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