Key Technologies for Loads Control Lidar for Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft

This funding opportunity HORIZON-JU under Clean Aviation CfP 04 supports the development and airborne demonstration of lidar sub-systems and integration approaches for a feed-forward Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) system on Ultra‑Efficient Short‑Medium Range (SMR) aircraft. The topic is a single-stage HORIZON‑JU‑RIA within the Clean Aviation Call 4 package with an indicative topic contribution of around €5 million (total call envelope €329.5 million), planned opening 31 March 2026 and submission deadline 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Eligible legal entities from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries should form consortia capable of representative airborne testing and flight‑control integration; funding follows Horizon Europe/CAJU rules (HORIZON‑AG budget‑based model) with typical RIA funding rates up to 100% and evaluation per CAJU FTA templates.

Key Technologies for Loads Control Lidar for Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft — Call overview

Call and topic

Clean Aviation CfP 04 — HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-FTA-04

What it funds: research and innovation activities to develop and demonstrate key airborne lidar technologies and subsystems to enable a feed-forward Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) system for the Ultra-Efficient Short and Medium Range (SMR) aircraft. Target outcomes include reliable ahead-of-aircraft turbulence detection, system integration with flight control architectures, and demonstration in representative airborne conditions supporting load reduction and structural weight benefits.

Type of action:HORIZON-JU-RIA Research and Innovation Action (single-stage). Planned opening 31 March 2026; deadline 19 May 2026 17:00 Brussels time ¹.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants: legal entities (single or consortia) established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries, including research organisations, industry partners and SMEs. Proposals typically require a consortium with the capacity to perform airborne demonstrations and system integration; affiliated entities, subcontractors and associated partners may participate under the rules of the call.

Budget and funding

This topic is part of the Clean Aviation CfP 04 package. The total Clean Aviation indicative call envelope published for the package is €329,500,000. No topic-specific project funding cap is published on the topic page; applicants must follow the financial templates and rules published with the call and in the Model Grant Agreement ¹.

1. 1Opening of submission system and proposal templates: planned 31 March 2026
2. 2Deadline for submission: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
3. 3Call type: single-stage RIA under Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking

Key admin points

Do not submit until the Portal templates are used. Admissibility, eligibility and financial capacity checks follow Horizon Europe and CAJU rules; use the Application Form in the Submission System and the call-specific Annexes. Q&A documents and topic updates will be posted on the Funding & Tenders Portal during preparation. EASA may be involved as an advisory third party under the call provisions.

Where to apply: submit via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and follow the Application Form and Annexes published with the call; use the Portal Partner Search and National Contact Points for consortium building EU Funding & Tenders Portal. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Topic page and official documentation (topic HORIZON-JU) on the Funding & Tenders Portal: Topic details. See also the call publication pack, proposal templates and Q&A releases on that page.

Opportunity: Key Technologies for Loads Control Lidar for Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft (HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-FTA-04)

Call and administrative snapshot

Programme: Horizon Europe implemented by the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (Clean Aviation CfP 04). Call Topic Identifier: HORIZON-JU. Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA Research and Innovation Actions. Type of Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Planned call opening in the Funding & Tenders Portal: 31 March 2026. Submission deadline (single-stage): 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission system: Funding & Tenders Portal (eGrants).

Call objective:Expected outcome: mature and demonstrate key lidar sub-systems and system integration approaches for a feed-forward Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) system for the Ultra-Efficient Short/Medium Range (SMR) aircraft; demonstrate reliable ahead-of-aircraft turbulence detection in representative airborne conditions and compatibility with flight control architectures to support load reduction and structural weight benefits.

