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Strategic Analysis
This call seeks to significantly advance European climate risk assessments by integrating multi-sectoral and transboundary analyses at sub-European scales, directly addressing knowledge gaps identified by EUCRA and IPCC. A winning proposal will demonstrate robust scientific methodologies, deliver tailored decision-support tools, and foster strong links with policy implementation and relevant EU initiatives, ensuring actionable insights for climate adaptation and resilience.
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Address at least two systems or sectors (e.g. ecosystems, agri-food, health, infrastructures, energy, water, economy and finance) that interact and have transboundary effects.
Include study cases at sub-European scale. While all the cases together should cover the 4 regions defined in EUCRA [3] , some of the individual cases should also address the transnational dimension (i.e. include more than one country of the particular region).
The implementation of the European Adaptation Strategy, European Climate Adaptation Plan, EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change (along with other Green Deal Missions), Preparedness Union Strategy, and national adaptation efforts are informed with the latest scientific evidence and enhanced through tailored decision-support tools.
Knowledge gaps identified in the EU Climate Risk Assessments (EUCRA) [1] and latest IPCC assessments are narrowed, including system specific, region specific and cross-cutting gaps, so that the future EUCRAs benefit from a significant reduction of current risk assessment limitations and useful knowledge is available for various policymaking contexts.
Supporting climate action (both mitigation and adaptation) in Europe and globally, through advancing climate science and the knowledge base underpinning actionable solutions, to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, climate-resilient and prosperous society.
Closing key knowledge gaps related to climate change, thereby contributing substantially to key European and international assessments such as IPCC, IPBES, EUCRA, and other initiatives such as the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) and the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) under the World Climate Research Programme.
Strengthening the European Research Area on climate change by boosting scientific excellence and capacity in an inclusive manner across the participating countries.
Maximising synergies between mitigation and adaptation and with other policy priorities such as biodiversity and ecosystem preservation and restoration, disaster-preparedness, digitalisation, circular economy, prosperity and competitiveness, strategic autonomy, security and resilience, just transition, and the Sustainable Development Goals by exploring co-benefits, trade-offs and potential unintended consequences of climate strategies and policy interventions.
European Adaptation Strategy
highThe EU adopted an Adaptation Strategy in 2013, and a new, more ambitious one in 2021. The 2021 strategy aims to build a climate-resilient Europe by 2050, focusing on smarter, faster, and more systemic adaptation, and stepping up international action. It emphasizes improved knowledge, data, and risk assessments to better understand and manage climate risks.
Proposals should demonstrate how they contribute to the objectives of the EU Adaptation Strategy, particularly the 2021 version. This includes developing better climate risk assessments, improving data availability, fostering innovative adaptation solutions, and strengthening resilience across sectors and regions, aligning with the strategy's goals of smarter, faster, and more systemic adaptation.
European Climate Adaptation Plan
highThe European Climate Adaptation Plan refers to the overarching framework and continuous efforts by the EU to prepare for and respond to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. This includes developing strategies, policies, and funding mechanisms to build resilience across Member States and sectors, with the 2013 EU Adaptation Strategy being a key milestone.
Proposals should illustrate how their work aligns with the EU's broader commitment to climate adaptation planning, contributing to the development of robust frameworks, tools, or knowledge that support effective adaptation measures and risk management across the Union.
EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change
highThis Horizon Europe Mission aims to support at least 150 European regions and communities in accelerating their transformation towards climate resilience by 2030. It focuses on developing and deploying innovative solutions, demonstrating them in real-world settings, and fostering societal engagement to build adaptive capacity.
Proposals should clearly articulate how they contribute to the Mission's goals, particularly in supporting regions and communities in their adaptation journey. This could involve developing tools, methodologies, or knowledge that directly aids in climate risk assessment and resilience building at local and regional levels, aligning with the Mission's focus on practical implementation and societal engagement.
Green Deal Missions
highThe European Green Deal includes several Missions under Horizon Europe, designed to deliver concrete solutions to major societal challenges. These include Missions on Adaptation to Climate Change, Cancer, Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, and A Soil Deal for Europe. They aim to achieve ambitious goals by 2030 through a portfolio of actions.
Proposals should identify which specific Green Deal Mission(s) they contribute to, particularly the 'Adaptation to Climate Change' Mission, and explain how their work supports the achievement of the Mission's objectives, such as developing innovative solutions, engaging citizens, or accelerating transformation towards climate resilience through improved risk understanding.
Green transition
highA more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe
highSustainable Development Goals
highThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.' Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, they address global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.
Proposals should identify which specific SDGs their work contributes to (e.g., SDG 15: Life on Land, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation) and explain the nature of this contribution. While not an EU-specific policy, alignment with SDGs demonstrates a broader commitment to global sustainability.
