New €7 Million ERC Plus Grant Opens 2 June, MSCA Doctoral Networks Reopen This Week, FP10 Heads to Ministers

25 May 2026 · Strategic Funding Partners

Published 25 May 2026 · SFP Pulse · Weekly Research

> ERC Plus launches 2 June with up to €7 million per project, MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 reopen Thursday alongside the RAISE AI pilot, FP10 heads to ministers, and EIC Pathfinder breaks records.

This week sees one of the busiest stretches of the year for EU research and innovation funding. The European Research Council launches its brand new ERC Plus Grant on 2 June with grants of up to €7 million per project, the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 call opens on Thursday with a new RAISE Doctoral Networks pilot for AI in Science alongside it, and on the policy front EU research ministers take up FP10 at the Competitiveness Council on 29 May. We also recap a record-breaking EIC Pathfinder Open round, a fresh €16.55 million Internal Security Fund call, and the first results from the EU-wide Innovation Fund Heat Auction.

Top News

European Research Council Launches New €7 Million ERC Plus Grant on 2 June

The European Research Council funds investigator-led frontier research across all fields of science. Until now it has worked through three core schemes for individual researchers (Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grants) plus Synergy Grants for small teams. The ERC Plus Grant is a new fourth scheme designed for high-risk, high-reward breakthrough research.

The ERC has confirmed that the inaugural ERC Plus Grant call will open for applications on 2 June 2026, accompanied by a live webinar from 15:00 to 16:30 CEST that day. Grants will fund up to €7 million per project over a duration of four to seven years, with approximately 30 grants expected per year. Eligibility is open to researchers at any career stage who can articulate a transformative line of research.

For top-tier principal investigators and their host institutions, ERC Plus opens a new route that explicitly rewards ambition. The scheme is distinct from the existing ERC career-stage grants and adds a new option for researchers whose ideas do not fit neatly into the Starting, Consolidator and Advanced ladder. Host universities, research institutes and hospitals should expect a competitive first call as the community tests the new instrument. Strategic Funding Partners works with ERC applicants on positioning, the B1 and B2 narrative and panel fit. Wondering which ERC scheme suits your next idea best? Get in touch and we will help you decide.

> 🔬 Programme: European Research Council (ERC) > > Scheme: ERC Plus Grant (new) > > Opens: 2 June 2026 > > Webinar: 2 June 2026, 15:00 to 16:30 CEST > > Grant value: Up to €7 million per project > > Duration: 4 to 7 years > > Indicative grants per year: Around 30

> Source: European Research Council

MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 and the RAISE AI Pilot Open for Applications on 28 May

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks are Horizon Europe's flagship instrument for funding structured PhD training across Europe. Networks bring together universities, research organisations and non-academic partners to train cohorts of doctoral candidates through international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral mobility.

The 2026 call (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01-01) opens for applications on 28 May 2026. Opening alongside it is the new HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03 pilot, the first RAISE Doctoral Networks call dedicated to AI in Science, run under the Regional AI Support for Europe initiative. An online info day covering both calls is scheduled for 3 June 2026 from 09:30 to 12:30 CEST.

For universities, research institutes, doctoral schools and industry partners that host researchers, this is the year's main window to put together a Doctoral Network. AI research groups now have a dedicated route through RAISE DN that sits alongside the mainstream call. Consortia typically need to be designed and the partner mix locked in well before the autumn deadline, which makes the weeks immediately after opening the right time to firm up the project concept. Strategic Funding Partners supports universities and research consortia through MSCA Doctoral Network design, partner search and proposal review. If you are scoping a network for this round, we can help you stress test the concept against the evaluation criteria.

> 🎓 Programme: Horizon Europe MSCA and RAISE > > Calls: HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01-01 (MSCA DN), HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03 (RAISE DN pilot) > > Opens: 28 May 2026 > > Info day: 3 June 2026, 09:30 to 12:30 CEST, online > > Focus: International, interdisciplinary and intersectoral doctoral training

> Source: EU Research and Innovation Community info day

Research Ministers Take Up FP10 at the Competitiveness Council on 29 May

FP10 is the next EU framework programme for research and innovation, set to succeed Horizon Europe after 2027. Council negotiations on its design and budget are now the most important political conversation in EU research funding, with decisions in 2026 shaping the calls that consortia will be writing into in the late 2020s.

