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NCP Flanders has extended the duration of its short satisfaction survey to gather valuable feedback and suggestions on the NCP services. The survey is fully anonymous and is open until 9 October 2026. It is organised into three sections: NCP Flanders assistance, info sessions, and NCP Flanders website & LinkedIn. If you are not familiar with one of these sections, the survey will automatically guide you to the next section. The NCP Flanders team would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to fill in the survey and provide your opinion via this link. If you would like to get in touch with NCP Flanders, please email info@ncpflanders.be
The updated version of the Horizon Europe Work Programme (HE WP) 2026-2027 Research Infrastructures (RI) was published on 29 September 2026 (available here). An overview of the changes compared to the previous version (1.0 with publication date 11 December 2025, available here) is the subject of this article. Bridging calls In the introduction reference is now made to the HE Horizontal Activities work programme (HA WP) which also includes call topics relevant to the areas covered in the RI work programme. The Bridging Actions 2027 call included in the HA WP aims to prepare the ground for the EU's next research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034, and its links with the future European Competitiveness Fund. The three call topics related to RI areas are: HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-03-04 Supporting the long-term resilience and European sovereignty of critical research data and knowledge repositories and scientific services for the life sciences HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-03-06 Access to research infrastructure services to enable R&I addressing industry needs in priority areas HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-03-07 Europe’s world-class research and technology infrastructures as strategic assets for talent to Choose Europe Call budget changes and new call topic The total call topic budget for HORIZON-INFRA-2027-DEV-01-01 Preparatory phase of new ESFRI research infrastructure projects has been reduced from €30 to €29 million. The expected EU contribution per project remains unchanged, between €1.5 and €3.5 million. The €1 million reduction was used to create a new action under the HA WP: HORIZON-RAISE-2027-01-04 Developing a model for a Data Lab for Science linking with EOSC and RAISE (RAISE pilot) (CSA). The total call topic budget for HORIZON-INFRA-2027-DEV-01-03 Consolidation of the research infrastructure landscape – individual support for evolution, long-term sustainability and emerging needs of pan-European research infrastructures has been reduced from €29.50 to €29.35 million. The expected EU contribution per project remains unchanged, between €3 and €4.5 million. A new Grant to Identified Beneficiary (GIB) of €0.15 million to support the organisation of the 25-year anniversary of the ESFRI conference under the Greek Presidency (1 July-31 December 2027) has been added. Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTP) clarified There have been amendments to the description to clarify the FSTP approach in two call topics under destination INFRASERV: HORIZON-INFRA-2027-SERV-01-01 Access to research infrastructures, their resources and services: large-scale pilots for a more integrated scheme across (sub)domains HORIZON-INFRA-2027-SERV-01-03 Connecting research infrastructures and a wider user community across the European Research Area through access to advanced research infrastructure services
The updated Horizon Europe Work Programme (HE WP) 2026-2027 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) was published on 29 September 2026 (available here). An overview of the changes compared to the previous version (1.0 with publication date 11 December 2025, available here) is outlined in this article. Choose Europe for Science initiative: additional funding for Postdoctoral Fellowships and Doctoral Networks In the General introduction of the HE WP and the main principles in the MSCA WP it is stated that as part of the Choose Europe for Science initiative, additional budget is being provided for MSCA in response to the significant increase in international demand for MSCA funding. The additional funding will increase the budget for the Postdoctoral Fellowships and the Doctoral Networks calls (2 times +€35 million in 2026; 2 times +€71 million in 2027). Furthermore minor increases for 2027 call budgets are implemented for COFUND (+€0.07 million), MSCA Choose Europe for Science (+€0.07 million), MSCA and Citizens (+€0.02m) and Staff Exchanges (+€0.11 million). Staff Exchanges 2027 call The call deadline has been brought forward by two days from 15 to 13 April 2027. Furthermore in line with Article 22(6) of the HE Regulation, a new eligibility restriction was added on participation of legal entities established in China if the proposed project concerns one or more of the 10 critical technology areas included in this Commission Recommendation. The verification of the eligibility against this condition will be done during the grant preparation phase. MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027 call For the MSCA Choose Europe for Science 2027 call the EU contribution limit per beneficiary doubled from €5 to €10 million. The reference to “monthly gross remuneration" has been replaced by “monthly gross salary (net salary + employee’s taxes and contributions)". As of this call, implementing partners must be established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. Lastly there are some changes in the wording of the impact evaluation criterion. Doctoral Networks, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Staff Exchanges and COFUND 2027 call evaluation Also for these calls there are some changes in the wording of the impact evaluation criterion (not applicable to COFUND). This part has been omitted: The magnitude and importance of the project’s contribution to the expected scientific, societal and economic impacts. In the priority order for ex aequo proposals the environmental considerations in line with the MSCA Green Charter has been deleted. RAISE Doctoral Networks In the part that summarises the main intervention areas (MSCA actions) additional reference has been made to the HE Horizontal Activities work programme part, which includes the RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science pilot (HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03) that provide specific support to networks with primary focus on the use of AI in science. Applications are to be submitted through the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call (deadline 24 November 2026).
