ATHENA Grant & Support Office

NEWS

Updated Financial Guide for MSCA

The European Commission has published a new version of the Financial Guide for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Version 2.0, dated 1 September 2026, introduces several updates and clarifications concerning the implementation of MSCA projects. The main changes...

European Commission announces a series of autumn webinars on Horizon Europe

Upcoming webinars: 2 September 2026, 10:00–12:00 CESTReinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement 16 September 2026, 10:00–11:30 CESTAvoiding the most common financial errors when implementing Horizon Europe projects 24 September...

EIC and EIT launch 2027 Prize for Women Innovators

The European Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) launched the 2027 edition of the European Prize for Women Innovators on 2 September 2026. The prize is jointly awarded by the EIC and the EIT and recognises women who...

MSCA is funding 29 new doctoral training and postdoctoral fellowship programmes

The European Commission will provide €105.5 million in co-funding for 15 doctoral training and 14 postdoctoral fellowship programmes under the 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) call for Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes...

Rolls-Royce and Queen’s announce new University Technology Partnership

Rolls-Royce and Queen’s University Belfast have announced a new University Technology Partnership (UTP), which will drive forward aerospace innovation and technology, as well as training the next generation of experts for industry....

Statement of Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, and Sweden on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034

The negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034 have entered a decisive stage. Through the MFF, the EU determines how it will spend its common resources well into the next decade. In an increasingly uncertain world, the MFF provides the...

European Commission updates EIC Fund Investment Guidelines for the EIC Accelerator and STEP Scaleup

The updated set of investment guidelines provides information to applicants and selected companies, as well as to potential co-investors, explaining in detail the investment approach and process. It includes the strategy and conditions under which the EIC...

ATHENA FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES CALENDAR

Erasmus +

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges in Neighbourhood East
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-NE
04 Dec 202526 Nov 2026
Erasmus+ Virtual Exchanges in Western Balkans
ERASMUS-EDU-2026-VIRT-EXCH-WB
04 Dec 202526 Nov 2026

Horizon Chips 2023 JU

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
Quantum Experimental Pilot Lines for Quantum Technologies
HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-QEXP-14-01
13 Aug 202617 Nov 2026

Horizon Europe 2021-2027

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
MSCA Staff Exchanges 2027
HORIZON-MSCA-2027-SE-01-01
15 Dec 202615 Apr 2027
Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs (CSA)
HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-47
22 Sep 202602 Feb 2027
R&I Policy Support for Enlargement Countries
POLICY ENLARGE
09 Sep 202612 Nov 2026
Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Call 2026
DUT
01 Sep 202617 Nov 2026
EIC STEP Scale Up
HORIZON-EIC-2026-STEP
06 Nov 202525 Nov 2026

Horizon Europe Cluster 5

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
Africa-EU CO-FUND action on climate
HORIZON-CL5-2027-01-D1-11
17 Nov 202604 Mar 2027

Open for SMEs-Innovators-Students

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
Third Lump Sum Micro-Grants for Members of the SoilTribes Community of Practice
SoilTribes
10 Aug 202614 Sep 2026
EIC Accelerator 2026 – Short proposal
HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01
06 Nov 202517 Dec 2026

Regional Innovation-Research-Education

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
KAVA Call 14 – RIS Innovation
EIT RM BP26-28
07 Aug 202616 Oct 2026

Transanational Cooperation

Call/TopicOpenDeadline
European Partnership on Innovative SMEs/Innowwide CALL 5
InnovativeSMEs
01 Oct 202601 Oct 2026

EVENTS

Cluster hybrid event “Talent ecosystems: building sustainable research careers”

If you are a researcher, policymaker or represent a research organisation, join the discussion on how to improve working conditions and career prospects for early-stage researchers in the European Research Area. 10 EU-supported projects will showcase their progress on...

Webinar on ERC Work Programme 2027

In this webinar, the ERC Executive Agency will guide prospective applicants through the 2027 ERC funding opportunities and explain the main changes they should be aware of. The webinar will cover: • ERC funding opportunities under the 2027 Work Programme • Grant...

Paths ahead to strengthen R&I for Europe’s competitiveness

As part of the 2026 EUA R&I Forum, this afternoon event will explore the role of research and innovation in a transforming Europe. The first panel will bring together experts from key EU institutions and R&I stakeholders, focusing on the European Research Area...

13th edition of KETs* EU Brokerage Event on Cl4-related topics in HE

Four thematic pitching sessions: manufacturing, circularity & energy-intensive industries (cluster 4) raw materials & advanced materials (cluster 4) artificial intelligence & ICT (cluster 4) energy storage (cluster 5) & bioeconomy(cluster 6)...

International Conference on Research Infrastructures

The International Conference on Research Infrastructures (ICRI) is the flagship global forum for strategic dialogue and international cooperation on research infrastructures (RIs). It brings together scientists, policymakers, RI directors and operators, funding...

Implementation Dialogue on Attracting and Retaining Research Talent in Europe

As part of the Commission’s new approach to better implementation and simplification, Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, is engaging directly with stakeholders through Implementation Dialogues....

4th European Universities Initiative Forum

The 4th Forum of European University Alliances is a high-level European higher education conference taking place on 10 July 2026 in County Kildare, under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This forum will bring together European and domestic...