Thematic cluster funding

Pillar II of Horizon Europe aims boosting key technologies and solutions underpinning EU policies & Sustainable Development Goals. 

It supports consortia of universities, research organisations, industry actors, SMEs, public authorities, civil sector etc. coming from different EU Member States and Associated Countries. 

It encourages cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, cross-policy and cross-border collaboration. 

Clusters

The pillar is structured around six Clusters:

Areas of intervention are: 

  • health throughout the life course
  • environmental and social health determinants
  • non-communicable and rare diseases
  • infectious diseases including poverty-related and neglected diseases 
  • tools, technologies and digital solutions for health and care including personalised medicine and health care systems

Please refer to the Cluster 1 2026-2027 Work Programme which includes all the call topics. 

Areas of intervention are: 

  • democracy,  
  • cultural heritage, 
  • social and economic transformations

Please refer to the Cluster 2 2026-2027 Work Programme which includes all the call topics

Areas of intervention are 

  • disaster-resilient societies, 
  • protection and security 
  • cybersecurity

Please refer to the Cluster 3 2026-2027 Work Programme for the call topics

Areas of intervention are 

  • manufacturing technologies, 
  • key digital technologies including quantum technologies, 
  • emerging enabling technologies, 
  • advanced materials, 
  • artificial intelligence and robotics, 
  • next generation internet, 
  • advanced computing and Big Data, 
  • circular industries, 
  • low carbon and clean industries, 
  • space including earth observation.

Please refer to the Cluster 4 2026-2027 Work Programme for the call topics.

Areas of intervention are:

  • climate science and solutions, 
  • energy supply, 
  • energy systems and grids, 
  • buildings and industrial facilities in energy transition, 
  • communities and cities,
  • industrial competitiveness in transport, 
  • clean, safe and accessible transport and 
  • mobility, smart mobility, energy storage.

Please refer to the Cluster 5 2026-2027 Work Programme for the call topics.

Areas of intervention are 

  • environmental observation, 
  • biodiversity and natural resources, 
  • agriculture,  
  • forestry and rural areas, 
  • seas, oceans and inland waters, 
  • food systems, 
  • bio-based innovation systems in the EU's bioeconomy, 
  • circular systems

Please refer to the Cluster 6 2026-2027 Work Programme for the call topics.

First steps and who to contact

PIs should initially liaise with the dedicated grant support available in their Department. 

Given the complexity of these applications, please seek Departmental support well in advance of the call deadline specified on the EC’s Funding and Tenders portal. 

Departmental contacts

PIs who are leading large EU applications can contact Chris Bird, cdb29@cam.ac.uk for additional support including a (non-scientific) review of the draft application against the scheme criteria.

PIs who are interested in applying to Horizon Europe funding should contact Dr Elizabeth Penner eap49@cam.ac.uk to discuss the development of your project proposal.

If your proposal is large, both in value and complexity, and would benefit from cross-departmental academic engagement, external stakeholder involvement, or impact pipeline development, please contact cm2199@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

If your proposal would benefit from cross-departmental academic engagement, external stakeholder involvement, or impact pipeline development, please contact Abi.Herrmann@admin.cam.ac.uk.

Support is available for cross-School applications including project management of the submission preparation; non-scientific input and review; arranging peer review; and if relevant, practice interviews. Please contact the Research Funding Team in the Research Strategy Office researchstrategy@admin.cam.ac.uk to discuss your specific needs.

Sources and useful links

Please refer to the Pillar II crib sheet produced by the Research Office (most recently updated in February 2026). This crib sheet is intended to provide guidance on any existing and upcoming calls under Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe and its ‘Clusters’.