At a glance
- Calls:
- 2026 calls open from March 2026 and close in June 2026. 2027 calls open from March 2027 and close in June 2027.
- Opportunity type:
- Funding for collaborative projects to support Research Infrastructures landscape.
- Award:
- Most projects receive between €1 million and €10 million, with the largest projects offering up to €40 million. Funding varies by call and topic.
- Sectors:
- Cross-sector, multidisciplinary, digital, global, sustainability, Research Infrastructure.
Overview
Research Infrastructures are part of Horizon Europe’s Pillar 1: Excellent Science.
Research Infrastructures are large scale facilities open to use by the wider research and innovation community, providing services and capabilities that could not be practically provided by a single institution. They can be single-sited, distributed or virtual.
Research Infrastructures cover a wide range of areas including:
- digital
- energy
- environment
- health and food
- physical sciences and engineering
- social sciences and humanities.
Research Infrastructures provide resources and services that research communities need to carry out research and support innovation.
Research Infrastructures can include:
- specialist facilities and scientific equipment
- collections, archives and research data
- computing systems and digital services
- communication and research networks
- other specialist resources open to external users.
Within the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructure Work Programme, the available funding supports the development, coordination and consolidation of the European Research Infrastructures landscape, as well as user access to Research Infrastructures. It also supports Open Science, skills development, international collaboration, and the development of new scientific technologies applicable to Research Infrastructures.
Who this is for
Funding is mainly for organisations working together in international consortia.
This can include:
- universities and research organisations
- research infrastructure and facility operators
- data and digital infrastructure providers
- public bodies
- businesses and SMEs
- technology providers
- research and education networks.
Involvement of certain types of pre-established Research Infrastructures may be expected in the proposals. Most opportunities are not intended for individual researchers or organisations applying alone. Consortia tend to be on the larger side, with an approximate average of 20 partners.
What this could help you do
Funding could help you:
- work with established European Research Infrastructures (ERIC, ESFRI Landmarks and Projects, other significant research infrastructures of European importance)
- develop or improve Research Infrastructures to be used by the community
- provide access to specialist facilities, data and services
- connect infrastructures and research communities across Europe
- support Open Science and FAIR data
- develop scientific instruments, tools and digital technologies
- strengthen skills and knowledge exchange
- improve environmental and financial sustainability
- increase collaboration between research infrastructures and industry.
Main funding areas
Calls in the Research Infrastructures Work Programme are grouped under destinations.
European research infrastructures: coordination, governance and access
Learn how European research infrastructures are developed and coordinated, how they are managed through shared legal structures, and how researchers can access facilities and services across borders.
European research infrastructure landscape
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) and European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs) are important parts of the wider European research infrastructure landscape.
Some funding topics may specifically refer to their involvement or require proposals to include particular types of European Research Infrastructures.
European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures
The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, known as ESFRI, sets strategic objectives for development of Research Infrastructures policy across Europe.
It identifies major infrastructure priorities, and develops the ESFRI Roadmap. This includes:
- ESFRI Projects are Research Infrastructures in their preparation phase, working towards entering an implementation phase
- ESFRI Landmarks are Research Infrastructures that have been successfully implemented or reached an advanced stage of implementation under the Roadmap.
Some Research Infrastructures calls may specifically refer to ESFRI Projects or Landmarks or infrastructures included in the ESFRI Roadmap. Check the individual topics for clarification of consortia eligibility requirements.
European Research Infrastructure Consortium
A European Research Infrastructure Consortium, known as an ERIC, is a legal structure for establishing and operating a research infrastructure of European interest.
ERICs enable countries and organisations to work together to operate shared research facilities, resources and services across Europe.
Some call topics may name ERICs, expect their participation, or require proposals to involve established European Research Infrastructures.
Transnational access to Research Infrastructures
Research Infrastructures funded by the RI Work Programme may also provide opportunities for individual researchers or research teams to apply for user access to these facilities in order to conduct their research, through the Transnational Access scheme (TNA). There are also opportunities for Virtual Access to some research infrastructures. This is a list of available ESFRI Projects currently providing Transnational and Virtual Access.
While the Transnational Access scheme is run outside of the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures Work Programme, it provides excellent opportunities for researchers to access Research Infrastructure capabilities in order to conduct their own research. It also provides a useful entry route for applicants to familiarise themselves with the wider Research Infrastructures landscape and potentially become involved in Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures consortia in future.
Eligibility
Most Research Infrastructures calls require an international consortium of partners.
Unless the topic states otherwise, the consortium usually needs at least 3 independent legal entities:
- at least one established in an EU Member State
- at least 2 others established in different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
While 3 consortium partners is the minimum formal eligibility requirement, the scale of a consortium will be dependent on the aims of an individual call.
The UK is associated to Horizon Europe, so UK organisations can usually participate under the same conditions as organisations from other associated countries.
Individual topics may include additional requirements relating to:
- the types of organisations involved
- specific research infrastructures or services
- ESFRI Projects or Landmarks
- ERICs or other pan-European infrastructures
- other international European research organisations
- access to facilities, data or digital services
- the countries or research communities represented.
Always check the eligibility conditions and scope of the individual topic before applying.
Relevant EU policies and strategies
Research Infrastructures projects funded through Horizon Europe need to align with relevant EU policies, strategies and priorities.
Demonstrating this alignment will strengthen the credibility and impact of your proposal. It is therefore advisable to always review the relevant policy framework for your chosen call topic and destination, maintain a reference library, and clearly show how your project will contribute to wider EU policy objectives.
On the European Commission website you will find useful references which may include:
Next steps and support
- Check the latest Research Infrastructures Work Programme and individual call conditions (PDF) for current eligibility rules, deadlines, budgets and funding information.
- Read the Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures guidance for more information on how to plan and prepare your proposal on their website.
- Build or join an eligible international consortium — find partners and build a consortium — and agree partner roles, activities, responsibilities and costs.
- For further guidance and support with your application contact your NCP for Research Infrastructures.
Registering for EU Login and a PIC
To apply for funding through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, you need an EU Login account. If you do not already have one, register for an EU Login account on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.
Your organisation also needs a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to be included as a participant in a funding application and to manage the grant if the application is successful. If your organisation does not yet have one, find out how to register your organisation and get a PIC on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.