Unlocking the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, SMEs and startups (CSA)

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42 aims to unlock the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, startups, and SMEs. It addresses the innovation paradox, where significant public research investments are not being effectively utilized by the European industry. The total budget for this call is €2,000,000, with two grants of €1,000,000 each expected to be awarded. Funding is provided in the form of lump sum grants.

Eligible applicants include universities and public research organizations, SMEs, startups, spinoffs, and industry partners, which may collaborate as single or consortia applicants. The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and associated countries. Proposals focus on enhancing the valorization of existing research, particularly dormant intellectual properties, and facilitating the adoption of green and digital technologies.

The objective is to encourage the development of innovative models and tools for easier intellectual property access, increase engagement from students and researchers in the valorization processes, and implement AI systems for effectively managing intellectual assets. The call promotes entrepreneurship and demands strategies focusing on gender balance and diversity in knowledge valorization.

The application process is single-stage, with a deadline set for February 2, 2027. The initiative encourages synergy with other EU-funded projects and involves cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Legal entities established in China are not eligible for participation in certain actions under this call. Overall, the initiative underlines a commitment to achieving technological leadership in Europe while encouraging sustainable practices and innovation.

This is a summary of several Horizon Europe funding opportunities related to materials and production, as well as a specific call for proposals focused on unlocking the potential of academic intellectual assets.

The first part details general conditions applicable to Horizon Europe grants, including:

1. Admissibility Conditions: This refers to the proposal's page limit and layout requirements. Detailed information can be found in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, as well as in Part B of the Application Form within the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries: Eligibility is outlined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding their participants, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions: These are also described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Details are in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: These are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes: These are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: This is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants: The granting authority retains the right to object to ownership transfers or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years after the action's end, as per Annex 5. Eligible costs will be in the form of a lump sum, as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. Detailed information on lump sums can be found in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes and the provided link.

The second part lists specific conditions and documents:

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including a standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates will be used with necessary adaptations, including a standard evaluation form (HE CSA).

Guidance documents include: HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, Framework Partnership Agreement FPA, Call-specific instructions, Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Information on clinical studies (HE), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, 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.

Partner search announcements: LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The submission system is planned to open on the date stated on the topic header.

Additional support resources include: Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk, The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment, and Partner Search.

The third part details several Horizon Europe calls for proposals under the INDUSTRY call (HORIZON-CL4-2027-01) with a planned opening date of 22 September 2026 and a deadline of 02 February 2027. All calls are single-stage.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-02: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a total budget of EUR 36,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 6,000,000 to EUR 8,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 6.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-03: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a total budget of EUR 36,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 6,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 6.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-06: HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) with a total budget of EUR 36,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 5,000,000 to EUR 6,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 7.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-08: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a total budget of EUR 16,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 4,000,000 to EUR 6,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 3.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-16: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a total budget of EUR 49,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 10,000,000 to EUR 12,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 4.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-17: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a total budget of EUR 3,000,000. The contribution is around EUR 3,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 1.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-22: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a total budget of EUR 36,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 6,000,000 to EUR 7,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 6.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a total budget of EUR 2,000,000. The contribution is around EUR 1,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 2.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47: HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a total budget of EUR 5,000,000. Contributions range from EUR 1,500,000 to EUR 2,500,000, and the indicative number of grants is 2.

HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49: HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) with a total budget of EUR 5,000,000. The contribution is around EUR 2,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 25.

The fourth part details a specific call for proposals: HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42 - Unlocking the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, SMEs and startups (CSA).

The programme is Horizon Europe (HORIZON) under the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2027-01) call. The type of action is HORIZON-CSA (HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). It is a forthcoming call with a single-stage deadline. The planned opening date is 22 September 2026, and the deadline is 02 February 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this call are:

Enhanced valorisation of intellectual assets, including dormant patents, from universities and public research organisations to support the adoption of green and digital technologies by industry, SMEs and start-ups/spinoffs.

Development of entrepreneurial skills and increased involvement of students, researchers, and innovators in the valorisation of research results.

Uptake of effective models and tools to facilitate valorisation of unused IP and intellectual assets and access by startups, SMEs, and innovative companies to this untapped knowledge in public research organisations.

The scope of this call is aligned with the European Union's policy priorities and aims to overcome the innovation paradox by maximizing the impact of public spending in R&I through improved knowledge valorisation practices. It focuses on facilitating the uptake of green and digital technologies by start-ups, spinoffs, and innovative SMEs by unlocking the untapped potential of intellectual assets within universities and public research organisations. It also seeks to leverage the creativity of students, researchers, and innovators to improve value creation opportunities and bolster the competitiveness of European industry.

The action should explore strategies and implement pilots for actively involving students and researchers (including those in social sciences and humanities) in valorising academic IP and intellectual assets. These should include hackathons, workshops and larger-scale “summer camp” programmes, and foresee the involvement of interested industry partners than can be potential adopters.

The action should also identify and test models and tools for easier IP access and utilisation by startups and SMEs. These should cover innovative licensing and other valorisation approaches, especially tackling the issue of unused academic patents, as well as the use of AI to manage and valorise research results and IP.

Proposals should consider how to exploit synergies with other EU-funded projects covering intellectual assets management, entrepreneurship, and AI for knowledge valorisation. They should also pay particular attention to reducing the gender gap and promoting diversity in knowledge valorisation, and include dedicated measures to foster gender balance and inclusiveness in this field.

This call falls under the destination of "Achieving technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals and innovative materials (2026-27)". This destination aims to bring together research and innovation for a globally competitive European industry through the twin green and digital transition, and the availability, development, use, reuse and disposal of chemicals, advanced materials and critical raw materials.

