Canadian researchers can now participate in Pillar II calls, which focus on Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness. This pillar, one of three in the Horizon Europe Program, welcomes researchers from all disciplines.
Don't forget to also consult the Starter Guide for information about this complex funding program, basic application procedures for various calls, and to benefit from expert guidance and hands-on advice from specialist administrative teams and experienced consultants.
Consortia typically include eight to twelve partners from, on average, five countries, working on projects lasting three to five years.
Horizon Europe provides substantial funding. Grant amounts vary by proposal call but average four to five million euros.
Recommended 6 - 12 months before submission
Identify areas of interest within the Horizon Europe framework and begin exploring potential partners.
Early consultation with UCalgary’s Horizon Europe specialists is strongly encouraged at this stage to:
Prospective Applicants may begin reviewing Horizon Europe Work Programmes and Funding & Tenders Portal listings to review upcoming 2026 opportunities.
Recommended 4 - 6 months before submission
January & May (Two INOI Intake Periods)
Internal Notice of Intent (INOI) Submission: UCalgary has a mandatory INOI process with regular intakes throughout the year. Applicants submit an INOI once they have identified their area of interest for a Horizon Europe opportunity (applies to all Pillars).
An INOI submission informs Research Services and UCalgary International of anticipated support needs for proposal and concept development and helps us coordinate relevant partnership development and proposal planning activities leading up to submission of your proposal.
Recommended 4 months ahead of submission
At this stage, the focus shifts to bringing together the work completed during the initial phases. This includes refining early-stage concepts and call engagement strategies with your partners and working with UCalgary HE specialists as required for assistance with further expertise mapping and technical gap analysis with the larger group. The aim is to refine the proposal concept using recommendations aligned with Horizon Europe’s strategic orientations and priorities, such as innovation focus, and expected societal impacts.
Typical activities can include:
Applicants forming or joining consortia are encouraged to plan for a minimum of four to six months of partnership‑building activities, carried out alongside proposal development.
Ideally at least 3 months ahead of the earliest deadline set by the EU Commission
Finalization of Consortium Expertise and Alignment
At this stage of the application timeline, the UCalgary portion of the budget begins to take shape alongside the aligned Work Packages and task assignments, confirming niche expertise each partner contributes and any other modifications related to the consortium composition; ensuring that the call requirements match your team’s overall capabilities and that the proposal’s Technology Readiness Level is positioned appropriately in relation to both your expertise and that of your partners.
While proposal components continue to be drafted and refined, specialist UCalgary units such as Legal, Research Data Management, Knowledge to Impact, and Research Security may get involved to provide iterative review and guidance as needed, based on the specific demands of each project. During this stage, applicants also create their EU Login accounts and link to UCalgary’s organization personal identification code (PIC) 998757203 in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, which enables access to application materials and submission functions within the portal for UCalgary HE specialists and the Coordinator or Lead Site.
At least 2 months prior to submission in the EU Portal
Finalization of consortium partners and institutional submission
To meet internal requirements for review and submission, applicants will be required to submit a fully complete application with budget at least ten (10) business days in advance of the earliest deadline set by the Lead/Coordinating Institution. This should arrive in RSO via the Research Management System (RMS), complete with approvals.
For more details on the internal submission process and timing, please visit the Research Services Office Horizon Europe page
End Notes
Horizon Europe calls often open for relatively short windows, but most key call details and submission requirements are available to view well in advance. Applicants can usually view these as ‘Forthcoming’ calls in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal or in the draft, pre‑published versions of the Work Programme documents. This early access allows teams to begin preparing long before the official call opening date.
If you are considering applying for Horizon Europe, you are encouraged to connect with a UCalgary Horizon Europe specialist in the UCalgary International Office to learn more about accessing upcoming calls that align with your areas of expertise.
Pre-emptive planning, early engagement with UCalgary program specialists and support teams helps ensure strong consortium formation, proposal development and adequate preparation time.
What is TRL?
TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level. It could be considered as a basic roadmap or (topic-tailored) blueprint, showing how far along your idea is in the journey from concept to market.
Understanding Technology Readiness Levels
Before considering Horizon Europe, it's important to determine both the starting and projected ending TRL of your concept in line with the objectives and expected outcomes of the topic.
The TRL scale, which ranges from 1 (Basic Principles Observed) to 9 (Actual System Proven in Operational Environment), provides a standardized way to assess the current maturity of your technology and its anticipated advancement within the project.
Why is TRL Important?
Knowing your (anticipated) TRL helps us connect you with the right resources and partners and determine your fit to a topic or team in Horizon Europe.
For example, a project at TRL 3 (Technology Concept Formulation) might benefit from early-stage research funding and collaboration with a group comprised mostly of academic experts. An expected project output at TRL 7 (Demo in Operational Environment) might be more suited for industry partnerships and pilot testing of the concept.
It's worth noting that many Horizon Europe projects typically expect projects to reach a low to mid range of the TRL scale upon completion or generally between TRL 2 and TRL 8, pointing to a focus on research and development activities.
How to use the Scale
Each level represents a stage of development, from basic research to full commercial application. It's important to remember that these levels provide a general indication of where your concept stands. There can be some overlap and nuance. By understanding where your concept broadly fits, you can better understand your role and fit in a consortium.
Note for Social Sciences and Humanities Researchers
SSH researchers are encouraged to engage with Horizon Europe opportunities across the spectrum of research areas.
Why?
While the TRL scale provides a useful framework for assessing the maturity of technologies within applied and STEM focused projects, it is essential to recognize the integral role of SSH expertise across the Horizon Europe program, irrespective of specific TRL levels.
Horizon Europe projects, even those primarily focused on deploying technological advancements, increasingly require a robust consideration and assessment of societal impact, associated ethical dimensions, and effective communication strategies.
SSH researchers bring critical skills to most Horizon Europe projects in areas such as:
These contributions are fundamental to ensuring that the requirements of most Horizon Europe topics are addressed with a focus on responsible development and successful implementation of research outcomes.