Innovative Earth observation services in support of maritime litter detection and ship source pollution policies

Closed

Code: 37621 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-46 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

The project aims to develop and demonstrate space-based sensors to monitor marine pollution, focusing on several use cases. These include estimating oil spill volume, thickness, and type; detecting oil in sea ice; identifying chemical, sewage, garbage, and exhaust residue pollution on the sea surface in line with MARPOL Annexes II–VI. It should also enable identification of polluting vessels using their spectral signatures. The use of AI is encouraged to enhance detection accuracy, automation, and reliability, particularly in identifying spills, sewage, and garbage while minimizing false alerts.

Supporting the AI/ML digital transition of Copernicus Services

Closed

Code: 37618 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-45 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

This R&I agenda focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence and advanced data techniques to enhance Earth observation capabilities, especially within the Copernicus programme. Key priorities include developing AI-based retrieval algorithms for satellite sensing, improving cloud and shadow detection, and enabling multi-source segmentation. There’s emphasis on data fusion, mining, and compression methods to manage large datasets efficiently, as well as on hybrid and ensemble data assimilation to improve forecasts and analyses. The agenda also supports observation-driven forecasting and Earth system deep learning models for better prediction accuracy. Additionally, it explores the use of large pre-trained models, super-resolution applications, adaptive workflows, enhanced user interfaces, and AI-powered chatbots for improved user interaction with Copernicus services.

Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service (CMEMS) evolution: new and innovative ocean data assimilation techniques

Closed

Code: 37615 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-44 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

The research and innovation activities aim to advance data assimilation techniques for improved ocean monitoring and forecasting. Key areas include coupled data assimilation across ocean components (like ocean-biogeochemistry or ocean-sea-ice), and the development of multi-scale methods capable of handling high-resolution and high-frequency observations. There is a focus on improving the estimation of uncertainties in analyses and forecasts, as well as incorporating Artificial Intelligence for tasks like model error correction and ensemble generation. The integration of new types of satellite and in-situ observations, and tools to assess the impact of these observations, are also essential. Furthermore, software infrastructure must evolve to support diverse assimilation methods and AI, while validation protocols and intercomparison methods will help evaluate the effectiveness of new approaches.

Copernicus Anthropogenic CO₂ Emissions Monitoring & Verification Support (CO2MVS) capacity: new and innovative methods to estimate the impact of fires on vegetation and related carbon fluxes

Closed

Code: 37613 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-43 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

Research and innovation will focus on better understanding the impact of wildfires on the carbon cycle and emissions linked to land use change. A key priority is improving fire modelling, especially in relation to drought and vegetation interactions, which remains a challenge at regional and global scales. Initiatives like FireMIP have evaluated fire models, but the required model complexity is still uncertain. There is a need to integrate observation-based data into global systems like CO₂MVS to enhance monitoring. Additionally, understanding fire effects on vegetation will help refine estimates of emissions and improve air quality forecasting in systems like CAMS and fire risk predictions in CEMS.

Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) evolution: improved soil-vegetation-atmosphere modelling and data assimilation of atmospheric constituents

Closed

Code: 37610 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-42 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

To achieve the expected outcomes, research and innovation will focus on improving models and techniques related to soil-vegetation-atmosphere interactions, evapotranspiration, and trace gas and aerosol dynamics. This includes enhancing numerical models, parameterizations, and data assimilation methods, particularly for CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) systems. Additional priorities include refining methodologies for estimating deposition fluxes, developing accurate pollen source models for more allergenic species, exploring global pollen modelling, and increasing the use of satellite data to improve dry deposition and emission calculations.

Improving the quality of life of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families

Closed

Code: 37608 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-STAYHLTH-01-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

The scope of this topic is set by the definitions provided by ‘The international classification of diseases’ – World Health Organization (WHO) ICD11 under ‘6A00: Disorders of intellectual development’ and under ‘20: Developmental anomalies’  including disorders of intellectual development, such as ‘LD40: Complete trisomies of the autosomes’ and ‘LD90: Conditions with disorders of intellectual development as a relevant clinical feature’.

Moreover, the three types of autism with disorders of intellectual development (6A02.1, 6A02.3 and 6A02.5) under ‘6A02: Autism spectrum disorder’ are also within the scope of this topic.

The focus of this topic is human-centred on the persons with long-term intellectual disabilities and their formal and informal carers, including families.

The life expectancy of persons with intellectual disabilities has increased in the last 20 years, which makes it even more important to analyse the role of their families acting as informal carers (e.g. ageing parents).

