Call window open Horizon Europe Bridging 2027 — “Apply AI”: AI applied in media, autonomous mobility and energy (HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01)
The Horizon Europe call HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01 has €55 million for four applied AI projects: media, pilot cities with autonomous vehicles, energy and the scaling of advanced models. On each topic, a single European consortium is funded, with €10 million or €15 million.
- Who can apply
- Consortia of legal entities from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and countries associated with Horizon Europe
- Total budget
- 55 million
- Funding amount
- 10 million
- Submission period
- 20 Oct 2026 – 16 Feb 2027
Checked against official sources on · funder: European Commission · official source
The call window is open. The time left until the deadline decides whether we can still build your application in time, so call today.
Who can apply
Consortia of legal entities from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Companies, universities, research institutes, cities and energy operators from Romania are eligible. Under topic 13 (Frontier AI), entities from Canada, Israel, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan may also take part. Under topics 10 and 12, entities controlled directly or indirectly by an ineligible country or by an entity from such a country cannot take part. Under topic 13, these entities may take part only with guarantees approved by the country in which they are established, and entities controlled from China cannot submit guarantees. Under topic 09, restrictions apply to protect European communication networks.
What it covers
- A modular, multilingual AI platform for public-interest press and audiovisual media: translation, content processing, provenance verification (TRL 6 → TRL 8)
- Pilots with SAE level 4 autonomous electric vehicles (shuttles, ride-hailing, car-sharing) in 5–7 cities across at least 5 countries, with at least one cross-border pilot
- AI-based digital platforms for the energy system, a large-scale cross-border pilot in at least 6 countries, lasting around 36 months (TRL 7–8)
- Methods and tools for scaling high-performance AI models: scaling laws, architecture search, data mix optimisation, hyperparameter tuning (TRL 4–5)
Apply in the current call window
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
When can projects be submitted to the Apply AI call HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01?
On the European Commission's Funding & Tenders Portal, the call appears with planned opening on 20 October 2026 and a submission deadline of 16 February 2027. Submission is in a single stage for all four topics.
What is the call's budget, and how much does a project receive?
The call has a budget of €55 million. Topic 09 (AI media platform) has €10 million, while topics 10 (cities with autonomous vehicles), 12 (AI platforms for energy) and 13 (Frontier AI) have €15 million each. One project is funded under each topic.
Can companies and universities from Romania apply?
Yes. Legal entities established in EU Member States, including Romania, may take part as part of a European consortium. Entities from Iceland, Norway and countries associated to Horizon Europe may also take part.
What restrictions apply to companies controlled from outside the EU?
Under topics 10 and 12, entities controlled directly or indirectly by an ineligible country or by an entity from such a country cannot take part. Under topic 13, they can take part only if they provide guarantees approved by the country in which they are established, and entities controlled from China cannot submit guarantees. Under topic 09, restrictions apply to protect European communication networks.
What must the energy project (topic 12) include?
A single large-scale cross-border pilot with AI-based digital platforms for the European energy system. The pilot must operate in at least six Member States or associated countries, reach TRL 7–8 by the end, and last approximately 36 months. The topic is an innovation action (AI) with €15 million.
What does the autonomous vehicles topic (topic 10) fund?
Autonomous electric mobility services with SAE level 4 vehicles, tested in 5–7 cities across at least 5 Member States or associated countries. At least one pilot must be cross-border, between neighbouring cities, and the project must reach TRL 8. The budget is €15 million for a single project.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
Apply in the current call window — Horizon Europe Bridging 2027 — "Apply AI": AI applied in media, autonomous mobility and energy (HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01)
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
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