Details on each call and a suite of resources to guide you through the application process are available on the European Commission funding and tenders portal

Each call will fall under one of six ‘destinations’ or impact areas, set out in the recently released Work Programme for Health, which puts a focus on post COVID-19 recovery and looks to research innovation to make society more resilient and national health systems better prepared for future public health emergencies. With €900m set aside for health research in 2021, Cluster 1 aims to promote health and wellbeing, prevent diseases, decrease the burden of diseases and disabilities on people and communities, and support the transformation of healthcare systems towards sustainable, high-quality care and an innovative European health industry.

Closing date for 2021 applications: 21 September. HRB advice to applicants is to begin the process early. 

For support with the application process: Please contact Kay Duggan-Walls, National Contact Point for Horizon Europe Health, by email to kdugganwalls@hrb.ie or call +353 1 2345187 / +353 85 8868183, for dedicated end-to-end support developing your proposal and guidance with all aspects of your submission including: 

•    Identifying the right funding scheme for your research 

•    Finding project partners

•    Navigating the application process

•    Coordinating documentation requirements  

•    Writing your proposal

Learn more

Read Kay’s top tips for applying to Cluster 1: Health.

Watch Horizon 2020 funding recipients explain what’s involved in putting together a successful grant application.

Upcoming European Commission information events

2 July: Cluster 1-Health Info Day – have your questions answered, hear from Directors co-chairing the health cluster, and find out more about each destination. Registration not required. 

5 July: Health Brokerage Event – meet potential project partners from across Europe and beyond, and start building your consortium. Registration closes 30 June. 

Calls opening later this year

Looking ahead, the European Commission will set aside €861m for health research in 2022. Many of the calls are due to open on 6 October 2021. Several calls will involve a two-stage application process, meaning applicants will first be asked to submit a short summary application by 1 February 2022, and if successful, will then be invited to submit a full proposal by 6 September 2022. There will also be single stage calls for which applications are due by 21 April 2022.

Background on Horizon Europe

This is the ninth framework programme for research and innovation from the EU. Following on from its predecessor Horizon 2020 which began in 2014, Horizon Europe will run for seven years, from 2021 to 2027, with an overall budget of €95bn of which €7.7bn is ring-fenced for health research.