Towards a European production of stable isotopes for novel nuclear medicine therapies (SAMIRA/ERVI)

HORIZON-EURATOM is an Innovation Action (lump sum) call to support EU-based production of rare stable isotopes for novel nuclear medicine therapies, prioritising supply-chain resilience for precursors such as Yb-176. The topic has an indicative budget of €2 million for one grant, targets closer-to-market activities (TRL 5–7) and supports prototyping, piloting and scale-up with limited R&D. Eligible applicants are consortia of legal entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, and the single-stage deadline is 15 September 2026.

Who can apply

Eligibility highlights

Funds projects to establish secure, sustainable EU production of key stable isotopes (notably Yb-176 and other stable isotopes needed for emerging alpha and beta emitters) to strengthen supply for medical radioisotope manufacture and targeted radionuclide therapies. Activities should focus on closer-to-market actions (prototyping, piloting, demonstrating and scaling up), TRL 5 to 7 indicative, and may include limited R&D. Proposals should engage industry, healthcare stakeholders, policy makers and research infrastructures; consortia are expected. The Joint Research Centre may participate and can offer in-kind use of facilities. The call targets resilience of the medical radioisotope supply chain and strategic autonomy while aligning with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and SAMIRA objectives ¹.

Funding range:Typical award: €2,000,000 (one expected grant under HORIZON-IA; indicative split €1,000,000 per budget year 2026 and 2027).

1. 1Applicants: multi‑partner consortia including research organisations, nuclear institutes, producers, manufacturing industry, healthcare partners and SMEs (international partners may participate subject to rules).
2. 2Focus: industrial-scale or pilot production methods for stable isotopes (e.g. Yb-176), supply-chain diversification, prototyping and scale-up, stakeholder engagement and regulatory/market integration.

Footnotes

1. 1Official topic page: ec.europa.eu

Call and Administrative Details

Call name:Nuclear research and training HORIZON-EURATOM. Opportunity type: Call for Proposals (Horizon/Euratom). Topic reference: HORIZON-EURATOM. Type of action envisaged for this topic: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) implemented with the Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS). Submission model: single-stage. Deadline: 15 September 2026 (single-stage). Planned opening date: 23 April 2026. Expected number of grants for the Innovation Actions stream under the wider topic area: 1. Indicative topic budget across 2026-2027 for HORIZON-EURATOM: €2,000,000 (split indicative: €1,000,000 in 2026 and €1,000,000 in 2027) ¹.

Call focus and expected outcomes:The action aims to support development of EU production of rare stable isotopes essential for manufacturing radionuclides used in novel nuclear medicine therapies (notably Yb-176 for Lu-177 production), to strengthen resilience and security of the EU medical radioisotope supply chain, to optimise production processes and to scale industrial production while contributing to Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the SAMIRA strategic agenda. Activities should be closer-to-the-market (prototyping, testing, piloting, demonstration and scaling) with TRL focus ~5-7 and may include limited R&D. Projects should foster interdisciplinary collaboration across nuclear scientists, physicists, engineers, industry, policy makers and healthcare professionals and align production capacity with clinical and commercial needs. The Commission recommends use of JRC services; the JRC may participate and will cover its own operational costs and facility access (General Annex H). ¹

Scientific and technical scope (detailed)

Scope summary:Radiological and nuclear technologies are central to modern healthcare, particularly diagnostics and targeted radionuclide therapies (e.g. radioligand therapy). The call addresses strategic vulnerability arising from EU dependence on imported rare stable isotopes (notably Yb-176 from Russia) that are precursors for therapeutic radioisotopes (e.g. Lu-177-PSMA, Lu-177-Dotatate). The action should deliver secure, sustainable EU-based production routes for stable isotopes including Yb-176 and others relevant to alpha/beta emitters and theragnostic isotope pairs (e.g. Gadolinium for production of Terbium isotopes). Key technical objectives include development and optimisation of innovative, scalable, cost-effective production methods, industrial-scale manufacture (including sourcing/enrichment of stable isotopes), supply-chain diversification, quality control and regulatory-ready manufacturing workflows. Projects should plan prototyping, demonstration and scale-up with clinical and commercial integration considerations. Technology readiness levels indicative target: TRL 5-7. Interdisciplinary research and stakeholder engagement across value chain required. JRC services and facilities may be used where appropriate and JRC can join as partner with operational costs covered by JRC.

