CFAs: Next-Generation Research Infrastructure Upgrades

Deadline: 16-Jun-2026

The European Commission (EC) is offering €110 million in funding to support the development of innovative scientific instrumentation, methods, digitalisation solutions, and tools for European research infrastructures. Individual projects can receive €5–10 million, focusing on enhancing scientific competitiveness, industrial collaboration, environmental resilience, and digital efficiency. Eligible entities include research organisations, universities, SMEs, and international participants registered under Horizon Europe.

Program Overview

This initiative aims to advance the state-of-the-art of European research infrastructures, enabling them to:

• Support new areas of research

• Expand access to a wider user community, including industrial users

• Integrate into broader innovation systems

• Foster entrepreneurship and industrial uptake of advanced technologies

The program encourages innovative, transformative solutions that strengthen research capacity, increase efficiency, and promote sustainability.

Key Focus Areas

Projects should address one or more of the following objectives:

1. Scientific Competitiveness:

   • Develop instrumentation, tools, methods, or digital solutions that enhance European research infrastructure performance.

2. Capacity Building:

   • Increase infrastructure capability to address research challenges and EU policy priorities.

3. Environmental Sustainability & Resilience:

   • Minimise environmental footprint, improve energy efficiency, and strengthen resilience to climate-related risks and critical component shortages.

4. Digitalisation & Efficiency:

   • Implement digital solutions to enhance operational efficiency and modernise research workflows.

5. Collaboration & Innovation:

   • Promote cooperation between research infrastructures, universities, research organisations, and industry.

   • Facilitate industrial co-development and the uptake of advanced technologies.

6. Training & Skill Development:

   • Provide training for staff to operate and leverage innovations, aligned with technical validation standards relevant to industry.

7. Societal & Industrial Impact:

   • Demonstrate potential for industrial exploitation, societal benefits, and validation in labs for SMEs, startups, or scaleups.

Eligibility

Eligible participants include:

• Any legal entity, including international organisations or entities from non-associated third countries

• Organisations must register in the Horizon Europe Participant Register and obtain a validated PIC (Participant Identification Code)

• Applicants must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility requirements

Funding Details

• Total funding available: €110,000,000

• Individual project range: €5,000,000 – €10,000,000

• Projects must complement previous Horizon Europe initiatives (e.g., HORIZON-INFRA-2022-TECH-01-01, HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01-01) while targeting distinct technologies or solutions

Eligible Expenses

Funding can support:

• Development and validation of scientific instruments, tools, and digital solutions

• Staff training and skill development aligned with industry standards

• Demonstration and validation activities in research laboratories

• Infrastructure adaptation to environmental and energy-efficiency standards

• Collaboration and co-development with industry partners and SMEs

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

• Ensure your organisation is a legal entity under Horizon Europe rules

• Register in the Participant Register and obtain a validated PIC

Step 2: Develop Proposal

• Define project objectives, focus areas, and innovative solutions

• Demonstrate complementarity with previous Horizon Europe projects

• Include plans for training, industrial uptake, and societal impact

• Incorporate environmental sustainability measures

Step 3: Budget Planning

• Ensure project budget aligns with €5–10 million funding range

• Include eligible costs for development, training, demonstration, and operational needs

Step 4: Submission

• Submit through the Horizon Europe submission portal following EC guidelines

• Ensure all compliance documents, legal entity validation, and PIC are included

Tips for a Strong Proposal

• Highlight innovative and transformative solutions

• Emphasise industrial collaboration and societal benefits

• Integrate environmental and resilience measures

• Demonstrate complementarity but clear added value over past initiatives

• Include detailed training and skill development plans for infrastructure staff

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Ignoring Horizon Europe registration and PIC requirements

• Submitting proposals overlapping with previously funded projects

• Failing to demonstrate industrial, societal, or environmental impact

• Overlooking budget compliance with the €5–10 million range

• Not providing technical validation or training plans for infrastructure staff

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Who can apply for this funding?

Any legal entity, including research organisations, universities, SMEs, and international organisations, meeting Horizon Europe eligibility criteria.

2. What is the funding range per project?

Individual projects are eligible for €5,000,000 to €10,000,000.

3. What types of projects are eligible?

Projects that develop and validate scientific instrumentation, tools, methods, and digitalisation solutions for research infrastructures.

4. Are industrial collaborations required?

Yes, proposals should demonstrate industrial co-development potential and uptake by SMEs, startups, or scaleups.

5. Do projects need to address environmental considerations?

Yes, energy efficiency, environmental footprint, and climate resilience must be integrated into project design.

6. How is complementarity with previous Horizon Europe projects evaluated?

Proposals must target different technologies or solutions while demonstrating added value beyond prior initiatives.

7. How do I register to receive funding?

Register your organisation in the Horizon Europe Participant Register and obtain a validated PIC (Participant Identification Code).

Conclusion

This EC funding initiative empowers European research infrastructures to advance scientific innovation, digitalisation, and sustainability, fostering collaboration between research, industry, and SMEs. With funding up to €10 million per project, eligible entities can develop transformative tools, instruments, and methods that strengthen Europe’s research competitiveness, resilience, and societal impact.

For more information, visit EC.