EU Funding Pulse: August 2026 Digest
Overview
This August 2026 edition, dated 24 August 2026, covers 358 open calls and 283 forthcoming calls indexed in this digest, drawn from active programmes tracked on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Open topics span health and cancer research, climate and energy, digital and space technologies, food and bioeconomy, civil security, culture and inclusive society, and defence. Deadlines are concentrated in September, with 200 calls closing within 30 days and large clusters on 15, 16, 17, 22 and 23 September 2026. Two new calls have appeared since the last edition, one from the European Social Fund Plus and one from Horizon Europe. The most imminent deadlines fall this week, including the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grants call on 27 August and several Pilot Projects actions.
A note on the figures: per-programme totals shown in the Programme Activity section and in the Full Call Listings reflect all entries currently visible on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal for each programme (including topic-level granularity). The digest's indexed call count of 358 open and 283 forthcoming is the subset verified and linked within this bulletin. Both sets of figures are referenced throughout — the portal totals for context, the digest counts for precision.
News & Policy Developments
EU-funded research on extreme heat, drought and wildfires
The Commission's climate agency set out how EU-funded projects are helping Europe respond to more frequent and intense heatwaves, drought and wildfires. For researchers, this frames the applied focus of climate adaptation topics now open under Horizon Europe and LIFE. (cinea.ec.europa.eu)
Scaleup Europe Fund established
The Commission completed the final legal steps to set up the Scaleup Europe Fund, aimed at helping European scaleup companies grow and compete globally, with a target of €5 billion (source: EC Research & Innovation News). This matters for deep-tech founders and innovation-driven SMEs planning growth financing alongside grant applications. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)
Ready4EIC training for SMEs in enlargement countries
A new Ready4EIC training programme supports startups and SMEs in EU enlargement countries to bring products to market, secure funding and expand internationally. It is relevant for innovators in enlargement regions preparing for European Innovation Council (EIC) routes. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)
Charter of Access to research and technology infrastructures
The Commission adopted a Charter of Access for Industrial Users to Research and Technology Infrastructures to simplify companies' access to Europe's infrastructures. Research teams collaborating with industry should note the eased access pathways this creates. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)
R&I input to the Circular Economy Act
Independent expert reports analysed an EU project portfolio to inform the upcoming Circular Economy Act. Groups working on recycling, circularity and ecodesign can trace how project results feed policy design. (research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu)
Japan participates in Horizon Europe
Japan's association allows participation in Pillar II of Horizon Europe on the same terms as EU Member States. This widens partnering options for consortia in global challenges research, particularly in areas such as climate, health and digital technologies where Pillar II topics are currently open. (ec.europa.eu)
Science for Democracy information portal
The Commission published a "Science for Democracy" information page showing how research can counter disinformation, polarisation and foreign interference. It points researchers to practice examples and relevant funding under Horizon Europe, including topics in Cluster 2 on democracy and social transformations. (rea.ec.europa.eu)
OECD and EU survey on research careers
The OECD and EU launched an international survey on research and development careers and working conditions, feeding the Research and Innovation Careers Observatory (ReICO). People working in or supporting R&D are invited to contribute. (survey.oecd.org)
Thematic Landscape
Health
Health topics centre on cancer through the EU Mission, including HORIZON-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-01 on Virtual Human Twin models and further cancer topics closing 15 September. The European Partnership on Rare Diseases (HORIZON-HLTH-2026-02-DISEASE-12) is also open. Global health research through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP3) addresses sub-Saharan Africa, including digital and artificial intelligence innovation. Clinical and public-health teams should note deadlines clustered in mid-September.
Digital, Industry & Space
Digital topics run across Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, covering artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing, and deep-tech aligned with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). Space topics closing 3 September include Earth observation building blocks (HORIZON-CL4-2026-SPACE-03-31) and autonomous access to space. Cybersecurity and AI robustness topics under Cluster 3 close 15 September.
Climate, Energy & Mobility
Climate and energy topics under Horizon Europe address wind and battery value chains, building renovation and industrial heat, with several Cluster 5 topics closing 15 September such as HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D3-03. The horizontal Clean Industrial Deal topics (HORIZON-CID-2026-01-01) also close 15 September. The LIFE Programme covers nature, circular economy, climate mitigation and clean energy transition, and the Connecting Europe Facility supports energy and transport infrastructure.
