Scaling up deep tech ecosystems

The Horizon Europe grant program under the initiative "Scaling up deep tech ecosystems" aims to advance innovation ecosystems linked to pan-European research infrastructures. The grant, known as HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-03, has a total budget of €5 million and is focused on funding projects that facilitate collaboration between industry and research, particularly in deep tech sectors. Eligible applicants include research institutes, universities, SMEs, startups, and industry partners, provided they collaborate with at least one ESFRI Landmark or ERIC.

The funding type is grant-based, specifically targeting financial support to third parties, with a maximum grant of €500,000 available per third party. Proposals must demonstrate collaboration across three to five technological areas, with emphasis on advancing technologies in AI, quantum computing, advanced materials, and more. The application process is single-stage, with a submission deadline of January 20, 2026.

Geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and associated countries, as well as certain non-EU participants with provisions. The project stage is primarily focused on validation and demonstration, with a push for technologies that show readiness for industrial implementation.

The competitive landscape indicates a high level of interest, with a low expected success rate, given that only one project is anticipated to be funded. Co-funding is not explicitly required, but synergies with other financing sources are encouraged.

The grant aims to strengthen innovation ecosystems across Europe, enhance market deployment of breakthrough technologies, and ensure inclusivity by engaging a broad range of stakeholders from academia, industry, and civil society. The strategic goal is to create interconnected ecosystems that drive sustainable growth and competitive advantage in deep tech industries.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2026.1) initiative, specifically targeting the scaling up of deep tech ecosystems. The call, identified as HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-03, seeks to fund projects that will enhance the development of deep tech ecosystems around pan-European research infrastructures, increase industry involvement with these infrastructures, improve the valorisation of past investments, and foster innovation training and education.

The call is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a budget of EUR 5,000,000 for the year 2025. It employs a single-stage deadline model, with the planned opening date for submissions on September 10, 2025, and a deadline of January 20, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The granting authority anticipates funding approximately one project under this topic.

The scope of the call emphasizes the strategic importance of pan-European research infrastructures in boosting research and innovation, scientific discoveries, and deep-tech developments. It aims to better valorise interactions between research infrastructures and companies, facilitating collaboration and co-development. Proposals should pilot the development of innovation ecosystems around diverse technological areas related to pan-European research infrastructures by providing grants to pilot projects in three to five different technological areas.

Proposals should identify deep tech innovations with breakthrough potential, assess their feasibility and scalability, suggest a selection and clustering of innovations with clear industrial implementation potential, run and evaluate calls for pilot projects, and assess the outcomes of these pilot grants.

The call falls under the destination of CONNECT Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2025), which aims to foster enabling innovation ecosystems across the EU through a systemic, inclusive, and collaborative approach. This includes increasing the inclusion and interconnection of less represented regions and actors, ensuring the involvement of key innovation players from the quadruple helix (industry, academia, civil society, and public authorities), mobilising policies and funding instruments, improving public and private buyers’ capacity to procure innovative solutions, promoting interregional collaboration, and ensuring openness and cross-fertilisation of the innovation ecosystem.

Expected impacts of funded projects include interconnected, inclusive, and more efficient innovation ecosystems across the EU, enhanced cross-border network connectivity and inter-regional collaboration, enhanced capacity building for innovation procurement, increased innovation co-investments, and improved innovation policy coordination.

General conditions for admissibility include adherence to proposal page limits and layout guidelines, as described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Application Form. Eligible countries are those described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for funding participants from certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Other eligible conditions stipulate that proposals must include at least one ESFRI Landmark or European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) as a beneficiary. At least 60% of the proposed total eligible costs must be allocated to financial support to third parties.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are outlined in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.

Submission and evaluation processes are detailed in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. Beneficiaries must provide financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 500,000 per third party.

Application forms and evaluation templates are available in the Submission System. Additional guidance and documentation include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), and various work programmes and annexes.

The total budget for this topic is EUR 5,000,000, with an indicative number of one grant to be awarded.

This opportunity is about fostering deep tech innovation by connecting pan-European research infrastructures with industry, particularly SMEs, to create new market opportunities and address societal challenges. It aims to pilot the development of innovation ecosystems by providing grants to projects in various technological areas, ultimately leading to a more competitive, sustainable, and inclusive European economy. Applicants should focus on identifying and supporting deep tech innovations, assessing their feasibility, and creating a clear path for their industrial implementation. The funding supports collaborative R&I projects and the creation of an ecosystem that promotes the uptake of technological innovations.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include industry, including SMEs, start-ups, spin-off companies, academia, civil society, public authorities, individual inventors, scaleups, SMEs investors, innovation hubs, business associations, clusters, public and private buyers of innovative solutions as well as citizens and civil society organisations. Proposals should include at least one ESFRI Landmark or European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) as beneficiary. In case of a distributed ERIC, as an alternative to the ERIC participating as a beneficiary, a legal entity that is hosting one of its nodes or components may participate as a beneficiary.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The beneficiaries should provide financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium, as proposals should include at least one ESFRI Landmark or European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) as beneficiary. In case of a distributed ERIC, as an alternative to the ERIC participating as a beneficiary, a legal entity that is hosting one of its nodes or components may participate as a beneficiary.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes the European Union (EU), Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: deep tech, research and innovation (R&I), science, technology, industry, SMEs, start-ups, spin-off companies, innovation ecosystems, digital, green, social transitions, European Research Area, New European Innovation Agenda, reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, increasing global food security, mastering the digital transformation (including cybersecurity), improving healthcare and achieving circularity.

Mentioned Countries: The Growth plan for the Western Balkans, the Growth Plan for Moldova and the Ukraine Plan are mentioned.

Project Stage: The project stage includes research, development, validation, and demonstration, with an emphasis on scaling and deploying breakthrough technologies.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary by topic: HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-01 has a budget of EUR 4,500,000, HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-02 has a budget of EUR 5,000,000, and HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-03 has a budget of EUR 5,000,000. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 500,000.

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 grants. They will also provide financial support to third parties (FSTP) in the form of grants, with a maximum amount of EUR 500,000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants is specified for each topic: one grant for HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-01 and HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-03, and five grants for HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-02.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned, but applicants should seek synergies with other EU, national, and regional innovation programs, including Cohesion Policy funds, the Recovery and Resilience Fund, the EU's External Action instruments, and other public and private funds or financial instruments.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2026.1) initiative, aims to scale up deep tech ecosystems around pan-European research infrastructures. The call seeks to enhance the development, scaling, and deployment of breakthrough technologies with market and societal value. It encourages increased involvement of industry, including SMEs, with research infrastructures to boost competitiveness and generate market opportunities. The program targets a wide range of applicants, including industry, academia, and civil society, and focuses on strengthening innovation ecosystems across the EU. Proposals should pilot the development of innovation ecosystems around diverse technological areas related to pan-European research infrastructures by providing grants to pilot projects in three to five different technological areas. The call has three specific topics: HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-01 and HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-02 are Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) with budgets of EUR 4,500,000 and EUR 5,000,000 respectively, while HORIZON-EIE-2026-01-CONNECT-03 is a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) with a budget of EUR 5,000,000. The call emphasizes the importance of interconnected, inclusive, and efficient innovation ecosystems across the EU, fostering synergies between various funding instruments, and promoting interregional collaboration. Applicants must include at least one ESFRI Landmark or ERIC as a beneficiary and allocate at least 60% of the proposed total eligible costs to financial support for third parties, with a maximum of EUR 500,000 per third party. The submission deadline is January 20, 2026.