EU Funding Pulse: June 2026 Digest

Overview

The June 2026 presents 310 open calls and 296 forthcoming opportunities across 21 active programmes. A cluster of 25 calls face urgent deadlines within the next 30 days, requiring immediate attention from applicants. Horizon Europe leads with 194 open calls spanning research infrastructures, climate action, and digital innovation. Strategic Technology for Europe Platform (STEP) priorities continue across multiple funding streams, emphasising digital/deep tech, defence, biotech, and clean technologies. This edition covers the current state of funding as of Monday, 8 June 2026.

News & Policy Developments

European Prize for Women Innovators

The 2026 European Prize for Women Innovators recognised visionary women entrepreneurs whose innovations drive progress and strengthen Europe's competitive edge globally. The award celebrates contributions from women-led ventures shaping technological advancement. (ec.europa.eu)

EU Projects Boosting Regional Resilience

A new climate adaptation catalogue 65 EU-funded projects helping communities across Europe tackle floods, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and rising seas. The initiative transforms resilience from ambition into practical action, demonstrating how EU funding delivers tangible climate adaptation benefits at regional level. (climate.ec.europa.eu)

OceanEye Initiative Launch

The Commission presented the OceanEye initiative to position the EU as the world's leading provider of ocean intelligence. The programme aims to contribute to 35% of the global ocean observing system by 2035 while securing 35% of the ocean observation technology market. (ec.europa.eu)

European Semester Spring Package

The Spring Package 2026 urges Member States to boost research and innovation to unlock Europe's potential for competitiveness and resilience. The package reinforces the critical role of R&I investment in achieving EU strategic goals and maintaining technological sovereignty. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)

EU Science Diplomacy Framework

The Council adopted the first EU framework for science diplomacy, following a Commission proposal. This framework will strengthen international scientific cooperation and enhance the EU's diplomatic engagement through research and innovation partnerships globally. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)

European Startup Policy Success

A new scoreboard reveals the success of European startup policies, with 20 out of 27 EU Member States improving performance since 2020. The data confirms that targeted support for founders drives innovation, job creation, and economic growth across the union. (ec.europa.eu)

Ecological Sustainability Priority

The Ethics Advice Mechanism published an Opinion recognising ecological sustainability as key to Europe's resilience, prosperity, security and democracy. Experts call for placing environmental considerations at the core of all EU policy development and implementation. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)

ERA Progress Assessment

The new ERA Scoreboard shows continuous progress across European Research Area priorities, though structural challenges remain. The evaluation provides evidence to support policymaking at both EU and national levels, highlighting areas requiring further attention. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)

Thematic Landscape

Research Infrastructures

Research infrastructures face critical deadlines with 12 calls closing within 30 days, including HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-01 for infrastructure concept development and HORIZON-INFRA-2026-01-EOSC-01 supporting FAIR data management practices. ESFRI initiatives and European Open Science Cloud development feature prominently across calls, with additional focus on digital twins and Ukrainian integration into the European Research Area.

Defence and Security

The European Defence Fund 30 open calls with 8 forthcoming, emphasising STEP-Defence priorities and digital/deep tech applications. Security-focused funding spans crime prevention, resilience building, and capabilities development through both defence and internal security programmes. STEP priorities in defence technologies reflect heightened emphasis on European technological autonomy.

Climate, Energy and Environment

Climate action spans multiple programmes with 17 open calls in the Climate, Energy & Mobility cluster and 31 calls through the LIFE Programme. Topics cover soil health, New European Bauhaus initiatives, climate change mitigation, and circular economy solutions. The bioeconomy features across 20 calls, addressing biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and ecodesign challenges.

Digital Technologies and Innovation

Digital transformation receives support through 8 open Digital Europe calls and 33 forthcoming opportunities. Artificial intelligence features prominently alongside cloud computing, edge computing, and integration challenges. The European Innovation Council contributes 6 open calls focused on STEP-Digital/deep tech priorities and technological autonomy development.

Health and Social Innovation

Health research spans 27 open calls in Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society, addressing ethical AI, capacity building, and cultural heritage preservation. Joint Undertakings contribute 27 calls emphasising safe and sustainable design principles, EDCTP3 initiatives, and STEP-Biotech applications. Africa-focused health partnerships feature across multiple calls.

