€101 Million New European Bauhaus Call Opens Across Nine Topics as FP10 Heads to Council

18 May 2026 · Strategic Funding Partners

Published 18 May 2026 · SFP Pulse · Weekly Research

> This week: the New European Bauhaus Facility opens a €101 million 2026 call across nine topics, and EU research ministers head to Council on 29 May to set FP10 direction.

The EU funding landscape this week is shaped by two big signals. The New European Bauhaus Facility has opened its 2026 call with EUR 101 million across nine topics on sustainable construction, social inclusion and neighbourhood transformation, and research ministers head to Brussels on 29 May to set the political direction for the next Horizon Europe (FP10). Add a new EUR 17 million ESF+ call on child welfare and Roma youth employment, an updated set of ERA guidelines on generative AI in research, and a EUR 1.09 billion result from the European Hydrogen Bank's third auction, and there is plenty for applicants and policy watchers to track.

Top News

New European Bauhaus Facility opens 2026 call with EUR 101 million across nine topics

The New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility is a Horizon Europe instrument running from 2025 to 2027 that supports sustainable construction, affordable housing, and social cohesion through innovation projects that combine the green transition with cultural and societal goals.

On 5 May 2026, the European Commission opened the NEB Facility 2026 call for proposals, offering approximately EUR 101 million across nine topics. The call covers three areas: green transition and social inclusion, circular and regenerative approaches for the built environment, and innovative funding models for neighbourhood transformation. The deadline is 1 December 2026.

The timing is significant because the New European Bauhaus is one of the outstanding issues in Council document ST-6133/26, which research ministers will discuss at the Competitiveness Council on 29 May. The NEB's place in the next framework programme is being negotiated even as this call is open, so 2026 applicants are operating against a backdrop of programme-level decisions about NEB's future role.

Cities, regions, housing providers, architectural and engineering practices, social innovators, and research organisations working at the intersection of sustainability, design, and inclusion should take a close look at the nine topics. SFP can help map your project idea onto the right NEB topic and structure a consortium that meets the call's cross-disciplinary expectations.

> 🏛️ Programme: New European Bauhaus Facility (Horizon Europe) > > Budget: EUR 101 million across nine topics > > Areas: Green transition and social inclusion · Circular and regenerative approaches for the built environment · Innovative funding models for neighbourhood transformation > > Deadline: 1 December 2026 > > Call reference: HORIZON-NEB-2026-01

> Source: European Commission, Cities Portal

ESF+ launches EUR 17 million call for European Child Guarantee and Roma youth employment

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the EU's main instrument for investment in people, supporting employment, skills, and social inclusion across Member States. Its centrally managed strand funds transnational projects on social policy innovation.

On 8 May 2026, ESF+ launched a new call with two strands. The first strand offers EUR 12 million to strengthen European Child Guarantee national governance systems through innovative services for children in need. The second strand offers EUR 5 million for transnational projects improving access to employment for Roma young people (NEETs aged 15 to 29). The call is linked to the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy adopted by the Commission on 6 May 2026, and applications are open until 30 September 2026.

For organisations working on child welfare, social services, employment activation, and Roma inclusion, this is one of the few centrally managed ESF+ opportunities available in 2026. The link to the new Anti-Poverty Strategy means that successful projects are likely to feed directly into wider EU policy work on poverty and social inclusion.

Public bodies, NGOs, social services providers, employment agencies, research organisations, and Roma civil society organisations should look closely at the two strands and consider whether a transnational consortium is feasible within the September deadline. SFP can support partner search, eligibility checks against the call conditions, and design of governance models that match the Child Guarantee policy framework.

> 🤝 Programme: European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), Social Innovation Plus strand > > Budget: EUR 17 million in total (EUR 12 million Child Guarantee strand, EUR 5 million Roma NEETs strand) > > Focus: Strengthening national Child Guarantee governance, and improving Roma youth (NEET 15 to 29) access to employment > > Deadline: 30 September 2026 > > Policy context: EU Anti-Poverty Strategy (adopted 6 May 2026)

> Source: DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion

Competitiveness Council to seek partial general approach on FP10 on 29 May

The Competitiveness Council brings together EU ministers responsible for the single market, industry, research, and space. Its Research and Space configuration is where Member States set the political direction for the next framework programme for research and innovation, FP10, which will run from 2028 to 2034.