Funding, Modality and Budget

Funding type and form:Lump-sum Innovation Action grant under Horizon/EURATOM. The topic is implemented with lump sum grant model (HORIZON-AG-LS). Indicative topic-level budget: €2,000,000 (one expected grant; minimum/maximum contribution listed in the Portal: min €2,000,000 / max €2,000,000 for the HORIZON Innovation Actions action in the topic map). The call web data indicates the topic action expects a single Innovation Action grant with maximum contribution around €2,000,000. See the official topic pages for final budget allocation and grant preparation steps ¹.

Eligible activities:Closer-to-market activities: prototype development, testing, demonstration, piloting, scaling up of isotope production processes and industrial manufacturing; limited R&D to support optimisation; development of quality management, production workflows and regulatory compliance paths; supply-chain mapping and diversification plans; stakeholder engagement and market-readiness and business planning; pilot-scale industrial manufacturing, testing product quality and compatibility with radiopharmaceutical production chains; training and workforce development for production facilities; life-cycle environmental and safety assessment; integration with clinical and commercial needs and demonstration of feasibility for consistent supply. Activities must match TRL progression from validation in relevant environment towards demonstration and industrialisation (TRLs 5-7 indicative).

Eligibility and Applicants

General eligibility conditions follow Horizon Europe/Euratom rules (refer to the Work Programme General Annexes). The topic is under Horizon/EURATOM Nuclear research and training and uses the Horizon lump sum model. Applicants must use the application form and templates available in the Submission System on the Funding & Tenders Portal; follow Part B limits in the Application Form and the General Annexes cited.

Eligible Applicant Types (detailed):Eligible applicants include: SMEs, large enterprises, industry (instrumentation manufacturers, isotope producers, radiopharmaceutical manufacturers), universities, research institutes, national laboratories, public research organisations, hospitals and clinical centres, nuclear research centres, non-profit organisations, international research organisations (including ESFRI-type), consortia combining these actors, public authorities, certification and regulatory bodies, and technology transfer organisations. Proposals are encouraged to form multi-disciplinary consortia that include industrial partners and healthcare stakeholders. Affiliates/associated partners may participate under Horizon rules. JRC may participate as consortium member; if so the JRC bears its own operational costs. Participation of third countries and entities is possible in line with Horizon rules and any specific restrictions set out in the General Annexes.

Consortium Requirement:Expected: Consortium required. The topic recommends consortia composed of complementary partners across the value chain: isotope producers, enrichment/sourcing partners, radiochemistry and radiopharmaceutical manufacturing organisations, clinical/radiation medicine stakeholders, R&D labs (nuclear, physics, engineering), supply-chain and regulatory specialists, and industrial scaling/manufacturing partners. Single-entity applications are unlikely to address the breadth required for industrial scale-up, regulatory alignment and clinical/commercial integration.

Geographic and Eligibility Scope

Beneficiary scope and geographic eligibility:Open to entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries in accordance with the Horizon participation rules. Special provisions apply for exceptional funding of entities from third countries in line with the Horizon Programme Guide and General Annexes. Non-EU participation must follow the eligibility and funding rules indicated in the General Annexes. Use of JRC services is recommended where appropriate; JRC may participate under special conditions.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity text explicitly mentions the EU (European Union) and references imports from Russia as a supply risk. It refers to EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries generally and highlights Ukraine in other topics of the same research stream. No specific list of Associated Countries is provided in the topic description; applicants must check the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and General Annexes for country eligibility lists ¹.

Technology and Science Requirements

Science and technology priorities:development and optimisation of stable isotope production processes (notably Yb-176), enrichment and sourcing strategies, industrial-scale isotopic separation and fabrication methods, cost reduction and process scaling; radiochemical and radiopharmaceutical-compatible isotope purity and quality control methods; production methods for other stable isotopes used to produce alpha and beta emitters (e.g. Gd for Tb isotopes); process automation, facility design for industrial manufacture, qualification and validation of processes, regulatory readiness including GMP-type controls for medical precursor materials, lifetime and supply-chain risk assessment and mitigation, environmental and safety analysis, and inter-disciplinary integration (nuclear physics, radiochemistry, chemical engineering, industrial production, regulatory science, clinical needs assessment). Limited R&D allowed if it directly supports the scale-up or demonstration objectives.