Closing Soon (Urgent Deadlines)

Research infrastructure calls face the most urgent deadlines, with 12 opportunities closing on Tuesday, 16 June 2026. Critical calls include concept development for major infrastructure upgrades, ESFRI coordination pilots, and EOSC partnership initiatives. European Parliament calls for the EYE 2027 programme close on Thursday, 11 June 2026. Defence funding through EDF-EDIP-P-2026-LS-IRA-EC for energetic components closes the same day. Creative Europe film sales agent support closes on Thursday, 18 June 2026 through CREA-MEDIA-2026-FILMSALES. Three deadline clusters occur on 16 June (13 calls), 25 June (3 calls), and 30 June (3 calls).

Programme Activity

Current programme activity spans 21 active funding instruments with 310 open and 296 forthcoming calls, plus 25 opportunities closing within 30 days.

Horizon Europe: 233 open, 279 forthcoming. 15 closing within 30 days. Focus: security, ESFRI, STEP-Digital/deep tech.

Digital Europe: 53 open. Focus: Digital, Digital Europe, Digital Europe Programme.

European Defence Fund: 30 open, 8 forthcoming. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: STEP-Defence, STEP-Digital/deep tech, STEP-Cleantech.

LIFE Programme: 31 open.

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values: 16 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: Fundamental rights, Human rights, Access to justice.

Euratom Research and Training: 12 open, 2 forthcoming.

Single Market Programme: 11 open.

Connecting Europe Facility: 5 open. 3 closing within 30 days.

Creative Europe: 5 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: European Films, european films, film distribution.

Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions: 4 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: coordination point, cross-border, born-digital heritage.

Internal Security Fund: 3 open. Focus: law enforcement, THB, Trafficking in human beings.

EP: 2 open. 2 closing within 30 days.

Erasmus+: 2 open. Focus: COVE, Centres of Vocational Excellence, Skills.

European Social Fund Plus: 2 open.

I3: 2 open.

JTM: 2 open.

Social Prerogatives and Special Competences: 2 open. 1 closing within 30 days.

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund: 1 open.

ESC2027: 1 open.

EUBA: 0 open, 1 forthcoming.

PERI: 1 open. Focus: Banknotes, Cash, Coinage.

RENEWFM: 1 open.

Total: 419 open, 290 forthcoming, 25 closing soon across 22 programmes.

Full Call Listings

Complete call information with deadlines and programme details is available below.

Horizon Europe (49 open, 56 forthcoming)

• Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society: 4 calls (2 open, 23 Sep)
  Governing global commons sustainably · Rethinking long-term care policy in the face of EU demographic shifts · Government in transition – how governments change the way they work and prepare the civil service for the future + 51 more
• Civil Security for Society: 4 calls (2 open, 15 Sep)
  Approaches and tools for security in software and hardware development and assessment · Advanced cryptographic schemes and High-Assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations · Enhancing the Security, Privacy and Robustness of AI Models and Systems (SecureAI) + 42 more
• Digital, Industry & Space: 7 calls (1 open, 3 Sep)
  Digital enablers and building-blocks for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership) · Preparing demonstration missions for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions (Space Partnership) · Space critical EEE components for EU non-dependence – GaN MMICs mm-Wave Foundations (Phase A): Development and Industrialization of Semi-insulating SiC Substrate Capabilities + 38 more
• Climate, Energy & Mobility: 11 calls (3 open, 25 Jun)
  Renewable energy technology (RET) solutions in energy communities · Validating policies and business models for affordable and sustainable housing (Built4People Partnership) · Coordinated topic with India on recycling of EV batteries + 67 more
• Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources: 7 calls (1 open, 17 Sep)
  Toward a comprehensive assessment of the disturbance of marine ecosystems by anthropogenic underwater noise · Improving circularity of multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging · Supporting pre-normative research for standardization of the bio-based products + 68 more
• Cross-Cluster Interdisciplinary: 2 calls (1 open, 15 Sep)
  R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Clean Technologies for Climate Action · R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Decarbonisation of energy intensive industries (IA) (Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships) · R&I in Support of the Clean Industrial Deal: Decarbonisation of energy intensive industries (IA) (Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships) + 1 more
• European Innovation Council: 7 calls (5 open, 26 Nov 2024)
  HORIZON-EIC-2026-BAS-02-SCLATEUP · The European Capital of Innovation Award Rising Innovator Category HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL · The European Capital of Innovation Award iCapital Category HORIZON-EIC-2026-ICAPITAL + 14 more
• Research Infrastructures: 2 calls (1 open, 16 Jun)
  R&D for the next generation of scientific instrumentation, tools, methods, digitalisation and solutions for research infrastructure upgrades · Consolidation of the research infrastructure landscape – pilots for strategic coordination, synergies and simplified access pathways, by large thematic clusters of pan-European research infrastructures · Research infrastructures as accelerators of the integration of Ukraine in the European Research Area + 19 more
• Joint Undertakings: 16 calls (14 open, 4 Mar 2025)
  Cooperation of Artificial Intelligence Factories and Factories Antennas · Enhancing integrated research and healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa through digital innovation and Artificial Intelligence · Training and innovation networks for sustained capacity development related to ethics, regulatory, pharmacovigilance, and related digital regulatory platforms + 26 more
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions: 8 calls (2 open, 9 Sep)
  MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026 · MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 · MSCA COFUND 2027 + 5 more
• Other: 29 calls (13 open, 27 Aug)
  ERC ADVANCED GRANTS · ERC PLUS GRANTS · European Partnership on Rare Diseases (ERDERA) (Phase 2) + 103 more
• Widening Participation: 8 calls (4 open, 9 Sep)
  ERA Fellowships · Hop-On Facility · Teaming Synergies + 9 more