The Cyprus Presidency has tabled a discussion paper (ST-6133/26) inviting research ministers to provide political guidance on FP10 at the Competitiveness Council on 28 and 29 May 2026. The Research and Space session is on 29 May, while Internal Market and Industry meets on 28 May. The paper sets out the outstanding issues for FP10, including European Partnerships, the interlinkages between FP10 and the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), the role of social sciences and humanities, EU Missions and the New European Bauhaus facility, research and technology infrastructures, research security, and dual-use research.

For applicants and partners across Horizon Europe, the 29 May discussion is the most significant FP10 political signal of the year so far. Council guidance on Partnerships, the FP10 and ECF interface, and the place of Missions and SSH will directly shape the structure of work programmes, eligibility rules, and budget allocations from 2028 onwards. National stakeholders should expect their ministries to firm up positions on these files in the next two weeks.

Research organisations, universities, industrial consortia, mission cities, partnership boards, and SSH networks should track the Council outcome closely. SFP supports clients in interpreting Council positions, assessing the implications for ongoing Horizon Europe projects, and preparing positioning for the next framework programme.

> 🏛️ Programme: Next framework programme for research and innovation (FP10), 2028 to 2034 > > Event: Competitiveness Council, Research and Space session > > Date: 29 May 2026 (Council meeting 28 to 29 May) > > Council document: ST-6133/26 (Cyprus Presidency discussion paper) > > Key open issues: European Partnerships · FP10 and European Competitiveness Fund interface · Social sciences and humanities · Missions and New European Bauhaus · Research and technology infrastructures · Research security · Dual-use research

> Source: Council of the EU (document ST-6133/26) and the Competitiveness Council meeting page

Updated ERA Living Guidelines on responsible use of generative AI in research published

The European Research Area (ERA) Living Guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research are a non-binding reference framework developed by DG Research and Innovation together with research stakeholders. They set out shared principles for researchers, research organisations, and research funders on how to use generative AI tools responsibly across the research lifecycle.

On 8 May 2026, DG Research and Innovation published the third version of the guidelines. The update addresses recent advances in generative AI and adds new guidance on hidden prompts and the use of third-party AI tools in meetings, while reinforcing principles of accountability, transparency, and responsibility for research integrity. The PDF version is available alongside the news article.

Although the guidelines remain non-binding, they are increasingly referenced in EU funding documentation and grant management expectations. Reviewers, evaluators, and project officers are looking for clear AI use policies at the institution and project level, and ethics committees are starting to expect declarations of AI use in proposals and deliverables.

Universities, research organisations, RPOs and RFOs, ethics officers, and consortia preparing proposals for Horizon Europe, the ERC, MSCA, and the EIC should review the updated guidelines and check internal AI policies against them. SFP can help align project ethics and integrity sections with the current ERA expectations.

> 🤖 Document: ERA Living Guidelines on the responsible use of generative AI in research (third version) > > Publisher: DG Research and Innovation > > New in version 3: Guidance on hidden prompts · Use of third-party AI tools in meetings · Reinforced accountability, transparency and responsibility principles > > Status: Non-binding but increasingly referenced in EU funding documentation > > Published: 8 May 2026

> Source: DG Research and Innovation and the full PDF (May 2026)

Commission Communication on a simpler, clearer and better enforced EU rulebook

The European Commission's Communication COM(2026) 380, A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU rulebook, was adopted on 28 April 2026 and sets out a framework for improving how EU rules are designed, simplified, and enforced. It is not a funding instrument in itself, but it will feed directly into the design of FP10 and other 2028 to 2034 programmes.

The Communication introduces "simplicity by design" principles and announces gradual revision of existing legislation, with a focus on reducing administrative burden, increasing clarity for end users, and improving enforcement. For EU funding programmes, this signals continued pressure to streamline rules around eligibility, reporting, and audit.

For frequent applicants and beneficiaries, the framework matters because it shapes the rules they will work under in the next funding cycle. Simplification is rarely a single big change. It tends to arrive through dozens of smaller adjustments to model grant agreements, financial regulation, work programmes, and call conditions.

Research organisations, universities, SMEs, public bodies, and consultancies tracking the FP10 design process should treat COM(2026) 380 as essential background reading. SFP can help clients interpret what the simplification agenda means in practice for proposal design and project management.

