed of public research and private entities (industry, SMEs and start-ups), be eligible only if all participants are established in EU Member States or in countries associated to the Euratom Programme (currently Ukraine and Switzerland), and will be evaluated against Excellence, Impact and Implementation criteria using the Horizon/Euratom evaluation model. Funding is provided as lump sums; applicants must supply a detailed cost breakdown to calculate lump sum amounts. The call aims to create a balanced portfolio of funded technology advances that accelerate the maturation of EU fusion technologies, support supply-chain development, and strengthen EU industrial competitiveness and energy security through the path to commercial fusion power.

Useful references:Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 (call and general annexes), Funding & Tenders Portal call page, Lump sum decision and guidance, Model Grant Agreements and Application Form templates available in the Submission System. See also Fusion for Energy website for broader context on European fusion activities and ITER coordination.

Footnotes

1. 1Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under Horizon Europe and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (lump sum guidance). The lump sum approach requires applicants to provide a detailed estimated budget and a per-work-package breakdown in the proposal; the Commission will determine final lump sum amounts during evaluation and grant preparation based on the decision and the evaluation findings.

Funding Opportunity Analysis: Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants

Opportunity Overview

This is a second call for innovation actions under the co-programmed European Partnership on Fusion Energy, part of the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027. The call aims to mature and demonstrate innovative fusion technologies at Technology Readiness Levels 6-8, bridging the gap between laboratory research and industrial deployment of fusion power plant components and systems.

Call Identifier:HORIZON-EURATOM

Programme:Euratom Research and Training Programme 2026-2027

Type of Action:EURATOM Innovation Actions (EURATOM-IA)

Key Dates and Deadlines

Call Opening Date:15 April 2027

Submission Deadline:04 November 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time

Submission Model:Single-stage submission procedure

Funding Information

Total Budget Available:€45,000,000

Expected EU Contribution per Project:Around €15,000,000

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 3 projects

Funding Rate:60% of eligible costs for profit-making entities; up to 100% for non-profit legal entities

Funding Model:Lump sum contributions based on estimated eligible costs

Eligible Technology Areas

Proposals must address one or more of the following key technology areas essential for fusion power plant development:

• Tritium breeding
• Fuel cycle
• High-power lasers and optical technologies for inertial confinement fusion
• Targets for inertial confinement fusion
• Fusion-grade materials
• Qualification of reactor components in relevant operational plasma scenarios including high neutron load
• Digital technologies including modelling and simulation
• Engineering design of future key enabling fusion facilities
• Other technologies relevant to fusion power plants

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Participants

Participation is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and countries associated to the Euratom Research and Training Programme. As of the call publication date, Ukraine and Switzerland are the only associated countries eligible for funding. Proposals including entities from countries outside this scope will be ineligible. This restriction safeguards EU strategic assets, interests, autonomy and security, particularly regarding dual-use materials, technologies and knowledge used in fusion development.

Admissibility Conditions

Proposals must comply with General Annex A of the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027. For lump sum funding topics, the proposal page limit is 45 pages maximum for the Innovation Actions section.

Financial and Operational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity to carry out the proposed project. Criteria are described in General Annex C of the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures or covered by Commission Guidelines 2013/C 205/05 are not eligible.

Expected Project Outcomes

Projects are expected to achieve the following outcomes:

• Mature and demonstrate innovative technologies at TRL 6-8 for key fusion power plant functions
• Develop and advance technology readiness of innovative individual components and integrated systems
• Test innovative components and systems in close-to-real-life conditions demonstrating fusion-grade performance
• Provide credible business cases clarifying commercialisation potential and benefits for EU company competitiveness
• Enable close cooperation between public research and private companies including start-ups, SMEs and industry
• Demonstrate business potential within and beyond the fusion field supporting EU energy security and competitiveness
• Address safety constraints relevant to fusion power plant deployment where applicable
• Build on and articulate with results from other EU initiatives including EUROfusion partnership and Fusion for Energy

Proposal Requirements

Mandatory Content Elements

All proposals must clearly indicate which technology area is being addressed and must include the following elements for the targeted technology area:

• Clarification of technology gaps and bottlenecks addressed, demonstrating thorough understanding of fusion power plant needs and state-of-the-art
• Envisioned technology advances with quantitative targets and key performance indicators
• Detailed approaches to testing and demonstrating components and systems with clear TRL targets and maturation monitoring processes
• Evidence of close cooperation between public research and private companies reflected in consortium composition and activities
• Demonstration of business potential including contribution to EU energy security independence and commercialisation achievement
• Understanding of safety constraints on component deployment in fusion power plants where relevant
• Articulation with results and activities from EUROfusion partnership and Fusion for Energy joint undertaking where relevant
• Alignment with the European Partnership on Fusion Energy Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda once published
• Activities contributing to Partnership monitoring, communication and dissemination, and liaison with Partnership Board and European Commission

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated against three main criteria as described in General Annex D of the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027:

1. 1Excellence: Clarity and pertinence of objectives, ambition beyond state-of-the-art, soundness of methodology
2. 2Impact: Credibility of pathways to achieve expected outcomes, quality of dissemination and exploitation measures
3. 3Quality and Efficiency of Implementation: Quality of work plan, risk assessment, resource appropriateness, consortium capacity and expertise

Scoring Thresholds:Individual criterion threshold is 3 out of 5; overall threshold is 10 points out of 15

Award Strategy

To ensure balanced portfolio coverage of key technology areas, grants will be awarded not only in order of ranking but at least to one highest-ranked proposal within each different technology area, provided all proposals attain the required thresholds. The evaluation committee will include representatives of EU institutions.

Consortium Requirements

Proposals must demonstrate close cooperation between public research and private companies. This should be reflected in consortium composition and proposed activities. The consortium should include a balanced mix of research institutions, SMEs, start-ups and larger industry players to ensure effective technology development and commercialisation pathways.

Strategic Context

This call is part of the EU's broader commitment to fusion energy development. The 2026-2027 Euratom Work Programme allocates €222 million to fusion energy advancement, with €45 million dedicated to this innovation actions call. The European Commission has established a co-programmed European Partnership on Fusion Energy to accelerate commercialisation of fusion technologies and support emerging fusion start-ups and SMEs. This call directly supports the EU's ambition to bring the first commercial fusion power plant online and strengthen European competitiveness in the global fusion market.

Application Process

Proposals must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The submission system will be opened on 15 April 2027. Applicants should use the standard application form templates available in the submission system. Part A contains administrative information generated by the system, while Part B contains the technical narrative describing the project. The proposal must not exceed 45 pages for the technical description section.

Key Applicant Considerations

• Ensure clear alignment with one or more specified technology areas and provide quantified performance targets
• Demonstrate credible pathways from laboratory research to industrial deployment with realistic TRL progression
• Include strong private sector participation to ensure commercialisation potential and market viability
• Address both technical innovation and business case development for market uptake
• Clearly articulate how results will contribute to EU energy security and industrial competitiveness
• Plan for dissemination and exploitation activities from project outset
• Ensure consortium has complementary expertise spanning research, technology development and commercialisation
• Verify all participants are established in eligible countries before proposal submission
• Prepare detailed budget using lump sum methodology based on actual cost accounting practices
• Consider synergies with ongoing EUROfusion activities and Fusion for Energy initiatives

Support and Resources

Applicants can access support through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal helpdesk for technical questions. The Online Manual provides step-by-step guidance through proposal preparation and submission. General Annexes to the Euratom Work Programme 2026-2027 contain detailed information on admissibility, eligibility, financial capacity, award criteria and procedures. The Euratom Work Programme document and call-specific guidance documents are available on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Related Initiatives

This call complements other EU fusion support mechanisms including the EUROfusion European Partnership for foundational science and technology, the European Innovation Council Fusion Challenge for start-ups and SMEs, and Fusion for Energy's management of Europe's ITER contribution. Applicants should consider how their projects articulate with these complementary initiatives to maximise impact and avoid duplication.