Horizon Europe is the EU’s main research and innovation programme. Instead of funding any innovation idea, it publishes defined calls and topics describing the challenges, expected results and conditions that proposals must address. For the wider 2027 landscape, see Contactica’s Horizon Europe Overview.
Is Horizon Europe Cluster 6 for your organisation?
Cluster 6 may be relevant if your organisation develops solutions related to agriculture, food, biotechnology, circular economy, bio-based products, environmental technologies, water, biodiversity, forestry, fisheries, aquaculture or rural development and AI for the green transitions.
Have a technology, expertise or project idea that could fit Cluster 6?
Contactica can help assess your organisation’s potential fit, identify the most relevant 2027 topics and define the right next step before you invest resources in proposal preparation.
Discuss your Horizon Europe opportunity with ContacticaWhat does each destination mean?
| Destination | Means |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity and ecosystem services | Technologies and solutions to measure, protect and restore biodiversity |
| Fair, healthy and environmentally friendly food systems | More sustainable agriculture, livestock farming, food and agri-food systems. |
| Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors | New materials, recycling, reuse, biotechnology and resource valorisation. |
| Clean environment and zero pollution | Technologies to reduce pollution and hazardous substances. |
| Land, ocean and water for climate action | Climate adaptation, water, agriculture, forests, oceans and carbon. |
| Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green communities | Rural, urban and coastal innovation and local food systems. |
| Innovative governance, environmental observations and digital solutions | AI, data, environmental observations, advisory services and governance. |
How to read a Horizon Europe call: decoding the acronyms
A Cluster 6 identifier can be a pain in the neck, but it is mostly a compact label. For example:
HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRBIO-01
| Code segment | Meaning |
|---|---|
| HORIZON | Horizon Europe programme |
| CL6 | Cluster 6 |
| 2027 | Work Programme / call year |
| 01 | Call group identifier |
| CIRBIO | Destination / thematic identifier. Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors |
| 01 | Topic number inside that thematic area |
Identifier formats vary between clusters and call groups, so the exact structure should always be checked on the topic page.
| Action Type | In plain language | General Maximum Rate |
|---|---|---|
| RIA – Research and Innovation Action | New knowledge, feasibility, technology development, testing and validation | Up to 100% |
| IA – Innovation Action | Prototype, demonstration, piloting, large-scale validation and market replication | Generally 70% for profit entities, up to 100% for non-profit entities |
| CSA – Coordination and Support Action | Coordination, networking and support rather than core R&I | Up to 100% |
Specific call/topic conditions can set different rules, so the action type is a first indication, not a substitute for checking the topic.
Who can take part?
Depending on the topic, potential participants can include companies, SMEs, startups, universities, research and technology organisations, public authorities, NGOs and civil-society organisations, sector associations, cooperatives, farmers, foresters, fisheries and aquaculture actors, and other organisations able to contribute to the expected results.
For most collaborative Horizon Europe actions, the general rule is three independent legal entities established in three different countries: at least one in an EU Member State and at least two others in different Member States or Associated Countries. Specific topics may add or modify conditions, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) follow different minimum rules.
CONTACTICA'S ADVICE: Not having a European consortium already in place should not stop you from exploring an opportunity. First assess whether your technology, expertise or project idea has a credible topic fit; the right role and consortium can then be defined around that opportunity.
What will determine whether your organisation fits?
| Element under review | What matters |
|---|---|
| Topic scope | Your proposed work must respond to the challenge and activities described in the topic. |
| Expected outcomes | The proposal must show how its results can contribute to the change the EU expects. |
| Type of Action | RIA, IA or CSA signals whether the topic is mainly about research, innovation/demonstration or coordination/support. |
| TRL | Some topics require a certain level of initial/final technology maturity. |
| Consortium conditions | The general eligibility rule is only the starting point; some topics require particular countries, sectors or actors. |
| Multi-Actor Approach | Where required, relevant end-users and stakeholders must be genuinely involved in co-creation and implementation, not only consulted at the end. |
| Budget / Expected Contribution | The Work Programme (WP) indicates the topic budget and, in many cases, the expected EU contribution per project. |
| Funding Model | The Action Type affects the maximum funding rate; some calls also use lump-sum funding. |
| Single / Two-stage | Some proposals are submitted once; others begin with a shorter first-stage proposal and only selected applicants progress. |
| Deadline | A good sector match is not enough if there is insufficient time to define the concept, partners and proposal. |
A sector match is only the first filter. Contactica can assess the topic-specific conditions before your organisation commits significant time and resources to proposal preparation.
