27 Horizon Europe Cluster 2 Calls Planned to Open This Week: What Culture, Democracy and Society Applicants Need to Know

13 May 2026 · Strategic Funding Partners

Published 13 May 2026 · SFP Pulse · Weekly Research

> Horizon Europe is set to open 27 Cluster 2 calls on culture, democracy and society, alongside the AI Act consultation and EIC STEP Scale Up results.

This week is set to bring a major Cluster 2 opening covering democracy, heritage and social transformation, with 27 topics planned to go live on culture, democracy and inclusive society. Alongside it, the European Commission has opened a stakeholder consultation on AI Act transparency obligations, and the European Innovation Council has named eight start-ups in line for up to EUR 146.5 million in equity under STEP Scale Up.

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Horizon Europe Cluster 2 set to open 27 topics on democracy, heritage and social transformation

Cluster 2 of Horizon Europe (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) is the part of the framework programme that funds research on democracy, cultural heritage and the social, economic and behavioural drivers of change in Europe. It is one of the smaller clusters by budget but one of the most diverse by audience, reaching humanities researchers, civic education bodies, cultural organisations, public administrations and a wide range of civil society actors.

The Commission was scheduled to open 27 new Cluster 2 topics on 12 May 2026, a major Cluster 2 opening covering democracy, heritage and social transformation. As of publication, the topics had not yet flipped to Open on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, so applicants should check the portal for the revised submission opening date. The package covers 10 Democracy topics (gender-based violence, local democracy, post-conflict democracy, media viability, electoral integrity and citizenship education among them), 7 Heritage topics (including "artistic intelligence", creative startups, AI in creative industries, fair markets for creative content in the AI era and linguistic diversity), 10 Social Transformation topics (child poverty, basic skills, talent attraction, the migration pact, long-term care and SSH-STEM integration), and 1 COFUND Partnership. Single-stage deadlines fall on 23 September 2026, with the COFUND deadline on 13 October 2026.

For applicants, this is a rare moment of breadth. Anyone whose work touches democracy, culture, social inclusion or the green and digital transitions in society will find something relevant here, and a four-month application window leaves enough time to build a strong proposal with credible consortia.

This matters most for universities and research organisations with arts, humanities or social science strengths, civic and educational NGOs, public bodies working on democracy or social policy, museums and heritage institutions, and creative industry organisations exploring AI and other digital tools.

If you are weighing up one of these topics and want help shaping a concept, mapping consortium partners or pressure-testing your fit, get in touch with SFP.

> 🎨 Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) > > Topics opening: 27 (10 Democracy, 7 Heritage, 10 Social Transformation, 1 COFUND Partnership) > > Planned opening date: 12 May 2026 > > Deadlines: 23 September 2026 (single-stage); 13 October 2026 (COFUND) > > Focus: Democracy, cultural heritage, social transformation

> Source: SFP Discovery Funding Navigator

European Commission opens consultation on AI Act Article 50 transparency obligations

The EU AI Act is the world's first comprehensive horizontal regulation of artificial intelligence, with obligations phased in over several years. Article 50 sets transparency requirements for certain AI systems and for generative AI, including obligations to inform users when they are interacting with AI and to label AI-generated content.

On 8 May 2026 the European Commission opened a stakeholder consultation on draft guidelines for these Article 50 obligations, ahead of the 2 August 2026 compliance date. The consultation runs until 3 June 2026 and is targeted at AI providers, deployers and other stakeholders who will need to operationalise these requirements.

For organisations building or deploying AI systems in the EU, the guidelines will shape how transparency is implemented in practice and what regulators will expect from August onwards. Engaging now is one of the cheapest ways to influence that interpretation.

This matters most for AI providers and deployers active in the EU, EU-funded research projects that use or develop generative AI, legal and compliance teams, and digital rights and consumer organisations.

If you are an EU-funded project or a developer working on AI and want help framing a consultation response, get in touch.

> 🤖 Programme: EU AI Act (Article 50) > > Consultation opens: 8 May 2026 > > Consultation closes: 3 June 2026 > > Compliance date: 2 August 2026 > > Audience: AI providers, deployers and other stakeholders

> Source: European Commission

EIC STEP Scale Up: eight European start-ups in line for up to EUR 146.5 million combined equity

The European Innovation Council's STEP Scale Up scheme is an equity instrument launched under the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform to back deep tech companies scaling critical technologies. It sits alongside the EIC Accelerator but targets larger, later-stage tickets aimed at strategic European capacity in areas such as clean tech, digital and biotech.