Digital transition
mediumPreparedness Union Strategy
lowThe European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) was established in 2021 as a key pillar of the European Health Union, aiming to improve the EU's preparedness and response capabilities for serious cross-border health threats. While primarily health-focused, the broader concept of 'preparedness' can extend to other crises, including those exacerbated by climate change.
While primarily focused on health emergencies, proposals could tangentially link to this strategy by demonstrating how advanced climate risk assessments contribute to a broader understanding of systemic risks that could impact societal preparedness, such as cascading effects on critical infrastructure, food security, or public health systems, thereby enhancing overall EU resilience.
1. Admissibility conditions — Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries — described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
3. Other Eligibility Conditions — If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used). described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion — described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds — are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes — are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual .
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement — described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants — Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf ]]. described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA Lump Sum MGA Call-specific instructions Detailed budget table (HE LS) Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Evaluators will prioritize the scientific excellence and methodological rigor in addressing complex, interacting climate risks across multiple systems/sectors with transboundary implications. They will look for clear evidence of how the proposed research directly narrows identified knowledge gaps (@EO2) and translates into actionable decision-support tools for various policy levels (@EO1). Strong alignment with EU policy frameworks (e.g., European Adaptation Strategy, EU Mission on Adaptation) and a clear strategy for contributing to major international assessments (IPCC, EUCRA) will be crucial. The consortium's capacity to foster scientific excellence and inclusivity across Europe (@EI3) and explore synergies with other Green Deal priorities (@EI4) will also be highly valued.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Address at least two systems or sectors (e.g. ecosystems, agri-food, health, infrastructures, energy, water, economy and finance) that interact and have transboundary effects. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Include study cases at sub-European scale. While all the cases together should cover the 4 regions defined in EUCRA [3] , some of the individual cases should also address the transnational dimension (i.e. include more than one country of the particular region). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1The implementation of the European Adaptation Strategy, European Climate Adaptation Plan, EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change (along with other Green Deal Missions), Preparedness Union Strategy, and national adaptation efforts are informed with the latest scientific evidence and enhanced through tailored decision-support tools. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Knowledge gaps identified in the EU Climate Risk Assessments (EUCRA) [1] and latest IPCC assessments are narrowed, including system specific, region specific and cross-cutting gaps, so that the future EUCRAs benefit from a significant reduction of current risk assessment limitations and useful knowledge is available for various policymaking contexts. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| No other requirements in this call. | |||
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Supporting climate action (both mitigation and adaptation) in Europe and globally, through advancing climate science and the knowledge base underpinning actionable solutions, to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, climate-resilient and prosperous society. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Closing key knowledge gaps related to climate change, thereby contributing substantially to key European and international assessments such as IPCC, IPBES, EUCRA, and other initiatives such as the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP) and the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) under the World Climate Research Programme. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Strengthening the European Research Area on climate change by boosting scientific excellence and capacity in an inclusive manner across the participating countries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4Maximising synergies between mitigation and adaptation and with other policy priorities such as biodiversity and ecosystem preservation and restoration, disaster-preparedness, digitalisation, circular economy, prosperity and competitiveness, strategic autonomy, security and resilience, just transition, and the Sustainable Development Goals by exploring co-benefits, trade-offs and potential unintended consequences of climate strategies and policy interventions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1european adaptation strategyThe EU adopted an Adaptation Strategy in 2013, and a new, more ambitious one in 2021. The 2021 strategy aims to build a climate-resilient Europe by 2050, focusing on smarter, faster, and more systemic adaptation, and stepping up international action. It emphasizes improved knowledge, data, and risk assessments to better understand and manage climate risks. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2european climate adaptation planThe European Climate Adaptation Plan refers to the overarching framework and continuous efforts by the EU to prepare for and respond to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. This includes developing strategies, policies, and funding mechanisms to build resilience across Member States and sectors, with the 2013 EU Adaptation Strategy being a key milestone. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL3eu mission on adaptation to climate changeThis Horizon Europe Mission aims to support at least 150 European regions and communities in accelerating their transformation towards climate resilience by 2030. It focuses on developing and deploying innovative solutions, demonstrating them in real-world settings, and fostering societal engagement to build adaptive capacity. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL4green deal missionsThe European Green Deal includes several Missions under Horizon Europe, designed to deliver concrete solutions to major societal challenges. These include Missions on Adaptation to Climate Change, Cancer, Restore our Ocean and Waters, Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, and A Soil Deal for Europe. They aim to achieve ambitious goals by 2030 through a portfolio of actions. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL5green transitionThe call is a cornerstone of the EU’s green transition, aiming to decarbonize energy systems through circular, sustainable energy storage and infrastructure retrofitting. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL6a more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic europeThe call contributes to this policy by enhancing energy security, economic viability, and stakeholder engagement, fostering a more resilient and inclusive energy system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL7sustainable development goalsThe Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a 'blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.' Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, they address global challenges including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
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