Horizon Europe work programme 2025: new funding opportunities for universities

Universities had been anticipating the programme’s release, following a delay caused by the transition to the European Commission’s new leadership in 2024.

The 2025 work programme outlines calls under the main parts of Horizon Europe, excluding the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC), both of which have their own, separate work programmes. It introduces a clear shift in orientation towards competitiveness, while continuing to support scientific excellence and societal impact.

In 2025, Horizon Europe will invest €7.3 billion to advance research and innovation across Europe. A substantial share of this budget is dedicated to accelerating the EU’s green and digital transitions and enhancing Europe’s global competitiveness. At least 35% of the total funding will support climate-related objectives, and 8.8% will contribute to biodiversity goals, in line with the EU’s climate neutrality targets. Specific allocations include €1.14 billion for climate, energy and transport, and €833 million for food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. To support the digital transition, an estimated 36% of Horizon Europe funding will target digital priorities, with approximately €1.6 billion invested in the development and deployment of artificial intelligence.

Key opportunities for universities:

• Pillar I – Excellent Science:
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): Continued support for doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, promoting researcher mobility and skills development. The 2025 update includes enhanced support for researchers affected by war and displacement, notably through the MSCA4Ukraine initiative. It also launches a new ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot, offering more attractive allowances and longer contracts for early-career researchers. This is part of a broader €500 million package under the ‘Choose Europe’ initiative aimed at making Europe more attractive for top scientific talent.
  • Research Infrastructures: Funding to strengthen and connect European research infrastructure capacities.
• Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: New calls will be open across six thematic clusters, offering collaborative opportunities in fields such as health, digital technologies, climate action and sustainable food systems. The work programme also introduces several new co-funded and institutionalised partnerships.
• EU Missions and New European Bauhaus Facility: Dedicated calls in key societal areas such as cancer, climate adaptation, urban sustainability, and soil health, alongside initiatives linking sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion.
• European Innovation Ecosystems (under Pillar III): Initiatives to foster interconnected, inclusive, and diverse innovation environments across regions and sectors.
• Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (ERA): Support measures to improve access to funding and capacity building in countries with lower R&I performance, alongside actions to reform and strengthen R&I systems across Europe.

The 2025 programme also includes efforts to simplify application processes, with wider use of lump-sum funding and expanded use of two-stage calls, aiming to reduce administrative burden for applicants.

All open and forthcoming calls are published in a dedicated Funding and Tenders Portal.