> 📘 Document: Communication COM(2026) 380, A simpler, clearer and better enforced EU rulebook > > Adopted: 28 April 2026 (Strasbourg) > > Key concepts: "Simplicity by design" principles · Gradual revision of existing legislation > > Relevance: Will shape rules and design of FP10 and other 2028 to 2034 EU programmes

> Source: European Commission publications page and the full Communication PDF

Friendly reminder: mandatory two-factor authentication continues phased rollout on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal is the single entry point for managing EU funding opportunities, proposals, and grant agreements. Access is controlled through EU Login, the Commission's central authentication service.

The mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA) rollout for EU Login accounts continues, with the phased process now reaching applicants and beneficiaries after starting with experts. The webinar held on 13 May 2026 has taken place, and users who have not yet set up a second factor should do so before their access is updated.

This is a friendly reminder rather than a new development. Setting up 2FA in advance avoids access issues at critical moments, for example on the day of a call deadline, an evaluation panel, or a payment milestone. The setup itself is straightforward but cannot be done at the last minute.

All EU Funding and Tenders Portal users, including proposal coordinators, partner organisations, experts, and finance teams managing live grants, should check that their EU Login account is already configured with a second factor.

> 🔐 System: EU Funding and Tenders Portal (EU Login) > > Change: Phased rollout of mandatory 2FA, now extending from experts to applicants and beneficiaries > > Webinar: 13 May 2026 (already held) > > Action: Configure a second authentication factor before your access is updated

> Source: EU Funding and Tenders Portal, news item 30496

European Hydrogen Bank awards EUR 1.09 billion to nine projects in third auction

The European Hydrogen Bank is an EU instrument financed by the Emissions Trading System through the Innovation Fund. It supports the production of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen in Europe by offering fixed premium grants per kilogram of hydrogen produced, awarded through competitive auctions.

On 7 May 2026, the European Commission announced the results of the third auction. Nine hydrogen production projects across seven European Economic Area countries were selected, expected to add nearly 1.1 GW of electrolyser capacity and produce more than 1.3 million tonnes of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen over their first ten years of operation. The auction closed on 19 February 2026 with 58 bids from 11 countries, oversubscribing the EUR 1.3 billion budget by more than six times. Winning bid premiums ranged from EUR 0.44 per kilogram to EUR 3.49 per kilogram.

The results give a concrete signal about the cost trajectory of European renewable hydrogen, the level of project maturity in the pipeline, and the likely shape of future Innovation Fund auctions. Oversubscription by more than six times confirms there is far more bankable hydrogen project pipeline than current budgets can support, which strengthens the case for higher allocations in the next Innovation Fund cycle (IF26 onwards).

Hydrogen developers, electrolyser manufacturers, offtakers in steel, chemicals, refining and heavy transport, port authorities, and energy infrastructure investors should review the winning bid premium range and consider how it positions their own future bids. SFP supports clients on Innovation Fund auction strategy, project structuring, and bankability assessments.

> ⚡ Programme: European Hydrogen Bank (Innovation Fund, ETS funded) > > Auction: Third auction (closed 19 February 2026) > > Result: Nine projects selected across seven EEA countries > > Budget awarded: EUR 1.09 billion > > Capacity: Nearly 1.1 GW of electrolyser capacity > > Output: Over 1.3 million tonnes of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen over 10 years > > Bid range: EUR 0.44 to EUR 3.49 per kilogram > > Next: Innovation Fund IF26 stakeholder consultation event on 19 June 2026

> Source: European Commission press release IP/26/1004

Identification Committee appointed to renew ERC Scientific Council for Horizon Europe 2028 to 2034

The European Research Council (ERC) is the EU's flagship funder of frontier research, awarding grants on the sole criterion of scientific excellence. Its independent Scientific Council sets the ERC's strategy and scientific direction, and is renewed in stages so that institutional memory is preserved.

On 7 May 2026, the Commission announced that an Identification Committee of six leading scientists, chaired by Martin Vetterli (EPFL), has been set up to oversee the staged renewal of the ERC Scientific Council for the next framework programme (2028 to 2034). Members include Paula Eerola (Research Council of Finland) and Maria Rescigno (Humanitas University, CeMM). The committee will also maintain a pool of candidates for future replacements.

For the research community, the renewal of the Scientific Council is consequential. It will shape the ERC's strategic priorities for the entire 2028 to 2034 cycle, including the balance between Starting, Consolidator, Advanced, Proof of Concept, and Synergy schemes, and the ERC's positioning on themes such as research security, open science, and interdisciplinarity.

Universities, research organisations, and ERC grantees should keep an eye on Scientific Council appointments over the coming months. SFP can support institutions in tracking ERC strategic signals and aligning their long-term funding strategy with the evolving priorities of the next framework.