Key administrative and legal conditions

This topic is published under the Clean Aviation CfP 04 work programme. All standard Horizon Europe General Annexes apply (Admissibility, Eligibility, Financial/Operational capacity, Selection and Award criteria, Submission and Evaluation procedures, Legal and Financial set-up of grants). CAJU has specific rules, a CA JU Rules for Submission and Evaluation document, and uses the CA JU Fast Track Activities (FTA) evaluation template for this topic. Model Grant Agreements and guidance are the Horizon Europe templates (HORIZON-AG) and Clean Aviation specific documents referenced on the call page. Applicants must follow the Portal submission rules, page limits and the Part B template in the Submission System. Financial annex templates (detailed budget, cost breakdown, work package effort, budget per beneficiary/work package, in-kind contributions) are published on the Portal; some templates become available when submission opens. The CA JU and Portal contain the proposal templates, Q&A documents and additional reference documents and guidance.

Important dates and timeline

1. 1Call publication / topic published: available on EU Funding & Tenders Portal (topic page contains all supporting documents).
2. 2Planned opening of Submission System for this call: 31 March 2026.
3. 3Submission deadline (single-stage): 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
4. 4Two Q&A releases specific to this topic: first on 17 February 2026 and second on 17 April 2026 (applicants should consult Topic Q&As and Topic Updates on the Portal).
5. 5Indicative evaluation and grant agreement timelines follow Annex F (Portal Online Manual) and CA JU-specific timetable (applicants will receive evaluation outcome approx. 5 months after deadline, and grant signature targeted within approx. 8 months).

Budget overview and scale

The overall Clean Aviation CfP 04 call package lists an indicative budget envelope of €329,500,000 for the combined set of topics and actions published under the call (budget year 2026). The topic HORIZON-JU is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) within that call. The call publication provides an indicative number of grants per topic only where specified; for this topic the individual maximum grant amount is not published on the topic page and applicants must consult the topic description document and Annexes. Applicants should prepare proposals at appropriate RIA scale (multi‑partner research and airborne demonstration activities) and justify costs using the mandatory financial annex templates. The Portal documents include detailed budgeting templates (Work Package description, Work Package effort, Cost breakdown per beneficiary, Budget summary per applicant and work package, In Kind Contribution template).

Expected project work and maturity

This topic is focused on maturing critical lidar sub-systems and system integration approaches and demonstrating them in representative airborne conditions. Expected technical maturity: development and demonstration work aiming at TRL progression (laboratory to representative airborne demonstration; the topic requires system-level airborne validation to show reliability and compatibility with flight control architectures). Typical project stage: development, validation and demonstration (mid- to high-TRL engineering/demonstrator activities).

Eligibility and applicant types

Eligibility rules follow Horizon Europe General Annexes and CA JU-specific conditions. Legal entities established in Member States and Associated Countries are eligible for funding by default. Non-associated third countries may participate under specific conditions announced in the Work Programme and topic documents. Applicants should consult Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes plus the CA JU topic-specific conditions. CA JU allows, in specific cases and where explicitly foreseen, a derogation from the usual Horizon Europe minimum consortium rule (single legal entity eligibility may be permitted where justified in the topic text).

Eligible applicant types (detailed):Recommended and commonly eligible applicant types for this topic: aerospace industry companies (large enterprises and OEMs), system integrators, avionics and lidar subsystem developers, SMEs, instrument manufacturers, research and technology organisations (RTOs), universities and research institutes, test centres and flight test organisations, certification bodies (as participants or linked third parties), consultancy and engineering houses, non-profit organisations and standardisation bodies. Public authorities and national research agencies may participate depending on topic conditions. Individual researchers or natural persons cannot be direct beneficiaries unless the specific action type and call rules allow it (MSCA or other fellowship-specific calls are exceptions). Applicants from non-EU/non-Associated Countries may participate as associated partners or beneficiaries only if the Work Programme and call rules allow this and they meet the applicable eligibility conditions and funding rules. EASA and similar agencies may be engaged via service contracts and are referenced in the call documents.

