Horizon Europe cluster 4

For 2026–27, the work programme is structured around five Destinations: (1) climate-neutral, circular and digitised production; (2) increased autonomy in key value chains; (3) world-leading data, computing and digital infrastructures; (4) open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging tech; and (5) human‑centric digital and industrial technologies.

Overall 2026–27 setup

• Cluster 4 calls run from January 2026 to September 2027, with a mix of one‑stage and two‑stage RIAs, IAs and CSAs.

• Topics span AI, data, robotics, next‑generation internet, Web 4.0/virtual worlds, microelectronics, photonics, materials, advanced manufacturing, raw materials, and space (EO, satcom, access to space, in‑orbit services).

• Many topics sit under institutionalised partnerships (AI, Data and Robotics; Made in Europe; Photonics; Virtual Worlds; Space), which shape TRLs and expected impacts.

The two new 2026 digital calls (total €307.3 million)

The Commission has just launched two major calls under Cluster 4, together worth €307.3 million, focused on data, AI, emerging digital tech and human‑centric innovation.

Call 1 – HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04

“Developing an agile and secure single market and infrastructure for data‑services and trustworthy AI services”
Total budget: €221.8 million across 15 topics.

• Opening date: 15 January 2026

• Deadline: 15 April 2026 (single stage)​

Key Destinations and example topics:

• Data & cloud / Open Internet Stack (Destination 3 – data‑services & AI infrastructure)

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑DATA‑02: Open Internet Stack Sovereign Solutions (RIA) – building open, interoperable, sovereignty‑friendly internet stack components.​

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑DATA‑03: Open Internet Stack Support for Scale (CSA) – support measures, ecosystem building, standardisation and adoption. Budget: ~€4M for a single project.

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑DATA‑06: Efficient and compliant access to and use of data (IA, AI/Data/Robotics partnership). ~€11.5–23.5M per project, up to 3 projects, combining technical/data‑space solutions with compliance (GDPR, EHDS, Data Act).

• Emerging digital tech & AI (Destination 4 – open strategic autonomy)

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑DIGITAL‑EMERGING‑01: Apply AI – Pilot of the “Science for AI” pillar of RAISE (Resource for AI science in Europe) (RIA). Single flagship project (~€17M) to create shared compute, data, tools and governance for European AI research and foundation models.

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑DIGITAL‑EMERGING‑19: Challenge‑Driven GenAI4EU Booster in Apply AI prioritised sectors (RIA), under the AI/Data/Robotics partnership – generative AI pilots and platforms in priority sectors (manufacturing, health, mobility, public services, etc.).​

• Human‑centric tech, virtual worlds & Web 4.0 (Destination 5 – human‑centric innovation)

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑HUMAN‑01: Developing and demonstrating core technologies for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 (IA, Virtual Worlds partnership), ~€4–5M per project for up to 7 projects, targeting engines, interaction tech, tools and platforms.

  • HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04‑HUMAN‑02: Web 4.0 architectural framework and Open Internet Stack applications for virtual worlds (RIA), defining technical/architectural frameworks, interoperability and trust for next‑gen immersive experiences.​

What it means for innovators:

• Strong opportunities for AI, cloud, data‑space, internet stack, Web 4.0/virtual worlds and platform players, with both large flagship and mid‑sized projects.

• Focus on open, interoperable and trustworthy infrastructures that align with EU digital sovereignty and the Open Internet Stack vision.

Call 2 – HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑05

Digital & emerging technologies for AI, robotics and autonomy
Total budget: €85.5 million across 3 topics.

This call further develops AI agents and agile robotics platforms for real‑world applications, under the AI, Data and Robotics partnership.

Key topics:

• HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑05‑DIGITAL‑EMERGING‑02: Next‑Generation AI Agents for Real‑World Applications in the Apply AI sectors (RIA) – multi‑modal, autonomous AI systems that can operate in complex, safety‑critical or regulated environments.​

• HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑05‑DIGITAL‑EMERGING‑03: Apply AI – Next‑Generation Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms for Industrial and Service Applications (RIA) – modular, interoperable robotic platforms for factories, logistics, healthcare, agriculture or public spaces.

• A third topic (not fully shown in the extract) rounds out the €85.5M envelope, also focused on advanced AI/robotics capabilities for strategic sectors.​

What it means for innovators:

• Designed for deep‑tech AI/robotics SMEs, startups and industrial players ready to build platforms or large‑scale pilots in real‑world settings.

• Strong emphasis on safety, trust, human‑centred design and sector integration, coordinated with industrial partnerships (Made in Europe, Processes4Planet, etc.).

Other notable 2026–27 Cluster 4 opportunities

Beyond these two new calls, the 2026–27 Cluster 4 programme includes:

• Two‑stage “AI for industry” calls like HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑02‑DIGITAL‑EMERGING‑51 (AI‑improved advanced manufacturing) and ‑53 (AI for process industries) with first‑stage deadline 17 March 2026 and second stage 13 October 2026.

• Space calls such as HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑SPACE‑03‑01 (demonstration missions for EO/satcom) and ‑SPACE‑03‑61 (scientific exploitation of space data), opening later in 2026.​

• Additional virtual worlds/Web 4.0 and space autonomy topics in 2027 (e.g. hardware components, digital enablers for space transportation).​

Practical points for applicants

• All Cluster 4 calls and topics are detailed in Work Programme Part 7 – Digital, Industry and Space, with TRLs, expected impacts and topic‑specific eligibility.​

• Proposals are submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, generally requiring consortia from at least three eligible countries, though CSAs may be more flexible.

• The Commission and HaDEA are running online info days and brokerage events, including a digital calls info day and brokerage on 3 February 2026 focusing on AI, data and robotics topics under these new calls.

For digital, AI, Web 4.0, robotics and data‑driven innovators, the 2026 Cluster 4 calls—especially HORIZON‑CL4‑2026‑04 and ‑05—offer substantial, strategically aligned funding to build the infrastructures, platforms and applications that will anchor Europe’s digital autonomy and industrial competitiveness.