The Health Research Board (HRB) welcomes the news that researchers in Ireland have been awarded more than €1 billion in funding from Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, since its 2021 launch. Nearly €100 million (9.75% of Ireland’s total drawdown) went to Health.

As part of the National Health Team for Horizon Europe, and in close partnership with Enterprise Ireland, the HRB has been central to securing significant investment in 132 Irish health projects across the last four years. These international collaborative projects tackle some of Europe’s most pressing health challenges. Key focus areas for Ireland have included pandemic preparedness, chronic diseases and clinical trials and interventions.

Through the National Contact Point (NCP) for Health role, Dr Irene Castellano provides expert advice, guidance and support to applicants in Ireland, including individual researchers and clinicians, as well as industry, public sector and civil society organisations working in the health sector.

Successful applications that have received HRB support include digital health project LINDA-FAMILIA, led by University College Cork (UCC), which uses smart digital tools to fight infectious diseases and save the lives of mothers and children in East Africa, and CANDLE, a project focused on improving cancer data management across Europe with the University of Limerick (UL).

The HRB also hosts the National Delegate role for health, with Dr Patricia Clarke representing Ireland in the Horizon Europe Health Programme Committee helping to shape the strategic direction of the programme, and ensuring Irish priorities are reflected at European level. The HRB has successfully fulfilled this leadership role for over 15 years, providing continuity and expertise that have been central to Ireland’s long-term success in European health research funding.

The HRB looks forward to the 2026 – 2027 Horizon Europe Work Programmes, and to helping more eligible applicants in Ireland avail of its wealth of funding opportunities.

Notes:

The official publication of the 2026 – 2027 Health Cluster and Cancer Mission Work Programmes is expected in January 2026. Draft versions are available on the European Commission’s Transparent Comitology Register.

Contacts:

HRB Health NCP: Irene Castellano, icastellano@hrb.ie

Enterprise Ireland Health NCP: Martha Cahill, martha.cahill@enterprise-ireland.com

Health National Delegate: Patricia Clarke, pclarke@hrb.ie