Funding type, nature and co-funding

Funding type: grant (Horizon-JU Research and Innovation Action). The grant is budget-based (HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]) and reimburses eligible costs. Nature of support: monetary (EU grant) to beneficiaries. Funding rate: governed by Horizon Europe rules for action type (RIAs are typically funded up to 100% of eligible costs for research organisations and relevant participants — consult the Work Programme and topic-specific rules). Co-funding requirement: beneficiaries must provide the necessary resources; some contributions may be provided in-kind. The Horizon rules on no-profit, no-double-funding and co-financing apply. For CA JU and HORIZON grants, some participants or cost categories may require co-funding or own contribution depending on legal status; consult Annex C and the Work Programme. CA JU/Call documents also describe rules for financial support to third parties (if applicable) and procurement-related activities.

Consortium structure and requirement

Deadline model: single-stage. Standard Horizon Europe consortium rules apply unless the topic expressly allows a single beneficiary. CA JU topics are normally multi‑beneficiary consortia. Check topic-specific text for derogations. The consortium must appoint a coordinator. Beneficiaries must sign the grant agreement and (if applicable) a consortium agreement. For actions involving procurement or demonstration on aircraft, include industrial partners (OEMs or demonstrator hosts), flight test organisations and safety/certification stakeholders.

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Geographic eligibility follows Horizon Europe Annex B: EU Member States and Associated Countries are generally eligible for EU funding. Non-Associated third countries may be eligible under specific call conditions and if national funding arrangements allow. The Clean Aviation call text explicitly notes that some non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have made arrangements to fund their participants, and applicants should check the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and national contacts. The call and general annexes mention associated countries and participants from third countries; topics may contain specific country restrictions for sensitive technologies. See the Work Programme and call topic details for any restrictions (e.g. restrictions on participation by entities from specific third countries for strategic technology areas).

Countries explicitly referenced in the call documents and guidance:Documents and general annexes referenced in the topic explicitly discuss: EU Member States (full list), Horizon Europe Associated Countries (examples listed include Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, etc.), low- and middle-income countries list (many countries worldwide), and specific references that legal entities established in China are excluded from participation in Horizon Europe Innovation Actions unless an exception is granted; the topic also includes a note that legal entities established in Russia and Belarus or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine are currently not eligible to participate in any capacity. The call further references potential security-related restrictions (e.g. on high-risk suppliers for communications equipment) and the role of EASA as a cooperating agency for certification-related services. Applicants must review Annex B and the Work Programme for the precise, current list of eligible countries. The topic page and General Annexes also refer to the Funding & Tenders Portal, Horizon Europe Programme Guide and CA JU rules for submission, evaluation and award.

Target sectors and technologies

Primary thematic sector: aerospace / aviation (Ultra-Efficient SMR aircraft). Specific technology areas: lidar sensing technologies for ahead-of-aircraft turbulence detection, lidar sub-systems (optics, laser transmit/receive, signal processing), airborne integration, feed-forward Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) systems, flight control architecture compatibility, airborne demonstration and system validation, structural load reduction and weight-benefit analysis. Cross-cutting sectors: avionics/flight control, systems engineering, aerodynamics, structural engineering, sensors & photonics, signal processing, real-time control, safety and certification, standards & regulation, airworthiness (EASA engagement), and possibly AI for detection/classification (if proposed, must follow ethics and safety rules).

Project stage and expectations

Expected project maturity: technology development through to representative airborne demonstration (development, validation, demonstration). Projects should aim to progress lidar sub-systems and system-level integration in representative airborne conditions and validate forward-looking turbulence detection performance and compatibility with flight control systems. TRL expectations: typically progressing from mid-TRL (lab validation) to higher TRL through airborne testing; the topic emphasises representative airborne conditions and flight control integration demonstration.

Application type, submission and evaluation

Submission model: single-stage open call. Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the Part A (administrative) and Part B (technical) templates provided in the Submission System. Proposal page limits and layout are specified in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe General Annexes and the Part B template in the Submission System. The CA JU uses a single-stage evaluation for this topic following the CA JU Specific Evaluation Template (CAJU Fast Track Activities (FTA)). Evaluation phases include individual evaluation, consensus, topic panel review and possible call panel review. Award criteria follow Horizon Europe (Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of implementation) with thresholds and scoring rules described in Annex D and CA JU call rules.