A competitive Cluster 6 consortium often needs more than excellent researchers. It needs the right combination of technology providers, industry, end-users, research organisations and other sectors capable of taking the solution into practice.
Where are the opportunities in 2027?
CLUSTER 6 2027 AT A GLANCE. €556.7 million in combined indicative budget across five 2027 call groups, 50 topics. First openings on 4 February 2027, running from April/May to September 2027. The dates are subject to change in accordance with the Work Programme published by the European Commission.
| Call group | Opening | Deadline(s) | Budget | Main focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON-CL6-2027-03 | 04 Feb 2027 | 11 May 2027 | €49.05 M | Governance, digital/AI, AKIS and farmer resilience |
| HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-two-stage | 04 Feb 2027 | 08 Apr / 16 Sep | €28 M | Circular economy and bioeconomy |
| HORIZON-CL6-2027-02-two-stage | 04 Feb 2027 | 08 Apr / 14 Sep | €35 M | Plant health, climate-smart agriculture and water resilience |
| HORIZON-CL6-2027-01 | 20 Apr 2027 | 22 Sep 2027 | €261.80 M | Biodiversity, circular economy/bioeconomy and zero pollution |
| HORIZON-CL6-2027-02 | 20 Apr 2027 | 23 Sep 2027 | €182.85 M | Food/agriculture, climate action and communities |
Key opportunities by sector
| If you work in… | Look out for opportunities related to… |
|---|---|
| Agriculture & AgriTech | Digital farming under water/nutrient scarcity, diversified crops, organic farming, farmer resilience and advisory tools. |
| Livestock & animal nutrition | Feed additives for lower GHG emissions and better feed efficiency, livestock microbiomes and One Health. |
| Food & FoodTech | Commercialisation of food-system microbiome solutions, AI-powered foodome characterisation and local food-system innovation. |
| Biotechnology & bio-based industry | CCU biotechnology, biomass flows, bio-based upcycling/recycling and circular bioeconomy value chains. |
| Circular economy & product industries | Ecodesign of consumer electronics and construction products, complex plastics recycling, repair/refurbishment and end-of-life footwear. |
| Environment & biodiversity | Biodiversity observation, ecosystem restoration, invasive species, hazardous-substance substitution and air-quality solutions. |
| Water & climate resilience | European Water Resilience Strategy, carbon farming and resilience of agriculture, forestry and supply chains. |
| Forestry, rural & community innovation | Forestry resilience, rural-community resilience, AKIS knowledge flows and AI-supported advice for farmers and foresters. |
What does the EU expect from funded projects?
Horizon Europe does not fund a project simply because a technology or solution is innovative. Each topic starts from a defined challenge and describes the scope of the work and the results the European Union expects funded projects to help achieve.
A strong concept therefore needs to connect the organisation’s expertise or technology with the topic’s expected outcomes, the right partners and a credible route from project activities to real-world impact.
The same technology can potentially fit more than one topic or none. Its maturity, use case, expected results, consortium role and the topic wording will determine whether there is a credible opportunity. That is why opportunity assessment should come before proposal writing.
DISCLAIMER Information is based on the Horizon Europe Work Programme available at the time of publication and may be subject to subsequent updates or changes by the European Commission.
HORIZON EUROPE · CLUSTER 6 FIT CHECK
Could your organisation fit a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 project?
Tick the statements that match your organisation, technology or project idea. This quick checklist can help you identify whether your profile may be worth exploring further.
Checked several boxes?
Your organisation may have potential fit within Horizon Europe Cluster 6. However, sector fit alone is not enough: the right opportunity depends on the specific topic, technology maturity, expected outcomes, consortium requirements and the role your organisation could play.
The next step is identifying which 2027 opportunities are actually worth exploring.
Assess your opportunity with CTA →
This checklist provides an initial orientation only and does not determine eligibility for a specific Horizon Europe call.
