Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs (CSA)

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled "Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs" is categorized under the Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a total budget of €5 million. Individual project funding amounts range from €1,500,000 to €2,500,000, with an expectation of two grants. The call is planned to open on January 6, 2026, and concludes on April 21, 2026.

Eligible applicants include organizations managing Technology Infrastructures capable of coordinating access schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and startups, particularly in priority sectors: advanced materials, clean energy, health, and biotechnology. The call aims to enhance access to essential research facilities by establishing pilot multi-site access programs that facilitate collaboration among a network of Technology Infrastructure operators.

Applications must be submitted through a single-stage process. There is no explicit co-funding requirement stated, but a consortium approach is encouraged to support transnational and multi-site collaboration. The geographic scope is EU-wide, allowing for participation from EU member states and affiliated countries.

The key objectives of funded projects include developing pilot schemes that simplify access to technology infrastructure, promoting knowledge sharing across borders, and addressing the needs of innovative SMEs and startups that lack local access to such facilities. This opportunity is particularly relevant for those looking to strengthen Europe's innovation landscape by improving operational processes related to technology services.

The application process encompasses a thorough evaluation of proposals based on defined criteria, though specific success rates are not provided. The lump sum grant mechanism is designed to reduce administrative burdens for beneficiaries.

Overall, this initiative aims to foster a more connected and competitive innovation ecosystem across Europe by addressing the challenges faced by emerging companies in accessing vital research and development resources.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45, focusing on pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs. It falls under the INDUSTRY call (HORIZON-CL4-2026-01) and is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA). The grant type is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. It is a forthcoming call with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 06 January 2026, and the deadline is 21 April 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of proposals should include: a sound understanding of the specific needs of industrial users (innovative SMEs, startups, and scaleups) for Technology Infrastructure services in priority areas like advanced materials, clean energy, or health and biotechnology; increased opportunities for industrial users to develop, test, upscale, and deploy new technologies using Technology Infrastructure services; strengthened innovation and technology development capacity of European SMEs, startups, and scaleups through improved access to Technology Infrastructures; and attractiveness and effectiveness of developed access schemes for broadening the range of Technology Infrastructure users, especially startups and scaleups, including with transnational access.

The scope of this action involves developing and testing pilot multi-site access schemes for startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs, engaging a critical mass of Technology Infrastructure operators and users in priority areas such as advanced materials, clean energy, or health and biotechnology. It should build on existing initiatives with single access points to facilities and services in a selected technology area, such as Open Innovation Test Beds or integrated networks, to enable quick deployment of a common access scheme.

The action should include setting up a pilot centrally managed and funded access program, providing companies with quick access to needed services under simplified and standardized access conditions across the EU. This should be coordinated with the work on the envisaged European Charter of access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures. While the focus is on providing access and support services to companies, the action can also enhance the accessibility and usability of technology infrastructure services to meet evolving user needs.

The action aims to significantly broaden the user base of technology infrastructures to address the needs of startups and scaleups lacking access to such facilities in their local ecosystems. Proposals should include activities to increase visibility and promote the uptake of technology infrastructure services provided to users across the EU.

Furthermore, proposals should enhance transnational and multisite collaboration among Technology Infrastructures, fostering technology infrastructure ecosystems, sharing experience, resources, and best practices in management, service offer, staff exchange, and networking. Proposals may also benefit from sharing best practices and taking stock of what other relevant projects are developing in the field of Technology Infrastructures, especially for communication and dissemination activities.