The Cyprus Presidency has tabled discussion paper ST-6133/26 inviting research ministers to give political guidance on FP10 at the Competitiveness Council Research and Space session on 29 May 2026, with Internal Market and Industry sitting on 28 May. Outstanding issues on the table include European Partnerships, the FP10 interface with the European Competitiveness Fund, the role of social sciences and humanities, Missions and the New European Bauhaus facility, research and technology infrastructures, research security, and dual-use research. The Council is also expected to adopt a recommendation on a European Union framework for science diplomacy (ST-6868/26) and to hear the incoming Irish Presidency's research priorities.

For universities, research organisations, industry associations and Member State representatives following the FP10 file, the 29 May session is the most consequential meeting of the spring. Council conclusions and any compromises on Widening, Partnerships or the role of social sciences and humanities will guide the next stage of negotiations with the Parliament and the Commission. Strategic Funding Partners tracks the FP10 file closely and helps clients position for the new programme. Let us know if you would like a structured briefing on what the Council outcome means for your sector.

> 🏛️ Forum: Competitiveness Council, Research and Space configuration > > Date: 29 May 2026 > > Presidency: Cyprus > > Key documents: ST-6133/26 (FP10 partial general approach), ST-6868/26 (science diplomacy) > > Themes: European Partnerships, FP10 and ECF interface, SSH, Missions, NEB, research infrastructures, research security, dual-use research

> Source: Council of the EU

Commission Launches €16.55 Million Internal Security Fund Call to Dismantle Criminal Networks

The Internal Security Fund (ISF) supports cross-border cooperation on serious and organised crime, terrorism, cybercrime, and the protection of people and public spaces. It is one of the EU's main instruments for funding police, judicial and civil society action.

On 22 May 2026 the European Commission launched a new ISF call with a combined budget of €16.55 million across two thematic strands. The strands cover the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking (ISF-2026-TF2-AG-OCDT) and the fight against trafficking in human beings (ISF-2026-TF2-AG-THB), with a parallel ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CORRUPT call on corruption opening on 28 May. Applications close on 3 September 2026 for the OCDT and THB strands and 24 September 2026 for the corruption strand.

The call supports police forces, law enforcement agencies, judicial cooperation bodies, civil society organisations and other public or private bodies operating across borders. Projects are expected to disrupt criminal networks at scale, build joint operational capacity, and protect victims. For consortia that combine law enforcement expertise with research, technology or civil society partners, this is a sizeable opportunity in a thematic area that often has fewer open calls than research-led programmes. Strategic Funding Partners works with law enforcement-led and mixed consortia on ISF proposal design, partner search and consortium agreements. Reach out if you are scoping an application.

> 🛡️ Programme: Internal Security Fund (ISF) > > Calls: ISF-2026-TF2-AG-OCDT, ISF-2026-TF2-AG-THB, ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CORRUPT > > Combined budget: €16.55 million (OCDT + THB) plus €5 million (CORRUPT) > > Deadlines: 3 September 2026 (OCDT, THB), 24 September 2026 (CORRUPT) > > Focus: Organised crime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, corruption

> Source: DG Home Affairs

Commission Opens Consultation on High-Risk AI Classification Guidelines

The AI Act sets out the EU's risk-based framework for artificial intelligence. The most demanding obligations apply to high-risk AI systems, with full enforcement of those obligations starting on 2 August 2026. Article 6 governs which systems are classified as high-risk, drawing both on regulated product categories (Annex I) and a list of standalone use cases (Annex III) covering biometrics, education, employment, essential services and law enforcement.

On 19 May 2026 the European Commission published draft guidelines clarifying how to apply Article 6, along with a targeted consultation that closes on 23 June 2026. The guidelines walk through how to determine whether a system falls under Article 6(1) and Annex I or Article 6(2) and Annex III, with worked examples and edge cases. A parallel consultation on Article 50 transparency obligations closes on 3 June.

Any EU-funded project that develops or deploys AI in regulated products, biometrics, education, employment, essential services or law enforcement should review the draft against its system design. Project teams in Horizon Europe Health, Digital, Industry and Security clusters in particular should consider whether their AI components fall inside Article 6's scope and what compliance obligations would apply from August. Position papers from research consortia, industry bodies and public authorities will help shape the final guidance. Strategic Funding Partners supports clients on AI Act readiness for funded projects. If you need a fast review of where your work sits in the Article 6 framework, get in touch.

