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Call for Applications: Strengthening Research Infrastructure Resilience

Deadline: 16-Jun-2026

The European Commission’s Horizon Europe program offers €10 million in funding to strengthen risk management, mitigation, and contingency planning across European research infrastructures. Grants of €1–4 million support the preservation of critical data, continuity of research operations, and enhanced resilience against risks in climate, biodiversity, health, and social sciences.

What is the Initiative?

This Horizon Europe initiative aims to enhance risk management and contingency planning for European research infrastructures. It provides funding and guidance to ensure uninterrupted access to critical data, equipment, and facilities while safeguarding essential research operations. The program emphasizes resilience, collaboration, and sustainability in research infrastructures across Europe.

Key focus areas include:

  • Implementing mitigation and contingency plans for climate, biodiversity, pollution, health, and social science risks

  • Preserving critical data and geographical coverage

  • Addressing risks related to access to essential equipment, facilities, or data

  • Developing alternative methods, tools, equipment, and collaborative frameworks

  • Ensuring long-term sustainability of risk management strategies

  • Reinforcing global competitiveness and attractiveness of the European Research Area (ERA)

Who Can Apply?

Eligible participants include:

  • Pan-European research infrastructures, such as ESFRI research infrastructures and ERICs

  • Other world-class research infrastructures across Europe

  • Any legal entity, including those from non-associated third countries and international organizations, provided they meet Horizon Europe eligibility requirements

  • Applicants must register in the Participant Register and validate a Participant Identification Code (PIC) prior to signing a grant agreement

Why This Initiative Matters

Research infrastructures are critical to scientific progress and societal development. Effective risk management ensures:

  • Continuous access to essential research resources

  • Protection of critical data and knowledge

  • Enhanced ability to respond to global challenges, such as pandemics, climate change, and biodiversity loss

  • Strengthened European Research Area (ERA) competitiveness and global attractiveness

  • Informed policy guidance for the EU and Member States on safeguarding research infrastructures

Expected Outcomes

Projects funded under this initiative are expected to deliver:

  • Stronger, actionable risk mitigation and contingency plans

  • Preservation of critical research data, capacities, and knowledge

  • Improved collaborative frameworks for global research coverage

  • Enhanced policy guidance and strategic recommendations for the EU

  • Increased resilience, sustainability, and operational continuity for European research infrastructures

How the Program Works

  1. Define Critical Risks – Identify potential threats to research data, equipment, facilities, and operational continuity.

  2. Develop Mitigation Plans – Create contingency strategies for each critical risk.

  3. Implement Risk Management Frameworks – Apply strategies across infrastructure networks.

  4. Foster Collaboration – Coordinate with other infrastructures to ensure global coverage and critical mass where needed.

  5. Ensure Sustainability – Plan for long-term continuation of risk management beyond project duration.

  6. Document and Share Best Practices – Produce policy guidance and share lessons learned across the ERA.

Funding Details

  • Total budget: €10,000,000

  • Individual grants: €1,000,000 to €4,000,000

  • Eligible costs: Implementation of mitigation and contingency plans, collaborative frameworks, and risk management strategies

FAQs

1. What types of infrastructures are eligible? Pan-European research infrastructures, ESFRI infrastructures, ERICs, and other world-class research infrastructures in Europe.
2. Can international organizations apply? Yes, provided they meet Horizon Europe eligibility requirements.
3. What is the funding range per project? Grants range from €1 million to €4 million.
4. Are entities outside the EU eligible? Yes, non-associated third-country entities can apply.
5. What types of risks are addressed? Climate, biodiversity loss, pollution, health, social sciences, and access to critical data, equipment, or facilities.
6. Is collaboration required? Collaboration is strongly encouraged, especially for global coverage or critical mass initiatives.
7. How do I apply? Entities must register in the Horizon Europe Participant Register, validate a PIC, and submit a detailed proposal addressing risk mitigation and contingency planning.

Conclusion

Horizon Europe’s risk management grants enable European research infrastructures to safeguard critical resources, ensure operational continuity, and strengthen resilience against emerging risks. By funding mitigation strategies, contingency plans, and collaborative frameworks, the program protects data, knowledge, and research capacity, ensuring the ERA remains globally competitive and capable of addressing urgent socio-economic and environmental challenges.

For more information, visit EC.