At a glance
- Calls:
- Calls open from December 2025 onwards, with closing dates between March 2026 and September 2027.
- Opportunity type:
- Collaboration, funding
- Award:
- Most projects receive between €1 million and €10 million, with the largest projects offering up to €44 million. Funding varies by call and topic.
- Sectors:
- Design, digital, electronic components & systems, energy, geospatial, manufacturing, materials, minerals, textiles, construction, photonics, quantum, robotics and artificial intelligence, advanced communication technologies, compute, semiconductors, sensors, space, sustainability and circularity
Overview
Digital, Industry and Space is one of the 6 clusters within Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.
It supports the development of competitive and trusted technologies, more sustainable and resilient industries, and secure European capabilities in digital technologies, materials, minerals, manufacturing and space.
Projects often bring together organisations from research, industry, technology, manufacturing, space and the public sector.
What Cluster 4 funds
Cluster 4 funding is grouped into 5 main areas.
Who this is for
Cluster 4 funding is mainly for organisations working together in international consortia.
It may be relevant for:
- universities and research organisations
- businesses, start-ups and SMEs
- manufacturers and industrial organisations
- materials, chemicals and textiles companies
- mining, refining and processing organisations
- digital, data and artificial intelligence organisations
- robotics, automation and advanced computing organisations
- electronic components & systems, semiconductors, photonics and quantum
- technology organisations
- telecommunications and connectivity providers
- space businesses and research organisations
- Earth observation and geospatial organisations
- technology and testing infrastructure providers
- public authorities, regulators and standards organisations
The partners and expertise needed will depend on the individual topic. Some calls may require a combination of research, technology development, industrial production, demonstration and end-user involvement.
Many topics are linked to European partnerships or strategic digital, industrial or space priorities. Check whether the relevant call requires particular organisations, sectors or technologies to be represented.
Most calls are not intended for individuals applying alone.
Eligibility
Most Cluster 4 calls require an international consortium.
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
The UK is associated to Horizon Europe, so UK organisations can take part and receive funding as members of an eligible consortium.
Individual topics may include additional requirements relating to:
- the types of organisations involved
- industry or end-user participation
- technology readiness levels
- access to facilities, infrastructure or data
- links to European partnerships
- international cooperation
- security restrictions
- protection of European strategic interests
- the type of action and funding rate
Research and Innovation Actions and Coordination and Support Actions are usually funded at up to 100% of eligible costs. Innovation Actions are usually funded at up to 70%, although different rates may apply to some organisations (and in co-funded topics in some of the JU calls).
Always check the full topic conditions before applying.
European Partnerships
European Partnerships provide another way to access research and innovation funding linked to this cluster. They bring together the European Commission with national authorities, industry and other organisations to support shared research and innovation priorities.
Partnerships may offer funding opportunities through Horizon Europe calls or through calls and programmes managed by the partnerships themselves.
Next steps and support
- Read the Cluster 4 Work Programme 2026–2027 (PDF) and the relevant call topic for the latest priorities, eligibility rules, budgets and deadlines.
- Read the Horizon Europe Digital, Industry and Space 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.
- Contact the Digital, Industry and Space NCP for further guidance and support with your application.
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.