Pillar II: Talent ecosystems for attractive early research careers

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity HORIZON-WIDERA focuses on establishing talent ecosystems for early research careers, aiming to enhance the European Research and Innovation (R&I) system. This call encourages collaboration among various stakeholders including universities, research organizations, funding bodies, and industry, emphasizing a consortium-based approach requiring at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries, with a minimum of two from EU Member States. The funding structure includes a lump sum grant mechanism, with project funding ranging from €2 million to €4 million, utilizing a total budget of €29 million to support approximately 12 projects. The opportunity specifically targets enhancing the appeal and sustainability of research careers, particularly for early-career researchers, by integrating training providers and employers, especially from the non-academic sector, into supportive networks. Projects must aim for system-level changes, involving activities such as upskilling, career development services, and mapping challenges within the talent ecosystem. The expected project duration is up to three years. Applications are to be submitted in a single-stage process, commencing on December 8, 2026, and concluding on March 11, 2027. The initiative is part of the wider European Research Area (ERA) framework, directly supporting goals outlined in the European Research Area Policy Agenda for 2025-2027. The opportunity does not fund individual researcher salaries or mobility but focuses instead on broader systemic capacity building and organizational reform. It also encourages participation from sectors like AI, health, climate, clean tech, digital, deep tech, and more. Overall, this grant opportunity aims to create sustainable ecosystems that enhance research careers, boost mobility, and foster collaborative relationships between academia and industry to ultimately improve the attractiveness of research careers in Europe.

This is a summary of a Horizon Europe grant opportunity focused on enhancing the European Research and Innovation (R&I) system. The call, Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05), aims to improve research careers and mobility within the European Research Area (ERA) by fostering talent ecosystems.

The primary goal is to create talent ecosystems where training providers and employers of researchers, particularly from the non-academic sector, collaborate to promote attractive and sustainable careers for early-career researchers. This involves ensuring researchers benefit from good working conditions, are trained to meet labor market needs, and experience interoperable careers with talent circulation across sectors.

The scope includes establishing talent ecosystems around specific sectors like AI, health, digital, climate, clean tech, energy, deep tech, automotive, defence, and space, or a comprehensive approach. These ecosystems should last beyond the project's duration and benefit researchers within and outside the consortium. Participating organizations should have the HR Excellence in Research Award or commit to implementing the Charter for Researchers. The grant does not support individual researcher salaries or mobility.

Activities may include mapping challenges, developing action plans aligned with the Charter for Researchers, upskilling, involving the non-academic sector in training programs, establishing career development and mentoring services, supporting researcher well-being, creating interoperable careers, supporting mobile researchers, networking, and outreach. The expected project duration is up to 3 years.

The policy framework is guided by the Communication "A New ERA for Research and Innovation", the Council Recommendation on the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe, and the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda (2025-2027). Funded actions will strengthen the ERA by promoting researcher mobility, scientific knowledge, and technology, and informing policymaking. This initiative aligns with the European Higher Education Area and the European Education Area, especially concerning R&I careers and institutional changes.

The destination includes two calls with 13 topics in total, targeting universities, research organizations, funding bodies, evaluation agencies, researcher networks, publishers, industry, startups, policymakers, local authorities, and public bodies. Social sciences and humanities (SSH) contributions are encouraged.

The 2026 and 2027 ERA calls are structured around four pillars:Institutional changes for ERA, Ecosystems for ERA, Citizens and science in ERA, and New knowledge for ERA.

Pillar I:Institutional changes for ERA focuses on capacity building and support to foster adoption of ERA policies/practices within institutions. Activity types include providing tools, resources, training, services, and policy advice. Policy areas include Equity in open science, Inclusive gender equality, Research assessment reform, Research ethics and integrity and Open access policies.

Pillar II:Ecosystems for ERA focuses on building and reinforcing networks and partnerships to foster broad uptake of ERA policies/practices. Activity types include exchanging knowledge and practice, networking and cooperative actions. Policy areas include Research ethics and integrity, Environmentally sustainable science, Knowledge valorisation, Open science practices and Research careers.