The Competitiveness Compass announces initiatives that should be served directly by industry-linked activities in Cluster 4, through new, focused R&I activities, but also through the activities supported up to now: Clean Industrial Deal adopted in February 2025; Critical Raw Materials Act; Advanced Materials Communication and future Advanced Materials Act planned for 2026; Future Circular Economy Act planned for 2026; Steel and Metals Action Plan adopted in March 2025; European Chemicals Industry Action Plan adopted in July 2025; Industrial action plan for the European automotive sector adopted in March 2025; and Strategy on research and technology infrastructures, with regard to technology infrastructures and the valorisation of knowledge.

This Work Programme part adopts a more integrated approach to translate policy priorities into actions, integrate the latest inputs from partnerships, and achieve synergies. The headings used under the two industry-focused destinations in previous work programmes are replaced by new headings making strongly interconnected contributions to the corresponding expected impacts in the Strategic Plan 2025-27, on green and digital transition and on autonomy in raw and advanced materials.

The new approach takes into account R&I investments under previous work programmes and intends to introduce more synergies with other pillars (notably the European Innovation Council under Pillar III) as well as with Cluster 5. Topics in this Work Programme increasingly combine the priorities of different partnerships to enable synergies, e.g. with the Investment fund, while continuing to address the particularities of each partnership. The development of new and cross-cutting technologies will help transform existing value chains and create new ones.

Cluster 4 participates in a horizontal Clean Industrial Deal Call, aiming to increase the competitiveness and decarbonisation of industry. The initiative will allow Horizon Europe beneficiaries to feed the EU deployment pipeline with R&I solutions close to market uptake and deployment, whilst also supporting the development by 2035 of a new batch of industry-led demonstrators designed for higher market readiness.

Manufacturing and energy-intensive industries need to embrace the circular economy as a key pillar in the design of their value chains. This will be fundamental to their resource efficiency (in terms of materials, energy and water). Particularly important in this context is the upcycling of secondary raw materials and waste; de- and re-manufacturing; and the development of sustainable and resource-efficient industrial processes

This Work Programme continues to promote across the calls the application of Safe and Sustainable by Design approach incorporating early and parallel considerations of innovation design choices on impacts on health, environment, climate and other sustainability parameters as a way of achieving stated policy objectives and fostering quick market uptake.

Where projects are asked to contribute to the development of safe and sustainable products, projects should take into account safety concerns for consumers as well as the organisational health and safety aspects for industrial workers.

This Work Programme includes support for technology infrastructures and valorisation of knowledge to support start-ups and scale-ups.

Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to enhance the valorisation of academic intellectual assets to support the adoption of green and digital technologies by industry, SMEs, and startups. It encourages the development of entrepreneurial skills, the involvement of students and researchers, and the uptake of effective models and tools for IP access and utilisation. The call is part of a broader effort to achieve technological leadership for Europe’s open strategic autonomy in raw materials, chemicals, and innovative materials, promoting a green and digital transition and a circular economy. It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a lump sum grant, and the deadline for submissions is February 2, 2027. The call encourages cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and excludes legal entities established in China from participating in certain types of actions.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include industry, SMEs, start-ups, spinoffs, universities, and public research organizations. The call specifically targets startups, spinoffs, and innovative SMEs for the uptake of green and digital technologies. The action also aims to involve students, researchers, and innovators, including those in social sciences and humanities, in the valorization process.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] mechanism. There are also HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) mentioned in the budget overview.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it mentions cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and encourages partner searches. The call also mentions legal entities and consortia will be called upon to cooperate with the relevant parts of the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries. The call refers to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for specific details on non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The target sectors are broad, encompassing industry, SMEs, startups, green technologies, digital technologies, intellectual asset management, entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence (AI), raw materials, chemicals, and innovative materials. The call is part of Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe, which focuses on digital, industry, and space. It also targets the twin green and digital transition, circular economy, and the competitiveness and decarbonisation of industry.

Mentioned Countries: China is explicitly mentioned as legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. The primary geographic focus is the European Union and associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage ranges from development to uptake, with an emphasis on enhancing valorisation practices and facilitating the adoption of existing green and digital technologies. The call aims to bridge the gap between research and commercialization, focusing on Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 6 and 7.

Funding Amount: The funding amount varies depending on the specific action type. For the HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42 topic, which is a HORIZON-CSA, the contribution is around €1,000,000. Other topics listed in the budget overview have different contribution ranges, from around €2,000,000 to €12,500,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process. The planned opening date is 22 September 2026, and the deadline for submission is 02 February 2027.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant. The call also emphasizes non-monetary services such as guidance, access to networks, and cooperation with the Joint Research Centre (JRC).

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight. For example, HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42 aims to award 2 grants.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, the emphasis on exploitation strategies and business cases suggests that applicants should consider how to secure further investments for deployment.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-42, aims to unlock the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, SMEs, and startups, particularly in the context of green and digital technologies. It seeks to enhance the valorization of intellectual property from universities and public research organizations, promote entrepreneurial skills, and facilitate access to unused IP for innovative companies. The call encourages projects that explore strategies, implement pilots, and identify models for easier IP access and utilization. It is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a lump sum grant, targeting EU member states and associated countries. The call is part of Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe, focusing on digital, industry, and space, and contributes to the broader goals of achieving technological leadership, promoting the green and digital transition, and fostering a circular economy. Legal entities from China are not eligible to participate in Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) under this destination. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of 02 February 2027.