Latest updates from Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility
Calls currently open under Cluster 5 2025 Work programme
Deadline(s): 20 Jan 2026 €188m for 16 Topics that’s includes Batteries (Destination 2) and Mobility (Destination 5/6) / Cluster 5 Topics Deadline Jan 20th
Deadline(s): 17 Feb 2026 €318m for 20 Topics under Destination 4 Buildings and Destination 3 Renewables and Grid / Cluster 5 Topics February 17th deadline
Cluster 5 2026-2027 Work programme
We are hoping to see the publication of the final Horizon Europe work programme that covers 2026/2027 this December. The first deadlines will be March 2026, and with close to 100 topics, deadlines will be spread out till December 1st 2027. That gives you PLENTY OF TIME TO PLAN applications.
A draft is available on the commission comitology website. Comitology is one of those EU speak words. (Comitology committees are part of the EU's broader system of committees that assist in the making, adoption, and implementation of EU laws).
Total budget for Cluster 5 will be €1187.72m for 2026 and €865.24m for 2027.
Large budget projects in 2026/2027
For this final work programme the commission have gone for some topics (Wind, Ocean, renewable fuels) with very large budgets and where only one project will be funded but those projects will also include the use of Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP). FSTP, also known as Cascade funding, is a Commission mechanism to distribute public funding to assist beneficiaries, such as start-ups, scale-ups, SME and/or mid-caps. Effectively SME’s can join the project after the project starts through the FSTP mechanism.
Large Budget Topics include:
· Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wind energy systems supporting the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan on wind, €93m
· Innovative technologies and solutions to improve wave and tidal energy systems, €43m
Bottom up Research topic
Each Cluster 5 work programme has a research topic that is open to bottom-up ideas where “Activities are expected to achieve TRL 4-5 by the end of the project”. For the 2026/2027 workprogramme the topic is a 2 stage process with stage 1 (10 page proposal) on 31 Mar 2026. The topic title is:
· HORIZON-CL5-2026-04-Two-Stage-D3-02: Next generation of renewable energy technologies. RIA. €23.50m budget with 6 projects expected to be funded.
The proposal is expected to address high-risk and high return technology developments for game changing renewable energy technologies.
Info days and brokerage events
Cluster 5 info day and brokerage event will be held online on January 14/15. These events will focus on the forthcoming 2026 topics.
Registration for the brokerage event is open until 17 December 2025.
For all the various Horizon Europe Cluster Info-days 2026 including the planned info-days on the Missions see: Horizon Europe info days - European Commission
New European Bauhaus
The New European Bauhaus (NEB) is an initiative launched by the European Commission in 2020 as part of the European Green Deal. Its purpose is to connect sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion in shaping the future of living spaces, products, and lifestyles across Europe.
Sustainability: Climate neutrality, circular economy, zero pollution, and biodiversity.
Aesthetics: Quality of experience and beauty beyond mere functionality.
Inclusion: Accessibility, affordability, and valuing diversity.
One of the funding mechanisms in support of the NEB is Horizon Europe. The initial calls were part of the Pillar II Clusters and now the NEB has its own workprogramme. The Work Programme 2026-2027: 13. New European Bauhaus Facility has ~€100m per year with 3 Destinations
· Destination - Connecting the green transformation, social inclusion and local democracy
· Destination - Circular and regenerative approaches for the built environment
· Destination - Innovative funding and new business models for the transformation of neighbourhoods
The destinations include Research and Innovation Actions RIA’s and Innovation Actions and the RIA Topics include:
· Novel combinations of knowledge and research methods to address social issues and advance a fair green transition of neighbourhoods
· Combining conventional and innovative construction materials, products and techniques for sustainable and beautiful buildings
· Approaches to reuse vacant, obsolete or under utilised spaces
The work programme can be downloaded from here.
To get involved in the initiative see the New-European-Bauhaus website where you can become a Partner or Friend or use the various tools and project Dashboard.
You may be interested in the third edition of the New European Bauhaus Festival in Brussels (Belgium) on 9-13 June 2026. More information available here.
