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Horizon Europe · European Union

The effective use of artificial intelligence in learning environments in pre-primary and primary education

Opens 13 May 2027

The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 3 awards of €3 million – €4 million each, from a total budget of €12 million. Applications close on 23 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
23 Sep 2027 (in 312 days)
Opens
13 May 2027
Grant amount
€3 million – €4 million per project
Total budget
€12 million
Funding rate
100% of eligible costs Standard rule for this programme; the call can differ.
Total budget
€12 million
Expected awards
3
Type of action
HORIZON Research and 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-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-05
Call
HORIZON-CL2-2027-01
Last checked
14 Nov 2026

Open the official call ↗ Add deadline to calendar

Expected outcome

Projects should contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:

• Provide policymakers and educators and parents with a solid understanding of the potential benefits, opportunities and challenges stemming from the use of artificial intelligence tools in learning environments in pre-primary and primary education, including with regard to their ethical dimension.

• Generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence on the impact of use of artificial intelligence tools in learning environments on educational performance and youth well-being.

• Develop actionable advice to educators about how they can make an effective use of artificial intelligence tools in their work, including for the assessment of learning outcomes.

Scope

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in learning environments in pre-primary and primary education is rapidly growing. However, there is limited evidence on how AI can challenge and improve learning outcomes, enhance the teaching techniques and support the teaching profession and how automating administrative tasks helps teachers focus on pedagogy and teaching challenges. Most existing research is from extra-EU contexts, which significantly limits the transferability of findings to EU education and training systems and is often conducted on a limited number of participants and covering short-time spans, hindering the possibility of generalising its findings. Moreover, research on the implications of AI tools for equity and inclusion in education is lacking. There is also a need to better investigate the challenges that AI poses to teaching and learning as well as pupils’ well-being. AI is developed to increase human efficiency yet also comes with often unexpected risks and challenges, especially when being applied to child audiences.

Read the full text

The research (including through SSH disciplines) could explore how AI can enhance curricula, improve teaching methods, and personalise learning through adaptive technologies. It should also consider the developmental appropriateness of AI tools for young learners, focusing on cognitive, emotional, and social growth. Research on AI’s impact on early childhood education and its role in supporting foundational skills would be valuable. Additionally, the research should emphasise the aspect of teacher support, including how AI can assist with lesson planning, assessment, and feedback. It should also explore training programs to help educators use AI effectively. Finally, inclusivity and accessibility are key angles to consider, ensuring AI tools are suitable for all students, including those with disabilities or from diverse backgrounds, and promoting multilingual and multicultural education.

Longitudinal studies are also needed, as current research is fragmented and looking at the short term. Proposals should focus on the need to understand long-term cognitive, social, and emotional impacts, which requires sustained, multi-year investigations. Furthermore, the role of media and digital tools requires attention. Proposals should consider the devices and platforms through which children encounter AI (for example robots, tablets, smartphones etc) and how these shape interactions and learning outcomes.

Relevant research questions to address include:

• How can AI-powered tools personalise learning experiences safely and effectively and support teachers in addressing diverse student needs?

• What are the potential benefits and challenges of integrating AI into initial teacher education and continuous professional development programmes?

• How can AI assist teachers in automating administrative tasks, allowing them to focus more on pedagogy and student engagement?

• What ethical considerations and potential risks, including…

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.

Topics

Education, general (including training, pedagogy, didactics)

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-09-23. 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. 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.
  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

FactValueHow we knowTaken from the source
Deadline23 September 2027
“Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-09-23. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).”
official data field15 Nov 2026
Amount per applicantUnknown — not stated in the source we holdunknown—
Total budget€12 millionofficial data field15 Nov 2026
Funding rate100% of eligible costsprogramme standard rule15 Nov 2026
Who can applyConsortium 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 rule15 Nov 2026
Where to applyRead the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.read from the official text15 Nov 2026

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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