1. 1Evaluation form: the CA JU provides an adapted FTA evaluation form; applicants should consult the evaluation templates published on the Portal.
2. 2Scoring and thresholds: sub-criteria and scoring are described in Annex D and the CA JU Specific Evaluation Template (FTA); proposals must meet individual and overall thresholds to be eligible for funding.
3. 3Ethics and security: proposals undergo ethics screening/assessment and security appraisal where relevant (see Annex A on Ethics and Security Section for EU classified or sensitive information).

Success rates and competitiveness

The topic is expected to be competitive. CA JU calls are selective and the evaluation uses independent external experts and panels. The Portal does not publish a success rate per topic; the CA JU and Portal provide ranked lists after evaluation and may produce Seal of Excellence outcomes for unfunded proposals that passed thresholds but fell out due to budget limits. Applicants should not rely on any implied success rates and should prepare high-quality, complete proposals aligned with the award criteria and the Clean Aviation SRIA objectives.

Funding modality and legal set-up

Grants under this call use the Horizon Action Grant Budget-Based model (HORIZON-AG). The legal and financial set-up follows Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex G) and CA JU-specific rules. Model Grant Agreement (MGA) templates, Application Forms, Financial Annex templates, and Guidance (MGA, HE Programme Guide, Online Manual) are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Where EASA or other agencies provide advisory or certification services, the call references models for EASA service contracts and how such third-party services may be reflected in the proposal and budget. The CA JU may require a model Consortium Agreement and may make available a model Cooperation Agreement.

Documents and templates (what to prepare now)

The Portal and the topic page already contain many documents to prepare the proposal. Prepare and assemble the following mandatory and recommended documents in advance and upload them to the Submission System when open:

1. 1Mandatory: Part A administrative data (in Portal forms) and Part B technical annex (use the Part B template in the Submission System). Observe the page limits in the template.
2. 2Mandatory financial annex templates: Detailed budget table per reporting period, Cost breakdown per beneficiary, Work Package effort (detailed), Budget summary per applicant and work package, In Kind Contribution template (if applicable). These templates are on the Portal (some will appear in the Submission System when it opens).
3. 3Project Description (Annex 1): Work packages, tasks, deliverables, milestones, schedule for airborne tests and demonstrations, risk register and mitigation, TRL progression plan, integration and flight test plan, flight safety and certification considerations.
4. 4Work Package descriptions and effort tables per beneficiary and per work package with clear task-responsibility matrices.
5. 5Consortium Agreement draft (CA JU Model Consortium Agreement available on Portal).
6. 6Letters of support or intent from flight test organisations, aircraft demonstrator owners/operators, standards or certification bodies (EASA participation described in the topic), industrial partners for airborne tests, pilot operators, and any national co-funders or third-party providers.
7. 7Ethics self-assessment and any additional ethics templates if human data, AI or other sensitive activities are involved.
8. 8Information on Financial and Operational Capacity: balance sheets, profit & loss, audit reports if requested by the grants officers during evaluation/grant preparation.
9. 9If relevant: information-on-financial-support-to-third-parties template (if the project will provide grants to third parties).
10. 10If relevant: Information on clinical studies template (not applicable for lidar topic but listed among Portal templates where clinical studies exist).
11. 11Proposal submission checklist, declarations of honor and forms required in Part A.

Evaluation forms and scoring templates

The CA JU uses the CAJU Fast Track Activities evaluation form for this topic (evaluation templates available on the Portal). Standard Horizon evaluation templates (RIA, IA, CSA, PCP/PPI, MSCA and EIC templates) are published and the CA JU adapts them as needed. The evaluation will follow the Excellence / Impact / Implementation criteria, use independent external experts, consensus groups and topic panels. Please consult the Portal for RIA/FTA evaluation forms and scoring guidance.

Assessment of operational readiness and certification

The topic emphasises system integration and compatibility with flight control architectures, thus proposals should include a clear pathway to certification considerations. The call references EASA cooperation and provides a Clean Aviation contract template for EASA services; applicants should describe how they will engage with EASA, with clear deliverables and roles for aviation safety and certification advice. Where EASA or other regulatory activities are involved, applicants should include budget lines for service contracts or describe the in-kind contribution and any expected fees. Applicants must also address security, ethics and research integrity and reference CA JU strategic priorities (SRIA).

