Pillar IV: Upgrading the EU’s independent knowledge on China's Science, Technology and Innovation system

HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05 is a specialized research and innovation funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, aimed at enhancing the European Union's independent knowledge on China's science, technology, and innovation (STI) ecosystem. This initiative has a budget of €3 million, available exclusively for research organizations, universities, think-tanks, and expert networks based in EU Member States and Associated Countries, specifically Norway and Iceland. The program strongly emphasizes consortium-based projects, requiring collaborative efforts to synthesize research and analysis related to China's STI policies, government structures, and international collaborations.

The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant, aligning costs with a fixed contribution rather than reimbursing actual expenses, streamlining financial management for beneficiaries. Eligible projects should build on existing European and national initiatives, encouraging a multi-disciplinary approach that includes fields such as engineering, economics, and law. While no co-funding is required from applicants, any participation from Chinese entities must be in a supporting role and funded independently.

The grant opportunity does not permit participation from entities directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible countries, reflecting a policy designed to protect the EU's strategic interests. The target research sector includes critical technology areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced semiconductors, and biotechnology, necessitating interdisciplinary collaboration among experts.

Projects seek to create a comprehensive knowledge framework about China's STI system, develop innovative methodologies for evaluating its impacts on Europe, and foster a network of researchers engaged in China studies. The expected timeline for project activities is up to three years, with the open call for proposals set to begin on December 8, 2026, and the submission deadline on March 11, 2027.

Success rates for this funding are contingent upon the number of proposals received, with a competitive selection process anticipated. The overall aim is to develop strategic foresight and generate independent knowledge on China, thereby enhancing Europe’s capacity to interact with and understand a key global technology player. Proposals will be evaluated based on several criteria including innovative approaches, the ability to generate new insights, and the potential to strengthen research ties within the context of EU-China STI cooperation.

This EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the call "Enhancing the European R&I system (HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05)". The topic is "Pillar IV: Upgrading the EU’s independent knowledge on China's Science, Technology and Innovation system" (HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05). It aims to foster a more strategic, coherent, and evidence-based approach towards cooperation with China in science, technology, and innovation (STI), contributing to the ERA Structural Policy of implementing the Global Approach to R&I cooperation, while also enhancing research security.

The expected outcomes of this funding are:
1. Improved understanding and monitoring of China's STI system to support strategic foresight and evidence-based policies, strengthening the EU’s ecosystem for independent knowledge on contemporary China.
2. Innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies for R&I practitioners and policymakers to better assess critical technology areas where China has achieved or is expected to achieve breakthroughs, and areas where challenges persist.
3. A well-connected network of experts on China's STI ecosystem to increase attractiveness for EU researchers, especially young researchers, to pursue research careers on contemporary China.

The scope of this topic involves:
1. Supporting the creation of new knowledge and strengthening expertise and networks in the EU related to China’s STI system.
2. Bolstering the EU’s efforts to upgrade independent knowledge on contemporary China in Europe, understanding China on its own terms through independent EU analysis.
3. Bringing together think-tanks, universities, research organizations, and expert networks based in eligible countries.
4. Building on the activities and results of relevant past or ongoing initiatives and projects at European and/or national level.
5. Ensuring close coordination with the European Commission during project implementation.

Activities to be addressed in proposals include:
1. Building a comprehensive framework that facilitates the creation and sharing of knowledge and monitoring of China's STI system, including generating new and compiling existing knowledge, tools, and resources on developments in China’s STI policies, legal framework, government structures, narratives, and strategies for international collaborations.
2. Developing and testing innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies for assessing China’s advancements in critical technology areas (e.g., artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, quantum, biotechnologies) and for evaluating their impact on European economic security, strategic autonomy, and the EU’s ability to achieve the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass. Applicants are encouraged to propose foresight exercises to identify new disruptive, emerging technologies beyond those mentioned.
3. Ensuring collaboration between EU experts on China and technical experts (e.g., engineers, technology experts, economists, legal experts), with particular attention to actively involving young EU researchers in project activities.

The expected project duration is up to 3 years, but may be longer if justified.

The guiding policy framework for this destination includes:
1. The Communication "A New ERA for Research and Innovation".
2. The Council Recommendation on the Pact for Research and Innovation in Europe (Pact for R&I).
3. The European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda (2025-2027).

These frameworks aim to strengthen the ERA by promoting the freedom of movement of researchers, scientific knowledge, and technology, and by providing new evidence for better-informed policymaking. The EU Member States, Associated Countries, R&I stakeholders, and the Commission collaborate to implement the ERA, steered by the ERA Policy Agenda.

The destination will be implemented in synergy with the European Higher Education Area and the European Education Area, especially concerning R&I careers and institutional changes in universities and research organizations. The destination includes two calls with 13 topics in total, targeting a wide range of R&I stakeholders.

The effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines is encouraged, including the involvement of SSH experts, institutions, and the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise.

The ERA Platform showcases results from Horizon Europe-funded projects, and applicants are encouraged to consider these results and propose new tools, resources, and visual material for the platform.

The 2026 and 2027 ERA calls are organized around four pillars:
1. Pillar I: Institutional changes for ERA (Coordination and support actions; capacity building and support to foster adoption of ERA policies/practices within institutions).
2. Pillar II: Ecosystems for ERA (Coordination and support actions; building and reinforcing networks and partnerships to foster broad uptake of ERA policies/practices).
3. Pillar III: Citizens and science in ERA (Coordination and support actions; connecting R&I with citizens and other stakeholders).
4. Pillar IV: New knowledge for ERA (Research and innovation actions; creating new knowledge that supports design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and practices).

Proposals should set out a credible pathway to one or several of the following expected impacts:
1. Effective and sustainable structural institutional changes aligned with the ERA priorities.
2. Sustainable ecosystems established around the ERA priorities through enhanced cooperation, coordination, and alignment.
3. Increased trust in science and alignment of R&I with society’s needs.
4. Strengthened evidence base for advancing the implementation of the ERA.
5. Increased reproducibility, trustworthiness, and transparency of scientific research.
6. A more open, equitable, and inclusive research and innovation ecosystem.
7. A research ethics and integrity ecosystem continually enhanced with robust methodologies that encourage benefit sharing and prevent ethics dumping.
8. Systemic reform of research assessment through the recognition of the diverse outputs, practices, and activities which maximize the quality and impact of research.
9. Improved research careers and mobility, based on the European framework for research careers, fostering knowledge flows and career interoperability across sectors and countries.
10. Stronger translation of R&I results into society and economy.
11. Enhanced gender equality and inclusiveness, leading to research excellence and more innovative, socially relevant, and economically impactful outcomes.
12. Increased uptake, effectiveness, and impact of environmentally sustainable research.
13. More resilient and future-proof R&I policies and long-term strategies with effectively integrated strategic intelligence and strengthened foresight communities.
14. A more strategic, coherent, and evidence-based approach towards cooperation with China in the area of science, technology, and innovation.

General conditions for admissibility, eligibility, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial set-up are described in the relevant annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Application form templates and evaluation form templates are available in the Submission System. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), call-specific instructions, and additional documents related to the Horizon Europe Programme and EU Financial Regulation.

The submission system is planned to open on 08 December 2026, and the deadline for submission is 11 March 2027, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The budget for the topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05 is 3,000,000 EUR, and it is expected that around 1 grant will be awarded.

This funding opportunity is designed to enhance the EU's understanding of China's science, technology, and innovation landscape. It encourages collaboration between European and technical experts to assess China's advancements in critical technologies and their impact on European economic security and strategic autonomy. The goal is to create a more informed and evidence-based approach to EU-China cooperation in science and technology, while also promoting research security and fostering the next generation of European researchers focused on contemporary China. The funding will support projects that build comprehensive frameworks for knowledge sharing, develop innovative assessment methodologies, and actively involve young researchers in these activities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity include think-tanks, universities, research organizations, and expert networks. These entities must be based in eligible countries.

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

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The action should bring together think-tanks, universities, research organisations, and expert networks based in eligible countries.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States and Associated Countries, specifically Norway and Iceland. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries or entities based in non-eligible countries are excluded.

Target Sector: This program targets the following sectors: science, technology, and innovation (STI), with a focus on China's STI system. It also touches upon areas like artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductors, quantum technologies, biotechnologies, and European economic security, strategic autonomy, and research careers. The program also encourages the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines.

Mentioned Countries: China, Norway, Iceland, EU Member States.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on research, development, and knowledge creation, specifically to build a comprehensive framework for understanding and monitoring China's STI system. It also includes testing innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-01: EUR 2,000,000
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-02: EUR 2,000,000 to EUR 4,000,000
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-03: EUR 6,000,000
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-04: EUR 2,000,000
HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-05: EUR 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 involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants suggests a success rate that varies depending on the topic, but generally, the number of grants is limited (1 or 2) for each topic, indicating a competitive selection process.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, Horizon Europe grants often encourage or require some level of co-funding, so it is advisable to check the specific call conditions.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the WIDERA program, aims to enhance the European Research Area (ERA) by promoting a more strategic and evidence-based approach to cooperation with China in science, technology, and innovation. The call seeks to fund projects that will improve the understanding and monitoring of China's STI system, develop innovative methodologies for assessing China's technological advancements, and foster a network of experts on China's STI ecosystem. The call is structured around four pillars: Institutional changes for ERA, Ecosystems for ERA, Citizens and science in ERA, and New knowledge for ERA. Eligible applicants include think-tanks, universities, research organizations, and expert networks based in EU Member States and associated countries like Norway and Iceland. The funding is provided as lump sum grants, and projects are expected to last up to 3 years. The call includes several specific topics with varying budget allocations, all sharing the common goal of strengthening the EU's independent knowledge and strategic autonomy in relation to China's STI landscape. The application process is a single-stage open call, and successful projects are expected to closely coordinate with the European Commission during implementation.