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Changes in the Horizon Europe Health Work Programme 2026-2027: earlier deadlines and AI topic changes


26th June 2026 at 8:53 am



Blog series 27/27: Work Programme 2026-2027

The just released new version of the Horizon Europe Cluster 1 Health Work Programme 2026-2027 introduces several important changes for prospective applicants. While the overall topic portfolio remains unchanged, the European Commission has brought forward key submission deadlines and updated the title of a flagship artificial intelligence (AI) topic. Organisations planning to participate in the 2027 Health calls should review these changes and monitor future developments carefully and adjust their proposal preparation timelines accordingly.

Earlier opening and submission deadlines for two-stage Health calls

The most significant changes concern the change in opening and submission deadlines for the calls HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-two-stage and HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03, and a change in title for HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-08. As already mentioned in the Newsletter of the Health NCP in Germany, it is highly likely that the submission deadline for stage-1 Health topics will also be extended to February 2027. We at accelopment will continue reviewing any new drafts and informing you as soon as possible of the next changes.

CallOfficial work programmeNew draft
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01Submission: 13 April 2027Although the draft keeps 13 April 2027 as deadline, we have been informed that this deadline will also be moved to 17 Feb 2027  
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-two-stageOpening: 10 Feb 2027 Stage 1: 13 April 2027 Stage 2: 22 Sep 2027Opening: 29 Oct 2026 Stage 1: 17 Feb 2027 Stage 2: 16 Sep 2027
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03Deadline: 22 Sep 2027 HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-08 Call topic title: Towards the next generation of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) for healthcareDeadline: 16 Sep 2027 HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-08 Call topic title: Towards the next generation of frontier Artificial Intelligence models for healthcare

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01

This call contains the following two Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) in the areas of non-communicable and neurodegenerative diseases.

TopicsType of ActionBudgets (EUR million)Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million)Indicative number of projects expected to be funded
Opening: 10 Feb 2027 Deadline(s): 13 Apr 2027
Destination – Staying healthy in a rapidly changing society
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-STAYHLTH-01: Addressing disabilities through the life course to support independent living and inclusionRIA39.306.00 to 8.005
Destination – Living and working in a health-promoting environment
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-ENVHLTH-02: Integrating climate-related exposures into the human exposome and characterising its changes in response to climate changeRIA45.0010.00 to 11.004
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-ENVHLTH-MISSCLIMA-03: Tools and technologies to support health adaptation to climate changePCP20.004.00 to 5.004
Destination – Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-05: Development of novel small molecule antiviral therapeutics for pathogens with epidemic potentialRIA44.209.00 to 11.005
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-06: Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from FlavivirusesRIA37.309.00 to 10.004
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-07: Development of monoclonal antibodies to prevent and treat infections from Filo-, Nairo-, Phenui-, Picorna- and Toga virusesRIA37.309.00 to 10.004
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-08: Development of innovative antimicrobials against pathogens resistant to antimicrobialsRIA44.208.00 to 10.005
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-DISEASE-10: Prevention and management of chronic non-communicable diseases in children and young people (GACD)RIA11.803.00 to 4.003
Destination – Ensuring equal access to innovative, sustainable, and high-quality healthcare
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-CARE-02: Personalised approaches to reduce risks from Adverse Drug Reactions due to administration of multiple medicationsRIA38.008.00 to 10.004
Destination – Maintaining an innovative, sustainable, and competitive EU health industry
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-IND-01: Development of cell-free protein synthesis platforms for discovery and/or production of biologicalsRIA24.506.00 to 8.004
Overall indicative budget 341.60  

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-two-stage

This call contains the following two Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) in the areas of non-communicable and neurodegenerative diseases.

TopicsType of ActionBudgets (EUR million)Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million)Indicative number of projects expected to be funded
Opening: 29 Oct 2026 Deadline(s): 17 Feb 2027 (First Stage), 16 Sep 2027 (Second Stage)
Destination – Tackling diseases and reducing disease burden
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-DISEASE-01-two-stage: Innovative healthcare interventions for non-communicable diseasesRIA63.807.00 to 8.008
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-DISEASE-14-two-stage: Clinical trials for advancing innovative interventions for neurodegenerative diseasesRIA39.30Around 10.004

HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03

This call contains two Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and one Coordination and Support Action (CSA) in the areas of bioprinting, Virtual Human Twins (VHT) and next-generation AI models.

TopicsType of ActionBudgets (EUR million)Expected EU contribution per project (EUR million)Indicative number of projects expected to be funded
Opening: 03 Jun 2027 Deadline(s): 16 Sep 2027
Destination – Developing and using new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-02: Advancing bio-printing of living cells for regenerative medicineRIA39.307.00 to 10.004
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-04: Virtual Human Twins (VHTs) for integrated clinical decision support in prevention and diagnosisRIA39.3010.00 to 12.004
HORIZON-HLTH-2027-03-TOOL-08: Towards the next generation of frontier Artificial Intelligence models for healthcareCSA2.90Around 2.901
Overall indicative budget 81.50  

Our track record

If you are preparing a proposal for 2026 or 2027, we are ready to support you from strategy to submission. At accelopment, we work closely with consortia across all major Horizon Europe clusters to translate Work Programme texts into competitive, evaluator-ready proposals. Our team of experts supports researchers, companies and institutions throughout the entire funding process – from strategic grant planning, to proposal writingproject management and communication and dissemination. With deep knowledge of Pillar II funding opportunities, we help our partners increase their chances of success in securing European research grants across the different clusters. Having collaborated with over 1,000 institutions in Europe and beyond, we are currently involved in over 30 projects. Our successful Research and Innovation Actions include the recently approved Horizon Europe Cluster 1 projects HUNADIA, ResPECT, DITRAP, iN-KEY and the Cancer Mission project ENACT-65. These are in addition to our other ongoing Horizon Europe Health and Cancer Mission projects, such as EXPOSIM, EDiHTA, EU PAL-COPD, GENEGUT, GLIOMATCH and MyPath, as well as many completed Horizon 2020 and FP7 Health projects. Additionally, we are involved in many health-focused Doctoral Networks, including the newly approved SPACE-MEL and guideSkin and the recently started HEAL-4WARD, IN2ACT and BioTransform.

As a member of the two leading professional associations in EU-funded research and innovation, namely the European Association for Innovation Consultants (EAIC) and the European Association for Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA), we share our long-lasting experience while staying up to date on the latest developments in EU innovation policies and their implementation.

We are ISO 9001 certified, internationally accredited by IQnet and members of the Swiss Association for Quality and Management Systems (SQS).

Dr. Eva Avilla Royo
Research & Innovation Project Manager

Andreia Cruz
Research & Innovation Project Manager

Work Programme 2026-2027

Amended Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work Programmes to come – new opportunities and important changes