Pillar IV: Upgrading the EU’s independent knowledge on China's Science, Technology and Innovation system
European Commission · Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
Posted 8 Dec 2026 · About 5 months left
Summary
Expected Outcome:
Proposals will deliver on the impact of ‘A more strategic, coherent, and evidence-based approach towards cooperation with China in the area of science, technology, and innovation (STI)’. It contributes toward the ERA Structural Policy “Implementing the Global Approach to R&I cooperation”, while taking into account the ERA Action on “Enhancing research security”.
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following outcomes:
Improved understanding and monitoring of China's STI system to support the development of strategic foresight and evidence-based policies, and further bolster the EU’s ecosystem for independent knowledge on contemporary China;
Innovative interdisciplinary approaches and methodologies are made available to R&I practitioners and policymakers, allowing for improved assessment of critical technology areas where China has achieved or is expected to achieve breakthroughs, and areas where challenges persist;
A well-connected network of experts on China's STI ecosystem that increase attractiveness for EU researchers, especially young researchers, to pursue research careers on contemporary China.
Scope:
This topic aims to support the…
Excerpt from the donor's page. The full text, annexes and forms are on the original call.
Eligibility and conditions
Show the eligibility text from the source
">General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: In order to achieve the expected outcomes and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, namely to strengthen the European capacity to create and to foster the production of independent European knowledge on contemporary China, participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States and the following Associated Countries: Norway and Iceland. Entities established in an eligible country, but which are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by an entity based in a non-eligible country, may not participate in the action.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Guidance
HE Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Lump Sum MGA
Call-specific instructions
Detailed budget table (HE LS)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement