In 2026, the European Union grants and incentives come with the strongest emphasis on “green and digital transformation” to date. The EU anticipates approximately €192.8–193.26 billion in commitments and around €190.1 billion in payments in its 2026 annual budget; the European Parliament negotiated an additional €372.7 million directed particularly towards competitiveness, research, security, and climate.
This scenario makes 2026 a critical opportunity year for universities conducting research in Europe, startups developing technology, industrial companies, SMEs running field projects, and public institutions. However, as important as the size of the funds is, applying to the right program, at the right time, and with the right structure will also be decisive.
EU 2026 Budget and Strategic Priorities
The 2026 EU budget is not just about numbers; it also materializes policy headings that will shape the coming years. The backbone of the budget is formed by the following priorities:
- Competitiveness Compass – R&D, innovation, and infrastructure investments that will enhance the EU’s global competitiveness
- Clean Industrial Deal – A new industrial policy aligned with the green transition, clean and low-carbon production technologies
- Union of Skills – Programs that strengthen skills, education, reskilling, and labor mobility
- EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy – Incentives focusing on startups and scale-ups that can grow rapidly, particularly in the deep tech field
These policies also define the areas where grants and financial instruments will be concentrated in 2026:
- Research and innovation (calls under Horizon Europe, EIC, European Chips Act)
- Digital and green transformation (energy, climate, data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity)
- Agriculture, health, and culture (especially young farmers, resilience of health systems, cultural and creative sectors)
- Security, defense, and border management
Horizon Europe 2026: Main Funding Mechanism for Research and Innovation
Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest research and innovation program with a budget of approximately €95.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period. In 2026, the total amount allocated to the Research & Innovation heading is approximately €14.12 billion, of which about €12.97 billion is reserved for Horizon Europe. The Parliament also secured an additional €20 million for this item during the 2026 budget negotiations.
We can summarize the main types of grants that will also be active in 2026 under Horizon Europe as follows:
- Collaborative research projects: Consortia established with partners from at least three different member or associated countries.
- ERC (European Research Council) individual excellence grants: For top-level researchers.
- MSCA (Marie Skłodowska‑Curie Actions): Researcher mobility, doctoral programs, and training.
- Missions and partnerships: Large-scale mission-oriented calls in thematic areas such as health, climate, oceans, cities, and land.
Example 2026 Call: EUP OHAMR – Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
As a concrete example, the EUP OHAMR Joint Transnational Call 2026 under the Horizon Europe umbrella focuses on new treatments and treatment adherence in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR):
- Call opening: November 18, 2025
- Pre-application deadline: February 2, 2026
- Total call budget: over €31 million
- Funding is provided only to multinational consortia (transnational projects).
- Maximum project duration: 3 years, funding is done through national/regional agencies with EU co-financing.
This call serves as a good template for R&D teams in terms of how eligibility, timing, budget, and partnership structure are designed.
EIC 2026 Work Programme: Opportunities for Deep Tech Startups and Scale-ups
The European Innovation Council (EIC), while positioned within Horizon Europe, focuses particularly on high-risk, breakthrough innovations and the ventures that scale them. A budget of over €1.4 billion is planned for the 2026 EIC Work Programme, which is divided into several main schemes:
EIC Pathfinder – Visionary Research Projects
- Target audience: Multidisciplinary research teams
- Focus: Visionary, early-stage, and high-risk technology breakthroughs
- 2026 budget: €262 million
- Grant amount: Up to €4 million per project
EIC Transition – Bridging Research to Commercialization
- Target audience: Teams wishing to commercialize results from Pathfinder, ERC PoC, or Horizon Europe Pillar 2 projects.
- Focus: Technology maturation, validation, product/market fit, and business development
- 2026 budget: €100 million
- Grant amount: Up to €2.5 million per project
EIC Accelerator – Hybrid Financing for Startups and SMEs
- Target audience: Startups and SMEs; innovations with high potential to transform the market.
