This high-level information is intended to give a general overview of the eligibility rules for Horizon Europe, for a UK based applicant. It serves as a foundation every applicant must meet before diving into the more detailed, topic-specific requirements. It is designed as an indicative guide to help navigate the rules around Horizon Europe funding and organisations should always read the detailed call topic eligibility information.
General eligibility rules
The Horizon Europe general eligibility rules are specified in the Horizon Europe General Annexes (PDF), which should be read alongside the Work Programme, including the Call/Topic text and guidance for the call in which you are interested as these may contain specific eligibility requirements.
Read the latest Horizon Europe General Annexes 2026 document on EU commissions site
The general annexes do not apply to the European Research Council (ERC), European Innovation Council (EIC) or European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
As well as the eligibility requirements there will also be other applicable rules. For example, the types of research and innovation that can be funded, and the amount of funding requested. In addition, all parts of the proposal template should be completed as instructed in the template and the proposal submitted before the call deadline. Under Pillar 1 of Horizon Europe, there may also be eligibility rules relating to the career stage of the applicant.
Eligible UK entities
In general (unless the call documents state otherwise) all types of UK legal entities are eligible to participate in and receive funding from Horizon Europe, including universities, industry (companies of any size), research and technology organisations (RTOs), charities and government departments.
For most parts of Horizon Europe, you will need to be part of a consortium to apply, although there are some parts of Horizon Europe, such as the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, where a single organisation can apply for funding.
Horizon Europe consortium
If your call topic requires a consortium, then normally you will need a minimum of three legal entities (that are independent from each other) and to comply with the conditions mentioned below.
UK entities in a Horizon Europe consortium
The UK is classed as an ‘Associated Country’ in Horizon Europe. Therefore, a UK organisation must also have in the consortium:
- at least one independent legal entity established in an EU Member State
- at least one other independent legal entity which is established in a different EU Member State or a different Horizon Europe Associated Country. View the latest list of Associated Countries (PDF) in Horizon Europe.
Number of entities in a Horizon Europe consortium
Please note that consortium projects which consist of just three countries/organisations are very rare. Most consortia include more than the minimum three countries/organisations and it is common to see more than one organisation from a country.
Once you have the minimum number of consortium partners, you can also include additional organisations from both the same countries and/or other countries. Please refer to the Horizon Europe General Annexes and call/topic text which explains the exact rules on: which countries and types of organisation are eligible to participate; and which countries and types of organisation are eligible for funding.
Other types of consortia in Horizon Europe
There are also some project types which require a consortium but have different rules, such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges under Pillar 1 of Horizon Europe.
Which parts of Horizon Europe do not require a consortium?
Some parts of Horizon Europe do not require a consortium to apply, examples include:
In Pillar 1 of Horizon Europe:
- The European Research Council (ERC) Starting, Consolidator, and Advanced Grants will support projects carried out by “individual teams”, which are headed by a single Principal Investigator. ERC Synergy Grants will support small groups of two to four Principal Investigators and their teams. The constitution of the research teams is flexible. Depending on the nature of a project, the research team may involve team members from other research organisations situated in the same or in a different country.
- The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships allow excellent researchers to undertake international mobility. Applications will be made jointly by the researcher and a host organisation in the academic or non-academic sector. For the full eligibility rules, see the call text.
In Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe:
- European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Challenges can accept a single legal entity established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country, as well as consortia. Mid-caps and larger companies cannot apply as single applicants. This differs from EIC Pathfinder Open, which requires a consortium of at least three independent legal entities.
- The EIC Transition scheme can fund a single eligible legal entity, including an SME, spin-off, start-up, research organisation or university, or a consortium of 2 to 5 eligible entities. Proposals must build on results from an eligible previous project, and applicants must own or hold the necessary rights to use those results.
- The EIC Accelerator scheme funds a single start-up, SME (including spin-offs), or individuals (intending to launch a start-up/SME).
- EIC Prizes do not require a consortium.
Explore funding and support using our Pillar 3 – European Innovation Council (EIC) guidance.
Applicants should note
The information above is provided as a general guide to the eligibility criteria for Horizon Europe BUT applicants are responsible for referring to the Horizon Europe call documents to ensure that they meet the eligibility rules for the call to which they are applying.
The information here is intended to give a general overview of the eligibility rules for Horizon Europe, for a UK based applicant. It is not a definitive guide, and organisations should always read the detailed call topic eligibility information. If you are considering applying to a Horizon Europe call, it is vital that you are fully aware of all eligibility requirements, and that you read the documents carefully to check who is eligible to participate, and who is eligible for Commission funding.
Last updated: 29 October 2026