Templates and application form structure (practical outline)

Applicants will use the application form available in the Submission System (Part A and Part B). Part B contains the technical template with standard sections: Excellence (objectives, innovation beyond state-of-the-art, methodology), Impact (pathways to outcomes and impacts, exploitation and dissemination including plan, contribution to Clean Aviation SRIA objectives and scale of impact), Quality and efficiency of implementation (work plan, effort distribution, management, consortium capabilities, risk management, ethical and security considerations). Financial annex templates (mandatory) must be completed. Below is an outline to structure Part B and financial annexes for this aerospace RIA (use Portal templates for exact fields).

1. 1Part B: Section 1 Excellence: clear objectives linked to GLA and lidar performance metrics; technical approach; sensor and subsystem design and innovations; open science and data management plan (if applicable).
2. 2Part B: Section 2 Impact: metrics for load alleviation, structural mass savings, certification roadmaps, industrial adoption, standardisation, exploitation, business case and cost-benefit, stakeholder engagement plan, dissemination and communication plan.
3. 3Part B: Section 3 Implementation: Work Packages, Gantt, milestones, deliverables (technical and ethics/security), roles and responsibilities, consortium organisation chart, risk register and mitigation, quality assurance, flight test plan (safety case summary), logistics for airborne demonstrations, interfaces to aircraft and flight control systems.
4. 4Financial Annexes: Detailed budget per beneficiary and WP, Work Package effort table (person-months), Cost breakdown per beneficiary, Budget summary per applicant and work package, In Kind Contribution template, Explanation of unit costs (if used) and calculation method (Annex 2a template).
5. 5Administrative forms in Part A: Participants data, PICs, ethics declarations, country of establishment, bank and legal validation information.

Evaluation and award: submission to grant

Evaluation follows the CA JU rules and Horizon Europe General Annexes: admissibility checks, eligibility checks, evaluation by independent experts, consensus group, topic panel and call panel (optional). Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are in Annex D. Applicants should be prepared for the admissibility requirements (page limits and Part B layout) and for possible requests during grant preparation for additional administrative, legal or financial information (legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, LEAR appointment, bank account validation). After selection, the CA JU will invite selected applicants to grant preparation and adjustments to align the proposal with CA JU objectives, budget optimisation and linking actions if needed.

Practical recommendations for applicants

1. 1Start writing Part B and draft your WP structure using the Portal Part B template immediately; the Submission System template is the authoritative form at submission time.
2. 2Assemble consortium partners early: sensor manufacturers, avionics integrators, aircraft/flight test hosts, research institutes with airborne test capability and structural analysis expertise, and partners providing certification/regulatory input or engaged with EASA.
3. 3Prepare mandatory financial annex templates and justify costs with detailed work package effort and tasks; use the Portal templates.
4. 4Address ethics, safety, security and standardisation early (EASA linkage) and include a certification readiness plan and flight test safety summary.
5. 5Keep participant register data up to date, obtain PICs for all beneficiaries and ensure LEARs are in place for legal entity validation during grant preparation.
6. 6Watch Topic Updates and CA JU Q&A publications (17 Feb 2026 and 17 April 2026 are scheduled) and consult the CAJU Rules for submission, evaluation and award procedures.

Key compliance and risk areas

1. 1Ethics clearance: ensure ethics self-assessment is complete for any activities with human data, AI processing, or sensitive technologies; follow the CA JU ethics screening and assessment process.
2. 2Security and EU classified information: if the work touches classified or security-sensitive information, follow the security rules and declaration requirements in Annex 5 and CA JU security guidance.
3. 3Intellectual property: define background/results and access rights; maintain clear IP strategy to enable industry uptake and respect CA JU requirements on exploitation and rights of use.
4. 4Country and participant restrictions: verify participant country eligibility (Associated Countries, third-country funding arrangements) and restrictions for particular strategic technologies (e.g. participation limits for specific countries in innovation actions).
5. 5Financial capacity: prepare financial statements and supporting documents; be ready for Financial Capacity Assessment and Legal Entity Validation during grant preparation.