- 2026 budget: €634 million
- Grant component: up to €2.5 million in grants
- Equity component: Investment ranging from €0.5–10 million through the EIC Fund (blended finance model).
EIC STEP Scale Up – Additional Equity for Strategic Technologies
In 2026, an additional €300 million in equity is allocated under the EIC in line with the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP). The aim is to support large private investment rounds (of €50+ million) in SMEs, startups, spin-offs, and small mid-cap companies operating in critical technology areas with EU equity tickets ranging from €10–30 million.
Advanced Innovation Challenges – ARPA Inspired Pilot
- 2026 budget: €6 million
- Grant: Uniform (lump-sum) payment of €300,000 per project
- Focus: Specific deep technology areas where Europe is strong in research but weak in commercialization
All EIC schemes combine funding with Business Acceleration Services (mentor network, investor access, corporate partners, ecosystem support). For technology companies aiming for global growth, this means not only capital but also international networking.
STEP – Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform and 2026 Impact
STEP is not a single grant program in the classical sense; it is a priority label and overarching funding umbrella. Within many EU funds during the 2021–2027 period, it serves as a “multiplier” that will create significant impact in the 2026 allocations.
Focus Sectors of STEP
- Digital and deep tech (artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum, cybersecurity, etc.)
- Clean and resource-efficient technologies (renewables, energy efficiency, circular economy)
- Biotechnology
- Defense technologies (especially under EIC Scale Up calls)
Programs Tagged with STEP
STEP provides “extra power” to grants and other funding types through the following programs:
- Horizon Europe
- EU4Health
- Innovation Fund
- European Defence Fund
- Digital Europe Programme
Additionally, tools such as cohesion policy funds (ERDF, ESF+, etc.) and RRF (Recovery and Resilience Facility) also channel resources to STEP priorities through loans, guarantees, and financial instruments.
Important Technical Detail for Regional Funds in 2026
If member states reallocate at least 10% of their ERDF/CF/JTF allocations to new priorities, including STEP priorities, by December 31, 2025, starting from 2026:
- They gain the right to receive an additional one-time pre-financing of 1.5% of the total ERDF/CF/JTF support.
- This rate can rise to 9.5% for programs covering regions bordering Russia or Ukraine.
- The deadline for eligible expenditures extends to 2030.
This means that starting from 2026, there will be more resources at the regional level for digital, green, biotechnology, and defense projects.
Other Important EU Funds: EU4Health, LIFE, Erasmus+, CEF, and Digital Europe
Health, Environment, Education, and Agriculture Programs
The 2026 budget compromise provides additional resources for several flagship programs:
- EU4Health: +€3 million for health systems, preparedness, and cross-border health projects
- LIFE (environment & climate): +€10 million for nature, biodiversity, and climate action
- Erasmus+: +€3 million for education, youth, and mobility
- Agriculture: +€105 million under the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund, focusing particularly on young farmers and the promotion of EU agricultural products
These programs mostly utilize the following tools:
- Project grants on specific themes (call-based)
- Operating grants to networks and NGOs working across the EU
- In some cases, financial instruments and public procurements
Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Digital Europe
The draft budget for 2026 under the title of Strategic Investments includes the following items:
- Connecting Europe Facility (CEF): Approximately €3.02 billion for cross-border transport and energy infrastructure. The Parliament added an additional €23.5 million for transport and energy networks in the final agreement.
- Digital Europe Programme: Approximately €1 billion to support digital capacity, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.
These programs offer companies operating in energy, logistics, data centers, cloud, and cybersecurity infrastructure the opportunity to participate in large-scale infrastructure projects or join consortia.
Which Types of Organizations Can Benefit from 2026 EU Grants?
