Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call/topic conditions, only legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in Horizon Europe actions provided that the consortium includes, as beneficiaries, three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:

• at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State;
• and at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries (this includes the UK).

Our European team can help you find eligible partners to form a consortium.

There may be further eligibility conditions for specific topics. Please check the Work Programme and contact our team to ensure your eligibility before applying.

The Info Day for Cluster 2 is on Thursday 26 March 2026, starting at 9.30am CET (8.30am UK time).

The online Community Platform, hosted by the network of National Contact Points for Cluster 2, the Net4SocietyHE project is dedicated to consortium building in Cluster 2: “Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society”. Following successful registration and activation of the profile, participants can pre-arrange bilateral meetings by a user-friendly matchmaking tool. Click here for detailed information and registration for brokerage tools.

Additionally, the Net4SocietyHE project will organise a Cluster 2 Brokerage Event in late May/beginning of June in Paris, France. This on-site only event will include an information session, pitch presentations of consortia in preparation, as well as the opportunity for bilateral meetings with partners interested in the same topics for the 2026 calls.

Activities contributing to the destination “Innovative Research on Democracy and Governance”, will provide knowledge, data and scientifically robust recommendations to reinvigorate and strengthen democratic governance, improve critical thinking and trust in democratic institutions. In the long-term, this will contribute to help safeguard fundamental rights to empower active and inclusive citizenship. Research will contribute to understanding current challenges and threats and mapping future pathways for innovative solutions to issues such as addressing the impact of AI and the digital transformation of democracy, reinforcing democratic resilience and civic preparedness and preserving the role of free and plural media as key tenets of democracy. Projects will develop a robust evidence base on which to build effective, relevant and sensible policies that bolster the resilience of democratic systems and protect them from threats, while contributing at the same time to rebuilding citizens’ trust in democracy, its institutions, and the sense of political participation in its widest possible sense.

Activities contributing to the destination “Innovative Research on the European Cultural Heritage and the Cultural and Creative Industries”, will support research and innovation to boost sustainable growth and job creation through the cultural and creative industries. They will contribute to Europe’s sustainable prosperity and competitiveness by boosting the innovation-driving role of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), and by focusing in areas such as creative startups, the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on creativity and CCIs and promoting a circular economy and global partnerships in cultural policies and CCIs. They will help supporting people and strengthen our societies and our social model by boosting the role of culture, the arts and creative industries for well-being, the social economy and society. R&I actions will explore and strengthen the role of culture, heritage and CCIs in shaping the technologies of the future and focus on safeguarding intangible heritage and linguistic diversity, on sustainable cultural tourism and on countering illicit trafficking of cultural goods, among others.

At the same time, through the destination “Innovative Research on Social and Economic Transformations”, actions will help tackle social, economic and political inequalities, support human capital development and contribute to a comprehensive European strategy for inclusive growth. Activities will improve the understanding of how technological, climate, economic and demographic changes impact society. They will inform the design of policies addressing existing and emerging challenges, harnessing new opportunities (particularly in the areas of employment, education, mental health and well-being) and contributing to reaching the objectives set out by the Action Plan of the European Pillar of Social Rights. A key focus of the activities will be to boost sustainability and inclusion, by supporting vulnerable groups and protecting individuals from discrimination (based on sex, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation).

Single-stage calls opening 12 May 2026, deadline 23 Sep 2026

• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-01: Tackling gender-based violence against politically active women and LGBTIQ people. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-02: Understanding the forms of local democracy in low-income and low-middle income countries. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-03: Government in transition – how governments change the way they work and prepare the civil service for the future. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 2 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-04: Sustainable paths to media viability. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-05: Research and Innovation Network for a Union of Equality. c.€4m-€4.5m for a single project.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-06: Governing global commons sustainably. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-07: Supporting post-conflict democracy and reconstruction. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-08: Electoral integrity in the digital context. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-09: Citizenship education as part of lifelong learning. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 4 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-10: Digital and media literacy as drivers for democratic and civic resilience. c.€3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-06: Safeguarding linguistic diversity in Europe. c.€5m-€5.75m per project for up to 2 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-07: Preventing and fighting illicit trafficking of cultural goods. c.€4.5m-€5m for a single project.

Single-stage calls opening 13 May 2027, deadline 23 Sep 2027

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-01: Advisory support and network for countering and preventing radicalisation, extremism, hate speech and polarisation. c. €3m-€3.5m for a single project.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-02: Women’s, LGBTIQ and minority rights in a context of autocracy, conflict and geopolitical shifts. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-03: Student and family engagement for developing a culture of democratic/civic participation. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-04: Addressing the impact of artificial intelligence, cyberviolence, and deepfakes on equality, democracy and inclusive societies. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 5 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-05: Development aid and democratic governance. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-06: Identifying user-focused solutions to support news media freedom. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-07: The role of private companies in democracy. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 2 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-DEMOCRACY-08: Global Human Rights and EU values. c. €3.5m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.