Target Project Stage and TRL:Target maturity: closer-to-market activities; focus on Technology Readiness Levels 5 to 7 (validation in relevant environment, demonstration in relevant environment and system prototype demonstration in operational environment) indicative but not mandatory. Proposals may include limited earlier R&D if justified by innovative potential and direct contribution to scaling/industrialisation.

Application and Selection

Application type and submission:Open call via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, single-stage lump-sum proposals submitted electronically using the application form in the Submission System. Use the specific Application Form and templates published in the Reference Documents area. Follow the proposal page limits and layout described in Part B of the Application Form. Evaluation will follow Horizon evaluation forms and thresholds; the Innovation Actions evaluation model is used.

Application Stages and Evaluation:Application stages: Single-stage submission. Evaluation uses the relevant HE 1-stage evaluation form (IA). Core evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact and Quality and efficiency of implementation (see Horizon evaluation templates). For lump-sum topics, evaluators will assess cost estimations and the detailed lump-sum budget where provided. Thresholds and scoring follow Horizon rules (0-5 scoring scale). The standard one-stage model applies with an overall threshold and ranking to select proposals up to available budget. Applicants should consult the Evaluation Form templates and the HE Programme Guide for the exact scoring and threshold rules ¹.

Success Rates and Competition:Success rates: Topic budget and expected number of grants are small (one expected grant listed for the Innovation Action stream). Competition is expected to be strong; success rates will depend on the number and quality of proposals. The Commission often applies an overall threshold and limits invitations to the budget envelope; historically the proportion invited cannot be guaranteed. Applicants should assume a competitive selection and prepare high-quality, comprehensive proposals aligned with the topic scope and expected outcomes ¹.

Funding Conditions and Co-funding

Form of funding and co-funding:The grant is a lump-sum Innovation Action. Lump-sum eligible costs are defined by the Lump Sum HE decision and the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement. The topic data indicate the selected IA will use the Lump Sum MGA (HORIZON-AG-LS). Co-funding: Under Horizon Innovation Actions co-funding by beneficiaries is implicitly expected through the consortium’s in-kind and/or funded contributions and through the level of matching industrial investment for scale-up. Proposals should describe other sources of funding or leveraged finance (private investment, national funds, in-kind contributions). For lump-sum grants, the exact financial breakdown and justifications must be provided according to the Lump Sum rules and the Application Form Part B guidance. Check the Lump Sum Decision and the Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?" in Reference Documents ¹.

Intellectual Property, Data and Open Science:IP: Results ownership and exploitation must follow Horizon rules on IPR and access rights; beneficiaries must propose exploitation strategies and intellectual property management that enable industrial scale-up and market integration while respecting open science requirements where appropriate. Data & open science: Projects should follow open science principles where feasible, implement FAIR data management for research outputs, and respect confidentiality and security requirements for sensitive nuclear-related information. Proposals must include a Data Management Plan (DMP) as required by Horizon rules; for lump-sum topics provide the DMP summary as directed in the application form ¹.

Project Implementation Requirements and Use of JRC

JRC involvement:The Commission recommends consortia use JRC services where appropriate. The JRC may participate in proposal preparation and submission. If JRC participates as a beneficiary, it bears the operational costs for its own staff and research infrastructure operational costs; its facilities and expertise are listed in General Annex H of the Work Programme. Projects should clearly identify required JRC services and plan for JRC engagement following the guidance in General Annex H and the topic text ¹.

1. 1Project-level deliverables expected: demonstration of stable isotope production route at pilot/industrial-relevant scale; validated quality control and purity metrics compatible with medical radionuclide production; supply-chain sourcing plan for precursor materials; production cost model and scale-up pathway; prototype production facility design and testing; documentation for regulatory pathways and GMP-compatible processes; stakeholder engagement and clinical/commercial integration plans; sustainability and environmental footprint assessment.
2. 2Transversal requirements: stakeholder engagement across the nuclear medicine value chain; regulatory and clinical alignment; supply-chain risk analysis and mitigation; environmental and safety assessment; workforce training and skills development plans.

