At a glance
- Calls:
- All open and forthcoming calls are now published through to December 2027.
- Opportunity type:
- Collaboration, grant funding
- Award:
- Most projects receive between €3 million and €10 million which is split across the consortium, with the largest projects offering up to €100 million. Funding can cover up to 100% of eligible costs, depending on the topic.
- Sectors:
- Biotechnology, chemistry, digital, electronics, energy, global, infrastructure, manufacturing, materials, robotics and artificial intelligence, sensors, sustainability, transport
Overview
Climate, Energy and Mobility is one of the 6 clusters within Horizon Europe’s Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.
It supports research and innovation that improves understanding of climate change and makes energy and transport systems cleaner, safer, more efficient and more resilient.
Projects often bring together organisations from research, industry, energy, transport, manufacturing, infrastructure, technology and the public sector.
What Cluster 5 funds
Cluster 5 funding is grouped into 6 main areas formally called Destinations:
Joint Undertakings for climate, energy and mobility sectors
Some sectors within the Climate, Energy and Mobility Cluster are addressed by Joint Undertakings that have been set up specifically to manage and deliver the below areas. Read more about them on their websites:
- Clean Hydrogen — The Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (JU) is a unique public private partnership supporting research and innovation (R&I) activities in hydrogen technologies in Europe.
- Clean Aviation — The Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking is the European Union’s leading research and innovation programme for transforming aviation towards a sustainable and climate-neutral future. It is a European public-private partnership.
- SESAR — SESAR is the technological pillar of the EU’s Single European Sky policy and a key enabler of the European Commission’s Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. SESAR defines, develops and deploys technologies to transform air traffic management in Europe.
- Europe’s Rail — Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking (EU-Rail) is the European partnership on rail research and innovation established under the Horizon Europe programme (2021–2027).
All calls for proposals are published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal in the same way as other Horizon Europe opportunities. UK participants can apply and receive funding, provided they meet any specific requirements in the topic description.
Who this is for
Cluster 5 funding is mainly for organisations working together in international consortia.
It may be relevant for:
- universities and research organisations
- businesses, start-ups and SMEs
- energy producers, suppliers and network operators
- transport operators and mobility providers
- automotive, aviation, and maritime organisations (Read more about all rail related research and innovation is managed by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking on their website)
- innovation is managed by the Europe’s Rail Joint Undertaking
- manufacturers and industrial organisations
- building, construction and infrastructure organisations
- local and national public authorities
- cities and regional organisations
- digital, data and artificial intelligence organisations
- environmental organisations and charities
- organisations working on climate policy, behaviour and social change
The partners and expertise needed will depend on the individual topic. Some calls may require industry leadership, public authority involvement, technology demonstration, infrastructure access or participation from end users and communities.
Many topics are linked to European partnerships covering areas such as batteries, clean transport, connected mobility, renewable energy and sustainable buildings.
Most calls are not intended for individuals applying alone.
Eligibility
Most Cluster 5 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, city or public authority participation
- end-user and community involvement
- technology readiness levels
- access to infrastructure, facilities or data
- links to European partnerships
- international cooperation
- social sciences and humanities expertise
- the type of action and funding rate
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 5 Work Programme 2026–2027 (PDF) and the relevant call topic for the latest priorities, eligibility rules, budgets and deadlines.
- Read the Horizon Europe Climate, Energy and Mobility 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 Climate, Energy or Mobility 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.