Facilitating the conduct of multinational clinical studies of orphan devices and/or of highly innovative (“breakthrough”) devices

Closed

Code: 37605 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-IND-03-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

The focus of this topic is on multinational clinical studies of orphan devices and/or of highly innovative (“breakthrough”) devices, including digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) based tools and techniques.

The emphasis within rare disease research and innovation has predominantly centred on pharmaceuticals, leaving a noticeable gap in the support for developing orphan devices.

Orphan devices are specifically intended for use in rare diseases or conditions or in specific indications for rare cohorts of patients with an otherwise non-rare disease or condition.

Advancing knowledge on the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on human health

Closed

Code: 37602 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-ENVHLTH-02-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Plastics are an important material in our economy that are everywhere in our daily lives but can present negative environmental and health impacts.

A significant amount of plastic ends up in the environment, degrading into micro- or nano-sized plastic particles that are defined as micro- or nanoplastics (MNPs).

MNPs can be detected in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide in food, water, air and consumer products.

These MNPs have been documented to accumulate in the human body into cells and tissues (e.g. liver, kidney, gastrointestinal track, placenta, testicles) and cause associated adverse biological effects (e.g. inflammatory response, geno-, cyto-, neuro- and nephron-, respiratory and reproductive toxicity).

The impact of pollution on the development and progression of brain diseases and disorders

Closed

Code: 37599 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-ENVHLTH-01-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Life-long exposure to pollutants in the living and occupational environment is an important risk factor for non-communicable diseases, leading to a variety of serious physical and mental health impacts and causing preventable disease burden with associated elevated economic costs.

Pollution disproportionately impacts certain vulnerable groups (e.g. children and older adults) or groups who are more sensitive or more exposed (workers, populations living in polluted areas) to this type of environmental stressor.

At present, over 10% of annual premature deaths in the 27 EU Member States are related to environmental pollution.

Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) evolution: new and innovative processing and methods for future Sentinels and other satellites for reanalyses

Closed

Code: 37594 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-41 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

The research and innovation (R&I) priorities focus on enhancing the ability of Copernicus and related models to better integrate diverse satellite observations, especially those sensitive to surface parameters and fluxes. This includes leveraging early satellite data for global and regional reanalyses. Key actions involve using advanced techniques, such as AI and machine learning, for rescuing and correcting historical in situ and remote sensing data, improving data quality and consistency. Additionally, improving the use of Sentinel and other datasets across Copernicus services requires better error characterization and observation models. Lastly, innovative approaches are needed to speed up reanalysis production, better quantify uncertainties, and reduce the computational energy and carbon footprint.

Advancing innovative interventions for mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders

Closed

Code: 37593 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-03-DISEASE-02-two-stage | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Mental, behavioural and neurodevelopmental disorders, that include for example severe depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, psychosis, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addictive behaviours (drugs, alcohol, gaming and others), obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders and autism spectrum disorder are a high burden for patients, health systems and society, and remain unmet medical needs.

More innovative, safer and more effective therapeutic and relapse-preventing solutions based on active substances are required, as for example for mental disorders many available treatments show modest efficacy, non-negligible side effects, discontinuation problems and high relapse rates

Preparing demonstration missions for collaborative Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions

Closed

Code: 37588 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-32 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

The research and innovation (R&I) priorities focus on enhancing satellite communication (SatCom) and Earth Observation (EO) capabilities through advanced technologies. For SatCom, this includes end-to-end mission capabilities such as seamless integration with terrestrial networks, inter-satellite connectivity, reconfigurable payloads, and interoperability with 5G/6G networks. Emphasis is placed on building flexible testbeds and ensuring satellites can act as nodes in distributed systems. For EO, key areas include on-board processing using AI and machine learning for multi-spectral image analysis, improved data transmission, and standardized ground segment interfaces. Digitalisation of EO instruments and miniaturization of equipment are also important. Cross-cutting innovations for both EO and SatCom involve developing secure, flexible, and environmentally efficient systems, with a focus on shared resources, intelligent data fusion, and high-performance processing technologies.

Boosting the translation of biotech research into innovative health therapies

Closed

Code: 37587 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-05 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

The Commission Communication ‘Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU’  has recently identified research and technology transfer to the market as a major challenge for the biotechnology sector.

This topic aims to speed up the development of innovative biotechnology-based therapies by supporting the initial phases of clinical research.

SMEs play a key role in the EU’s potential to innovate, with most biotechnology-derived drugs in development being progressed by SMEs and small biotech companies.

