Horizon Europe European Union
Neutral-Atom Platform Technologies
This action aims to establish European leadership in neutral-atom quantum simulation and digital quantum computing by delivering: • Fully programmable industry-ready quan…
Horizon Europe · European Union
Autonomous vessels in short sea shipping and inland waterways
Opens 15 Dec 2026
The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 2 awards of €7.5 million each, from a total budget of €15 million. Applications close on 14 Apr 2027 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.
- Deadline
- 14 Apr 2027 (in 150 days)
- Opens
- 15 Dec 2026
- Grant amount
- €7.5 million per project
- Total budget
- €15 million
- Funding rate
- 70% for companies, 100% for non-profits Standard rule for this programme; the call can differ.
- Total budget
- €15 million
- Expected awards
- 2
- Type of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions · HORIZON Lump Sum Grant
- Likely applicant types
- Companies, SMEs / start-ups, Non-profits, Universities & research, Public bodies From source categories or programme rules; the call decides.
- Funder
- Horizon Europe (HORIZON)
- Reference
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-03-D5-16
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-03
- Last checked
- 14 Nov 2026
Expected outcome
Project outputs and results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
• Demonstration of remote-control operation of vessels without crew, controlled remotely (degree three [1] ).
• Development of concepts for fully autonomous ship where the operating system on the vessel is able to make decisions and determine actions by itself (degree four [2] ).
• Strengthen market confidence in the integration of remote and automated navigation in ship types and services that may see a shortage of workforce in the next decade.
• Contribute to the EU Port Strategy and the EU Industrial Waterborne Strategy, as well as the EU AI Continent Action Plan [3] and the upcoming EU Apply AI Strategy.
Scope
Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) have been the focus for several projects both with EU-funding and individual countries but a major breakthrough leading to extensive deployment and widespread commercial maturity are still not achieved. Autonomous vessels can offer safer and more efficient operations and cost savings. New skills and training needed for MASS is a critical issue to ensure safe operations.
Projects are expected to address all the following aspects:
• Demonstration of two different remotely controlled vessels without seafarers on board, considering the most promising areas of operation and types of ships towards market adoption. The demonstration should be performed in at least one short-sea shipping vessel.
• Demonstration of two different fully autonomous operation in at least one inland waterway vessel.
• Demonstrations and concept studies should address the whole navigation voyage, including port calling, mooring, and berthing, potential offshore charging solutions, and passing through locks in all weather conditions [4] .
Read the full text
• Demonstrations should also include aspects for predictive maintenance, self-diagnostic systems to ensure optimal functioning of the vessel’s equipment and structure
• Identify and address implementation bottlenecks for relevant ship types, such as data quality and lack of infrastructure related to waterborne transport. Map infrastructure and investment needs for extensive roll-out for automated ships operations
• Appropriate steps to ensure sufficient cyber risk management of the systems and infrastructure used when conducting trials [5] .
• Address standardization needs and possible safeguards to secure data-integrity and cyber security. Provide recommendations to the relevant regulatory bodies.
• Address the risk of unlawful data transfer to third-countries outside the borders of the EU/EEA and the impacts it could have on EU fleets.
• Integrate ongoing legal processes at EU level and at the IMO related to inland automated vessels and MASS i.e., MASS Code, Search&Rescue and Remote Operating Centres.
• Address safety considerations (using EMSA’s Risk Based Assessment Methodology) and upskilling of port and vessel operators.
• Assess the net carbon impact of autonomous vessels, taking into account the devices and data processing needed to operate them and potential emissions saved, and ensure no significant harm to biodiversity. If applicable, the calculation method to assess the net impact of digital solutions from the European Green Digital Coalition (EGDC) could be used.
• Projects should exceed outcomes of previous or on-going projects in relevant ship types.
• Model the economic viability of the developed solutions, considering initial investment, operational savings, maintenance costs, and potential financial incentives, to assess the economic feasibility while also facilitating decision-making in the design process. All while considering the societal aspects of future shortening…
Who can apply
Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule).
Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.
Timing
Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-04-14. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).
How to apply
- Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
- Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
- Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries (Horizon Europe standard rule; Türkiye is associated). Confirm in the topic conditions.
- Prepare Part A (administrative forms and budget, completed in the portal) and Part B (the technical description on the official template for this type of action).
- Submit in the portal before the cut-off time on the deadline day. Late submissions are not accepted.
From the call text
- Who can apply
- Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
- Company stage
- Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page
- Single applicant or consortium
- Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.
- Where applicants must be based
- Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.
- Where to apply
- Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.
Where these facts come from
| Fact | Value | How we know | Taken from the source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | 14 April 2027 “Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-04-14. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).” | official data field | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Amount per applicant | Unknown — not stated in the source we hold | unknown | — |
| Total budget | €15 million | official data field | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Funding rate | 70% for companies, 100% for non-profits | programme standard rule | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Who can apply | Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule). | programme standard rule | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Where to apply | Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route. | read from the official text | 15 Nov 2026 |
Official sources
Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.
More from Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe European Union
Next-Generation QKD Systems
This action will strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in quantum-secure communications by advancing core QKD technologies and integration capabilities. Expected results…
Horizon Europe European Union
Quantum Experimental Pilot Lines for Quantum Technologies
This action will strengthen Europe's leadership and strategic autonomy in quantum technologies by advancing experimental pilot line capacities as a vital stepping stone t…
Horizon Europe European Union
Quantum-Testing Infrastructure for Quantum Technologies
This action will establish a pan-European open-access testing and experimentation infrastructure for quantum technologies, enabling systematic validation and certificatio…
Horizon Europe European Union
Superconducting Platform Technologies
This action will consolidate Europe’s position in superconducting quantum computing through: • Establishment of a full-stack superconducting quantum computer aiming at 1.…