Two-stage topic, opening 2 Mar 2027, deadline 4 May 2027 (first stage), 30 Sep 2027 (second stage)

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09-two-stage: Open topic on reinvigorating and shielding European democracy. c.€2m-€3.7m per project for up to 6 projects.

Single-stage calls opening 12 May 2026, deadline 23 Sep 2026

• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-01: “Artistic intelligence” : harnessing the power of the arts to address complex challenges, enhance soft skills and boost innovation and competitiveness. c.€4.5m-€5m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-02: Boosting creative startups for disruptive innovation. c.€5m-€6m per project for up to 2 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-03: AI integration in CCSI work practice: catalysing innovation and competitiveness. c.€4m-€5m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-04: Towards a fair and transparent market for cultural and creative content in the era of generative AI. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-05: Creative alliances: Fostering global partnerships in cultural policies and CCI innovation. c. €3m-€3.75m per project for up to 4 projects. 

Single-stage calls opening 13 May 2027, deadline 23 Sep 2027

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-01: Towards a consolidated culture and creativity driven European innovation ecosystem. c. €4.5m-€5m for a single project.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-02: AI4Creatives Support Platform: embracing a fair AI revolution. c. €4.5m-€5m for a single project.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-03: Crafting routes to a circular economy. c. €3m-€3.5m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-04: Culture, heritage and creative industries for health and well-being. c. €3m-€4m per project for up to 4 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-05: Reimagining the creative economy: the interplay between the cultural and creative sectors and industries and the social economy. c. €3m-€3.5m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-06: Future-proofing sustainable cultural tourism. c. €4m-€4.8m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-07: Societal impact of cultural heritage. c. €2.5m-€3m per project for up to 5 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-HERITAGE-08: Safeguarding & transmission of intangible cultural heritage. c. €3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.

Two-stage topic, opening 2 Mar 2027, deadline 4 May 2027 (first stage), 30 Sep 2027 (second stage)

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-HERITAGE-09- two-stage: Open topic: Impact-driven research on realising the full potential of cultural heritage, arts and cultural and creative industries. c.€2m-€4m per project for up to 5 projects.

Single-stage calls opening 12 May 2026, deadline 23 Sep 2026

• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-02: Open topic: Strengthen Europe’s social model and sustainable competitiveness through productivity. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-03: Tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children’s access to Early Childhood Education and Care. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-04: The impact of the use of digital tools outside school and for communication on educational outcomes and mental health. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-05: Contribution of basic skills to productivity, innovation, competitiveness and economic growth. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-06: Making Europe a global magnet for talent – Attracting and retaining students, researchers and high-skilled workers from outside the EU. c.€3m-€3.3m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-07: Fostering competencies for the green transition. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-08: Strengthened implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and a focus on inclusion, integration, and health. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-09: Rethinking long-term care policy in the face of EU demographic shifts. c.€3.75m each for up to 4 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-10: Fostering cooperation and integration between SSH and STEM research and innovation in the EU. c. €3.5m for a single project.

Single-stage call opening 12 May 2026, deadline 13 Oct 2026

• HORIZON-CL2-2026-02-TRANSFO-01: Co-funded European Partnership for Social Transformations and Resilience. c. €60m for a single project.

Single-stage calls opening 13 May 2027, deadline 23 Sep 2027

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-01: Impact of access to nature-positive environments in promoting social cohesion and reducing inequalities in urban and peri-urban
  settings. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-02: Impact of in-kind benefits on income distribution and on vulnerable populations. c.€3m-€3.3m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-03: Rethinking sustainable competitiveness beyond traditional perspectives: role and contribution of the Social Economy. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-04: The impact of EU labour mobility on the Member States of the EU. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-05: The effective use of artificial intelligence in learning environments in pre-primary and primary education. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-06: Closing the learning gap: uncovering causes and effective policy interventions for declining youth skills in mathematics, reading, and science. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-07: Persons with disabilities: opportunities for labour inclusion and social protection through the life course. c.€3m-€4m per project for up to 3 projects.
• HORIZON-CL2-2027-01-TRANSFO-08: Scaling and deploying innovations in migration management. c.€3m-€3.75m per project for up to 4 projects.

Two-stage topic, opening 2 Mar 2027, deadline 4 May 2027 (first stage), 30 Sep 2027 (second stage)

• HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage: Improving socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia and informal caregivers. c.€3.2m per project for up to 5 projects.