Templates, Application Structure and Practical Guidance

Application materials and templates:Applicants must use the Application Form available in the Submission System. Reference templates and instructions (Part B template, budget tables for lump sum, evaluation forms and guidance on lump sum budgeting) are available in the Funding & Tenders Portal Reference Documents and in the Work Programme General Annexes. Applicants must follow the proposal page limits and layout rules in Part B of the Application Form. For lump-sum projects provide a detailed lump-sum budget and a justification of costs; evaluators will review cost estimations and may include recommendations. The online manual, HE Programme Guide, call-specific instructions and helpdesk services are available to applicants via the Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Templates: Application structure and required sections (outline):Use the Submission System Application Form. Key sections to prepare and include (in Part B and annexes): 1) Excellence: objectives, state of the art, innovation beyond current practice, approach and methodology (including TRL progression), risk analysis and mitigation, technical feasibility; 2) Impact: credible pathways to achieve expected outcomes (supply chain resilience, clinical integration), market uptake, regulatory and clinical alignment, exploitation and business plan, dissemination and communication, synergies with EU policies and JRC; 3) Implementation and consortium: work plan (work packages, milestones, deliverables), Gantt and effort distribution, management structure, quality assurance, ethics and regulatory compliance plan, safety and security measures, environmental and sustainability assessment; 4) Lump-sum budget table and justification (detailed lump-sum cost estimates per work package / activity), description of co-funding and leveraged investment, declaration of in-kind contributions where applicable; 5) Data management plan summary (FAIR) and IP management/exploitation plan; 6) Letters of support/commitment from industry, clinical partners and supply-chain stakeholders and any JRC engagement indication. Follow the template fields exactly as in the Portal submission system.

Selection and Post-Award Management

After evaluation and award, the lump-sum Grant Agreement (Lump Sum MGA for Horizon) will be prepared. Beneficiaries must adhere to Grant Agreement terms, reporting obligations (continuous reporting deliverables and final report), and record-keeping obligations set by Horizon/Euratom. For lump-sum grants the accounting and checks procedures specified in the lump-sum decision and the HE General Annexes apply. Project monitoring will include deliverables, milestones and potential on-site checks; the granting authority reserves rights for audits, reviews and investigations. If JRC participates, JRC bears operational costs for its staff and infrastructures.

How to prepare a competitive proposal — Practical checklist

1. 1Ensure the consortium covers isotope production, enrichment/sourcing, radiochemistry, industrial scale-up, regulatory expertise and clinical/radiopharmaceutical stakeholders.
2. 2Demonstrate feasibility of the production route and pilot-scale demonstration plans with clear TRL targets and timeline (TRL 5-7 indicative).
3. 3Provide a detailed lump-sum budget justification aligned with Part B requirements and lump-sum guidance.
4. 4Include risk assessment and supply-chain diversification plan with contingency measures.
5. 5Provide exploitation and commercialisation plan linking production capacity to clinical manufacturing and market adoption.
6. 6Address environmental footprint, safety and regulatory pathways (GMP) in detail.
7. 7Use JRC services where relevant and obtain letters of support / confirmation of involvement where possible.
8. 8Plan stakeholder engagement across clinicians, industry, policy makers, and patient groups; present training and workforce development measures.
9. 9Follow the Application Form format exactly and use the official templates and Part B limits; upload all mandatory annexes and supporting documents.

Summary: What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This Horizon/Euratom topic funds an Innovation Action to establish secure, sustainable and industrial-scale European production of rare stable isotopes essential for novel nuclear medicine therapies. The immediate priority is to reduce EU dependence on specific foreign suppliers (notably for Yb-176) that serve as precursors to critical therapeutic radionuclides (e.g. Lu-177) and to expand domestic capacity for other stable isotopes needed for emerging alpha and beta therapy isotopes (e.g. Gd for Tb isotopes). The funded project must focus on near-market activities (prototyping, demonstration, piloting and scaling up), with limited R&D allowed where it directly supports industrialisation. The consortium should demonstrate technological feasibility, pilot-scale delivery, regulatory and quality control readiness for clinical radiopharmaceutical manufacture, supply-chain resilience measures, and pathways to market and clinical integration. The Lump Sum grant modality is used; applicants must follow Horizon lump-sum guidance and the submission templates available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Collaboration with JRC is recommended where appropriate.

