Horizon Europe 2026–2027

About the programme

Horizon Europe is the EU's research and innovation framework programme. The final 2026–2027 work programmes fund collaborative international research across health, culture, security, digital and industry, climate and energy, and food and environment, alongside the European Research Council, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and the European Innovation Council.

How it is organised

Horizon Europe is not a single grant. It contains thousands of distinct funding opportunities, organised in a strict hierarchy.

• Programme — Horizon Europe 2026–2027 — the whole framework and its rules.
• Pillar — The thematic clusters sit in Pillar II (Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness).
• Cluster — Six thematic clusters. Example: Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
• Call — A group of topics opening together with shared rules. Example: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01.
• Topic — The actual apply-unit carries its own ID, deadline, budget and action type. Example: HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-BIODIV-06.

Clusters

• Cluster 1 - Health
• Cluster 2 - Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
• Cluster 3 - Civil security for society
• Cluster 4 - Digital, Industry and Space
• Cluster 5 - Climate, Energy and Mobility
• Cluster 6 - Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Eligibility for University of Malawi staff

Malawi is on the EU's list of low-income countries and is therefore automatically eligible for funding when a Malawian entity joins a Horizon Europe consortium. The minimum consortium (“3-from-3”) requires at least three independent entities — at least one in an EU Member State and two more each in a different Member State or Associated Country. UNIMA participates as an additional funded partner and does not normally act as coordinator.

Filter by Horizon Europe on the Funding calls page to list all relevant topics under the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Programme.