Categorization answers (concise, detailed)

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Startups and SMEs developing lidar sub-systems or signal-processing; large enterprises and aerospace OEMs; universities and research institutes; research & technology organisations and test centres; non-profit research agencies; standardisation bodies; certification bodies; public entities where allowed; consortia combining industrial, academic, and test organisations. EASA may be engaged via service contract. Associated partners and third parties may provide in-kind contributions.
2. 2Funding Type: Grant (Horizon JU Research and Innovation Action — HORIZON-JU-RIA). Financial mechanism: budget-based Horizon Action Grant (HORIZON-AG) reimbursing eligible costs (actual costs plus possible unit or lump sum items if topic allows).
3. 3Consortium Requirement: Typically consortium (multi-beneficiary) required; CA JU allows derogations only where explicitly stated in the topic (check topic text). Call uses single-stage submission. Coordinator required.
4. 4Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible by default. Non-Associated third countries may participate subject to the Work Programme and national funding arrangements. The general annexes name many countries as examples and specify that some countries (e.g. Russia, Belarus, non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine) are currently excluded; the Work Programme also describes country lists and conditions. Security- and strategy-related restrictions may apply for certain participants (e.g. China-related restrictions for some innovation actions).
5. 5Target Sector: Aerospace / Aviation (Ultra-efficient SMR aircraft) with technology focus on lidar, sensors, photonics, avionics, flight control, structural load alleviation and systems integration. Cross-sector: ICT, AI (if used), photonics, advanced materials and structural engineering.
6. 6Mentioned Countries: The call and general annexes explicitly reference EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries (examples include Albania, Armenia, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom), China (noted as subject to specific restrictions for innovation actions), Russia, Belarus, non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine (explicitly stated as ineligible), and lists of low- and middle-income countries for broader eligibility notes. EASA (EU agency based in Cologne, Germany) is referenced as a contracting/service partner. Applicants should consult Annex B and the Portal for current, exact lists.
7. 7Project Stage: Expected maturity — development, validation and demonstration (airborne demonstration; mid-to-high TRL systems integration with flight test demonstration).
8. 8Funding Amount: Call notice shows an indicative total call contribution of €329,500,000 across topics in the Clean Aviation CfP 04 package. The specific topic does not list a per-project maximum on the topic page; individual project budgets are to be defined by applicants and justified in the financial annex. Applicants must use the Portal budget templates to define project-level costs. Typical RIA awards for CA JU are substantial (multi‑partner) but applicants must consult the topic description for any maximums.
9. 9Application Type: Open single-stage call submitted via Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission (eGrants).
10. 10Nature of Support: Monetary (EU grant) as budget-based reimbursement of eligible costs; no equity or loans in the standard RIA model. Possibility of in-kind contributions from third parties; CA JU guidance covers financial support to third parties if applicable.
11. 11Application Stages: Single-stage submission with evaluation phases: admissibility/eligibility check, individual assessment, consensus group, Topic Panel review and final ranking; then grant preparation if selected. For this call the submission model is single-stage (so 1 stage for applicants).
12. 12Success Rates: Not published for this topic; CA JU calls are competitive. No definitive success rate given on the call page. Historically, Clean Aviation JU topics are selective and applicants should assume a low to moderate success probability. Use the quality thresholds and rigorous criteria to structure proposals.
13. 13Co-funding Requirement: Not explicitly required as a fixed percentage for RIA; beneficiaries must provide necessary resources and ensure no double funding. Funding rates for RIA often permit up to 100% for research organisations; check Work Programme and topic text for any specific co-funding rules. Applicants should declare other funding sources and avoid double funding. In cases where national co-funding is required for participants from certain countries, applicants must declare and follow those rules.

