Horizon Europe Health 2027: €528 million across 14 topics, opening on 29 October

On 29 October 2026 the European Commission opens the main Horizon Europe health calls for 2027: 10 topics with single-stage submission (HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01) and 4 topics in two stages (HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02), with a total budget of €528.2 million. Universities, hospitals, research institutes, biotechnology and medtech SMEs, as well as public authorities, can apply in international consortia. The first deadline is 17 February 2027, earlier than originally announced.

In brief

• Programme: Horizon Europe, Cluster 1 Health, calls HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01 (single stage) and HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02 (two stages)
• Authority: European Commission, through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
• Beneficiaries: European consortia made up of universities, hospitals, institutes, companies (including SMEs) and, for one topic, public authorities that procure innovative solutions
• Total budget: €341.6 million in the single-stage call and €186.6 million in the two-stage call
• Value per project: between €3 and 11 million, depending on the topic
• Submission period: opens on 29 October 2026; deadline 17 February 2027 (single stage and stage 1); stage 2 on 16 September 2027
• Status: announced, not yet open for submission (shown on the portal as "Forthcoming")

Which topics are in the single-stage call?

The HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01 call ("Single stage – 2027/1") has 10 topics. All open on 29 October 2026 and close on 17 February 2027:

• Cell-free protein synthesis platforms for the discovery or production of biological medicines (IND-01): €24.5 million, 4 projects of €6–8 million;
• Small-molecule antivirals for viruses with epidemic potential (DISEASE-05): €44.2 million, 5 projects of €9–11 million;
• Monoclonal antibodies against flaviviruses, such as dengue, Zika or West Nile (DISEASE-06): €37.3 million, 4 projects of €9–10 million;
• Monoclonal antibodies against Ebola, Marburg, Chikungunya and other viruses (DISEASE-07): €37.3 million, 4 projects of €9–10 million;
• New antimicrobials against resistant pathogens (DISEASE-08): €44.2 million, 5 projects of €8–10 million;
• Chronic non-communicable diseases in children and young people (DISEASE-10, GACD): €11.8 million, 3 projects of €3–4 million;
• Reducing adverse reactions in patients taking multiple medicines (CARE-02): €38 million, 4 projects of €8–10 million;
• Disabilities across the life course and independent living (STAYHLTH-01): €39.3 million, 5 projects of €6–8 million;
• Climate-related exposures and the human exposome (ENVHLTH-02): €45 million, 4 projects of €10–11 million;
• Tools for adapting health systems to climate change (ENVHLTH-MISSCLIMA-03): €20 million, 4 projects of €4–5 million. Here the funding takes the form of pre-commercial procurement (PCP), and the consortia are made up of public buyers: health organisations and local authorities.

What does the two-stage call cover?

The HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02 call has 4 topics. Short proposals are submitted by 17 February 2027, and those selected move on to stage 2, with a deadline of 16 September 2027:

• Innovative interventions for non-communicable diseases (DISEASE-01): €63.8 million, 8 projects of €7–8 million;
• Predictive biomarkers developed with artificial intelligence methods for chronic non-communicable diseases (TOOL-01): €44.2 million, 6 projects of €6–8 million;
• Clinical studies for neurodegenerative diseases (DISEASE-14): €39.3 million, 4 projects of €10 million;
• Portable point-of-care diagnostic devices (IND-02, innovation action): €39.3 million, 6 projects of €5–7 million.

In the first stage, proposals are evaluated "blind". According to the text of the topics, the summary and Part B of the stage 1 proposal must not include organisation names, acronyms, logos or the names of team members.

What has changed compared with the original timetable?

The 2026–2027 work programme originally provided for the 2027 health calls to open only in 2027. The Commission has brought the timetable forward: both calls now appear on the official Funding & Tenders portal with opening on 29 October 2026 and a first deadline of 17 February 2027. For consortia, this means about four and a half months remain between today and the deadline, and the winter holidays fall in the middle of this period.

Who can apply from Romania?

Organisations from Romania can take part as in any Horizon Europe project: as partners or coordinators in international consortia. The admissibility and eligibility conditions are those in the general annexes of the work programme. The evaluation thresholds are 4 points for each criterion (excellence, impact, implementation), and the overall threshold is 12 points. Proposals that include clinical studies must use the dedicated template available on the portal.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: a Romanian SME in biotechnology, diagnostics or medical software has the best chance as a specialist partner in a consortium led by an experienced university or institute, rather than as a sole applicant. The topics best suited to companies are above all IND-02 (point-of-care diagnostics), TOOL-01 (biomarkers with AI) and IND-01 (production of biological medicines).

• Look for your consortium now. Partners are usually chosen before the call opens. Use the network of national contact points and partner-search platforms.
• Prepare your role in the project: what you concretely bring (technology, data, access to patients, validation capacity), with a clear budget and work packages.
• Public hospitals and town halls should consider the pre-commercial procurement topic on climate adaptation, where the public buyer is the beneficiary itself.
• Common pitfall: in the blind evaluation of stage 1, a single mention of your organisation's name can cause problems in the evaluation.

For an initial check of your company's profile, you can use the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can I already submit projects for Horizon Europe Health 2027?

No. The HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01 and HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02 calls have "announced" status and open for submission on 29 October 2026. Until then, consortia can be formed and the technical content can be prepared.

What is the submission deadline?

For the 10 single-stage topics and for stage 1 of the 4 two-stage topics, the deadline is 17 February 2027. Stage 2 of the two-stage call has a deadline of 16 September 2027.

How much can a project receive?

Between €3 and 11 million, depending on the topic. The smallest amounts are for chronic diseases in children and young people (€3–4 million), and the largest for the exposome and climate (€10–11 million) and for antivirals (€9–11 million).

Can a Romanian SME apply on its own?

Horizon Europe health projects are submitted by consortia, following the rules in the general annexes of the work programme. An SME usually takes part as a partner, alongside universities, hospitals and other companies from several countries.

What does the "blind" evaluation in the first stage mean?

For the two-stage topics, evaluators must not see who is submitting the project. This is why the summary and Part B of the stage 1 proposal do not include organisation names, acronyms, logos or the names of team members.

Official sources

• Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-IND-01 (Cluster 1 Health call, Single stage – 2027/1)
• Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-01-STAYHLTH-01
• Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-IND-02-two-stage (Cluster 1 Health call, Two stage – 2027)
• Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-HLTH-2027-02-TOOL-01-two-stage

Information checked on 3 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.