Footnotes

1. 1Topic reference: HORIZON-EURATOM — ‘‘Towards a European production of stable isotopes for novel nuclear medicine therapies (SAMIRA/ERVI)’’ on the European Commission Funding & Tenders Portal. Primary portal topic page and documentation, and Horizon general annexes, contain details on application templates, lump-sum decision and guidance, JRC participation and specific topic conditions: ec.europa.eu

Opportunity Overview

This call under the Horizon Europe Euratom Research and Training Programme HORIZON-EURATOM supports the development of EU-based production of stable isotopes essential for manufacturing radionuclides used in novel nuclear medicine therapies. It addresses strategic vulnerabilities in the EU supply chain, particularly reliance on Russia for isotopes like Yb-176, crucial for Lu-177-based therapies treating prostate cancer and neuroendocrine tumours. The initiative aligns with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan and the SAMIRA Strategic Agenda for Medical Ionising Radiation Applications, aiming to enhance supply chain resilience, reduce third-country dependence, and leverage nuclear expertise for scalable production processes.

Key Objectives and Expected Outcomes

• Support EU production of stable isotopes (e.g., Yb-176 for Lu-177, Gadolinium for Terbium isotopes) vital for targeted radionuclide therapies.
• Strengthen resilience of the medical radioisotope supply chain through access to source materials and industrial-scale production.
• Optimise production processes using nuclear scientists, physicists, and engineers.
• Contribute to diversified therapeutic radioisotopes and theragnostic pairs for personalised nuclear medicine.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Open to legal entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Consortia are required, with any number of beneficiaries allowed. International organisations, third countries (with restrictions), and profit/non-profit entities eligible per standard Horizon Europe rules (see General Annexes). The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate, bearing its own costs; consortia are recommended to use JRC services where appropriate (facilities listed in General Annex H). Unrestricted call with no specific minimum consortium size.

Associated Partners, Subcontracting and Financial Support to Third Parties

• Associated partners allowed (no EU funding).
• Subcontracting permitted (must be in line with proper implementation).
• Financial support to third parties possible if foreseen in proposal.

Funding Details

Type of Action:HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA) - Lump sum funding.

Total Budget:€2 million (€1 million in 2026, €1 million in 2027).¹

Expected Number of Grants:1 grant.

Maximum Grant Amount per Project:€2 million (minimum and maximum contribution both €2 million).¹

Funding Rate:100% of eligible costs (lump sum model as per Horizon Europe simplified costs decision).²

Duration and Timeline

Projects focus on closer-to-market activities:prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, scaling up (TRL 5-7 indicative). Limited R&D allowed.

Application Process and Requirements

1. 1Register in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and validate PIC.
2. 2Prepare proposal using Submission System templates (Part A: administrative; Part B: technical, page limits per General Annex B).
3. 3Single-stage submission via EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
4. 4Evaluation criteria: Excellence (clarity/ambition of objectives, methodology), Impact (pathways to outcomes), Quality/efficiency of implementation (work plan, consortium capacity).
5. 5Consortium agreement recommended.
6. 6Ethics self-assessment required; no human embryo/stem cell issues expected.

Strategic Context and Additional Information

Part of the SAMIRA Action Plan and European Radioisotope Valley Initiative (ERVI), addressing REPowerEU concerns over Russian imports. Complements projects like SECURE (target design/production routes). Supports Europe's leadership in medical radioisotopes, fostering industry partnerships, innovation, and economic growth in nuclear medicine value chain.

Key Risks Addressed:Supply disruptions for Yb-176 and other precursors; geopolitical dependencies.

Applicants should demonstrate interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement (industry, policymakers, healthcare), and alignment with clinical/commercial needs. Consult Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Online Manual, and National Contact Points for support.

Footnotes

1. 1Budget details from official topic page on EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
2. 2Lump sum as per Commission Decision authorising simplified costs: Lump Sum Decision.