Templates: application form structure and annex outlines

Use only the application form provided inside the Submission System (Part A + Part B). The structure below gives applicants the required content and the expected financial templates to complete. Always use the Portal templates; the Submission System Part B is authoritative and enforces page limits. The list below highlights fields and annexes to prepare in advance.

1. 1Part A (online): administrative data, participant PICs and legal representatives, short abstract, budget summary, ethics and security flags, declarations and legal/financial validation information. The coordinator must confirm they have the mandate for the consortium and that all participants meet eligibility rules.
2. 2Part B (downloaded template in Submission System; adhere to page limits): Section 1 Excellence (objectives, state of the art, innovation beyond state-of-the-art, detailed technical approach, link to GLA system requirements, TRL pathway, explanation of airborne representative conditions and test matrix), Section 2 Impact (expected outcomes and impact on load reduction, structural mass savings, certification pathway, economic and environmental benefits, dissemination and exploitation plan, industrial uptake strategy, standardisation and regulatory alignment), Section 3 Implementation (work packages, deliverables, milestones, management and governance, risk management, safety and flight test plan summary, consortium description, resources and Gantt), Section 4 Ethics & Security (ethics self-assessment, data protection, safety issues, if any), Section 5 Annex lists (letters of support, MOUs, EASA engagement letters, flight test agreements).
3. 3Financial Annexes (must be uploaded as separate files): Detailed budget per reporting period (spread by beneficiary and work package), Work Package effort (detailed person-months per WP and beneficiary), Cost breakdown per beneficiary (personnel, subcontracting, purchases, equipment, travel, other), Budget summary per applicant and work package, In Kind Contribution form (if any), any Financial Support to Third Parties description (if applicable).
4. 4Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and applicable Annexes: Applicants should review the HORIZON-AG model to understand legal obligations, reporting, audits, deliverable obligations and the no-profit rule. CA JU and specific call documents may provide additional model clauses (e.g. Clean Aviation contract templates for EASA services).
5. 5Optional annexes: draft Consortium Agreement (using the CA JU Model Consortium Agreement as reference), letters of intent/availability for flight test platforms, supplier/industry letters for integration, certificate of insurance or safety case outlines for airborne demonstration, national funding commitment letters if participants rely on national co-funding.

How the Q&A and Topic Updates work

CA JU publishes Topic Q&As and Topic Updates on the call page. Two Q&A publications are scheduled for this topic (first release on 17 February 2026, second release on 17 April 2026). Applicants should consult the Topic Updates area and the Q&A document(s). The call page indicates any updates, clarifications or errata. Read the CA JU Q&A guide for the Q&A process and timing. ¹

Where to get help:Use the Funding & Tenders Portal helpdesk and the CA JU help and contact points (call mailbox). National Contact Points (NCPs) and the Enterprise Europe Network provide support for applicants (SME focus). A Partner Search facility is available on the Portal to find consortium partners. For submission technical issues use the Portal IT Helpdesk and follow the Portal Online Manual guidance. ¹

Summary: This Clean Aviation topic supports development and airborne demonstration of lidar technologies and integration approaches for a feed-forward GLA system on Ultra-Efficient SMR aircraft. It is an EU-funded RIA under the Clean Aviation CfP 04 with single-stage submission. Eligible applicants include industry (SMEs and large enterprises), research organisations, universities and test centres established in EU Member States and Associated Countries (and third-country participation subject to conditions). The call requires detailed technical and financial justification, demonstration in representative airborne conditions and attention to certification and safety (EASA engagement). Read the topic description document, the CA JU Rules for submission and the Horizon Europe General Annexes carefully and prepare the mandatory Part B and financial annexes in the Portal templates before the submission deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1Portal, templates, Q&A and call updates can be found on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page for the topic HORIZON-JU (ec.europa.eu).

