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Horizon Europe · European Union

Pillar II: Talent ecosystems for attractive early research careers

Opens 8 Dec 2026

The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 15 awards of €2 million each, from a total budget of €29 million. Applications close on 11 Mar 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.

Expected outcome

Proposals will deliver on the impact of “Improved research careers and mobility, based on the European framework for research careers, fostering knowledge flows and career interoperability across sectors and countries” [1] , contributing to the ERA Structural Policy “Making research careers more attractive and sustainable, and support mobility”. Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Creation of talent ecosystems [2] , as integrated networks where research performing public (including higher education institutions) and private organisations, in particular industrial actors and research-intensive businesses, have established close and coordinated cooperation, fostering among others the employability, skills, career development, mobility, career interoperability, and well-being of researchers and other R&I staff;

• Implementation of organisational changes by participating organisations to mainstream the principles of the European framework for research careers and of the European Charter for Researchers, resulting in researchers benefitting from attractive working and employment conditions and diversified career development opportunities, with spillover effects on other R&I staff;

Scope

The topic supports consortia in creating ‘talent ecosystems’, cohesive and interdependent systems, where a balanced composition of both education and training providers and employers of researchers, especially from the non-academic sector, cooperate closely to promote attractive and sustainable careers for researchers, in particular for early-career researchers, tailored to the needs of the research labour market. To facilitate the formation of a balanced consortium, the inclusion of associated partners is encouraged .

The consortium is also encouraged to extend the scope of the talent ecosystem by cooperating with additional organisations outside the consortium during the course of the action.

Applicants should in their proposal, clearly identify the thematic area they plan to address, choosing from the ones outlined below and specify the precise thematic scope within the selected area:

• Area 1. Clean Transition: Energy and transport

Who can apply

Consortium: at least three independent legal entities: Each established in a different Member State or Associated Country; and two of which are established in a Member State (as stated in the topic).

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-03-11. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).

How to apply

1. Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
2. Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
3. This topic is for a single applicant: no consortium is needed (check the topic conditions for who qualifies).
4. 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).
5. 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.

Read the EU application guide

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

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.

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