The EU’s key funding programme for Research and Innovation between 2021 and 2027, organised into three pillars and a transversal pillar:

Pillar I – Excellent Science

• European Research Council (ERC)
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
• Research Infrastructures

Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Includes six thematic clusters, one of which is dedicated to the Health sector.

• Health Cluster

Pillar III – Innovative Europe

• European Innovation Council (EIC)
• European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Cross-cutting Pillar – Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area

• Widening participation and spreading excellence
• Reforming and Strengthening the European R&I System

Pillar I – Excellent Science

European Research Council (ERC)

• Researchers from all scientific fields.
• Applications in single beneficiary or consortium mode, depending on the call.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

• For Universities, Research Centres, Organisations with doctoral and postdoctoral programmes, and researchers in all scientific fields, depending on the call.
• Applications in single beneficiary or consortium mode, depending on the call.

Research Infrastructures

• Generally open to all types of legal entities (including public administrations, clusters, R&D organisations, Universities, industry, end-users, and civil society representatives), depending on the call.

Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Health Cluster

• Generally open to all types of legal entities (including public administrations, clusters, R&D organisations, universities, industry, end-users, and civil society representatives), depending on the call.
• Applications submitted as a consortium.

Pillar III – Innovative Europe

European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Mainly for startups and SMEs.
• Applications in single beneficiary or consortium mode, depending on the call.

European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

• Generally open to all types of legal entities (including public administrations, clusters, R&D organisations, universities, industry, end users and civil society representatives), depending on the call.
• Applications submitted as a consortium.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

• Students, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and SMEs.
• Applications in single beneficiary or consortium mode, depending on the call.

Pillar I – Excellent Science

European Research Council (ERC)

• Frontier research projects in all scientific fields, proposed by researchers.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

• Mobility and exchange of researchers, as well as funding to encourage doctoral and postdoctoral training with a focus on internationalisation.

Research Infrastructures

• Facilities, resources, and services that promote research excellence in all areas.

Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Health Cluster

• Projects dedicated to improving and protecting health and well-being in general.

Pillar III – Innovative Europe

European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Projects aimed at stimulating innovation in various sectors, with a view to developing advanced, innovative, and disruptive scientific technologies and solutions with the potential to create markets and/or address global challenges.
• Includes the following support instruments: 
  • EIC Pathfinder: early-stage R&D activities from maturity to prototype development (TRL1–TRL4)
  • EIC Pre-Accelerator: technological, business, and investment preparation activities in widening countries, such as Portugal (TRL3 or 4–TRL6)
  • EIC Transition: market entry preparation activities (TRL4–TRL6)
  • EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges: technological solution acceleration activities and early involvement of potential end-users (TRL4–TRL7)
  • EIC Accelerator: business expansion activities and scaling solutions to the market (TRL6–TRL9)
    
  • EIC STEP Scale-up: support for companies to become global leaders and business expansion in strategic areas.

European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

• Projects aimed at more connected, inclusive, and efficient innovation ecosystems.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

• Projects aimed at strengthening the innovation environment, entrepreneurial talent through education and training programmes, and business creation.

Pillar I – Excellent Science

European Research Council (ERC)

• Awarded in the form of grants.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

• Variable, according to the call.

Research Infrastructures

• Variable, according to the call.

Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

Variable budget and co-funding rates, according to the type of action in the call. Exceptions should always be checked in the call notice.

• Research and Innovation Actions (RIA): up to 100% of project costs for all beneficiaries
• Innovation Actions (IA): up to 100% for non-profit entities, up to 70% for others
• Coordination and Support Actions (CSA): up to 100% for all beneficiaries
• Co-funding of programmes (COFUND): between 30–70% for companies, up to 100% for public entities

Pillar III – Innovative Europe

European Innovation Council (EIC)

• Awarded in the form of grants.

European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

• Budget with variable co-funding rates, according to the type of action in the call. Exceptions should always be checked in the call notice.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

• Variable budget, according to initiatives and calls.