> 🤖 Instrument: AI Act, Article 6 high-risk classification guidelines > > Status: Targeted consultation > > Opened: 19 May 2026 > > Closes: 23 June 2026 > > Enforcement of high-risk obligations: 2 August 2026 > > Related consultation: Article 50 transparency, closes 3 June 2026

> Source: DG Connect

Two-Factor Authentication Now Mandatory on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal

A brief operational reminder this week: the phased rollout of mandatory two-factor authentication on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal continues. The process started with expert accounts on 23 March 2026 and is now extending to applicants and beneficiaries. Anyone who has not yet set up a second factor should do so before their next portal interaction to avoid being locked out at a critical moment in the application or grant management process.

> 🔐 System: EU Funding and Tenders Portal > > Change: Two-factor authentication mandatory > > Started: 23 March 2026 (expert accounts), now extending to applicants and beneficiaries > > Action: Set up a second factor before your next portal log-in

> Source: EU Funding and Tenders Portal

EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 Closes with 2,103 Proposals Requesting Over €8.2 Billion

The EIC Pathfinder Open call funds early-stage, high-risk research aimed at the development of breakthrough technologies with potential for major societal and economic impact. It sits within the European Innovation Council's portfolio alongside the EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator.

On 20 May 2026 the EIC confirmed that the 2026 Pathfinder Open round attracted 2,103 project proposals before its 12 May deadline, submitted by applicants in 76 countries. The total funding requested exceeded €8.2 billion, set against an indicative call budget of around €166 million. That is one of the highest oversubscription levels recorded for the instrument. The 2026 round applies the new rules: a 100% funding rate, a lump-sum model, and a per-project ceiling of €4 million. Evaluation outcomes are indicatively expected within five months of the deadline, so applicants should plan for results in the autumn.

For the research community the headline is the sheer scale of demand: more than €8.2 billion requested for a call of around €166 million implies an indicative success rate of roughly 2%. Universities, deep-tech startups, research institutes and small consortia that submitted will need to plan for either a long wait and a likely rejection, or fallback routes through other Horizon Europe and national instruments. For prospective Pathfinder applicants in future rounds, the figures underline the importance of a sharply differentiated concept and a credible breakthrough story. Strategic Funding Partners helps Pathfinder applicants stress test their concept, position the breakthrough narrative and plan a multi-track funding strategy. If you submitted this round or are preparing for the next one, talk to us.

> 🚀 Programme: Horizon Europe European Innovation Council > > Call: EIC Pathfinder Open 2026 > > Proposals submitted: 2,103 > > Countries represented: 76 > > Funding requested: Over €8.2 billion > > Indicative budget: Around €166 million > > Rules: 100% funding rate, lump-sum model, up to €4 million per project > > Results expected: Autumn 2026

> Source: European Innovation Council

Commission Awards €400 Million to 65 Projects in First-Ever Innovation Fund Heat Auction

The Innovation Fund is the EU's flagship vehicle for deploying low-carbon technologies at scale, funded by revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System. The IF25 Heat Auction was the Fund's first EU-wide auction dedicated to industrial heat decarbonisation, complementing the auctions used for renewable hydrogen and other priorities.

On 22 May 2026 the Commission announced the selection of 65 projects across 10 European countries to share around €400 million under the auction. The selected projects will deploy direct and indirect resistance heating, heat pumps, solar thermal and hybrid systems across iron and steel, pulp and paper, glass, ceramics, construction and food production. The Commission estimates that the projects will cut more than 6.6 million tonnes of CO₂ over a 10-year period. The pilot auction attracted 85 bids requesting €1.4 billion in total. The final list of signed projects is expected in Q4 2026, and the Commission has confirmed that a second Heat Auction will be launched later this year, feeding directly into the Innovation Fund 2026 (IF26) stakeholder consultation on 19 June.

For industrial operators, technology providers and EPC partners the results give a clear picture of what kinds of projects, scales and technology mixes win an Innovation Fund auction. The IF26 stakeholder consultation in June is the moment to influence the design of the next round. Strategic Funding Partners supports Innovation Fund applicants from project shaping through to bid submission. Reach out for IF26 readiness support.

