Excellence Hubs

Overview

Funding for regional innovation ecosystems to strengthen collaboration between research, industry, and public sectors, targeting consortia that can demonstrate cross-border synergies and long-term sustainability.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, including at least one research organization, one SME, and one public or private entity.

Funding Details

• Total budget: EUR 20 million
• Maximum grant per project: EUR 2 million
• Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs
• No co-funding required

What Is Funded

Projects must focus on one of the following themes:

• Digital transformation and smart specialization
• Green transition and circular economy
• Health and life sciences
• Advanced manufacturing and materials

Activities include joint research, innovation pilots, capacity building, and stakeholder engagement to enhance regional innovation ecosystems.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Projects must demonstrate a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4-7 at the start of the project, with clear pathways to higher TRLs by the end of the implementation period.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-01-25
• Deadline: 2026-04-26T22:00:00Z
• Project start: November 2026
• Project end: January 2028

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage application process via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must include a detailed work plan, budget, and consortium agreement.

Post-Award Obligations

• Submission of deliverables and reports at the end of each phase (Design, Development, Validation) to trigger payments.
• Final report on community-associated activities and outcomes.
• Dissemination of project results to relevant stakeholders.

Geographic Scope & Language

Eligible countries: EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Application language: English.