> 🎓 Body: ERC Identification Committee (newly appointed) > > Chair: Martin Vetterli (EPFL) > > Members include: Paula Eerola (Research Council of Finland) · Maria Rescigno (Humanitas University, CeMM) > > Mandate: Oversee staged renewal of the ERC Scientific Council for 2028 to 2034 and maintain a pool of future replacements > > Announced: 7 May 2026

> Source: DG Research and Innovation

Featured Calls

These are the most popular calls on Discovery this week. Get in touch if you'd like to find out whether you could be a fit.

> 🛰️ PPPA-2026-NETZERO: Net-Zero AI4Permitting > > Budget: €7.15 million | Deadline: 3 June 2026 > > Programme: PPPA Project Grants | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Digital / Telecommunications, Energy, GovTech / Public Sector Innovation > > Fit signal: Suited for govtech companies, AI and machine learning developers, public authorities, energy project developers, and environmental consultancies working on digital tools to streamline permitting for net-zero infrastructure projects. Expected EU contribution per project is EUR 1.5 million to EUR 2.4 million, with around four grants available.

> 🌊 HORIZON-MISS-2026-01-CLIMA-06: Improving climate resilience of navigable inland waterways > > Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 23 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe, EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Environment / Climate, Logistics / Transport > > Fit signal: Suited for waterway authorities, climate adaptation researchers, transport infrastructure planners, environmental engineering firms, and regional authorities managing inland water transport networks affected by climate change. Expected EU contribution per project is around EUR 6 million, with two indicative grants.

> 🧪 HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07: Advancing European bio-based innovation through biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts > > Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 17 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Agriculture / Agrifood, Environment / Climate > > Fit signal: Suited for biotech companies, biomanufacturing scale-ups, research centres in industrial biotechnology, circular economy innovators, and SMEs developing bio-based products and processes. Expected EU contribution per project is around EUR 4 million, with three indicative grants.

Are you an innovation authority or funding body? Get your opportunities in front of an active community of organisations already tracking EU funding. We can tailor placement to your target countries, sectors, or applicant profile. Get in touch to find out more.

New Calls This Week

4 new calls were added since the last SFP Pulse edition. Highlights below.

Interregional Innovation Investments (I3):

I3-2026-INV1 ⇢ Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 1 Budget: €28.2 million | Deadline: 12 November 2026

I3-2026-INV2A ⇢ Interregional Innovation Investments Strand 2a Budget: €30.2 million | Deadline: 12 November 2026

LIFE Programme (operating grants for NGOs):

LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-SGA ⇢ LIFE Operating Grants Budget: €14.5 million | Deadline: 22 September 2026

LIFE-2026-NGO-OG-FPA ⇢ Framework Partnership Agreements for operating grants Budget: Not yet published | Deadline: 8 September 2026

> To view more of these calls, sign up to Discovery.

Calls Opening This Week

CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CHARTER ⇢ Raising awareness of and building capacity for the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, opens Wed 20 May Budget: part of a combined EUR 26 million CERV envelope | Deadline: 15 September 2026

CERV-2026-CHAR-LITI-CIVIC ⇢ Promoting an enabling civic space, opens Wed 20 May Budget: part of a combined EUR 26 million CERV envelope | Deadline: 15 September 2026

Closing Soon

ESF-2026-EURES-TMS ⇢ EURES Targeted Mobility Scheme Tue 26 May 2026

DIGITAL-ECCC-2026-DEPLOY-CYBER-10-NCH ⇢ National Cyber Hubs Thu 28 May 2026

SMP-COSME-2026-BIOAGRIFOOD ⇢ Agri-food Biotech Scaling-up Tue 2 June 2026

PPPA-2026-NETZERO ⇢ Net-Zero AI4Permitting Wed 3 June 2026

HORIZON-INFRA-2026-TECH-01-01 ⇢ R&D for next-generation scientific instrumentation and digitalisation Tue 16 June 2026

HORIZON-INFRA-2026-DEV-01-02 ⇢ Research infrastructure landscape consolidation, strategic coordination pilots Tue 16 June 2026

> 🚀 Explore EU funding on Discovery: Search live calls, filter by programme and theme, and save the opportunities most relevant to you on strategicfundingpartners.eu/discovery. Strategic Opportunities Report: Want a curated read-out of the calls that fit your organisation, with a recommended action plan? Email info@strategicfundingpartners.eu to request a tailored Strategic Opportunities Report.