Horizon Europe for small businesses: how to find calls
How small businesses can find Horizon Europe calls on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal and read a topic page.
Horizon Europe is the EU's research and innovation framework program. Calls are published as topics on the Funding and Tenders Portal, each with its own scope, eligibility and deadline. Many topics need a consortium of partners.
Where to look
EU Funding and Tenders Portal
The European Commission's portal for calls for proposals and applications. Start at the official page, EU Funding and Tenders Portal, and read the current version for eligibility, amounts and deadlines. Program details change, and the official page is always the final word.
Horizon Europe
The European Commission's Horizon Europe page. Start at the official page, Horizon Europe, and read the current version for eligibility, amounts and deadlines. Program details change, and the official page is always the final word.
How to approach it
- Read the topic page and the work programme section it belongs to.
- Check consortium requirements.
- Contact your National Contact Point for advice.
How to tell if a program fits
Before you write anything, read the eligibility section of the official page and answer three questions. Is your organization type eligible, such as a for-profit business, nonprofit or public body? Is your location covered? Are the activities and costs you plan to spend money on the ones the program funds? If any answer is no, move on. Reviewers rarely stretch the rules, and a near miss costs as much time as a real application.
Frequently asked questions
Is there free money for Horizon Europe SME funding? Most public funding is for a specific purpose, and many programs are loans, tax credits or cost-shared contributions. Read each official page to see what type of support it is.
Do I have to pay to apply? No. Applying through official government portals is free. Be cautious of anyone who charges a fee to get you a grant.
How long does it take? It depends on the program. Check the official page for intake dates and decision timelines, and plan to submit early.
Before you apply: a quick checklist
- Read the current official program page and applicant guide, not a summary of last year's version.
- Confirm you are eligible: organization type, size, location and years in operation.
- Confirm your project is eligible: the activities and costs the program actually funds.
- Classify the money: grant, repayable contribution, loan, tax credit or service.
- Work out your share: cost share, matching funds and the cash you need before reimbursement.
- Note the intake window or deadline and the time zone, and plan to submit days early.
- Ask the program contact any question you cannot answer from the guide.
- Do not start spending until you have a signed agreement or written approval.
Mistakes that sink otherwise good applications
- Applying to a program that does not fit, in the hope that reviewers will stretch the rules. They rarely do.
- Copying last year's application without checking what changed in the guide.
- Vague outcomes. Say what will change, for whom, and how you will measure it.
- A budget that does not match the narrative. Every cost should connect to an activity you describe.
- Submitting at the last minute, when portals are busy and there is no time to fix errors.
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