Driving the energy and mobility transitions: Horizon Europe’s 2026–27 Cluster 5 draft Work Programme
10th November 2025 at 12:02 pm
The European Commission has pre-published the draft Horizon Europe 2026–2027 Cluster 5 Work Programme on Climate, Energy and Mobility through its Comitology Register. This early release offers a valuable head start for researchers, innovators and organisations preparing for next year’s funding opportunities. While the document remains subject to change before its official adoption in late 2025, it already reveals the Commission’s priorities, accelerating the twin green and digital transition in our energy and transport sectors to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The programme foresees innovation in sustainable energy technologies, climate science, cross-sectoral solutions and clean mobility systems. With calls expected to open in early 2026, now is the time to explore which topics align with your expertise.
According to the draft 2026–2027 Work Programme, nine calls are currently planned for 2026. These will open at the latest in January 2026, following the official adoption of the Work Programme at the end of 2025.
Unlocking the transition: Insights for 2026 proposal submission
Cluster 5 is anticipated to cover six interconnected Destinations, addressing the climate transition and the transformation towards climate neutrality, sustainable and efficient energy supply and energy use as well as safe and resilient mobility. According to the current draft, this cluster will include over 47 call topics, with more than 120 projects expected to be funded across Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs), Innovation Actions (IAs) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs).
Horizon Europe 2026 Cluster 5 call topics – key facts for you to know
Take a closer look at the upcoming call topics: the tables below summarise the essentials to help you plan strategically. Whether your expertise lies in advancing renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, decarbonising transport, or strengthening climate resilience, this draft Work Programme serves as your roadmap to the next major funding opportunities.
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-03
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 31 March 2026 | ||||
| Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D2-02: Development of direct recycling processes (BATT4EU Partnership) | RIA | 14.2 | Around 4.70 | 3 |
| Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-01: Targeting key value chain components for increasing the competitiveness of renewable energy technologies in Europe | RIA | 9 | Around 3.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-03: Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wind energy systems supporting the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan on wind | IA | 93 | Around 93.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-13: Long-lifetime and optimised use of materials in recyclable Ag and In-free Si PV modules (EUPI-PV Partnership) | RIA | 15 | Around 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-14: Industrial scale up and circularity pathway for IPV technologies (EUPI-PV Partnership) | IA | 31.5 | Around 10.50 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-19: Grid-forming capabilities for more resilient and RES-based electricity grids | IA | 20 | Around 10.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-20: Affordable and sustainable primary equipment for Future-Ready multi-terminal HVDC Systems | IA | 24 | Around 4.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-21: Hybrid AI-Control Framework for a next-generation grid-scale energy storage and system integration | IA | 14 | Around 7.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-22: Novel solutions for off-grid storage of renewable energy for critical infrastructures | RIA | 12 | Around 4.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-23: AI-driven forecasting algorithms for Grid and Consumer friendly Energy Sharing – Societal Readiness pilot | IA | 12 | Around 6.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-03-D3-30: Pre-commercial appraisal for CO2 aquifer storage | IA | 25 | Around 5.00 | 5 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-05
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 14 Apr 2026 | ||||
| Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-01: Large-scale demonstration of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD BEV) towards long-haul logistics operations (2ZERO Partnership) | IA | 68 | Around 34.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-02: Energy-efficient software-defined EVs (2ZERO Partnership) | IA | 16 | Around 16.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-07: AI-assisted digital aircraft design, manufacturing and MRO, towards a competitive aviation | RIA | 10 | Around 5.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-11: Ports of the future (ZEWT Partnership) | IA | 21 | Around 10.50 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-12: Shipyards of the future (ZEWT Partnership) | IA | 21 | Around 10.50 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-05-D5-13: Safety of renewable low and zero-carbon waterborne fuels in port areas: risk assessment, regulatory framework, and guidelines for safe bunkering, handling and storage (ZEWT partnership) | CSA | 2 | Around 2.00 | 1 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-07
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 15 Apr 2026 | ||||
| Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-01: Next generation climate monitoring and related capabilities | RIA | 15 | Around 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-02: Advancing European climate risk assessments | RIA | 15 | 4.00 to 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-03: Economics of climate change and cost of inaction | RIA | 16 | Around 4.00 | 4 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-04: Fighting disinformation and effectively communicating on climate change | RIA | 15 | 4.00 to 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-07-D1-05: Improving climate and weather models for Africa | RIA | 21 | Around 7.00 | 3 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-09
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 5 May 2026 Deadline(s): 15 Sep 2026 | ||||
| Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-01: Producing battery-grade materials for electrodes through sustainable processing and refining of raw materials or developing bio-based materials (BATT4EU Partnership) | RIA | 28.3 | Around 7.10 | 4 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D2-04: Coordinated topic with India on recycling of EV batteries | IA | 9.4 | Around 9.40 | 1 |