Food, Bioeconomy & Natural Resources
Cluster 6 topics under Horizon Europe cover soil health, agriculture, bioeconomy, biotechnology, circular economy and biomanufacturing, many using the multi-actor approach. One forthcoming call, HORIZON-CL6-2026-04, opens 25 August — the day after this digest was compiled. Ocean and water topics under the Restore our Ocean and Waters Mission address marine habitats and aquatic pollution. Food-waste prevention is also addressed through the Single Market Programme. Teams working in agri-food should check the Cluster 6 deadline schedule carefully, as the multi-actor requirement affects consortium composition lead times.
Civil Security & Defence
Security topics under Horizon Europe Cluster 3 address crime, resilience and capabilities, alongside cybersecurity topics closing 15 September. The European Defence Fund covers research and capability development across STEP priorities. The Internal Security Fund addresses trafficking in human beings and organised crime, with topics closing 3 September.
Culture, Society, Rights & Mobility
Cluster 2 under Horizon Europe funds cultural heritage, creative industries, democracy and social transformations. The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme addresses gender-based violence and fundamental rights, while Creative Europe and Erasmus+ support the creative sectors, education and sport. Researcher mobility runs through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01-01).
Nuclear Research
The Euratom Research and Training programme addresses fission safety, radiation protection, nuclear materials and stable isotopes for nuclear medicine. Nine calls close within 30 days, with several topics closing 15 September such as HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-05. The programme currently shows 23 open calls and 2 forthcoming on the portal, making it one of the more active non-Horizon specialist programmes this cycle.
Closing Soon (Urgent Deadlines)
This week's most urgent deadlines include two Pilot Projects and technical-assistance actions on 26 August (PPPA-2026-SOCIAL-ECONOMY-TOURISM) and the ERC Advanced Grants call (ERC-2026-ADG) on 27 August. On 2 September, the ERC Plus Grants pilot (ERC-2026-PLUS) closes alongside several EDCTP3 global-health prizes and topics — 11 calls in total close that day. On 3 September, space topics, LIFE strategic projects (LIFE-2026-STRAT-NAT-SNAP-two-stage), the Internal Security Fund calls, and the Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence (ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-COVE) close, comprising 15 calls in that cluster. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships and ERA Fellowships (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-05-WIDENING-01) close 9 September. The largest cluster falls on 15 September, with 37 calls covering cancer, cybersecurity, Clean Industrial Deal, Cluster 5 energy and Euratom topics.
Programme Activity
The summary below sets out per-programme open and forthcoming counts as currently visible on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, calls closing soon, and thematic focus tags. These portal-level totals are higher than the digest's indexed call count of 358 open and 283 forthcoming, as they include all topic-level entries across each programme.
Horizon Europe: 413 open, 591 forthcoming. 133 closing within 30 days. Focus: security, STEP-Digital/deep tech, resilience.
Digital Europe: 73 open, 1 forthcoming. Focus: Digital, Digital Europe, Digital Europe Programme.
European Defence Fund: 36 open, 33 forthcoming. Focus: STEP-Defence, STEP-Digital/deep tech, STEP-Cleantech.
LIFE Programme: 62 open. 31 closing within 30 days.
Single Market Programme: 40 open. Focus: Food Waste, Food Waste prevention.
Euratom Research and Training: 23 open, 2 forthcoming. 9 closing within 30 days.
Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values: 21 open. 3 closing within 30 days. Focus: gender-based violence, harmful practices, sexual harassment.
Connecting Europe Facility: 20 open. Focus: CEF, rail, COREGEN.
Creative Europe: 10 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: Animation, Documentary, European Films.
Erasmus+: 9 open. 6 closing within 30 days. Focus: BE ACTIVE, BEACTIVE, EU AWARDS.
Research Fund for Coal and Steel: 7 open. 7 closing within 30 days.
European Social Fund Plus: 5 open, 1 forthcoming. 2 closing within 30 days.
I3: 5 open.
Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions: 5 open. 2 closing within 30 days. Focus: 5G, 5G NR NTN, Antenna calibration.
Internal Security Fund: 4 open. 2 closing within 30 days. Focus: law enforcement, THB, Trafficking in human beings.
JTM: 4 open.
EUBA: 2 open, 1 forthcoming. Focus: asylum, caselaw, euaa.
JUST2027: 3 open. Focus: ECLI, European Case Law Identifier, FAL.
EP: 2 open.
ESC2027: 2 open. 1 closing within 30 days.
PERI: 2 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: Banknotes, Cash, Coinage.
RENEWFM: 2 open. 1 closing within 30 days.
Social Prerogatives and Special Competences: 2 open.