Erasmus+ (2 open)

• ERASMUS-EDU-2022-ECHE-CERT: Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (TBD)
• ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-COVE: Centres of Vocational Excellence (3 Sep)

Digital Europe (7 open)

• DIGITAL-2026-AI-PILOTING-10: Apply AI: Piloting AI-based image screening in medical centres (1 Oct)
• DIGITAL-2026-AI-DATA-10: Digital solutions for regulatory compliance through data (1 Oct)
• DIGITAL-2026-SUPPORT-10: Support to Dissemination and Exploitation (D&E) for the Digital Europe Programme (1 Oct)
• DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-RSF-10: Research Support Framework for Situational Awareness on information integrity (1 Oct)
• DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-MCP-10: Support to the implementation of Multi-Country Projects: EDIC Support Hub (1 Oct)
• DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10 (2 topics) (1 Oct)
  Building capacity to deploy the EEHRxF and digital health services and systems to support the rights of citizens and reuse of health data under EHDS · Ensuring comprehensive geographical coverage of the Network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs)
• DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 (3 topics) (1 Oct)
  EdTech Accelerator · Digital Skills and Jobs Platform: The National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs · Advanced Digital Skills for AI Uptake in Health

European Defence Fund (11 open, 5 forthcoming)

• EDF-EDIP-P-2026-LS-IRA: Energetic components (16 Jun)
• EDF-2026-LS-DA-SME: Non-thematic development actions by SMEs (29 Sep)
• EDF-2026-LS-DA-DIS: New abilities in over-the-horizon sensing (29 Sep)
• EDF-2026-LS-RA-CHALLENGE (2 topics) (29 Sep)
  AI-based tactical situational awareness using swarms of small robots and drones – organisation of a technological challenge" · AI-based tactical situational awareness using swarms of small robots and drones – participation in a technological challenge"
• EDF-2026-RA (7 topics) (29 Sep)
  CBRN decontamination systems and technologies · Future multirole light aircraft · Modelling & simulation supported AI framework for military decision-making and training + 4 more
• EDF-2026-LS-RA-SI (2 topics) (29 Sep)
  Layered critical seabed infrastructure protection · New turbofan engine
• EDF-2026-DA-ACC: High-end endo-atmospheric interception (29 Sep)
• EDF-2026-DA (11 topics) (29 Sep)
  Smart and multifunctional textiles · Integration of Galileo PRS receivers on weapon systems and NAVWAR operational centres in military C2 · Ammunition Waste Collection and Disposal Unmanned Platform + 8 more
• EDF-2026-LS-DIS-RA-SMERO: Non-thematic research actions by SMEs and research organisations (29 Sep)
• EDF-2026-LS-DIS: Non-thematic actions targeting disruptive technologies for defence (29 Sep)
• EDF-EDIP-P-2026-FNLC-CPA (2 topics) (13 Oct)
  Ammunition, missiles and other explosive weapons · Counter-drone systems
• EDF-EDIP-USI-2026-LS-IRA: Missiles, ammunition and bombs (opens 17 Jun)
• EDF-EDIP-P-2026-2027-FNLC-SA: Support for the functioning of SEAPs, including for the purpose of establishing, managing and maintaining defence industrial readiness pools (opens 2 Sep)
• EDF-EDIP-P-2027-FNLC-CPA (3 topics) (opens 17 Jun)
  Air and missile defence systems · C5ISR and other space-related products · Ground and naval platforms and systems
• EDF-EDIP-USI-2027-LS-IRA: Unmanned systems and counter-unmanned systems (opens 17 Jun)
• EDF-EDIP-P-2027-LS-IRA (2 topics) (opens 17 Jun)
  Key electronic components · Platforms and end-products

