Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing
European Commission · Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
Posted 22 Jul 2026 · 28 days left
In plain terms
The European Commission funds biotechnology research projects that develop interventions to prevent or delay age-related diseases, with grants from 500,000 to 4 million euros. Eligible applicants include universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups and individuals based in EU member states or associated countries, with applications in English due by 28 October 2026.
A generated summary of the donor's text; the original wording is below.
Summary
Expected Impact:
This Challenge looks to accelerate the development and uptake of clinically validated interventions that target the root cause of multiple age-related morbidities. It will:
Deliver biotechnology-based interventions for healthy ageing
Accelerate the implementation of personalised care in ageing based on molecular phenotyping
Provide recommendations for regulatory pathways addressing ageing as a target to inform developers, regulators, and other decision makers, and
Improve citizen literacy on longevity.
Expected Outcome:
Ambitious proposals put forward under this call will deliver:
Proof-of-concepts (TRL3 completed) of biotechnology-based or pharmaceutical interventions that prevents or delays the onset of, or reverts, an age-related disease in a vertebrate model system, based on the hallmarks of ageing, taking into consideration practical challenges of implementing such an intervention
Tools to facilitate development or adoption of the interventions above, such as proof-of-concept validation of biomarker signatures or suitable pre-clinical models, and
Approaches to address the shared regulatory hurdles and societal challenges linked to ageing-related…
Excerpt from the donor's page. The full text, annexes and forms are on the original call.
Eligible regions
- eu_only
Who can apply
- academia_research
- private_company
- ngo_cso
- individual
Eligibility and conditions
Show the eligibility text from the source
">General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
In order to apply, your proposal must meet the general eligibility requirements (see Annex 2 of EIC Work Programme 2026) as well as specific eligibility requirements for the Challenge (please see the Topic description above).
Please check for particular elements (e.g., specific application focus or technology) in the respective Challenge chapter.
The EIC Pathfinder Challenges support collaborative or individual research and innovation from consortia or from single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country (unless stated otherwise in the specific Challenge chapter). In case of a consortium your proposal must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of the consortium. Consortia of two entities must be comprised of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Consortia of three or more entities must include as beneficiaries at least three legal entities, independent from each other and each established in a different country as follows:
at least one legal entity established in a Member State; and
at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
The legal entities may for example be universities, research organisations, SMEs, start-ups, natural persons. In the case of single beneficiary projects, mid-caps and larger companies will not be permitted.
Applications with elements that concern the evolution of European communication networks (5G, post-5G and other technologies linked to the evolution of European communication networks) will be subject to restriction for the protection of European communication networks (see Annex II – Section B1).
The standard admissibility and eligibility conditions and the eligibility of applicants from third countries are detailed in Annex 2.
Proposal page limit and layout:
Described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Sections 1 to 3 of the part B of your proposal, corresponding respectively to the evaluation criteria Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, must consist of a maximum of 30 format A4 pages. Excess pages will be automatically made invisible, and will not be taken into consideration by the evaluators. Please also consult Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
2. Eligible countries
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
3. Other Eligibility Conditions
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
Described in Section II of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Please refer to the Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (Lump Sum MGA) used for Lump Sum EIC actions under Horizon Europe.
Specific conditions
Described in the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Call Documents:
EIC Work Programme 2026
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Standard application form (HE EIC Pathfinder Challenges)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Pathfinder Challenges)
Challenge Guide: Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing
Model grant agreement (MGA):
Lump Sum MGA
Call-specific instructions
Detailed budget table (HE LS)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Additional documents:
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant…