Horizon Europe 2027: New Calls for Manufacturing, AI and Advanced Materials

Europe aims to strengthen domestic production of strategic products

One of the most attractive topics is Advanced manufacturing for key products under the Made in Europe partnership.

The objective is to develop advanced manufacturing technologies for products and components for which Europe is heavily dependent on production outside the EU. Projects may address new manufacturing processes, flexible and automated production, or technologies that improve the productivity and resilience of European industry.

The expected EU contribution is approximately EUR 6–8 million per project.

A strong project must demonstrate not only technological innovation, but also how it will contribute to the competitiveness and strategic autonomy of European industry.

Circularity is moving directly into manufacturing

The topic Factory processes and automation for de- and re-manufacturing supports technologies that enable products and components to be disassembled, diagnosed, repaired and reused.

Projects may combine, for example:

• robotic disassembly,
• sensors, AI and component condition diagnostics,
• digital twins,
• automated repair and remanufacturing.

The call may be particularly relevant to the automotive, mechanical engineering and electronics sectors, as well as manufacturers of industrial equipment. The expected EU contribution is approximately EUR 5–6.5 million per project.

The focus is not simply on recycling materials. The aim is to retain the value of products and their components within the economy for as long as possible.

Critical raw materials are not only about extraction

A dedicated topic focuses on reducing Europe's dependence on critical and strategic raw materials.

Support is available for the development of advanced materials and manufacturing processes that can partially or fully substitute critical raw materials, or significantly reduce their consumption.

The call is relevant, for example, to the energy, mobility, electronics, construction, medical technology and chemical sectors.

Projects are expected to start at approximately TRL 5 and progress to TRL 7. The expected EU contribution is EUR 6–7.5 million per project.

The key question will be: How specifically will the project reduce Europe's dependence on a problematic raw material or supply chain?

AI to work directly alongside people

Another technologically attractive topic is New approaches for Human/AI collaboration for the workforce of the future.

The call brings together the Made in Europe and AI, Data and Robotics partnerships and focuses on new forms of collaboration between workers and intelligent systems. It is a two-stage call, with the first-stage deadline on 2 February 2027 and the second-stage deadline on 2 September 2027.

Projects may address AI assistants for workers, intelligent decision support, human–robot collaboration or adaptive manufacturing systems.

The expected European Commission contribution is approximately EUR 4–6 million per project.

Do you have a breakthrough technology, but it is still too early for a large-scale demonstration?

An attractive alternative is Fast Track to Research and Innovation for breakthroughs in industrial technologies.

The call targets breakthrough industrial technologies at a lower level of technological maturity. This could include a new manufacturing principle, a new method of material processing, or a technology with the potential to fundamentally transform an existing industrial process.

The EU contribution can reach up to EUR 2.5 million per project.

A separate Fast Track call is also open for breakthrough technologies in the chemical industry.

Do not wait to start preparing

The calls opened on 13 October 2026, and the deadline for the main industrial topics is already 2 February 2027.

Horizon Europe projects require an international consortium, clearly defined partner roles, well-structured work packages, and a jointly developed budget and project logic.

October and November are therefore the right time to decide whether it makes sense to prepare a proposal for one of these calls.

Are you developing your own technology or an industrial R&D project? We can help you assess the fit with the call topic, the technology readiness level and the consortium structure, and then support you in preparing a competitive Horizon Europe proposal.