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On 29 September, the EC has published version 1.1 of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027. The update brings no major overhaul, but it does include several changes that matter if you are preparing a proposal for the 2027 calls: new opening dates, shifted budgets, a new topic, stricter eligibility rules and a postponed space call. Here is what you need to know.
The most visible change is the departure of quantum technologies. Following the extension of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking's mandate to quantum, three 2026 quantum topics have been cancelled and the planned quantum grant agreements have been removed.
In all 2027 topics where participation is restricted for strategic reasons, entities controlled from China can no longer obtain an exception through guarantees. This replaces the earlier rule targeting high-risk telecom suppliers. One manufacturing Innovation Action now excludes China-controlled entities altogether. Check your consortium composition early.
The Commission introduces a "partial randomisation" pilot in two topics: Proof of market and an AI topic on human/AI collaboration. Where proposals score almost equally, part of the selection will be made by random draw.
All 2027 Industry calls now open on 13 October 2026 instead of 22 September. The submission deadlines stay the same: 2 February 2027, and 2 September 2027 for the second stage.
Budgets shift slightly. The "Proof of market" topic gets a little less, and a new support action is added on venture builders in universities and research organisations (€1 million).
One two-stage topic on energy in the process industries changes from a Research and Innovation Action to an Innovation Action, which means a lower funding rate for companies.
The 2027 Digital calls keep their dates (opening 17 November 2026, deadline 18 March 2027) and budgets. The topic on energy-efficient AI data centres has been reworked. It now aims to fund four projects of €9-10 million each, all intended to set up open pilot sites.
The ISOS4I in-orbit servicing topic grows from about €1 million to almost €4 million. The two topics on critical space components and equipment move to a new call with a deadline of 20 January 2028. They come with much larger project sizes, but no budget has been confirmed yet. The EUSPA call on Galileo and Copernicus for preparedness is also postponed by one year.
If you are applying for a 2027 topic, re-read the final text of your topic in version 1.1. Pay particular attention to budgets, eligibility conditions and evaluation rules.
A detailed overview of all changes (automated analysis with AI) is attached to this article.
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