| Efficient, sustainable and inclusive energy use | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-01: Researching the technical, social & economic factors impacting the energy performance of Smart Buildings (Built4People Partnership) | RIA | 15.75 | Around 5.25 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-02: Low disturbance prefabrication approaches for deep renovation of multi-storey buildings (Built4People Partnership) | IA | 28 | Around 7.00 | 4 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-03: Advanced data platforms to integrate whole life carbon in building information tools, assessments, and certification (Built4People Partnership) | IA | 15.75 | Around 5.25 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-04: Validating policies and business models for affordable and sustainable housing (Built4People Partnership) | RIA | 15 | Around 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-09-D4-08: Full-scale demonstration of heat upgrade solutions in industrial processes | IA | 18 | Around 9.00 | 2 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-10
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 4 Jun 2026 Deadline(s): 8 Oct 2026 | ||||
| Cross-sectoral solutions for the climate transition | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D2-03: Integrated Production and Product Development for Next-Generation Lithium-based Batteries for Mobility (BATT4EU and Made in Europe Partnerships) | IA | 100.00 [2] | Around 33.30 | 3 |
| Safe, Resilient Transport and Smart Mobility services for passengers and goods | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-01: Flagship-pilot: large-scale demonstrations of CCAM (CCAM Partnership) | IA | 100 | Around 100.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-02: Geopolitical competition and socioeconomic resilience in CCAM: an innovation and policy roadmap for EU leadership (CCAM Partnership) | RIA | 4 | Around 4.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-03: Generative AI for smarter CCAM: enhancing perception, decision-making, and validation (CCAM Partnership) | RIA | 13 | Around 6.50 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-06: Increasing competitiveness and resilience of multimodal freight transport and logistics for competitive supply chains | IA | 20 | Around 6.50 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-07: Supporting sustainable and smart urban mobility in Europe (CIVITAS) | CSA | 4 | Around 4.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-09: Road Safety and resilience of rural areas | IA | 12 | Around 6.00 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-10-D6-10: Enhanced resilience in multimodal passenger transport through digital technologies and generative and discriminative AI | IA | 10 | Around 5.00 | 2 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-11
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 4 Aug 2026 Deadline(s): 1 Dec 2026 | ||||
| Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-04: De-risking renewable fuel technologies through transnational pre-commercial procurement of renewable fuel industrial value chains | PCP | 40 | Around 40.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-05: Demonstration of solid biofuel supply and conversion to high efficiency large scale CHP from fully sustainable regional value chains | IA | 13.5 | Around 6.75 | 2 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-06: Resource assessment for deep sedimentary and basement reservoirs | RIA | 18 | Around 4.50 | 4 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-07: European Union Contest on Lithium production from geothermal plants in Europe | CSA | 5 | Around 5.00 | 1 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-15: Improved system design for innovative PV applications (EUPI-PV Partnership) | IA | 30 | Around 7.50 | 4 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-11-D3-24: Data sharing to support the training and development of AI foundation models in the energy sector | IA | 30 | Around 10.00 | 3 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-04-two-stage
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 31 Mar 2026 (First Stage), 20 Oct 2026 (Second Stage) | ||||
| Sustainable, secure and competitive energy supply | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-04-Two-Stage-D3-02: Next generation of renewable energy technologies | RIA | 23.5 | Around 4.00 | 6 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-06-two-stage
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 14 Apr 2026 (First Stage), 8 Oct 2026 (Second Stage) | ||||
| Clean and competitive solutions for all transport modes | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-06-Two-Stage-D5-10: Disruptive Technologies and Innovative Concepts for Energy Saving Onboard of long-distance ships (ZEWT Partnership) | RIA | 15 | Around 5.00 | 3 |
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-06-Two-Stage-D5-19: Non-exhaust emissions in road and railway transport | RIA | 7.5 | 3.50 to 4.00 | 2 |
Call: HORIZON-CL5-2026-08-two-stage
| Topics | Type of Action | Budgets (EUR million) | Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million) | Indicative number of projects expected to be funded |
| Opening: 18 Dec 2025 Deadline(s): 15 Apr 2026 (First Stage), 8 Oct 2026 (Second Stage) | ||||
| Climate sciences and responses for the transformation towards climate neutrality | ||||
| HORIZON-CL5-2026-08-Two-Stage-D1-06: Closing knowledge gaps on Earth system science in support of global and regional assessments and climate policy | RIA | 45 | 5.00 to 9.00 | 7 |
Horizon Europe Climate, Energy and Mobility initiatives: Our team supports your goals
At accelopment, we have extensive experience in securing EU funding for research and innovation projects. Our team of experts guides researchers, companies and institutions throughout the entire funding process – from strategic grant planning, to proposal writing, project management and communication and dissemination. With deep knowledge of Pillar II funding opportunities, we help our partners maximise their chances of success in securing European health research grants. We have participated in the successful SOLARX project and we are currently involved in several significant energy and mobility related projects, including PEPPERONI, ROADVIEW, and more, and look forward to supporting researchers in the upcoming calls.
Dr. Johannes Ripperger
Research & Innovation Manager
Andreia Cruz
Research & Innovation Project Manager