Horizon Europe "Proof of market": €200,000 for SMEs and start-ups, deadline 2 February 2027

The European Commission is preparing the "Proof of market" call (HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49) under Horizon Europe. It funds small consortia of spin-offs, start-ups and SMEs that want to commercialise results obtained in European research projects. Each project receives a fixed EU contribution of 200,000 euro, and the total budget is 5 million euro, enough for around 25 projects. The call opens on 13 October 2026, and the submission deadline is 2 February 2027, 17:00 (Brussels time).

In brief

• Programme: Horizon Europe, Cluster 4 "Digital, Industry and Space", topic HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49 "Proof of market"
• Authority: European Commission, via the Funding & Tenders Portal
• Beneficiaries: small consortia of spin-offs, start-ups and SMEs that exploit results from Cluster 4 projects or from LEIT projects funded under Horizon 2020
• Total budget: 5,000,000 euro (2027 budget)
• Value per project: 200,000 euro EU contribution (the minimum and maximum are equal), around 25 projects funded
• Type of action: Innovation Action (IA), single-stage submission
• Submission period: from 13 October 2026 to 2 February 2027, 17:00 (Brussels time)
• Status: not yet open (shown in the portal as "Forthcoming"). The opening, originally scheduled for 22 September 2026, has been postponed.

What does the call fund?

According to the official text, the call offers financial support ("Proof of market") to small consortia so that they can explore the EU exploitation potential of results from ongoing or completed projects. The source projects must be funded under Cluster 4 "Digital, Industry and Space" of Horizon Europe or under the LEIT (Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies) component of Horizon 2020.

The Commission is aiming for three outcomes:

• exploring the commercial potential of Horizon research results;
• exploiting these results, with a clear path to commercialisation;
• involving start-ups and SMEs in the exploitation.

The topic description mentions exploitation activities such as technology demonstration, commercialisation planning, market analysis, technology assessment, user testing, regulatory compliance and strengthening intellectual property. The exact list of activities and eligible costs must be checked in the full text of the topic once the call opens.

Who can apply?

The call is aimed at small consortia of spin-offs, start-ups and SMEs. The key condition concerns the results being exploited: the proposal must either confirm that at least one of the applicants holds the relevant knowledge, including intellectual property rights, or include a letter of commitment from its owner.

If you do not hold the results directly, submit a letter of commitment from their owner or owners. The letter confirms that they are willing to negotiate access to the results on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.

The general eligibility conditions of Horizon Europe (minimum number of partners, eligible countries) have not been reproduced here. Check them in the call documents before forming the consortium.

How and by when do you apply?

1. The application is submitted online, through the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal, in a single stage.
2. The portal shows that the opening of call HORIZON-CL4-2027-01 has been postponed to 13 October 2026. The reason is the update of the Horizon work programme, which is due to be adopted and published on 5 October 2026.
3. The deadline is 2 February 2027, 17:00 (Brussels time).

The update of the work programme may change the text of the topic. Re-read the conditions after 13 October, before finalising your proposal.

What this means for your business

The recommendations below are our own analysis, not official conditions of the call.

• Who it suits: university spin-offs and technology SMEs that have already taken part in Horizon 2020 (LEIT) or Horizon Europe Cluster 4 projects. It also suits companies that can obtain access to the results of such a project. Without a demonstrable link to a previously funded project, an application has no basis.
• What to prepare now: identify the source project (acronym, grant number) and clarify who owns the results. If the owner is a university or an institute, request the letter of commitment early. Internal approvals often take weeks.
• A common pitfall: a proposal that describes the research again instead of showing the route to market. Evaluators look for market analysis, target customers, intellectual property strategy and concrete commercialisation steps.
• Fixed budget: the amount of 200,000 euro is the same for all projects. The work plan must be realistically sized for this amount.
• Competition: with only around 25 projects funded across Europe, competition will be tough. It is worth starting your preparation as early as October.

If you are not sure whether your company qualifies, you can start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Horizon "Proof of market" call open?

Not yet. On 26 September 2026, call HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49 appears as "Forthcoming" in the Funding & Tenders Portal. The opening has been postponed to 13 October 2026, and the submission deadline is 2 February 2027, 17:00 (Brussels time).

How much money does a project receive?

Each project receives an EU contribution of 200,000 euro, and the minimum and maximum are equal. The total budget of the topic is 5 million euro, for approximately 25 projects.

Can I apply if my company has not taken part in a Horizon project?

Yes, with one condition. If your company does not hold the results, you need a letter of commitment from their owner. The letter must confirm that the owner will negotiate access on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The results must come from Horizon Europe Cluster 4 or Horizon 2020 LEIT projects.

Who can be part of the consortium?

The call targets small consortia made up of spin-offs, start-ups and SMEs. The detailed rules on composition and number of partners are in the official call documents. Check them after the opening on 13 October 2026.

Official sources

• Funding & Tenders Portal – topic HORIZON-CL4-2027-01-MAT-PROD-49 "Proof of market"
• European Commission – Knowledge valorisation in the Horizon Europe 2026–2027 work programme

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.