On 27 April 2026 the EIC announced that eight companies have been put forward for investment decisions under STEP Scale Up. They were selected from a pool of 44 proposals, 28 of which were interviewed. Subject to due diligence, the eight companies could receive a combined EUR 146.5 million in equity investments, with individual tickets ranging from EUR 10 million to EUR 30 million. A further 18 companies received the STEP Seal, a quality label intended to help them attract other investors.

The selection signals where Europe is putting strategic equity behind deep tech scale-ups and gives founders, investors and ecosystem actors a clear read on the kinds of profiles that make it through. The conversion of 8 selected from 44 submitted, and 8 from 28 interviewed, is also a useful benchmark for future applicants.

This matters most for deep tech founders considering EIC equity, investors looking at co-investment opportunities, and innovation agencies and ecosystem builders advising scale-up candidates.

If you are exploring EIC equity for your own company or portfolio, SFP can help you assess fit and shape a competitive submission.

> 🚀 Programme: EIC STEP Scale Up > > Selected: 8 companies (from 44 proposals, 28 interviewed) > > Combined potential equity: Up to EUR 146.5 million > > Ticket size: EUR 10 to 30 million per company > > STEP Seal: Awarded to 18 additional companies

> Source: European Innovation Council

Horizon Europe Cluster 6 first 2026 calls close with 1,132 proposals competing for EUR 405.4 million

Cluster 6 of Horizon Europe covers Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. It is one of the largest clusters by budget and a central instrument for the EU Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and the EU Biodiversity Strategy.

On 5 May 2026 the European Commission confirmed that 1,132 research proposals were submitted to the first wave of 2026 Cluster 6 calls, competing for EUR 405.4 million. Evaluation is now underway, with funding decisions expected later in the year.

For applicants, this gives a concrete read on the competition. With 1,132 proposals chasing EUR 405.4 million, the indicative success rate will sit in the single digits for many topics, in line with recent Horizon Europe averages.

This matters most for organisations preparing for the next wave of Cluster 6 calls and for anyone planning bioeconomy, agriculture, environment or biodiversity proposals in the rest of 2026 and into 2027.

If you submitted in this round and want a structured debrief, or if you are planning a future Cluster 6 application, SFP can support both.

> 🌱 Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) > > Proposals submitted: 1,132 > > Budget at stake: EUR 405.4 million > > Status: Evaluation underway

> Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal

Council moves toward partial general approach on FP10 at 28 May Competitiveness Council

FP10 is the working name for the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the successor to Horizon Europe from 2028 onwards. The Commission tabled its proposal on 16 July 2025 with a EUR 175 billion envelope, and negotiations between the Council and Parliament are now actively shaping its final scope, budget and structure.

The Cypriot Council presidency is steering EU research ministers toward a partial general approach on FP10 at the Competitiveness Council on 28 May 2026. Bracketed provisions remain on the definitions of Widening and Transition countries and on capacity-building from 2030, signalling continued debate on geographic equity. In parallel, the European Parliament is pushing for a larger EUR 220 billion envelope.

For research organisations and innovation actors, a partial general approach is a meaningful step: it locks in the Council's position on most of the file and sharpens the negotiating space with Parliament. The geographic equity questions still on the table directly affect how Widening and Transition country applicants will fare under FP10.

This matters most for national research authorities and ministries, research-performing organisations across the EU, Widening and Transition country institutions, and any organisation planning long-term EU R&I strategy.

If you want a tailored briefing on what FP10 could mean for your funding pipeline, SFP can help.

> 🏛️ Programme: FP10 (next EU R&I framework programme) > > Council milestone: Partial general approach targeted on 28 May 2026 > > Commission proposal: EUR 175 billion (tabled 16 July 2025) > > Parliament position: Pushing for EUR 220 billion > > Open issues: Widening and Transition country definitions; capacity-building from 2030

> Source: Science|Business and Council document ST-6133/26

Mandatory two-factor authentication rolls out for the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

The EU Funding & Tenders Portal is the central platform for managing applications, evaluations and grant agreements across most EU programmes. Access is tied to EU Login, the Commission's single sign-on service used by tens of thousands of researchers, evaluators and project coordinators.

The Commission is phasing in mandatory two-factor authentication for all EU Login accounts used with the portal. The rollout has begun with experts and will extend to all applicants and beneficiaries. A live webinar on 13 May 2026, 10:00 to 11:30 CEST, will walk users through what changes and how to set up a second factor.

For coordinators and grant managers, this is operational housekeeping with real consequences. Anyone who waits until the last minute to set up 2FA risks being locked out at a critical moment in a submission or reporting cycle.

This matters most for research administrators, project coordinators, evaluators and anyone who logs into the portal regularly.

SFP can support coordinators with portal access readiness checks as part of broader proposal management support.

