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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal must establish a robust clinical research partnership led by accredited Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures (CCIs) across at least four countries, purposefully including one country with less developed cancer infrastructure to directly tackle healthcare inequalities. The core strategy hinges on piloting and upscaling patient-centred clinical research in lung, bowel, breast, or prostate cancer, backed by the mandatory clinical study annex and concrete alignment with the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and UNCAN.eu platform.
TRL 4 → 8
Based on programme defaults
Comprehensive cancer infrastructures across the EU Member States and Associated Countries come together to conduct clinical research on lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer focusing on at least one of the following areas: Innovative diagnostics;
Radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy;
Therapeutic cancer vaccines for the treatment of cancer patients with early-stage, advanced, metastatic or minimal residual disease (e.g. after debulking by surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy);
Implementation of appropriate clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in countries without or with limited Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures;
Comprehensive cancer infrastructures should extensively pilot and upscale innovative diagnostic or treatment programmes in at least four different EU Member States or Associated Countries. One of the four targeted EU Member States or Associated Countries should represent a country without or with a less developed comprehensive cancer infrastructure.
To ensure that together they address - and whenever feasible - overcome challenges because of the national, regional, or local research and healthcare context (e.g. those faced by small(er) EU Member States, or due to a large rural population, or particular cancer burden, socio-economic or environmental situation, or limited clinical research capacity [5] ), when designing and conducting innovative clinical research programmes with added value for the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer;
Identify additional resources through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Technical Support Instrument [6] , the Resilience and Recovery Facility (RRF), philanthropy, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB [7] , EIF [8] ) or any other initiative;
Innovative clinical research programmes should be defined together with patients and their caregivers/families using participative research models and adapted to the needs of the target population and the specificities of healthcare provision at local, regional, or national level, duly reflecting the (cultural) diversity and available resources across EU Member States and Associated Countries;
Data should be disaggregated by sex, gender, age and other relevant variables, such as by measures of socio-economic status or ethnicity;
All datasets produced should be described with metadata records in the EU dataset catalogue of the European Health Data Space, while all tools and models should take advantage of current European research infrastructures, should follow the principles of open science and made available through the future UNCAN.eu platform;
Applicants should include an appropriate mix of stakeholders from various disciplines and sectors [9] and provide details of the clinical study(ies) in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system.
Patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer [1] , will benefit from the outcomes of evidence-based, tailored, innovative, affordable and accessible diagnosis- and treatment-centred clinical research programmes by comprehensive cancer infrastructures [2] .
Researchers, physicians, patient representatives, civil society, charities, foundations, insurance companies, SMEs and innovators [3] will seize opportunities to respectively co-create, support, upscale or commercialise outcomes of evidence-based, tailored, affordable and accessible clinical research programmes for the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer.
National and regional healthcare providers, healthcare payers, policymakers and authorities in European regions, EU Member States and Associated Countries have the evidence to engage in piloting, upscaling or implementing appropriate clinical research programmes for the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
Europe's Beating Cancer Plan
highEurope's Beating Cancer Plan is a key pillar of the European Health Union, establishing a comprehensive political commitment to address cancer across its entire disease pathway. It focuses on four central action areas: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and improving the quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. Flagship initiatives include establishing an EU network linking recognized Comprehensive Cancer Centres across all Member States to improve access to high-quality care.
Evaluators expect proposals to directly align with the Plan's flagship actions, particularly the development, integration, and networking of Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures (CCIs). Proposals should clearly demonstrate how clinical research protocols will be standardized across centres, reduce inequalities in patient access to innovative therapies, and translate research outcomes into clinical practice to directly benefit patients with common cancers across Europe.
Specific requirements
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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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.
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.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The thresholds for each criterion will be 4 (Excellence), 4 (Impact) and 4 (Implementation). The cumulative threshold is 12.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
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]].
The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the specific topic of the Work Programme
Application form templates
Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. You can find examples of standard application forms in the Reference Documents page.
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 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
Evaluators will immediately verify operational compliance with core call constraints: piloting across at least four EU MS/AC with at least one representing a country with less developed cancer infrastructure (@SC5), integration of the mandatory 'Information on clinical studies' annex (@SC11), and adoption of lump-sum financial rules. Beyond compliance, evaluators will scrutinize the co-creation methodology with patients and caregivers (@SC8), sex/gender/socio-economic disaggregation of clinical data (@SC9), and tangible plans to leverage complementary financing instruments such as ERDF, RRF, or EIB (@SC7).
