HORIZON EUROPE - SPACE UPDATE

The Cluster 4 work programme is designed to build a competitive, digital, low-carbon and circular industry, ensure sustainable supply of raw materials, develop advanced materials and provide the basis for advances and innovation in global challenges to society. It is divided into three main areas Digital, Industry and Space.

The Space destination is defined as “Open Strategic Autonomy in Developing, Deploying and Using Global Space-Based Infrastructure, Services, Applications and Data”.

The Cluster 4 work programme for 2026 has been published and the HADEA Space call has just opened. The full work programme can be viewed here: Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space - Research and innovation

The total budget for the Space destination in Cluster 4 for 2026 is approx. €273m, split between a HADEA call, a EUSPA call and various “Other Actions not subject to calls for proposals”.

  ·  The main HADEA Space call incorporating 8 topics and 33% of the budget opened on March 10th 2026          and will close on Sept 3rd 2026.

  · The EUSPA call incorporating just one topic will open on Oct 14th 2026 and will close on Feb 17th 2027.         This topic will mainly cover the development of high TRL applications/services (which utilise space data)         for crisis and security practitioners.

   · The remaining topics/actions will be managed by various third parties at different times (eg. ESA, EU SST          Partnership, CASSINI).

The main HE 2026 Info Day for Cluster 4 was held on Jan 29th/30th 2026 and the recordings can be watched here.

The Space Partnership has sponsored two of the eight topics in the 2026 HADEA call and will continue to help guide the direction of future Space topics. Details on the Space Partnership (ie. members, how to join, etc) can be found here.

The eight topics in the main HADEA call are grouped under various sub-headings:

·  Accessing Space (the ability to transport cargo and humans into space)

There is one topic relating to the development of ground infrastructure for EU-based spaceports.

·  Using Space on Earth

There are two topics relating to satellite communications and Earth Observation technologies and services.

·  Space Sciences and Exploration

There is one topic relating to the analysis of data from EU space missions (not general Earth Observation data) focussing on astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology, heliophysics, deep space, solar system exploration, etc.

· Boosting Space thru non-dependence of the EU for key critical space technologies

    There are four topics on developing space critical technologies focussing on:

       - Radiation Hard FPGA on 7nm. 

       - GaN MMICs mm-Wave Foundations.

       - High and Very High Energy Irradiation Test Facility.

       - Space Refuelling Interface. 

A Technical Guidance Document for these four topics can be found here.