LIFE Programme (9 open)

• LIFE-2026-STRAT-two-stage (3 topics) (3 Sep)
  Strategic Nature Projects · Strategic Integrated Projects - Climate Action · Strategic Integrated Projects - Environment
• LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-FPA: Framework Partnership Agreements for operating grants to support non-profit organisations (8 Sep)
• LIFE-2026-CET (13 topics) (16 Sep)
  Supporting digitalisation of Distribution System Operators for a smart energy transition (Smart Grid Academy) · Scaling up smart and clean energy solutions for affordability in EU cities · Supporting the delivery of actionable, integrated, and comprehensive local heating and cooling plans + 10 more
• LIFE-2026-SAP-ENV (2 topics) (22 Sep)
  Environment governance · Circular Economy and Zero Pollution
• LIFE-2026-SAP-CLIMA (3 topics) (22 Sep)
  Climate Governance and Information · Climate Change Adaptation · Climate Change Mitigation
• LIFE-2026-SAP-NAT (2 topics) (22 Sep)
  Nature and Biodiversity · Nature Governance and Information
• LIFE-2026-PLP (3 topics) (22 Sep)
  Projects on Legislative and Policy Priorities in the fields of Nature & Biodiversity and Circular Economy & Quality of Life · Ecodesign and energy labelling compliance support facility for suppliers and retailers · Multilevel climate and energy dialogue to deliver the Governance Regulation and the post–2030 energy and climate policy framework
• LIFE-2026-TA-PP (3 topics) (22 Sep)
  Technical Assistance preparation of SNaPs · Technical Assistance preparation of ENV SIPs · technical Assistance preparation of CLIMA SIPs
• LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA: LIFE Operating Grants (22 Sep)

Connecting Europe Facility (3 open)

• CEF-DIG-2026-GATEWAYS (2 topics) (30 Jun)
  Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Works · Backbone connectivity for Digital Global Gateways - Studies
• CEF-DIG-2026-SMART-CABLES: Equipment for smart European cable systems - Works (30 Jun)
• CEF-E-2026-PCI-PMI (2 topics) (30 Sep)
  Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Works · Electricity, Gas, Smart Grids, Hydrogen and CO₂ networks - Studies

Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values: 3 open

Creative Europe: 4 open

Euratom Research and Training: 2 open, 2 forthcoming

Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions: 4 open

Social Prerogatives and Special Competences: 2 open

European Social Fund Plus: 2 open

Internal Security Fund: 2 open

I3: 2 open

EP: 1 open

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund: 1 open

RENEWFM: 1 open

PERI: 1 open

JTM: 1 open

ESC2027: 1 open

EUBA: 0 open, 1 forthcoming

Outlook

September brings several major opportunities including ERC Advanced Grants opening on 27 August 2026 and multiple EDCTP3 prize calls opening on 2 September. November features the I3 interregional innovation investments calls with deadlines on 12 November 2026. The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking will launch quantum technology calls between January and February 2027, including standards development and large-scale photonic quantum computing platforms.

Sources

Data retrieved 8 June 2026 from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.