Question 1

What EU grants are available for the Research sector?

Accepted Answer

The European Commission offers a wide range of funding opportunities specifically designed for the Research sector. These include grants through Horizon Europe (the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €95.5 billion), the European Innovation Council (EIC) which provides funding for breakthrough innovations, and various sector-specific initiatives. Funding types range from Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with 100% funding rates, to Innovation Actions (IA) with 70% funding for companies, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) for networking and coordination activities. Our database helps you find grants that match your organization's specific needs, project stage, and funding requirements.

Question 2

How do I apply for Research grants from the EU?

Accepted Answer

Applying for EU grants in the Research sector involves several key steps. First, use Grantalist to identify suitable open calls that match your project idea and organization type. Next, carefully review the call documentation, including eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the work programme. Most EU grants require you to form a consortium with partners from at least 3 different EU member states or associated countries. Once ready, you'll submit your proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, which includes a detailed description of your project, work packages, budget breakdown, and impact assessment. The evaluation process typically takes 3-5 months, after which successful applicants enter grant agreement preparation. We recommend starting your application at least 2-3 months before the deadline.

Question 3

What is the typical funding amount for Research EU grants?

Accepted Answer

EU grants for the Research sector offer diverse funding levels depending on the programme and action type. Small-scale grants through programmes like EIC Accelerator can start from €500,000 up to €2.5 million in grant funding, plus up to €15 million in equity investment. Collaborative research projects under Horizon Europe typically range from €3 million to €10 million for standard projects, while some large-scale flagship initiatives can exceed €20 million. SMEs and startups often benefit from higher funding rates (up to 70% for Innovation Actions compared to large companies) and access to specialized instruments. The exact amount depends on the specific call topic, project scope, consortium size, and type of activities proposed.

Question 4

Who is eligible for Research EU grants?

Accepted Answer

Eligibility for Research EU grants extends to a wide range of organizations. Legal entities from EU member states and associated countries (including the UK for some programmes, Norway, Switzerland, and others) are typically eligible. This includes universities and research institutions, large enterprises and multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees, startups and scale-ups, public bodies and NGOs, and international organizations. Some calls specifically target certain organization types, such as SME-only calls or academic-focused research grants. Third-country participation is possible in many programmes, though often without EU funding.

EU Grants for Research

ERA Fellowships

Secure PQC implementations, Cryptanalysis and Post-quantum Digital Trust

Integrating circularity in LCA-based modelling frameworks for renovation of buildings (Built4People Partnership)

Reducing soil sealing through sustainable urban and territorial design in the New European Bauhaus

R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Decarbonisation of energy intensive industries (IA) (Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships)

Demonstration for Long-duration Battery Energy Storage Systems (BATT4EU Partnership)

On-site robotic and automated techniques for building renovation and new construction

Thermal energy optimisation and waste heat recovery of high energy demand IT rooms in buildings or small edge data centres

New primitives and protocols for functionalities of future hybrid classical-hybrid and quantum networks

R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Clean Technologies for Climate Action

Living labs to monitor and mitigate carcinogenic substances in and originating from soils: Evaluating their effects on human cancer risks

Researching and applying the potential of Artificial Intelligence to foster climate resilience at the regional and local levels

Towards community-driven business models: coastal and freshwaters sustainable tourism

Demonstrating transformative solutions to increase cross-border climate resilience

Green, circular and resilient harbours

Circularity of seafood supply chain

Increasing riparian and coastal areas resilience to climate change, including in waterfront cities and islands.

Large-scale demonstration of protection, restoration and management of blue forest ecosystems in European sea basins

Science-policy support to the implementation of EU and global biodiversity policies and strategies

Technical innovation to protect ecosystems and to scale up their restoration

Increasing the circularity of bio-based sector: upcycling and recycling for higher value and environmental benefits

Biotechnology application for CCU

Accelerating the transition to a nature positive economy: Integrating biodiversity into the private sector

Capacity building for extending product lifecycles through repair and refurbishment

Fostering common farmland birds and mammals for resilient food production systems

Integrating Remote Sensing and in-situ observations of Biodiversity, towards a fully interoperable observation and data framework

Enhancing the competitiveness of organic crop breeding: focus on intercropping adapted varieties

Europe-wide environmental benchmarking system of the industrial bioeconomy sectors

Improving biomass flows for a sustainable and circular bioeconomy

Improve the capacity to monitor and reduce air pollution from agriculture

Frequently Asked Questions About Research EU Grants