European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund: 1 open.
ERDFTA: 1 open. 1 closing within 30 days. Focus: Capacity building, EU integration, Ukraine.
Innovation Fund: 1 open.
Global Europe: 1 open.
Total: 756 open, 629 forthcoming, 200 closing soon across 27 programmes.
Full Call Listings
The tables below list all open and forthcoming calls by programme with links.
Per-programme totals show counts as currently displayed by the EU Funding and Tenders Portal; the breakdown that follows lists only the calls indexed in this digest.
Per-programme totals show counts as currently displayed by the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; the breakdown that follows lists only the calls indexed in this digest.
Horizon Europe (413 open, 591 forthcoming on F&T Portal · 118 detailed below)
- Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society: 4 calls (2 open, earliest 23 Sep)
- Civil Security for Society: 4 calls (2 open, earliest 15 Sep)
- Digital, Industry & Space: 7 calls (1 open, earliest 3 Sep)
- Climate, Energy & Mobility: 10 calls (3 open, earliest 15 Sep)
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources: 7 calls (1 open, earliest 25 Aug)
- Cross-Cluster Interdisciplinary: 2 calls (1 open, earliest 15 Sep)
- European Innovation Council: 6 calls (5 open, earliest 16 Sep)
- Research Infrastructures: 1 call (forthcoming, earliest 9 Mar 2027)
- Joint Undertakings: 29 calls (29 open, earliest 2 Sep)
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions: 8 calls (2 open, earliest 9 Sep)
- Other: 31 calls (15 open, earliest 27 Aug)
- Widening Participation: 9 calls (5 open, earliest 2 Sep)
Erasmus+: 9 open on F&T Portal · 3 detailed below
Digital Europe: 73 open, 1 forthcoming on F&T Portal · 14 detailed below
European Defence Fund: 36 open, 33 forthcoming on F&T Portal · 15 detailed below
LIFE Programme: 62 open on F&T Portal · 9 detailed below
Connecting Europe Facility: 20 open on F&T Portal · 9 detailed below
Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values: 21 open on F&T Portal · 3 detailed below
Creative Europe: 10 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
Single Market Programme: 40 open on F&T Portal · 2 detailed below
Euratom Research and Training: 23 open, 2 forthcoming on F&T Portal · 4 detailed below
Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions: 5 open on F&T Portal · 4 detailed below
European Social Fund Plus: 5 open, 1 forthcoming on F&T Portal · 4 detailed below
EUBA: 2 open, 1 forthcoming
Internal Security Fund: 4 open on F&T Portal · 2 detailed below
Research Fund for Coal and Steel: 7 open on F&T Portal · 2 detailed below
I3: 5 open on F&T Portal · 2 detailed below
ERDFTA: 1 open
RENEWFM: 2 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
PERI: 2 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
ESC2027: 2 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
JUST2027: 3 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
JTM: 4 open on F&T Portal · 1 detailed below
What this means
The 358 open calls indexed in this digest represent a broad and active pipeline across seven major thematic areas, with the September deadline cluster demanding immediate attention from most teams. If you are working in health, energy or digital, your most pressing window is the fortnight from 15 to 23 September, which accounts for the bulk of closing Horizon Europe topics this cycle.
The Scaleup Europe Fund and the Ready4EIC training initiative both signal a deliberate policy shift towards commercialisation support alongside traditional grant routes. For coordinators managing mixed portfolios of grants and investment instruments, these two developments are worth tracking in parallel with open calls.
Japan's association to Pillar II of Horizon Europe materially widens your consortium options for global challenges topics. If you have a standing collaboration with a Japanese research institution, this is the moment to assess whether a formal consortium role is now feasible for the September or November submission windows.
The practical gap to watch: EDCTP3 deadlines on 2 September sit just six days after the ERC Advanced Grants deadline. Teams involved in both global health and frontier research will need to manage two major submission processes in parallel over the same week — a scheduling conflict that is easy to underestimate in August.
Outlook
In the coming weeks, 10 forthcoming calls open across Horizon Europe (7), European Social Fund Plus (1), European Defence Fund (1) and Euratom Research and Training (1), beginning with HORIZON-CL6-2026-04 on 25 August. In total, 200 calls close within 30 days, with concentrated deadline clusters of 11 on 2 September, 15 on 3 September and 37 on 15 September. Looking further ahead, Horizon Europe has 3 calls opening from 17 November, including topics in climate and advanced materials.
Sources
Data retrieved Mon, 24 Aug 2026 from the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
