Teaming Synergies

The Teaming Synergies initiative under Horizon Europe aims to enhance the sustainability and impact of Teaming Centres of Excellence (CoE) in Widening countries. It addresses the necessity to build upon prior investments made through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe to strengthen these CoEs and foster collaboration among them through strategic initiatives.

This call for proposals is classified as a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA), with a total indicative budget of €7 million, and it is anticipated that one project will be funded with an EU contribution around that amount. The application process involves a single-stage submission from April 23, 2026, to September 24, 2026. The initiative specifically targets organizations established in Widening countries that have previously acted as coordinators for Horizon actions, ensuring that only experienced entities participate.

The primary objectives include the creation of stronger long-term collaborations between CoEs, strategic transformation of research and innovation systems, and the promotion of multidisciplinary cooperation on key European and global challenges. The expected outcomes will improve visibility and recognition for CoEs at various levels, while developing synergies between them and national as well as EU programs to secure additional funding.

Proposals are encouraged to incorporate activities like strategic clustering for thematic collaboration, implementation of thematic clusters, capacity building for knowledge valorisation, matchmaking events, the establishment of a Teaming online platform, and organization of a Teaming conference. The focus is on sustainability and increased impact at regional, national, and European levels.

The application is highly competitive due to the limited number of grants available, with a success rate likely below 10%. Though there is no explicit co-funding requirement, leveraging additional resources could enhance proposal competitiveness. Overall, the initiative aligns with broader goals in the European Research Area aimed at enhancing research and innovation capacities across lagging regions.

The Synergy action for Teaming Centres of Excellence (CoE) aims to ensure the sustainability of CoEs funded under Teaming calls. It addresses the need to capitalize on investments made in Widening countries through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, enhancing the sustainability and international competitiveness of these CoEs by fostering collaboration and strategic joint initiatives.

The call, HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-01-WIDENING-01, falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program and the Teaming Synergies call. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of 23 April 2026 and a deadline of 24 September 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this call are:

Stronger long-term collaboration among Teaming CoE through structured joint initiatives and clustering efforts to enhance mutual learning, resource sharing, and collective research and innovation capacity.
Strategic transformation of R&I systems by enhancing institutional cooperation and supporting structural reforms at national and regional levels.
Promotion of multidisciplinary and transnational cooperation that will enable CoE to address critical European and global challenges, and EU policy priorities.
Promotion of ERA priorities such as responsible AI usage, knowledge valorisation, commercialization, and entrepreneurial activities, such as SMEs and start-ups, within the CoE to maximise economic and societal impact.
Stronger visibility of CoE and their recognition at national, regional, and European levels through structured engagement with industry, policymakers, and society.
Improved synergies between CoE and national and EU programmes to leverage additional funding opportunities and policy support.

The scope of the call involves fostering collaboration among Teaming Centres of Excellence, both existing and future, to support their sustainability and increase their impact at regional, national, and European levels.

The proposals are expected to include the following activities:

Strategic Clustering for thematic collaboration: Conducting an in-depth analysis of CoE capacities, research domains, innovation potential, and their role in national and regional quadruple helixes. The aim is to define strategic clusters addressing common research and innovation challenges, supporting EU priorities, and contributing to policy reforms.
Pilot implementation of thematic clusters: Establishing clusters and supporting the coordinated implementation of activities, building on geographically distributed research capacities and infrastructures, interdisciplinary research collaborations, policy support for national and/or institutional R&I reform, or entrepreneurship-focused activities.
Capacity building for knowledge valorisation: Offering specialised training, peer learning, expert coaching, and workshops to improve CoE expertise in knowledge valorisation.
Networking and matchmaking: Organising dedicated matchmaking events, policy forums, and startup pitching events to connect CoE with industry, investors, and policymakers, supporting their market outreach and strategic partnerships.
Teaming online platform: Developing a digital networking platform to improve cooperation among CoE, provide access to shared resources, showcase success stories, and facilitate continuous interaction between research institutions, industry, and policymakers.
Teaming conference: Establishing the conference as an internationally recognized event, stimulating cross-fertilization of scientific ideas, promoting industry-academia collaborations, attracting international talents and rewarding early-career researchers through Teaming awards.
Entrepreneurship and tech transfer support: Encouraging the creation of spin-offs and start-ups, licensing opportunities, and investment-readiness initiatives to ensure research outputs lead to marketable innovations.

The consortium is expected to provide a comprehensive range of expertise commensurate with the proposed activities, including successful implementation of sustainability strategies of a Teaming CoE, communication, training, knowledge valorisation, and IPR issues. The consortium should demonstrate geographical coverage to reach all past, existing, and future Teaming CoEs. Maximizing the use of existing services and facilities, such as the Widening Dissemination and Exploitation Support Facility, is encouraged.

