The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 has been pre-published, and it includes a number of topics on knowledge valorisation.
Find out about the relevant topics in Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’:
- ‘Proof of market’ to improve valorisation and commercialisation of Horizon generated R&I results (IA)
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HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MATERIALS-PRODUCTION-49
This action aims to provide financial support to small consortia (i.e. spin-offs, startups, SMEs) to explore the exploitation potential, in the EU, of results emerging from ongoing or completed projects funded under Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’ or its predecessor activities under Horizon 2020.
- Enhancing industry-academia knowledge exchange in Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)
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This topic supports SSH-industry co-creation (for example through hackathons, team-based approaches, targeted mentorship and exchange programmes etc) focussing on specific challenges from industry including SMEs.
- Unlocking the potential of academic intellectual assets for industry, SMEs and startups
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This action explores strategies and implements pilots for actively involving students and researchers in valorising academic IP and intellectual assets, for identifying and testing models and tools for easier IP access and utilisation by startups and SMEs.
Discover also these topics in the ‘Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area’ part:
- European Citizens' Hackathon Championship
HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-07-ERA-06: Pillar III
The aim is to accelerate knowledge valorisation through citizen engagement by driving the co-creation of innovative solutions that address citizens' needs, in joint teams of researchers and citizens, thereby supporting their market uptake.
- Piloting innovative approaches to support academic startups and spinoffs
For HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-07-ERA-04: Pillar II
The objective of this action is to strengthen ecosystems for knowledge valorisation and innovation by supporting academic startups and spinoffs to benefit from end-user feedback and links to industry and society.
Work Programme 2025
The Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025 contains several topics addressing new and innovative actions to support knowledge valorisation. The aim is to enhance the valorisation of research and innovation results through standardisation, AI-powered tools, and transdisciplinary pilots. Furthermore, topic areas for supporting intermediaries and knowledge and technology transfer professionals in universities and research performing organisations will aim to enhance knowledge sharing and valorisation. These topics will promote the collaboration of R&I actors for value creation and contribute to strengthening innovation capacity and competitiveness in Europe.
Find out about the relevant topics in Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry and Space’:
- Horizon Standardisation Booster
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The aim of the topic is to provide expert support to beneficiaries of publicly funded projects to valorise project results through standardisation, either by creation of new standards or by revision of existing standards.
- Standardisation landscape analyses tool
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The aim of the topic is to develop a standardisation landscape analyses tool to support R&I actors in identifying relevant existing standards. This tool will help researchers to consider the existing standards landscape as a key input when planning their project activities.
- Artificial Intelligence for knowledge valorisation
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This topic aims at harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence for knowledge valorisation. This includes identification of appropriate existing tools and instruments and the testing of AI-powered valorisation plans in at least 100 cases. It will provide an AI-powered valorisation toolbox taking into account EU policy and regulations on AI-ethics.
- Value creation pilots for scaling up innovative solutions
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The aim of the topic is to strengthen EU capacity to respond to complex and urgent challenges through research and innovation, increase industrial and economic competitiveness and make transdisciplinary research deliver for society. The effectiveness of at least 10 transdisciplinary valorisation pilots will be tested to “be ready” for scale up across Europe.
In addition, in “Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area” under the call topic HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-01: Rolling out the ERA policy Agenda results, two areas address the uptake of the Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation and the Codes of Practice:
- Area “Establish a European network of knowledge valorisation intermediaries”: The aim is to enhance capacities, skills and services of intermediaries for knowledge valorisation so that they can effectively increase connections between R&I actors when it comes to intellectual assets management, standardisation, industry – academia co-creation and citizen engagement.
- Area “Upgrade services of knowledge and technology transfer professionals in universities and research performing organisations”: The aim is to upgrade the skills and services of KTO/TTOs in universities and research performing organisations in line with the Guiding Principles for knowledge valorisation and the Codes of Practice.