EU Funding in 2025: What's New and What's Changing

The European Union continues to invest heavily in research, innovation, and digital transformation. With significant updates to major funding programmes and ambitious plans for the future, 2025 marks a pivotal year for organizations seeking EU grants.

The Big Picture: Where EU Funding Stands in 2025

We're entering the final stretch of the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), which means two things: increased competition for remaining funds and exciting announcements about what comes next.

The European Commission has already laid the groundwork for the next funding cycle, proposing a significantly expanded €175 billion budget for Horizon Europe 2028-2034 - nearly double the current programme. This signals the EU's commitment to maintaining global leadership in research and innovation.

Horizon Europe: Latest Developments

Horizon Europe remains the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with an indicative budget of €93.5 billion. Here's what's new:

2026-2027 Work Programme

In December 2025, the Commission adopted the main Horizon Europe work programme for 2026-2027, representing a €14 billion investment. This final major work programme of the current cycle focuses on:

• Climate action and green transition technologies
• Digital sovereignty and AI leadership
• Health security and pandemic preparedness
• Strategic autonomy in critical sectors

The Three Pillars

Horizon Europe's structure remains organized around three key pillars:

Five EU Missions

Horizon Europe's mission-oriented approach continues with five major initiatives targeting specific goals by 2030:

1. Climate Adaptation - Supporting 150 regions to become climate resilient
2. Cancer - Improving lives of 3+ million people through prevention, cure, and solutions
3. Ocean & Waters - Restoring oceans, seas, and waters
4. Climate-Neutral Cities - 100 climate-neutral smart cities by 2030
5. Soil Health - 100 living labs for soil health by 2030

Digital Europe Programme Updates

With a budget of over €8.1 billion, Digital Europe continues to drive the EU's digital transformation. Key updates for 2025:

AI Continent Initiative

The EU has launched ambitious AI-focused calls with 7 topics under the "AI Continent" initiative. The European AI Gigafactories initiative received 76 expressions of interest, signaling strong demand for AI infrastructure investment.

Six Priority Areas

• Supercomputing - EuroHPC joint undertaking
• Artificial Intelligence - AI Factories, testing facilities
• Cybersecurity - EU Cybersecurity Reserve (ENISA)
• Advanced Digital Skills - Specialized training programmes
• Digital Technology Deployment - EDIHs network
• Semiconductors - Added under the Chips Act (2023)

What's Coming: Horizon 2028-2034

The Commission's July 2025 proposal for the next framework programme is described as "twice bigger, simpler, faster and more impactful." While still subject to negotiation, the proposed €175 billion budget would represent a transformative increase in EU R&I investment.

Key proposed changes include:

• Simplified application processes
• Faster time-to-grant
• Greater focus on breakthrough innovations
• Enhanced support for European strategic autonomy
• Stronger link between research and market deployment

How to Prepare for 2025-2026 Calls

Immediate Actions

Strategic Considerations

As we approach the end of the current MFF, competition for funding will intensify. To maximize your chances:

• Align with EU priorities - Green Deal, digital transformation, and strategic autonomy
• Demonstrate impact - Clear pathways to societal and economic benefits
• Build strong consortia - Diverse partnerships across multiple EU countries
• Focus on innovation - Beyond state-of-the-art solutions

Simplify Your Grant Search with GrantsFinder

With thousands of funding opportunities across dozens of programmes, finding the right grant can be overwhelming. GrantsFinder uses AI to match your project with relevant EU funding calls, saving you up to 95% of research time.

Whether you're looking for Horizon Europe collaborative research, EIC funding for your startup, or Digital Europe opportunities, GrantsFinder helps you discover opportunities that align with your goals.