Technological solutions alone are not enough to solve the complex challenges facing society. To bridge the gap between innovation and societal impact, the European Commission places particular emphasis on meaningful "SSH integration"—inter- and transdisciplinary collaborations between the SSH and the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
Integrating SSH into Horizon Europe projects ensures a human-centric focus, allowing researchers to explore the social, economic and ethical dimensions of their work alongside technical developments. By doing so, they can better interpret the real-world conditions that lead to the favourable uptake of their innovations. For this reason, integrating SSH expertise is crucial in developing solutions that are socially relevant and sustainable in the long term.
While SSH research is the primary focus of Cluster 2 "Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society", it is a cross-cutting aspect across Horizon Europe. This includes all the thematic Clusters under Pillar 2 (Health; Security; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment); all EU Missions (such as Cancer and Adaptation to Climate); and the New European Bauhaus initiative.
A common pitfall in projects is to treat SSH expertise as a secondary add-on. To be successful, SSH must be incorporated from the very beginning as a core element of the research design. In this way, SSH researchers can contribute their thematic and methodological specialties alongside their STEM partners, to help shape impactful project objectives.
To help SSH researchers identify funding opportunities beyond Cluster 2, Net4Society—the international network of Cluster 2 National Contact Points—recently published the comprehensive guide "Opportunities for researchers from the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) in Horizon Europe".
By fostering strong SSH–STEM collaborations, Horizon Europe projects can deliver the multidisciplinary solutions citizens need, ensuring that technology serves humanity and not the other way around.Author: Marco Cavallaro, National Contact Point for Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society (Cluster 2)Illustrator: Katja Stähli
The Joint Research Centre’s 2025 EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard reveals a slowdown in overall R&D investment growth among EU companies. Against this trend, European health and energy sectors increased their R&D investments well above global peers.
The eCancer Working Group has published a report outlining technical recommendations and a policy roadmap to guide the implementation of the UNCAN.eu Network and European Cancer Patient Digital Centre under the EU Cancer Mission and Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.
The "Net4Society" National Contact Point project has published the 2026-2027 version of its Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Opportunities. This document serves as the main reference for identifying calls and topics with substantial SSH aspects across Horizon Europe.
The handbooks for MSCA COFUND and Staff Exchanges by “RADIANCE”, the National Contact Point project, have been updated for the 2026 call. Applicants will find advice on how to address the award criteria, what to avoid, and practical guidance to strengthen their application and improve their chances of success.
The Joint Research Centre has issued a call to research organisations, academia and SMEs for free access to their Nanobiotechnology Flagship Laboratory (Ispra, Italy), Battery Energy Storage Testing Laboratory and Fuel Cell and Electrolyser Testing Laboratory (Petten, The Netherlands).Deadline: 31.03.2026
The 2026 call invites ambitious agrifood and foodtech start-ups to join one of 6 specialised European hubs. The call supports companies in validating technology, accelerating market readiness, and accessing infrastructure, funding, mentorship and coaching.Deadline: 08.04.2026
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Info Day in Bern in February was a strong success, drawing roughly 200 participants from start-ups, SMEs, universities and research organisations. Sessions covered the full EIC portfolio on market-creating innovation and SME growth, with lively Q&A and networking throughout.
Innosuisse is hosting this year's event in its role as Chair of the Eureka network. The programme includes 2 major matchmaking sessions, during which Euresearch will be present to answer questions related to Horizon Europe funding opportunities.06.05.2026, Basel
Meet the Euresearch Advisors at the InnoFood&Co 2026 event. Stop by our booth for practical guidance on Horizon Europe funding for food innovation, tools for searching for project partners, and tailored advice to move your idea towards a successful proposal.07.05.2026, Fribourg
Get an overview of the Horizon Europe 2026 calls in "Cluster 2", with transdisciplinary topics on democracy and governance; cultural and creative industries; cultural heritage; and social and economic transformations. Learn about networking tools and hear tips from a successful applicant.01.04.2026, Online
This webinar will guide you through the Horizon Europe 2026 calls in "Cluster 3", with topics on crime prevention, resilience, crisis management, and cybersecurity. It will help you identify opportunities for collaborative projects that contribute to a safer, more resilient society in Europe.16.04.2026, Online
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