> 🔐 Programme: EU Funding & Tenders Portal / EU Login > > Change: Mandatory two-factor authentication > > Status: Phased rollout in progress > > Webinar: 13 May 2026, 10:00 to 11:30 CEST

> Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal

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.

> 🧬 HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-TOOL-01-TWO-STAGE: Predictive biomarkers using AI for chronic NCDs > > Budget: €44.2 million | Deadline: 13 April 2027 (two-stage) > > Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health) | Status: Forthcoming > > Thematic Areas: Health, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, Digital, Telecommunications > > Fit signal: Suited for AI and machine learning research groups, biomarker labs, clinical data platforms, pharmaceutical companies and health data infrastructure providers developing predictive tools for disease progression and treatment response.

> 🎨 HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-01: "Artistic intelligence" – harnessing the power of the arts > > Budget: €15 million | Deadline: 23 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) | Status: Forthcoming (planned opening 12 May 2026) > > Thematic Areas: Creative Industries, Media, Culture, Education, Skills > > Fit signal: Suited for arts organisations, creative technology firms, universities with arts and humanities faculties, and innovation agencies exploring how artistic practice drives soft skills, competitiveness and societal problem-solving.

> 🛡️ HORIZON-CL3-2027-02-CS-ECCC-01: Artificial Intelligence for Cybersecurity applications > > Budget: €24.8 million | Deadline: 15 September 2027 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 3 (Civil Security for Society) | Status: Forthcoming > > Thematic Areas: Defence, Security, Digital, Telecommunications > > Fit signal: Suited for cybersecurity companies, AI and machine learning research groups, SOC and CSIRT operators, national cybersecurity centres and defence technology firms developing AI-driven threat detection, response and resilience tools.

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

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

Horizon Europe (EIC and Euratom):

HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-01 ⇢ European Capital of Innovation Award (iCapital) Budget: €1.8 million | Deadline: 4 Aug 2026

HORIZON-EIC-2026-PRIZE-ICAPITAL-02 ⇢ European Capital of Innovation Award (Rising Innovator) Budget: €1.8 million | Deadline: 4 Aug 2026

HORIZON-EURATOM-LS-2026-01-01 ⇢ Safety of operating nuclear power plants and research reactors Budget: €15 million | Deadline: 15 Sep 2026

HORIZON-EURATOM-LS-2026-01-02 ⇢ Safety of SMRs and advanced and innovative nuclear reactors Budget: €15 million | Deadline: 15 Sep 2026

European Parliament and PPPA:

EP-COMM-SUBV-2026-EYE-VILLAGE ⇢ EYE 2027 Village Programme Budget: €300,000 | Deadline: 11 Jun 2026

PPPA-2026-BORN-DIGITAL-HERITAGE ⇢ Safeguarding Europe's Born-digital Heritage Budget: €1.985 million | Deadline: 16 Jul 2026

> 4 more Euratom and EP calls were added this week. View them all on the Funding Navigator.

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

Calls Opening This Week

A wave of 27 Horizon Europe Cluster 2 topics were planned to open on Monday 12 May, all with a 23 September 2026 deadline (13 October for the COFUND Partnership). As of publication, the topics had not yet flipped to Open on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal - applicants should check the portal for the revised opening date. A selection of the most consortium-friendly topics:

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-05 ⇢ Creative alliances: fostering global partnerships in cultural policies and CCI innovation – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €15 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-09 ⇢ Rethinking long-term care policy in the face of EU demographic shifts – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €15 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-HERITAGE-04 ⇢ Towards a fair and transparent market for cultural and creative content in the era of generative AI – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-01 ⇢ Tackling gender-based violence against politically active women and LGBTIQ people – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-10 ⇢ Digital and media literacy as drivers for democratic and civic resilience – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-07 ⇢ Fostering competences for the green transition – planned for Mon 12 May Budget: €12 million | Deadline: 23 Sep 2026

> 21 more Cluster 2 topics were planned to open on 12 May. View them all on the Funding Navigator.

Closing Soon

HORIZON-JU-CLEAN-AVIATION-2026-04-HPA-01 ⇢ Clean Aviation (18 topics, shared budget) Tue 19 May 2026

DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-MCP-09-INNOV-ADMIN ⇢ MCP on Innovative and Connected Public Administrations Tue 19 May 2026

SMP-COSME-2026-TOURSME-01 ⇢ Supporting sustainable tourism SMEs Wed 20 May 2026

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

> 🚀 Explore EU funding on Discovery: Browse all open and forthcoming calls, filter by programme, sector and deadline, and save the ones that fit. Start at strategicfundingpartners.eu/discovery. Strategic Opportunities Report: Want a curated funding shortlist tailored to your organisation? Email info@strategicfundingpartners.eu and we will put together a Strategic Opportunities Report for you.