Key performance indicators tailored to the objectives of the action should be outlined in the proposal to assess the efficient and effective implementation of the proposed activities. The duration of the action is 5 years.

The call falls under the destination of Widening participation and spreading excellence (2026-27) (WIDENING-26-27). This destination aims to improve access to excellence, promote a more inclusive approach to R&I, tackle disparities between R&I leading and lagging countries, and strengthen R&I capacities in Widening countries.

The expected impact of this destination includes:

Increased science and innovation capacities for all actors in the R&I system in Widening countries.
Structural changes leading to modernised and more competitive R&I systems with increased attractiveness and retention of research talents.
Mobilisation of national and European resources for strategic investments.
Higher participation in Horizon Europe and more leadership roles in collaborative projects.
Stronger linkages between academia and business and improved career permeability.
Greater involvement of regional actors in the R&I process.
Excellent talents attracted to institutions including research infrastructures.
Balanced circulation of R&I talents including intersectoral mobility, and improved gender equality and inclusiveness.
Improved linkages and increased mobility between academic and business, notably by overcoming sectoral barriers.
Free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities.

General conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation, award, and legal and financial setup are detailed in the annexes of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

The Commission estimates an EU contribution of around EUR 7.00 million for this topic. The total indicative budget is EUR 7.00 million.

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates, including the Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), will be used with necessary adaptations.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (HE MGA, HE Unit MGA), call-specific instructions, information on financial support to third parties, and information on clinical studies. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, EU Grants AGA, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

There are 3 partner search announcements available. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster collaboration and sustainability among Teaming Centres of Excellence in Widening countries. It seeks to maximize the impact of investments made through Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe by encouraging strategic joint initiatives, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. The program supports activities such as strategic clustering, pilot implementation of thematic clusters, capacity building for knowledge valorisation, networking and matchmaking events, development of a Teaming online platform, establishment of a Teaming conference, and entrepreneurship and tech transfer support. The ultimate goal is to enhance the R&I systems in Widening countries, promote inclusive growth, and contribute to the development of pan-European innovation ecosystems.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include legal entities established in Widening countries that have been or are coordinator of a Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe Teaming action. The consortium is expected to include Teaming Centres of Excellence (both existing and future), research institutions, industry, investors, and policymakers. Complementary members of the consortium can provide specific expertise on communication, training, knowledge valorisation and IPR issues. The applicant should demonstrate a geographical coverage of its activities that is able to reach all past, existing and future Teaming CoEs that wish to participate in the activities and benefit from the services offered by the consortium.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA). The type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The consortium should demonstrate a comprehensive range of expertise commensurate with the proposed activities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility focuses on "Widening countries," as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation. These are countries that aim to increase their participation in Horizon Europe and strengthen their research and innovation capacities. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible if they have made specific provisions for funding.

Target Sector: The program targets the research and innovation sector, with a focus on strengthening the European Research Area (ERA), widening participation, and spreading excellence in science and innovation. It also targets thematic areas addressed by the Teaming Centres of Excellence, including support for entrepreneurship, knowledge valorisation, and technology transfer. Specific sectors of interest include responsible AI usage, commercialization, and entrepreneurial activities, such as SMEs and start-ups.

Mentioned Countries: Widening countries, non-EU countries, non-Associated Countries, European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on sustainability and increased impact at the regional, national, and European level. It aims to foster collaboration among existing and future Teaming Centres of Excellence. The expected maturity of the project is validation, demonstration, and scale-up.

Funding Amount: The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of around EUR 7.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7.00 million.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call. The planned opening date is 23 April 2026, and the deadline date is 24 September 2026 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

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

Application Stages: Applicants have to pass through a single stage to obtain this opportunity.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants is 1.

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

Summary:
This Horizon Europe call, "Teaming Synergies," aims to bolster the sustainability and impact of Teaming Centres of Excellence (CoE) located in Widening countries. It seeks to foster collaboration among these CoEs through strategic joint initiatives, ultimately enhancing their international competitiveness and contribution to the European Research Area (ERA). The call encourages proposals that outline activities such as strategic clustering for thematic collaboration, pilot implementation of thematic clusters, capacity building for knowledge valorisation, networking and matchmaking events, development of a Teaming online platform, establishment of a Teaming conference, and entrepreneurship and tech transfer support.

To be eligible, the coordinating legal entity must be established in a Widening country and have prior experience as a coordinator of a Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe Teaming action. The consortium should demonstrate expertise in sustainability strategies for Teaming CoEs, communication, training, knowledge valorisation, and IPR issues, with a geographical coverage that reaches all past, existing, and future Teaming CoEs. The EU contribution is estimated at EUR 7.00 million, and the application process involves a single stage with a deadline of 24 September 2026. This initiative is designed to strengthen R&I capacities, promote structural changes, mobilise resources, increase participation in Horizon Europe, and improve linkages between academia and business in Widening countries, aligning with the broader goals of the ERA.