General conditions include admissibility conditions, with proposal page limits and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are described in Annex B, while financial and operational capacity and exclusion are in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are in Annex D, and submission and evaluation processes are in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is in Annex F. Legal and financial setup of the grants allows the granting authority to object to transfer of ownership or exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the action's end, as set out in Annex 5. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes also applies.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application form templates are available in the Submission System, with a standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE CSA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA. Call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on lump sums are also available.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, Digital, Industry and Space, Horizontal Activities, and General Annexes), the HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, the Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview lists several topics under the call, including: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01 (Innovation Actions, EUR 38,000,000, contributions of EUR 6,000,000 to 8,000,000, 6 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04 (Research and Innovation Actions, EUR 64,000,000, contributions of EUR 5,000,000 to 8,000,000, 9 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05 (Research and Innovation Actions, EUR 37,000,000, contributions of EUR 5,000,000 to 6,500,000, 7 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11 (Research and Innovation Actions, EUR 18,500,000, contributions of EUR 5,000,000 to 7,000,000, 3 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12 (Research and Innovation Actions, EUR 19,000,000, contributions of EUR 5,000,000 to 7,000,000, 3 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 4,000,000, contributions around EUR 4,000,000, 1 grant), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14 (Innovation Actions, EUR 28,000,000, contributions around EUR 7,500,000, 4 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23 (Innovation Actions, EUR 50,000,000, contributions around EUR 13,000,000, 4 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 800,000, contributions around EUR 800,000, 1 grant), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31 (Research and Innovation Actions, EUR 43,800,000, contributions of EUR 5,000,000 to 7,000,000, 7 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 2,000,000, contributions around EUR 1,000,000, 2 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 2,500,000, contributions around EUR 3,000,000, 1 grant), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 5,000,000, contributions of EUR 1,500,000 to 2,500,000, 2 grants), HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46 (Coordination and Support Actions, EUR 2,000,000, contributions around EUR 2,000,000, 1 grant), and HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48 (Innovation Actions, EUR 5,000,000, contributions around EUR 200,000, 25 grants).

LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile.

This Horizon Europe call aims to improve access for startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs to state-of-the-art research and technology infrastructures across Europe. It seeks to address the challenges these companies face in accessing and affording these resources, which are crucial for testing, upscaling, and validating new technologies. The call encourages the development of pilot programs that simplify access, standardize conditions, and promote collaboration among technology infrastructures. Ultimately, it aims to strengthen the innovation capacity of European SMEs and broaden the user base of technology infrastructures, fostering a more connected and competitive European innovation ecosystem.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include startups, scaleups, and other innovative SMEs, as well as Technology Infrastructures operators and users. The call is specifically targeted towards entities that can develop and test pilot multi-site access schemes.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) framework. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Consortium Requirement: While not explicitly stated, the call encourages transnational and multisite collaboration among Technology Infrastructures, suggesting that a consortium approach is preferred to enhance the building of technology infrastructures ecosystems. The action will develop and test pilot multi-site access schemes for startups, scaleups and other innovative SMEs, involving a critical mass of Technology Infrastructures operators and users.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility primarily focuses on entities within the EU. However, the documentation mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets multiple sectors, including but not limited to advanced materials, clean energy, health, and biotechnology. The focus is on improving access to Technology Infrastructures for startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs to enhance their innovation and technology development capacity.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the EU and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is at the development and testing phase, specifically to develop and test pilot multi-site access schemes. The projects should build on existing initiatives with already developed single access points to a comprehensive set of facilities and services in a selected technology area, like for example Open Innovation Test Beds or other integrated networks, that allow for a quick deployment of a common access scheme.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for the HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45 topic is between 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 EUR.

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 success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45, aims to develop and test pilot multi-site access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs. The goal is to address the challenges these companies face in accessing state-of-the-art research and technology facilities, equipment, and expertise, which are crucial for testing, upscaling, and validating new products and technologies. The call encourages collaboration among Technology Infrastructures to foster ecosystems, share resources, and promote best practices. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the application process is a single-stage open call. Eligible applicants include startups, scaleups, innovative SMEs, and Technology Infrastructures operators and users, primarily from the EU, with some provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries. The targeted sectors include advanced materials, clean energy, health, and biotechnology. The projects should focus on developing and testing pilot access schemes, enhancing the accessibility and usability of technology infrastructure services, broadening the user base, and promoting transnational collaboration. The funding amount for the HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45 topic is between 1,500,000 to 2,500,000 EUR. The call aims to create a centrally managed and funded access program with simplified and standardized access conditions across the EU, aligning with the European Charter of access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures.