Pillar IV: Advancing Knowledge for ERA
EU funding initiative under Horizon Europe to generate new knowledge and evidence to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA). Competition for research and innovation projects with a duration of up to 3 years. Submission deadline: 12 March 2026.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Generation of new information and knowledge contributions to strengthen the evidence base for the further development of the European Research Area (ERA), in order to support policy-making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of ERA measures.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Travel expenses
- Material costs
- Subcontractor services
- Costs for dissemination and communication
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of real estate
- Retroactive costs
- Debt settlement
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Educational Institutions
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Institutions
- Founders
Funding requirements
- Participation of at least three independent legal entities from different EU or associated countries
- Fulfillment of the financial and operational capacity criteria
- Compliance with the exclusion criteria (e.g., no conviction for fraud or corruption)
Documents required for application
- Application form Part A and Part B
- Curricula vitae of key personnel
- Ethics self-declaration
- Financial plan and detailed budget table
- Proof of financial capacity (e.g., audited annual financial statement)
Evaluation criteria
- Excellence of the project objectives
- Potential to achieve the expected impacts
- Quality and efficiency of implementation
Description
The EU initiative “Pillar IV: Advancing Knowledge for ERA” (HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-06-ERA-08) supports research and innovation projects with durations of up to 3 years. With a total budget of €16 million and a funding rate of 100%, the call targets companies, universities, non-profit and public institutions, as well as founders from all EU Member States and associated countries. Teams from at least three independent partner organizations develop new evidence for the further development of the European Research Area (ERA). Targeted research projects are intended to support policy-making, monitoring, and evaluation of ERA measures and to promote open science practices. Submissions are possible until 12 March 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time), with project start dates from 1 January 2026. The maximum funding amount per project is €2.5 million; eligible costs include, among others, personnel costs, travel expenses, material costs, as well as dissemination and communication expenditures.
Proposed activities cover six thematic areas, including replication studies on research reproducibility, ethical frameworks for space technologies, strategies for gender-equitable working conditions in R&D companies, and innovative models for exploring mobility and career paths in science and industry. Evaluated projects are characterized by excellent objectives, high impact potential, and efficient implementation. Applications are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal; required documents include, among others, application forms Part A/B, CVs of key personnel, ethics self-assessment, and detailed budget tables. A comprehensive ethics review and the inclusion of gender equality plans ensure a well-founded, inclusive project implementation. Interested research teams, policy actors, and societal stakeholders will find here an attractive opportunity to sustainably strengthen the European Research Area and generate forward-looking insights.
Ready to secure your funding?
Register now and let our AI guide you through the application process – from eligibility check to finished application.