> 🔥 Programme: Innovation Fund (IF25 Heat Auction) > > Selected: 65 projects across 10 countries > > Funding: Around €400 million > > Bids received: 85, requesting €1.4 billion > > CO₂ saved: Over 6.6 million tonnes over 10 years > > Sectors: Iron and steel, pulp and paper, glass, ceramics, construction, food production > > Next: Second Heat Auction in 2026, IF26 stakeholder consultation on 19 June 2026

> Source: European Commission

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-MISS-2026-02-CANCER-03: Pragmatic clinical trials to optimise immunotherapeutic interventions for patients with refractory cancers > > Budget: €22,186,000 | Deadline: 15 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Mission on Cancer | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Health, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech > > Fit signal: Suited for oncology research centres, university hospitals, clinical trial networks, pharmaceutical companies and biotech firms with immunotherapy pipelines. Consortia should include regulatory expertise and patient engagement capacity.

> 🌍 HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2026-03-DIGIT-02: Enhancing integrated research and healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa through digital innovation and AI > > Budget: €18,000,000 | Deadline: 2 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Health, Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, Digital, Telecommunications > > Fit signal: Suited for digital health startups, AI companies with healthcare applications, research institutes with sub-Saharan Africa partnerships and global health organisations. Strong match for teams combining digital innovation with clinical research capacity.

> 🔐 HORIZON-CL3-2026-02-CS-ECCC-03: Advanced cryptographic schemes and high-assurance high-speed cryptographic implementations > > Budget: €15,000,000 | Deadline: 15 September 2026 > > Programme: Horizon Europe Cluster 3 | Status: Open > > Thematic Areas: Defence, Security, Digital, Telecommunications > > Fit signal: Suited for cryptography research groups, cybersecurity companies, post-quantum security startups, hardware security labs and telecoms operators developing next-generation secure communications infrastructure.

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. Drop us a line to find out more.

New Calls This Week

5 new calls were added since the last SFP Pulse Edition. Highlights below.

Internal Security Fund (ISF):

ISF-2026-TF2-AG-OCDT ⇢ Organised crime and drug trafficking Budget: €16,550,000 | Deadline: 3 September 2026

ISF-2026-TF2-AG-THB ⇢ Trafficking in human beings Budget: €16,550,000 | Deadline: 3 September 2026

ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CORRUPT ⇢ Fight against corruption Budget: €5,000,000 | Deadline: 24 September 2026

European Social Fund Plus (ESF+):

ESF-2026-SE-INCUBATION ⇢ Inclusive incubation and finance for more entrepreneurs Budget: €1,500,000 | Deadline: 2 September 2026

European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF):

EMFAF-2026-PIA-ARCTIC ⇢ Awareness raising about Arctic communities, including Indigenous Peoples Budget: €300,000 | Deadline: 20 August 2026

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

Calls Opening This Week

HORIZON-JU-SNS-2026-FEM-STREAM-B-02 ⇢ Microelectronic Front-End Module (FEM) - opens Tue 26 May Programme: Horizon Europe SNS JU | Deadline: 3 September 2026

HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01-01 ⇢ MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 - opens Thu 28 May Programme: Horizon Europe MSCA | Deadline: 24 November 2026

HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03 ⇢ RAISE Doctoral Networks for AI in Science - opens Thu 28 May Programme: Horizon Europe RAISE | Deadline: 24 November 2026

ISF-2026-TF2-AG-CORRUPT ⇢ Fight against corruption - opens Thu 28 May Budget: €5,000,000 | Deadline: 24 September 2026

ESF-2026-SE-INCUBATION ⇢ Inclusive incubation and finance for more entrepreneurs - opens Thu 28 May Budget: €1,500,000 | Deadline: 2 September 2026

Closing Soon

SMP-COSME-2026-BIOAGRIFOOD ⇢ Agri-food biotech scaling-up Tue 2 June

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

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

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

HORIZON-INFRA-2026-TECH-01-02 ⇢ Digital twins for environment, climate and security Tue 16 June

HORIZON-JU-EUROHPC-2026-COAIF-03 ⇢ Cooperation of AI Factories and Factories Antennas Tue 23 June

> 🚀 Explore EU funding on Discovery: browse hundreds of open and forthcoming calls, filter by programme, sector or deadline, and save the ones that fit. Start at strategicfundingpartners.eu/discovery. Strategic Opportunities Report: want a tailored shortlist of EU funding routes for your organisation? Email info@strategicfundingpartners.eu and we will get back to you with next steps.