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 | |||
| SC1Comprehensive cancer infrastructures across the EU Member States and Associated Countries come together to conduct clinical research on lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer focusing on at least one of the following areas: Innovative diagnostics; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Therapeutic cancer vaccines for the treatment of cancer patients with early-stage, advanced, metastatic or minimal residual disease (e.g. after debulking by surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy); | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Implementation of appropriate clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis and treatment in countries without or with limited Comprehensive Cancer Infrastructures; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Comprehensive cancer infrastructures should extensively pilot and upscale innovative diagnostic or treatment programmes in at least four different EU Member States or Associated Countries. One of the four targeted EU Member States or Associated Countries should represent a country without or with a less developed comprehensive cancer infrastructure. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6To ensure that together they address - and whenever feasible - overcome challenges because of the national, regional, or local research and healthcare context (e.g. those faced by small(er) EU Member States, or due to a large rural population, or particular cancer burden, socio-economic or environmental situation, or limited clinical research capacity [5] ), when designing and conducting innovative clinical research programmes with added value for the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Identify additional resources through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Technical Support Instrument [6] , the Resilience and Recovery Facility (RRF), philanthropy, the European Investment Bank Group (EIB [7] , EIF [8] ) or any other initiative; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8Innovative clinical research programmes should be defined together with patients and their caregivers/families using participative research models and adapted to the needs of the target population and the specificities of healthcare provision at local, regional, or national level, duly reflecting the (cultural) diversity and available resources across EU Member States and Associated Countries; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC9Data should be disaggregated by sex, gender, age and other relevant variables, such as by measures of socio-economic status or ethnicity; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC10All datasets produced should be described with metadata records in the EU dataset catalogue of the European Health Data Space, while all tools and models should take advantage of current European research infrastructures, should follow the principles of open science and made available through the future UNCAN.eu platform; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC11Applicants should include an appropriate mix of stakeholders from various disciplines and sectors [9] and provide details of the clinical study(ies) in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer [1] , will benefit from the outcomes of evidence-based, tailored, innovative, affordable and accessible diagnosis- and treatment-centred clinical research programmes by comprehensive cancer infrastructures [2] . | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Researchers, physicians, patient representatives, civil society, charities, foundations, insurance companies, SMEs and innovators [3] will seize opportunities to respectively co-create, support, upscale or commercialise outcomes of evidence-based, tailored, affordable and accessible clinical research programmes for the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3National and regional healthcare providers, healthcare payers, policymakers and authorities in European regions, EU Member States and Associated Countries have the evidence to engage in piloting, upscaling or implementing appropriate clinical research programmes for the diagnosis and treatment of patients afflicted by lung, bowel, breast or prostate cancer. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Piloting in countries with less developed cancer infrastructureComprehensive cancer infrastructures should extensively pilot and upscale programmes in at least four different EU Member States or Associated Countries, with at least one representing a country without or with a less developed comprehensive cancer infrastructure. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Synergies with EU funding instruments and financial institutionsProjects must identify additional resources through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), the Resilience and Recovery Facility (RRF), philanthropy, or the European Investment Bank Group (EIB, EIF). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Participative research models with patients and caregiversClinical research programmes should be defined together with patients and their caregivers/families using participative research models, adapted to local, regional, or national healthcare needs and cultural diversity. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Disaggregation of clinical research data by sex, gender, and socio-economic variablesData should be disaggregated by sex, gender, age, and other relevant variables, such as measures of socio-economic status or ethnicity. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Metadata integration into European Health Data Space (EHDS)All datasets produced must be described with metadata records in the EU dataset catalogue of the European Health Data Space. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Open science principles and availability via UNCAN.eu platformAll tools and models should follow open science principles, take advantage of current European research infrastructures, and be made available through the future UNCAN.eu platform. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7Multi-stakeholder and cross-disciplinary involvementApplicants must include an appropriate mix of stakeholders from various disciplines and sectors, such as physicians, academia, patients/caregivers, patient representatives, engineers, behavioural scientists, SMEs, insurance companies, charities, and civil society. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ8Mandatory submission of clinical studies annexApplicants must provide details of clinical study(ies) in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ9Participation in EU Cancer Mission 'Diagnosis and treatment' clusterSuccessful proposals must join the 'Diagnosis and treatment' cluster for the EU Cancer Mission and include dedicated budget for networking, attendance at meetings, and joint activities. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ10Synergies with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan networks and ESFRI infrastructuresProjects are expected to build on networks launched under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (e.g. EUNetCCC), resources from relevant ESFRI Research Infrastructures (such as BBMRI, EATRIS, ELIXIR, ECRIN), and the Knowledge Centre on Cancer (KCC). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1europe's beating cancer planEurope's Beating Cancer Plan is a key pillar of the European Health Union, establishing a comprehensive political commitment to address cancer across its entire disease pathway. It focuses on four central action areas: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and improving the quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. Flagship initiatives include establishing an EU network linking recognized Comprehensive Cancer Centres across all Member States to improve access to high-quality care. | · | · | 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).
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
Your consortium must pilot the clinical research programme in at least four different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Crucially, one of these four countries must have a less developed comprehensive cancer infrastructure. Evaluators will immediately verify this geographic and structural constraint during operational compliance checks, making it a strict make-or-break factor before qualitative scoring begins.
Source: Evaluation_pre_award
Proposals must include the dedicated Information on clinical studies annex using the specific template provided in the submission system. Evaluators are instructed to immediately verify the integration of this annex. Failing to provide detailed, structured clinical study parameters here will result in an immediate operational compliance failure.
Source: Evaluation_pre_award
The proposal cannot rely solely on Horizon Europe funding for its long-term impact. Evaluators will explicitly scrutinize your tangible plans to leverage additional resources through instruments like the ERDF, RRF, or EIB. You must embed a concrete financial roadmap within your methodology to demonstrate how the piloted programmes will be sustainably upscaled.
Source: Evaluation_pre_award
Data management strategies must go beyond standard FAIR principles. All produced datasets must be catalogued with metadata records in the European Health Data Space (EHDS), and all developed tools or models must be made available through the future UNCAN.eu platform. Proposals lacking a precise technical pathway to these specific European infrastructures will fail the scope requirements.
Source: Scope
This call operates under a lump-sum financial model. Because payments are released only upon full completion of work packages, you must structure your clinical trial phases, patient recruitment milestones, and data disaggregation tasks into highly discrete, verifiable work packages to avoid severe cash-flow bottlenecks during the project lifecycle.
Source: Eligibility
Nothing to show for this call yet.