Brussels, 14 May 2025 — The European Commission formally adopted the long-awaited Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 on 14 May, unlocking €7.3 billion in research and innovation funding and opening the first calls for proposals on 15 May. The programme represents a single-year funding cycle aligned with the EU's 2025–2027 strategic plan, with a clear shift in orientation toward competitiveness alongside continued support for scientific excellence and societal impact.
The adoption ended months of anticipation. Universities and research institutions had been waiting since late 2024, when the transition to the European Commission's new leadership under President Ursula von der Leyen delayed the programme's release.
Where the Money Goes
The 2025 work programme outlines calls under the main parts of Horizon Europe, excluding the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC), which operate under separate work programmes. The budget is distributed across three core strategic orientations: the green transition, digital transformation, and building a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive Europe.
| Funding Area | Allocation |
|---|---|
| Climate, energy and transport | €1.14 billion |
| Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment | €833 million |
| Artificial intelligence (within digital priorities) | ~€1.6 billion |
| Climate-related objectives (minimum share) | ≥35% of total |
| Biodiversity goals | 8.8% of total |
Key Opportunities for Universities
The European University Association (EUA), which published a detailed analysis on 16 May, highlighted several areas of particular relevance to higher education institutions:
Pillar I — Excellent Science
- Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA): Continued support for doctoral and postdoctoral programmes promoting researcher mobility and skills development. The 2025 update includes enhanced support for researchers affected by war and displacement, notably through the MSCA4Ukraine initiative.
- Choose Europe for Science Pilot: A new MSCA pilot offering more attractive allowances and longer contracts for early-career researchers, part of a broader €500 million package under the 'Choose Europe' initiative launched by President von der Leyen on 5 May 2025 at the Sorbonne in Paris.
- Research Infrastructures: Funding to strengthen and connect European research infrastructure capacities.
Pillar II — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
New calls across six thematic clusters, offering collaborative opportunities in health, digital technologies, climate action, and sustainable food systems. The programme also introduces several new co-funded and institutionalised partnerships.
EU Missions and New European Bauhaus Facility
Dedicated calls in key societal areas including cancer, climate adaptation, urban sustainability, and soil health, alongside initiatives linking sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion.
Widening Participation and ERA
Support measures to improve access to funding and capacity building in countries with lower R&I performance, alongside actions to reform and strengthen R&I systems across Europe.
Simplification and New Evaluation Methods
The 2025 programme introduces efforts to simplify application processes, with wider use of lump-sum funding and expanded use of two-stage calls aimed at reducing administrative burden for applicants. Notably, the programme includes a pilot for blind evaluation in certain two-stage calls — primarily in Clusters 1 (Health), 4 (Digital, Industry and Space), and 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) — to reduce potential evaluator bias.
The 'Choose Europe' Context
The Work Programme 2025 arrives within a broader political context shaped by the EU's 'Choose Europe' initiative. Launched by President von der Leyen on 5 May 2025 at La Sorbonne University in Paris, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, the initiative includes a €500 million funding package for 2025–2027 to position Europe as a leading global hub for research and innovation.
Key measures announced under Choose Europe include:
- ERC Super Grants: New seven-year grants to attract high-level researchers
- ERC Relocation Support: Additional support of €2 million per researcher as part of ERC Advanced Grants to cover eligible relocation and start-up costs
- MSCA Choose Europe Pilot: Launched on 15 May with a budget of €22.5 million, offering extended postdoctoral fellowships and encouraging institutions to provide longer-term employment opportunities
- ERA Chairs Call: A proposed €230 million call under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026–27, potentially supporting up to 120 top researchers in countries lagging behind in R&I performance
Africa Initiative III
The 2025 Work Programme also features calls under the 'Africa Initiative III', designed to deepen EU-Africa cooperation in research and innovation. These calls align with the broader framework of the African Union's Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034) and build on previous iterations of the Africa Initiative under Horizon Europe.
Looking Ahead
All open and forthcoming calls under the 2025 Work Programme are published on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The programme's emphasis on competitiveness — alongside continued commitments to climate, biodiversity, and digital objectives — reflects the political priorities of the new Commission, which has placed research and innovation at the centre of its agenda for European strategic autonomy.
For universities, the 2025 programme offers both opportunities and challenges: significant new funding lines, but also a competitive landscape increasingly oriented toward delivering measurable economic and societal impact alongside scientific excellence.
Sources:
- European University Association, "Horizon Europe work programme 2025: new funding opportunities for universities," 16 May 2025
- European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, "Choose Europe for Science: EU comes together to attract top research talent," 23 May 2025
- European Commission, Horizon Europe Work Programmes page, research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu
- DAAD Brussels Office, "Choose Europe: A new EU initiative to attract global scientific talents," 26 May 2025
- Campus France, "Choose Europe for Science Initiative," 2025
FIRAT Editorial Board
Institutional Research Desk · Foresight Institute of Research and Translation
The collective editorial and research translation board of FIRAT, synthesising peer-reviewed evidence, policy briefs, and division milestones across our seven foundational research pillars.
