EURATOM: funding for nuclear research, safety and fusion

How the Euratom programme works

Euratom is the European programme for research and training in the nuclear field. It complements Horizon Europe and uses the same rules for participation, evaluation process and Funding & Tenders Portal. It funds international projects that advance the safe use of nuclear technologies and strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty.

For 2026–2027, the work programme for indirect actions has a budget of EUR 330 million: EUR 222 million for fusion research and development and EUR 108 million for fission, nuclear safety and radiation protection.

Currently open call

HORIZON-EURATOM-2027-01-01: Key technologies for fusion power plants

The call supports the maturation and demonstration of innovative components and integrated systems for future fusion power plants. It targets technologies at TRL 6–8, their validation under near-operational conditions and a credible commercialisation plan.

• Application period: 15 September 2026–4 March 2027
• Action type: Euratom Innovation Action
• Indicative call budget: EUR 32 million
• Expected EU contribution: around EUR 10 million per project; three projects are expected

What Euratom supports

• safe long-term operation of nuclear power plants and research reactors,
• safety of small modular reactors, advanced reactors and fuel cycles,
• radiation protection, nuclear security, safeguards and monitoring,
• safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, and decommissioning,
• nuclear fusion research, including technologies for future fusion power plants,
• nuclear education, skills development, mobility and research infrastructure,
• non-energy uses of ionising radiation, including the supply of radioisotopes for medicine.

Who can apply

The programme is intended primarily for:

• research organisations,
• universities,
• technology companies, SMEs and industrial enterprises,
• public institutions,
• regulators and operators of research infrastructure.

For most topics, a joint project is submitted by an international consortium; the specific requirements are always set out in the relevant topic text.

How the funding works

The funding rate depends on the type of action and the specific topic. Research and coordination actions may receive up to 100% of eligible costs, while the standard rate for innovation actions is lower. Some calls use lump-sum funding, which makes it essential to define work packages, milestones, the budget and expected impact realistically from the proposal stage.

Why Euratom is especially relevant now

The programme connects cutting-edge research with industrial deployment. It supports the safety of existing facilities, new reactor concepts, the development of the fusion industry and the availability of critical radioisotopes for healthcare. Alongside the technological benefits, participants gain access to European consortia, expertise and opportunities to validate solutions in an international environment.

Consortium – joint project submission

For most topics, a joint project is submitted by an international consortium; the specific requirements are always set out in the relevant topic text.

We will assess whether your project matches the current topic, help you find suitable partners, define your organisation’s role in the consortium and turn your technical concept into a competitive proposal. We focus on expected results, impact, budget and the formal requirements of the call.