Investigator-driven initiatives in all research areas that give the scientific community a strong role in determining the avenues of research to be pursued:

• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) provide innovative research training as well as opportunities for cross-border and cross-sector mobility. The annual Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Postdoctoral Fellowships fund secondments of 1-2 years outside Europe (e.g. in Canada) for postdoctoral researchers with a maximum 8 years’ of full-time research experience based in an EU Member State (or an Associated Country) and a mandatory 1-year return period to a European host institution. Applicants must not have spent more than 12 months in the country of their future host organization within the last three years.
• The European Research Council (ERC) provides flexible funding to enable exceptionally talented and creative individuals, and their research teams, to pursue the most promising avenues at the frontier of science. The ERC annually awards Synergy Grants to support collaborative research endeavors led by groups of 2-4 Principal Investigators. One of these investigators can be based outside of Europe. The grants aim to facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, leveraging diverse skills and resources to address ambitious research challenges across any field. Synergy Grants can provide funding of up to €10 million over a period of 6 years. Funding amounts are adjusted proportionally for projects with shorter durations. The ERC also funds: early‐career top researchers; already independent excellent scientists, and senior research leaders. In these grants one or more team members can be located in a non-European country. However, Principal investigators are required to spend a minimum of 50% of their work time in an EU Member State or an Associated Country. Research institutions in Canada may be eligible for funding from the grant if they host researchers who are part of the research team and essential to the project.

Canadian institutions cannot lead projects under Horizon Europe’s Pillar I. Instead, we encourage McGill researchers to reach out to their colleagues in the European Union and Associated Countries to explore whether any projects are being developed for current or upcoming Horizon Europe Pillar I calls. This can offer opportunities to join proposals as a host for Marie Sklodowska-Curie Global Postdoctoral Fellows or a co-applicant for an ERC project.

Collaborative research and innovation projects responding to thematically specific calls for proposals within the following six clusters that address key societal challenges:

• Health (EUR 8.2 billion)
• Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society (EUR 2.3 billion)
• Civil Security for Society (EUR 1.6 billion)
• Digital, Industry and Space (EUR 15.3 billion)
• Climate, Energy and Mobility (EUR 15.1 billion)
• Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment (EUR 8.9 billion)

As of December 5, 2023, Canada is considered an “Associated Country” within Pillar II of Horizon Europe and researchers in Canada are able to participate in Pillar II calls for proposals on equal terms with researchers in the European Union and other Associated Countries, which means they are able to lead and join Horizon Europe project consortia in Pillar II and obtain funding directly from Horizon Europe.

For each of the six thematic clusters, a Work Programme, released every two years, sets out more detailed objectives.

The current Work Programme with the calls for proposals for 2025 is available here.

The draft Work Programmes with the anticipated calls for proposals for 2026-2027 are available here, Please note that the calls for proposals might still be adjusted until they are officially released.

Multiple calls for proposals, each including detailed topics for research projects corresponding to these objectives, are released every year. The European Commission Funding and Tender Opportunities portal provides all Horizon Europe calls for proposal and their description, including an explanation of each specific research topic for which proposals are sought, and downloadable “call documents” including the relevant Work Programmes and other information for applicants. VPRI has prepared the following guide to assist researchers at navigating this portal. 

For most calls for proposals in Pillar II one must apply as a team of at least three partner organisations with at least one partner from an EU country and two partners from different EU or Associated Countries. See General Conditions for additional information. However, successful consortia typically involve 10-13 partners. Any legal entity is eligible to participate, but only entities that are registered in an EU member state, an Associated Country, or a “low- or middle-income country” are eligible to receive funding (full list of eligible non-EU member countries).

Each programme has its own selection criteria and evaluation process that is detailed in each call for proposals. Proposals are reviewed by external experts who are appointed by the European Commission (for more details, see: Work as an expert). Funds are awarded based on merit. For more information, please consult the European Commission’s Horizon Europe online manual for applicants

While researchers in Canada can theoretically lead projects under Horizon Europe’s Pillar II, we currently do not recommend applying as the lead, since these projects are very resource-intensive to prepare and manage.

Instead, we encourage McGill researchers to reach out to their colleagues in the European Union and Associated Countries to explore whether any project consortia are being developed for current or upcoming Horizon Europe Pillar II calls. This can offer opportunities to join proposals as a co-applicant, with a European-based institution leading the project.

• Connect with your contacts in the European Union and Associated Countries
• Consult the European Commission’s Partner Search Tools
• Participate in the European Commission’s information days and networking events
• Reach out to the National Contact Points (NCPs), who are groups of individuals, chosen by national authorities to provide information and assistance to researchers in their country regarding all aspects of the Framework Programme. They play an active role in building trans-national partnerships and preparing proposals