The updated Horizon Europe Work Programme (HE WP) 2026-2027 Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) was published on 29 September 2026 (available here). An overview of the changes compared to the previous version (1.0 with publication date 11 December 2025, available here) in the Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) by reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system part is described in this article. Changes to call topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-02 Under Destination: Reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system the call topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-02 Pillar II: Talent ecosystems for attractive early research careers has undergone a number of changes. The expected EU contribution per project has been changed from €2 to €4 million to around 2 million. The indicative number of projects expected to be funded has increased from 12 to 15. In the expected outcome of the call topic, an example of a talent ecosystem has been added: it for instance could consist of a long-lasting cooperation between a cluster of companies in a certain sector and one or more academic institutions, enabling specific skills training of early-career researchers in cooperation with the companies, and facilitating talent circulation. In the scope, the main changes are the request that applicants should identify the thematic area they plan to address. Five thematic areas have been indicated: 1) Clean Transition: Energy and transport; 2) Health; 3) Biotech, agriculture and bioeconomy; 4) Digital and AI technologies; 5) Space. Another addition to the scope to ensure that activities reinforce rather than duplicate existing European-level support is that activities should demonstrate how actions will build on, connect to, make use of, promote and, where appropriate, help improve relevant ERA Talent Platform initiatives, including, EURAXESS, RESAVER, ReICO, ResearchComp and RM Comp. Furthermore, this entails structured cooperation with the already existing pilot projects funded under HORIZON-WIDERA-2024-ERA-02-03 (link to CORDIS) and the projects that are expected to be funded under this call. The evaluation procedure as described in General Annex F will be followed with the following added exceptions: To ensure a balanced portfolio covering different thematic areas, as outlined in the scope, grants are expected to be awarded to proposals not only in order of ranking, but at least also to proposals that are the highest ranked within each thematic area, provided that proposals pass all thresholds. Gender Equality Competence Facility Another change concerns bringing the Framework Contract period forward by a year for the Gender Equality Competence Facility, from 2028–2031 to 2027–2030. The indicative timetable was brought forward from Q3 to Q2.
DG Research & Innovation of the European Commission developed this guidance as part of the ERA Policy Agenda 2025–2027 and its structural policy "Upscaling knowledge valorisation capacities and activities". Knowledge valorisation is distinct from dissemination — the public disclosure of results — and from impact, which describes the change that research produces in the world. Valorisation is the deliberate activity that connects the two: transforming data, know-how, and research outputs into products, services, solutions, and knowledge-based policies that generate social and economic value. Multidisciplinary research including Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) offers valuable solutions for addressing Europe's societal challenges. By integrating knowledge across disciplines and sectors, it can provide new policy perspectives, human-centred innovations, and business ideas. However, its potential is not always translated into broader societal, economic, and political value, and uptake needs to be accelerated. The guidance is designed to help R&I projects create greater value from multidisciplinary results, including those involving Social Sciences and Humanities. It is based on a comprehensive analysis of existing best practices and offers 10 practical pathways – from research to human-centred technology, participatory innovation, entrepreneurship, organisational change, evidence-informed policy and more.
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Funded under Horizon Europe (HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01-03) and running from 2025 to 2028, UrbanAIR develops advanced digital twins that simulate the interactions between urban climate, human behaviour, and policy choices. These models enable cities to explore what-if scenarios, such as new green infrastructure, mobility measures or building designs, and assess their impacts on health, safety and social equity. The project consortium consists of 18 partners from 11 countries. Read more about the project and the contribution of Flemish partner Vito in this testimonial.
