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
Skills for innovative SMEs
Opens 1 Dec 2026
The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 1 award of €30 million, from a total budget of €30 million. Applications close on 3 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.
- Deadline
- 3 Mar 2027 (in 108 days)
- Opens
- 1 Dec 2026
- Grant amount
- €30 million per project
- Funding rate
- 100% of eligible costs Standard rule for this programme; the call can differ.
- Total budget
- €30 million
- Expected awards
- 1
- Type of action
- HORIZON Coordination and Support 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-BRIDGING-2027-05-01
- Call
- HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-05
- Last checked
- 14 Nov 2026
Expected outcome
• Establishment of an SME support scheme through the Enterprise Europe Network, which delivers transnational skills-matching, recruitment support, and innovation management services to innovative SMEs across Europe.
• This support scheme has the following expected outcomes: Innovative SMEs have reduced labour and skill shortages through a transnational mobility scheme, which allows them to recruit and train highly skilled researchers from abroad;
• SMEs have improved innovation capacity to support research and innovation (R&I) projects and increased participation of highly skilled staff employed in R&I through recruitment and training;
• Researchers gain new knowledge and skills in industrial innovation and business management, through employment and training in innovative companies.
Scope
To facilitate the innovation to investment journey and boost competitiveness, the EU needs to promote skills and quality jobs and help SMEs strengthen their innovation potential, by addressing labour and skills shortages, as highlighted in the Competitiveness Compass for the EU. Europe faces a growing challenge in meeting the demand for skilled talent in strategic sectors like clean and circular technologies, energy, health, biotech, agriculture, bioeconomy, digital technologies, aerospace and civil security. The progressive loss of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, also known as the ‘leaky pipeline’, is further increasing these skills shortages. Nearly four in five SMEs say they cannot find the talent they need. The lack of access to skills, including the latest scientific knowledge and capacity to manage innovation processes effectively, have been identified as major barriers for innovation in SMEs, especially among start-ups and scale-ups.
Read the full text
In line with the 'Choose Europe for Science' initiative, this action is expected to set up a transnational mobility scheme to provide lump sum grants (via FSTP) to innovative SMEs who have experienced skill shortages and difficulty in recruiting innovation talent.
The action builds on the successful results of the ‘European SME innovation associate pilot’, which was launched in three consecutive calls under the Horizon 2020 work programmes 2016 – 2020. An evaluation study [1] of this pilot found that the grant was instrumental for most SMEs to recruit an innovation associate and that most supported SMEs were able to bring the results of their innovation projects to market. The insights from this earlier action should be reflected in any proposal. The action also complements Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA), by providing additional work opportunities for researchers/early-career professionals holding a PhD, including but not limited to those who completed the MSCA fellowship, and aim to gain further experience in the private sector. Existing structures, such as the European Universities alliances, may offer SMEs further access to trainings, resources, networks, facilities and infrastructures across Europe.
The selected consortium shall organise and manage the SME support scheme. In particular, the consortium is expected to:
• Ensure the sound design and implementation of the SME support scheme, including launching the call, eligibility checks, evaluations, and business support, where necessary.
• Promote the scheme to secure quality applications, monitor impact (including on skills development) and disseminate success stories of the innovation-to-investment journey.
• Provide support to funded SMEs for the transnational recruitment of researchers, including through the EURAXESS network and assistance with visa applications;
• Organise networking events and training on industrial innovation and business management, and promote cooperation among the community of…
Who can apply
A single organisation from an EU Member State or associated country can apply (Horizon Europe standard rule).
Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.
Timing
Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-03-03. 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 | 3 March 2027 “Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-03-03. 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 | €30 million | official data field | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Funding rate | 100% of eligible costs | programme standard rule | 15 Nov 2026 |
| Who can apply | A single organisation from an EU Member State or associated country can apply (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.
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