Pillar III:Citizens and science in ERA focuses on connecting R&I with citizens and other stakeholders. Activity types include implementing and promoting participatory approaches, such as citizen engagement and citizen science. Policy areas include Trust in science, Knowledge valorisation and Citizen and societal engagement.

Pillar IV:New knowledge for ERA focuses on creating new knowledge that supports design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and practices. Activity types include conducting analyses, developing and testing new methods and practices. Policy areas include Reproducibility in research, Research ethics and integrity, Inclusive gender equality, Research careers and Global approach to R&I.

Expected impacts include effective institutional changes, sustainable ecosystems, increased trust in science, a strengthened evidence base for ERA implementation, enhanced research transparency, a more inclusive R&I ecosystem, improved research ethics, systemic research assessment reform, improved research careers and mobility, stronger translation of R&I results, enhanced gender equality, increased uptake of sustainable research, resilient R&I policies, and a strategic approach to international cooperation.

The proposal should adhere to page limits and layout guidelines. Eligible countries are listed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A consortium must include at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries, with two established in a Member State. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are detailed in Annex C. Evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds are in Annex D. Submission and evaluation processes are in Annex F and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is in Annex F. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum.

Application forms and evaluation templates are available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, and a detailed budget table.

The budget overview for 2027 includes:

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-01:€2,000,000 (1 grant)

HORIZON-WIDERA:€29,000,000 (12 grants, 2,000,000 to €4,000,000 each)

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-03:€6,000,000 (1 grant)

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-04:€2,000,000 (2 grants, around €1,000,000 each)

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05:€3,000,000 (1 grant)

This opportunity aims to create and enhance talent ecosystems within the European Research Area, focusing on improving research careers, mobility, and the overall attractiveness and sustainability of the research environment. It encourages collaboration between training providers and employers, particularly from the non-academic sector, to ensure researchers are well-trained, have access to diverse career opportunities, and benefit from attractive working conditions. The initiative seeks to bridge the gap between research talent and the labor market, fostering innovation and economic growth across various sectors.

Eligible Applicant Types:Universities, research performing organizations, research funding organizations, research evaluation agencies, networks of researchers, publishers, industry, start-ups, policymakers, local authorities, and public bodies are all listed as eligible R&I stakeholders. The call targets a wide range of R&I stakeholders.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The actions are HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA).

Consortium Requirement:A consortium of at least three independent legal entities is required. Each entity must be established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with at least two of the entities being established in a Member State.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector:The program targets the research and innovation sector, with a focus on improving research careers and mobility, fostering knowledge flows, and enhancing career interoperability. Specific sectors mentioned as examples for talent ecosystems include AI, health, digital, climate, clean tech, energy, deep tech, automotive, defence, and space, but the ecosystems can also be comprehensive in nature. The program also encourages the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries:EU Member States, Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific provisions. China is mentioned in the context of a strategic approach to cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on creating talent ecosystems, implementing organizational changes, and enhancing existing ecosystems. This suggests a focus on development, implementation, and enhancement rather than basic research or initial idea stages.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-01:€2,000,000

HORIZON-WIDERA:€2,000,000 to €4,000,000

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-03:€6,000,000

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-04:€1,000,000

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05:€3,000,000

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

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

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

Success Rates:The indicative number of grants is specified for each topic, but the success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement:The need for co-funding is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call, part of the WIDERA program, aims to enhance the European Research Area (ERA) by improving research careers, mobility, and talent ecosystems. It supports projects that foster cooperation between training providers and employers, particularly in the non-academic sector, to create attractive and sustainable careers for researchers. The call encourages organizational changes that align with the European Charter for Researchers and promotes the development of skills relevant to businesses and industry. Projects can focus on specific sectors like AI, health, or be comprehensive, and they are expected to have a lasting impact beyond the project duration. Funding is provided as lump sum grants, and applications require a consortium of at least three independent legal entities from different Member States or Associated Countries. The call is structured around four pillars: Institutional changes for ERA, Ecosystems for ERA, Citizens and science in ERA, and New knowledge for ERA, with specific topics and budget allocations for each. The overall goal is to create a more open, equitable, and inclusive research and innovation ecosystem in Europe.