Key Technologies for Loads Control Lidar for Ultra-efficient SMR Aircraft

Opportunity Overview

This funding opportunity HORIZON-JU under Clean Aviation CfP 04 supports the development and demonstration of key lidar technologies for a feed-forward Gust Load Alleviation (GLA) system on the Ultra-Efficient Short-Medium Range (SMR) aircraft. The focus is maturing critical lidar sub-systems and integration approaches in representative airborne conditions to demonstrate reliable turbulence detection ahead of the aircraft and compatibility with flight control architectures, enabling load reduction and structural weight benefits.

The call is part of the Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking (CAJU), a Horizon Europe public-private partnership aiming to reduce aviation's ecological footprint through climate-neutral technologies. Full topic details are in the topic description document published with the call.

Key Dates and Process

Timeline:Planned opening: 31 March 2026. Deadline: 19 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission. Submission system opens end of March 2026. Proposal templates and financial annexes available now on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

• Q&A releases: First on 17 February 2026, second on 17 April 2026.
• Evaluation timeline: Indicative details in Annex F of Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
• Grant agreement signature: Around 8 months from deadline.

Applicants should monitor the topic page for updates, including supplementary documents and Q&As. Partner search announcements available on the portal.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Type of action: HORIZON-JU-RIA (Research and Innovation Actions). Eligible entities: Legal entities from EU Member States, associated countries (Annex B of Work Programme General Annexes), and low/middle-income countries. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from different countries (one from a Member State, two from Member States or associated countries). Single entities or consortia not meeting minimum conditions may be eligible if specified in the topic.

• Admissibility: Proposal page limits and layout per Annex A/E of General Annexes.
• Financial/operational capacity: Per Annex C.
• Evaluation: Award criteria per Annex D (excellence, impact, implementation); specific template: CAJU Fast Track Activities (FTA).
• Specific conditions: Described in the Work Programme topic.

Non-EU entities from countries not automatically eligible may participate if provisions exist for funding. Check Horizon Europe Programme Guide for details.

Funding Details

Total call budget: €329,500,000 across all topics. Indicative funding for this topic: €5 million (RIA). Expected number of grants: Up to 1 project. Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Funding rate: Up to 100% for RIAs.

Budget year:2026. Costs eligible from project start date.

Technical Scope and Expected Outcomes

Mature lidar sub-systems (e.g., sensors, processing) and integration for airborne demonstration. Key goals: Reliable ahead-of-aircraft turbulence detection, compatibility with flight controls, load alleviation for structural benefits on Ultra-Efficient SMR aircraft. Airborne testing in representative conditions required. Full details in topic description document.

Relevance to Clean Aviation SRIA

Supports SMR thrust for ultra-efficient short-medium range aircraft, aligning with CAJU goals of -30% emissions vs. 2020 state-of-the-art by 2035. Contributes to high aspect ratio wings and load alleviation technologies.

Application Process and Documents

1. 1Register in Participant Register and validate PIC.
2. 2Prepare proposal using templates in submission system (available late March 2026; drafts now on portal).
3. 3Include: Proposal Application Form, financial annexes (budget per period, WP description/effort, cost breakdown, in-kind contributions).
4. 4Submit electronically via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline.
5. 5Consortium agreement: CAJU Model Consortium Agreement recommended.

Evaluation: Independent experts using CAJU FTA template. Criteria: Excellence, impact (weighted 1.5 for RIAs), quality/efficiency of implementation. Thresholds: 3/5 per criterion, 10/15 overall.

Key Resources and Support

• Primary portal: EU Funding Portal
• Clean Aviation Work Programme 2026-27.
• Q&A documents (Feb/Apr 2026).
• Support: National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, IPR Helpdesk.
• Partner search: Available on portal.

Additional Applicant Considerations

Check for updates periodically. EASA involvement possible via service contract template. Ethics screening required if applicable. No clinical studies or third-party financial support indicated.

Fast Track Activity (FTA): De-risks technologies for rapid advancement to development phase, linked to SMR projects. Prioritise projects connecting to SMR integrators.

Footnotes

1. 1All data from official EU Funding & Tenders Portal topic page and related documents. Budget estimates based on similar FTA topics; confirm in final call documents.