Newsletter "Euresearch Info" September 2026

Focus

Horizon Europe Innovation Instruments: Opening Larger Markets for European Scale-Ups

Europe's innovation policy is increasingly focused on helping companies access larger markets and scale up in strategic sectors. This is reflected in two developments in Horizon Europe's flagship innovation instrument – the European Innovation Council (EIC).

The first shift concerns dual-use technologies. With the amended EIC Work Programme for 2026, the EIC Accelerator and EIC STEP Scale Up funding schemes are now also open to companies delivering innovations with both civilian and defence applications. A credible dual-use proposal needs to define both markets, including target users, demand, competitors, procurement routes and market-entry logic. If well substantiated, dual-use positioning can open access to broader customer bases.

The second shift concerns scale-up financing. The EIC Accelerator continues to help breakthrough deep-tech start-ups and SMEs to bring their innovation to market, and the EIC STEP Scale Up provides larger public equity investments to catalyse €50-150 million investment rounds, including private capital for strategic technology companies to reach global markets. These schemes are now complemented by the newly launched Scaleup Europe Fund, designed to support scale-up with investment rounds typically larger than €100 million, for later-stage European tech companies to secure leadership in deep tech, life sciences, clean tech, advanced manufacturing, and digital technologies.

For applicants, these shifts create opportunities but also reinforce the need for robust commercialisation and scale-up strategies. Funding requests will need to show technological excellence, credible market access, investor readiness and a convincing growth path. For Swiss-based applicants, the key message is clear: demonstrate how innovation can reach significant markets beyond Switzerland and contribute to Europe's competitiveness and sovereignty.

Note: In addition to the regular EIC STEP Scale Up call, an EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call dedicated to purely defence-based applications has also been launched. Swiss-based companies are not eligible to apply to this call.

Authors: Romain Muller and Rita de Brito, National Contact Points for EIC

New European Bauhaus Festival: Resources for Applicants

The 2026 New European Bauhaus Festival brought the community together in Brussels to celebrate sustainable, beautiful and inclusive places, with a fair showcasing projects and ideas from across Europe. Take a look at these for inspiration and potential partners ahead of the 1 December deadline.

How to Leverage Research Infrastructures in a Health Proposal

The network of Health National Contact Points, HNN 3.0, has produced a guide on how to leverage health-relevant European research infrastructures (RIs) in proposals. The guide provides an overview of RIs in the health domain and aims to help applicants better understand how to engage with them.

Upcoming Autumn Events at Euresearch

There is a busy autumn ahead at Euresearch! Join us for updates on the 2027 Horizon Europe Work Programmes, 3 on-site training workshops on different aspects of proposal writing, and other events across Switzerland designed to help applicants succeed. We look forward to seeing you there!

Upcoming EC Webinars on Horizon Europe

The European Commission has announced new webinars for Horizon Europe applicants and grantees:
16.09. Avoiding financial errors
24.09. Finding opportunities and proposal submission
08.10. Grant preparation
15.10. Grant management
12.11. Lump sum funding

Calls

New European Bauhaus (NEB) 2027 Open Calls

Do you have an idea to make your neighbourhood more sustainable, beautiful and inclusive? Swiss organisations can apply to "Connect NEB" (€15 300) to test community-led ideas or "Co-create NEB" (€49 300) to transform public spaces with local partners.
Deadline: 30.09.2026

EIT Culture & Creativity Call for Startups in Fashion, Architecture, Audiovisual Media

EIT Culture & Creativity has opened an €8.6 million call for creative-tech ventures to help them become investment-ready, attract capital and scale internationally. Topics for the 2027 call are focussed on fashion, architecture and audiovisual media.
Deadline: 12.10.2026

EIT Water: Membership Application Now Open

EIT Water fosters innovation and collaboration among industry, innovators, researchers, educators, and policymakers to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our water systems, coasts and oceans. Membership is now open to new organisations. Register your interest.

EuroHPC Joint Undertaking Quantum Calls Launched

EuroHPC has launched 6 calls totalling €119 million to advance quantum technologies. The calls will fund projects on superconducting, trapped-ion and neutral-atom quantum platforms, next-generation QKD systems, quantum testing infrastructure, and experimental pilot lines.

Public Consultation on Revision of EIT Regulation

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the revision of the EIT Regulation, which sets out the European Institute of Innovation and Technology's legal basis and strategy for 2028-2034. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on specific questions.
Deadline: 23.09.2026

AI+X Summit 2026

Meet Euresearch at our booth at the AI+X Summit 2026. Connect with a Company Advisor and National Contact Points for Digital to explore European funding, partnerships and opportunities for your AI innovations. This event brings together research, industry, startups and policymakers.
01.10.2026, Zurich

Energy Startup Day 2026

Energy Startup Day 2026 brings together startups, companies, investors and public institutions to connect, exchange ideas and accelerate solutions for the energy of the future. The day features pitches and opportunities to network and discuss new partnerships. Benefit from early-bird tickets now.
19.11.2026, Aarau

New Funding Opportunity for Swiss Scale-Ups

The European Commission's €5 billion Scaleup Europe Fund (SEF) managed by EQT targets high-growth tech companies from Series B onwards. SEF is open to Swiss companies and focuses on strategic tech areas such as AI, robotics, space, biotech, clean tech, and advanced materials.

Cluster 1 Health: National Information Event

This event is aimed at researchers and innovators interested in EU funding in the area of health. It covers Cluster 1 Health, Cancer Mission, Innovative Health Initiative, Global Health EDCTP3 and EIT Health, and starts with a testimonial from a successful applicant, who will share their EU project experiences.
17.09.2026, Online

Cluster 6 Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Researchers and innovators are invited to join a webinar on the 2027 calls for Horizon Europe Cluster 6. Learn about upcoming funding opportunities and key features of the calls. A successful applicant from the University of Geneva will share lessons learned.
06.10.2026, Online

Legal & Financial Webinars and Workshop

Join the last 2 webinars in our Legal & Financial Tuesdays series to discover more about cost eligibility and intellectual property in Horizon Europe. If you would then like practical experience, save the date for the upcoming workshop. You will spend a day with examples and hands-on calculations and auditing questions.
Webinars: 06. & 13.10.2026, Online
Workshop: 27.10.2026, Bern

Cluster 1 Health Calls 2027: Open Q&A Session

Are you involved in a project proposal to the Horizon Europe Health 2027 calls? Do you have questions about the proposal, partners, consortium, content, or submission? This Q&A session is tailored specifically for you. You can submit your questions in advance via Slido and we will answer them at the event.
09.11.2026, Online

Cluster 5 Climate, Energy and Mobility: Info Day & Brokerage Event

This event will be hosted by the European Commission and streamed online via the web platform. Following the Info Day, an onsite Brokerage Event will take place at the same venue.
19.11.2026, Hybrid, Brussels

Cluster 1 Health: Info Day & Brokerage Event

Do not miss this Info Day on the 2027 topics in Horizon Europe Health. The National Contact Points for Health are offering an online partnering event beforehand where you can find potential partners for your proposal. Apply to pitch for more visibility.
Brokerage: 24.-25.11.2026, Online
Info: 26.11.2026, Online