While there are differences among programs, the following types of actors can generally access the 2026 grants:
- Universities and research centers
- Startups, SMEs, and mid-cap companies (especially in technology, health, energy, agriculture, cultural creative industries)
- Municipalities, development agencies, and public institutions
- NGOs and non-profit organizations
- International consortia (structures where actors from different EU/associated countries come together)
Many calls, especially on the Horizon Europe and CEF sides, require a consortium condition that includes partners from at least 3 different countries. Therefore, finding international partners, project design, and consortium management are critical parts of the 2026 grant strategy.
Strategic Significance of 2026 Grants for International Companies and Investors
EU grants are not just “additional resources” supporting R&D budgets; they are also a powerful leverage for international expansion and tax planning. In particular:
- Entering Horizon Europe or EIC projects through a corporate structure within the EU provides long-term R&D positioning.
- STEP-labeled digital and green projects signify future access to additional financial instruments and prestige among investors.
- Companies involved in EU-funded projects often benefit from national advantages such as tax incentives, accelerated depreciation, and employment support.
- Sending international personnel to EU countries with the posted worker model provides cost efficiency and tax optimization for some projects.
At this point, it should be emphasized that access to funds is not just about project writing, but also about a whole with the right country, the right corporate structure, and the right accounting and payroll setup.
The Role of Corpenza: Correctly Structuring Corporate, Mobility, and Tax Dimensions
Grants focused on Horizon Europe, EIC, or STEP require more than just a technically well-written project. Especially for companies from non-EU countries like Turkey or those wishing to open to different markets within the EU, the following questions become important:
- Which EU country is the most advantageous for establishing a company from a project perspective?
- How should R&D, production, and sales functions be tax-optimized between which countries?
- How should residency permits, work permits, posted worker, and payroll (payroll/EOR) be structured for personnel to be sent to the EU under the project?
- How should grants and investments received in the EU be reported within the framework of international accounting standards?
Corpenza, on a European and global scale:
- Corporate structuring and setup
- Residency permits, golden visa, and citizenship by investment
- International accounting and payroll (payroll/EOR)
- Personnel leasing and tax optimization with the posted worker model
As a specialized team in these areas, it can provide support at the level of strategy, structuring, and implementation to institutions targeting 2026 EU grants. This way, you not only secure project acceptance but also ensure that the funds are used in the most efficient, legally compliant, and sustainable manner.
Practical Steps for Preparing for 2026 EU Grants
To enter the 2026 calls with a strong file, it will be beneficial to plan the following steps early:
- Map out funding: Identify the programs (Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator, LIFE, CEF, Digital Europe, etc.) that are most suitable for your project idea.
- Create a consortium strategy: Early on, bring potential partners to the table for calls requiring partnerships from at least three countries.
- Design the legal and financial structure within the EU: Align the company location, subsidiary structures, tax, and accounting setup with the project requirements.
- Plan human resources and mobility: Clarify which experts will be sent to which country, with which visa and work model.
- Follow official sources: Regularly monitor the official Horizon Europe page and announcements from the European Commission for program and call details.
Making these preparations well before the grant call opens, rather than panicking to prepare an application, significantly increases the likelihood of acceptance.
Conclusion
The European Union’s 2026 budget brings a strong wave of grants and incentives focused on competitiveness, research, green and digital transformation. A wide range from STEP priority funds from Horizon Europe and EIC to programs like EU4Health, LIFE, Erasmus+, and CEF offers great opportunities for companies, universities, and public institutions when evaluated with well-prepared projects and the right corporate setup.
Viewing this process not just as “project writing” but addressing it alongside international corporate structuring, tax, human resources, and mobility dimensions will be key to obtaining the highest strategic return from EU funds in 2026 and beyond. Corpenza offers a business partner that will walk alongside institutions wishing to establish and grow a long-term presence in Europe with this holistic perspective.
Disclaimer
This text is prepared for informational purposes only; it should not be considered as legal, financial, or tax advice. EU programs, budget figures, eligibility criteria, and application processes may change over time. Always check the current official sources and regulations of the relevant programs before making any decisions, and consult qualified professionals and relevant public authorities if necessary.