Leveraging multimodal data to advance Generative Artificial Intelligence applicability in biomedical research (GenAI4EU)

Closed

Code: 37583 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-03 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

The availability of large-scale multimodal health data, scientific information, and novel Generative AI models, combined with high-performance computing capacities offer an unprecedented opportunity for researchers to achieve breakthroughs in our understanding of disease development and to develop new predictive models for disease management, personalised treatment solutions and personalised care pathways. 

Advancing cell secretome-based therapies

Closed

Code: 37580 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Secretome-based therapies have emerged as a promising alternative to cell-based therapies.

The secretome of cells is defined as the repertoire of molecules and biological factors that are secreted into the extracellular space and has been shown to be a key factor for therapeutic activity due to its paracrine effects.

The potential to manufacture, store and use secretome factors as off-the-shelf products, while maintaining the therapeutic benefits of cells but with fewer safety concerns, has placed the secretome at the forefront of regenerative medicine. Different cell secretomes or parts thereof have been the subject of clinical trials, but there is currently no regulatory-approved secretome-based therapy owing to several challenges.

Currently, for the majority of secretome-based therapies, the main bottlenecks are: the incomplete understanding of their mode of action, their reproducibility due to a lack of standardised manufacturing processes and a lack of potency- and quality assurance assays. Additional limitations are the characterisation of the bioactive factors and the optimisation of the delivery strategies.

Enhancing cell therapies with genomic techniques

Closed

Code: 37577 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-TOOL-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

Therapies based on cells, stem cells or somatic cells, have been shown to be highly effective as therapeutics for a variety of health conditions.

However, bottlenecks remain which currently hamper their safe and efficient application on a large scale.

Genome- and epigenome editing have great potential to overcome some of these bottlenecks and to lead to the next-generation of cell-based therapies.

Advancing the frontier of cell-based therapy with these tools and further translation of such research into clinically viable solutions may open up a new era of innovative therapies.

Digitalisation of conformity assessment procedures of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic medical devices

Closed

Code: 37574 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-IND-02 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

The regulations on Medical Devices (MDR) and In Vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices (IVDR) have introduced stricter regulatory requirements in view of ensuring a high level of patient safety and public health. The implementation of the new regulatory requirements still remains a challenge for manufacturers.

SMEs face particular challenges as they have limited resources to adapt to the new framework.

One of the main issues reported by manufacturers is the complexity and perceived unpredictability of the conformity assessment procedure involving a Notified Body.

Digital enablers and building blocks for Earth Observation and Satellite telecommunication for Space solutions

Closed

Code: 37569 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-02-SPACE-31 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Digital, Industry & Space (Cluster 4)(2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 25/09/2025

This topic falls under the European Partnership on Globally Competitive Space Systems and focuses on satellite communications (SatCom), Earth Observation (EO), and new commercial space transportation solutions, as part of broader digitalisation efforts for space services. The emphasis is on accelerating the development of low- to mid-TRL technologies that enhance competitiveness, especially through digital technologies that improve data resolution, timeliness, and resilience across end-to-end SatCom and EO systems. Projects should contribute to one or more of the following outcomes: improving the performance and integration of satellite networks with terrestrial systems to maintain EU leadership in global connectivity; enabling new commercial services through digitalised space solutions; and advancing EO payloads, technologies, and data processing capabilities. Overall, the goal is to foster more flexible, reactive, and globally competitive space-based services within the EU space sector.

Optimising the manufacturing of Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs)

Closed

Code: 37568 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-IND-01 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

New pioneering treatments called Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies, are at the cutting edge of medicines discovery.

Owing to their precise nature, ATMPs embody personalised medicine and reflect a shift in medicine towards potentially one-time curative therapies instead of chronic therapies that mainly cure the symptoms but not the underlying cause of diseases.

Tackling high-burden for patients and under-researched medical conditions

Closed

Code: 37565 | Identifier Code: HORIZON-HLTH-2025-01-DISEASE-07 | Programme name: 2939 | Sub-program: Health (Cluster 1) (2021-2027) | Start submission calls: 22/05/2025 | End submission calls: 16/09/2025

A number of medical conditions fail to be recognised and/or be correctly diagnosed in a significant proportion of patients.

As a consequence, they are inadequately treated and often can become a chronic and high burden for the patient.

These medical conditions, including:

1. myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome,
2. autism,
3. gynaecological diseases,
4. low back pain,
5. other,

may be insufficiently researched even though they manifest with high prevalence.