Horizon Europe is one of the most ambitious funding programs in the world.
Below are helpful links, resources and frequently asked questions to support Canadians who would like to apply to Horizon Europe.
Presentation on Horizon Europe
On January 25, 2024, Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service hosted an information session on Canada’s participation in Horizon Europe. A recording of this presentation can be found at the following link: Horizon Europe and Canada 2024 - Webinar.
The European Commission (EC) created a presentation on Horizon Europe that provides an overview of the program. For more information, visit Horizon Europe: Investing to shape our future.
Funding and Tenders Portal
The EC created the Funding & tender opportunities portal that is searchable and lists all calls, whether they are open, closed or forthcoming.
To refine your search results to only Pillar 2 calls or specific clusters under Pillar 2, use the "Programme Part" field in the search section to the left. Select the "Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness" to view calls under all six clusters, or select specific ones that align with your interests and/or expertise.
For more information, please visit the Funding & tender opportunities portal.
EU Funding and tenders online manual
The EC created the EU Funding & Tenders Online Manual as a user guide for applicants and beneficiaries to understand how grants, procurements and prizes work and how to manage them electronically in the Funding & tender opportunities portal.
For more information, please visit the EU Funding & Tenders Online Manual.
Community Research and Development Information Service
The EC created the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) for comprehensive information about EU Research and Development projects.
Horizon Europe programme guide
The EC created a Horizon Europe Programme Guide to provide detailed guidance on the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. It also includes details on how to prepare proposals.
EU science and innovation YouTube Channel
The European Commission's EU Science & Innovation YouTube channel shares videos to learn more about EU research and innovation activities, including how-to videos on Horizon Europe.
Contact the European Commission
For more information, visit the European Commission's main Horizon Europe webpage.
For general inquiries, contact: horizoneurope@ised-isde.gc.ca
Frequently asked questions
The EC created a Frequently Asked Questions page for Horizon Europe. For more Canadian-specific questions, please see below.
Can I apply during the transition period (while Canada and the European Commission work on approving the treaty)?
Yes, the European Commission has offered to review Canadian applications to Pillar 2 calls, as if Canada were already associated to Horizon Europe. Awards will be issued once the treaty has been provisionally applied – expected in mid-2024.
How is intellectual property managed?
Applicants must outline their strategy for managing intellectual property, including protection measures (if relevant) and how these measures would support exploitation in the proposal (section on impact).
Horizon Europe has the specific objective of strengthening the deployment and exploitation of innovative solutions. This objective calls for transparency and clarity in terms of results ownership. The owner of results is the natural or legal entity that has generated the results.
Would Canadian entities have equal access to the Horizon Results Platform as their EU counterparts?
Canadian entities that are beneficiaries and would like to use the Horizon Results Platform to publish their project results could do so, as any other EU beneficiary. The Horizon Results Platform is accessible to any interested parties to discover results generated in Horizon Europe projects.
Would Canadian entities be barred from sharing their results with US counterparts?
As a general rule, Canadian entities would not be barred from sharing their results with non-associated countries to Horizon Europe, such as the United States.
What is the difference between "third parties" and "contractors"?
"Contractor" is a general term used in situations in which a contractual relationship exists, e.g., between a beneficiary and another legal entity. A "Third party" is a legal entity that does not sign the grant agreement.
What is the definition of "classified information" and what makes it different from "sensitive information"?
The definition of "classified information" is usually determined by the EU and/or national rules. The EU classification contains four levels:
- EU top secret
- EU secret
- EU confidential
- EU restricted
"Sensitive information" refers to information that should not be made public (e.g., commercially sensitive information, business or trade secrets, confidential market data, valuable results not yet protected by intellectual property rights or security-sensitive information).