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
ERA Chairs and Research Managers — ERA Research Managers
Opens 6 Apr 2027
The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 30 awards of €1.5 million – €2.5 million each, from a total budget of €65 million. Applications close on 14 Sep 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 Sep 2027 (in 303 days)
- Opens
- 6 Apr 2027
- Grant amount
- €1.5 million – €2.5 million per project
- Total budget
- €65 million
- Funding rate
- 100% of eligible costs Standard rule for this programme; the call can differ.
- Total budget
- €65 million
- Expected awards
- 30
- Type of action
- HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions · HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based
- 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-WIDERA-2027-02-WIDENING-02
- Call
- HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-02
- Last checked
- 14 Nov 2026
Expected outcome
Excellent capacities in research management are essential for institutions and national R&I systems to capitalize on their R&I activities. ERA Research Managers aim to attract experienced research managers to universities, research organisations or research infrastructures in Widening countries, establishing or upgrading institutional capacities for research management, fostering brain circulation and creating pockets of excellence that enhance institutional culture and performance.
Research management capacities are crucial for research-performing institutions as they increase efficiency, competitiveness, and impact, thereby enhancing research excellence. Strong research management ensures effective grant acquisition, resource allocation, compliance with funding regulations, and strategic planning. It supports high-quality research by streamlining administrative processes, facilitating collaborations, and optimizing the use of research infrastructure.
Read the full text
The ERA Research Manager’s leadership and the establishment of a permanent, high-quality research management group will boost excellence, visibility, and integration within the ERA, improving competitiveness in research funding and promoting institutional reforms aligned with ERA priorities.
Projects are expected to contribute to some of the following outcomes:
At system level:
• Increased international, interdisciplinary, and intersectoral mobility of research management talent towards Widening countries;
• Institutional reforms in research institutions and national R&I systems;
• Strengthened human capital with more entrepreneurial and well-trained research managers;
• Better communication of R&I results to society;
• Enhanced research capacity, competitiveness, and economic growth.
At organisation level:
• Strengthened research management capacities;
• Increased attractiveness to top international research managers, and subsequently researchers;
• Establishment of a lasting, high-performing research management group with institutional benefits;
• Improving the institution’s global visibility and success in securing competitive funding;
• Promote best practices in agreed ERA priorities such as ethics, open science and data, gender equality, thus strengthening the institution’s overall research ecosystem:
Scope
Research organisations in Widening countries seeking to establish an ERA Research Manager should submit a proposal aimed at establishing or upgrading research management capacities in the institution and ensuring that the conditions are in place to foster excellent research management aligned with ERA priorities. The research institution will act as the sole applicant (mono-beneficiary), and the ERA Research Manager may be from any country but may not already have a contractual relationship with the research institution.
Proposals should include a Curriculum Vitae (CV) in Europass form [1] of the prospective ERA Research Manager, detailing their proposed managerial and technical contributions to the coordinating institution. The CV should be uploaded as an Annex to the proposal.
Proposals should include a self-assessment of the beneficiary’s existing institutional capacities and its needs in research management and administration. An implementation strategy should be designed to enhance the existing institutional capacities, with targeted actions and trainings. This strategy may be continuously adapted throughout the project duration. This plan will include all necessary measures to introduce institutional changes in research management. These measures should be realistic and feasible within the duration of the project. Proposals should also describe any alternative/additional/other relevant investments in research management capacity building, projects, staffing, facilities and infrastructures and how those will be achieved.
Read the full text
ERA Research Managers should be excellent research managers with international experience [2] . The ERA Research Manager will establish/expand a research management team fully integrated in the coordinator's institution to significantly improve its overall performance in research management and R&I. The team’s recruitment will be led by an international panel chaired by the ERA Research Manager and must follow an open, transparent and merit-based process. The ERA Research Manager should hold a position within the organisation, allowing resource allocation, supervision, and funding applications. Teaching duties may be included where appropriate.
The ERA Research Manager may relocate permanently or temporarily to the coordinating institution, with secondments, sabbaticals, or part-time arrangements also being possible. A minimum 50% full-time equivalent (FTE) commitment, including on-site presence, must be ensured, at least until the appointment of a research management leader on a permanent basis. A description of the transition phase between the research management leader and the ERA Research Manager should be provided in the proposal, explaining also their share of tasks and their role in the remaining years of the project, in case the appointed research management leader is not the ERA Research Manager. All contractual arrangements, time commitment and the timeline of the ERA Research Manager’s on-site presence at the…
Who can apply
Single applicant (one organisation applies alone) (as stated in the topic). Country restriction: participation as coordinators to the call is limited to legal entities established in Widening countries, as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation.
Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.
Timing
Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-09-14. 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.
- This topic is for a single applicant: no consortium is needed (check the topic conditions for who qualifies).
- 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 September 2027 “Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-09-14. 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 | €65 million | official data field | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Funding rate | 100% of eligible costs | programme standard rule | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Who can apply | Single applicant (one organisation applies alone) (as stated in the topic). Country restriction: participation as coordinators to the call is limited to legal entities established in Widening countries, as defined in… | read from the official text | 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.
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