HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45

Pilot access schemes to Technology Infrastructures for European startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs (CSA) -

Call text (as on F&T portal)

View on F&T portal

Expected Outcome:

Proposals should demonstrate the following expected outcomes:

  • A sound understanding of the specific needs of industrial users (including but not limited to innovative SMEs, startups and scaleups) for Technology infrastructure services in specific priority areas including but not limited to advanced materials, clean energy, or health and biotechnology;
  • Increased opportunities for industrial users for development, testing, up-scaling and deployment of new technologies via the use of services offered by Technology Infrastructures;
  • Strengthened innovation and technology development capacity of European SMEs, startups and scaleups via improved access to Technology Infrastructures;
  • Attractiveness and effectiveness of the developed access schemes for broadening the range of Technology Infrastructures users, especially for startups and scaleups, including with transnational access.

Scope:

Startups, scaleups and other innovative SMEs require access to state-of-the-art research and technology facilities, equipment and expertise to test, upscale, validate new products and technologies, shortening the time-to-market and increasing the chances for a successful commercialisation. Access mechanisms to Technology Infrastructures as well as access contracts and collaboration or service provision agreements are often complex, while the costs of using such infrastructures can significantly surpass the financial capacities of growing innovative companies.

The action will develop and test pilot multi-site access schemes for startups, scaleups and other innovative SMEs, involving a critical mass of Technology Infrastructures operators and users in priority areas (including but not limited to advanced materials, clean energy, or health and biotechnology). It should build on existing initiatives with already developed single access points to a comprehensive set of facilities and services in a selected technology area, like for example Open Innovation Test Beds or other integrated networks, that allow for a quick deployment of a common access scheme.

The action should include setting-up a pilot centrally managed and funded access programme, allowing companies quick access to the needed services, with simplified and standardised access conditions applicable across the EU, to be coordinated and in line with the work on the envisaged European Charter of access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures. While the focus shall be the provision of access and support services to companies, the action can also include enhancing the accessibility and usability of technology infrastructure services to ensure that they meet the evolving needs of users.

The action should aim at significant broadening of the user base of the technology infrastructures to address the needs of startups and scaleups that do not have access to such facilities in their local ecosystems. To this end, proposals should include the development and implementation of activities to increase the visibility and promote and demonstrate the uptake of technology infrastructures services provided to users across the EU.

Furthermore, proposals should aim to enhance transnational and multisite collaboration among Technology Infrastructures fostering the building of technology infrastructures ecosystems, the sharing of experience, resources, and best practices in management, service offer, staff exchange and networking. Proposals may also benefit, especially for communication and dissemination activities, from sharing best practices and taking stock of what other relevant projects are developing in the field of Technology Infrastructures.

News flashes

2026-10-08

Corrigendum to the published results

Due to a clerical error in the publication of the results on the Funding & Tenders Portal on 13 August 2026, the number of proposals retained for funding under topics HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45 and HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48 was incorrectly indicated.

The correct figures, consistent with the evaluation results, are provided in the table below.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48

Number of proposals retained for funding

2

1

2

21

2026-10-08

Published: 12 December 2025

Deadline: 21 April 2026

Available budget: 318.6 million EUR (The original budget assigned to topic HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48 was reduced by 1 million EUR)

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01: EUR 38000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04: EUR 64000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05: EUR 37000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11: EUR 18500000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12: EUR 19000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13: EUR 4000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14: EUR 28000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23: EUR 50000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24: EUR 800000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31: EUR 43800000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41: EUR 2000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44: EUR 2500000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45: EUR 5000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46: EUR 2000000

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48: EUR 4000000

The results of the evaluation for each topic are as follows:

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12

Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls)

137

93

91

32

28

Number of inadmissible proposals

0

1

1

0

0

Number of ineligible proposals

33

0

2

0

3

Number of above-threshold proposals

93

81

69

27

15

Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals

628991319.2 €

581747543.4 €

427743861.2 €

168325573.2 €

100495533.8 €

Number of proposals retained for funding

5

8

6

3

3

Number of proposals in the reserve list

2

3

2

1

1

Funding threshold[1]

14.5

14.5

14.5

13.5

14.0

Ranking distribution

Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14

18

18

17

2

3

Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13

25

12

20

4

3

Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 10

50

51

32

21

9

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31

Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls)

3

33

46

12

73

Number of inadmissible proposals

0

0

0

2

0

Number of ineligible proposals

1

2

0

0

0

Number of above-threshold proposals

1

27

34

7

62

Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals

3999731.54 €

196467308.5 €

390808478 €

5582984.83 €

417031164.8 €

Number of proposals retained for funding

1

4

4

1

6

Number of proposals in the reserve list

0

1

1

1

2

Funding threshold[1]

13.5

14.0

14.5

15.0

14.5

Ranking distribution

Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14

0

4

7

1

16

Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13

1

5

4

2

14

Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 10

0

18

23

4

32

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48

Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls)

32

5

20

9

33

Number of inadmissible proposals

0

0

2

1

0

Number of ineligible proposals

0

0

1

0

3

Number of above-threshold proposals

26

4

14

8

25

Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals

25979207.69 €

9954888.28 €

33221155.4 €

15990611.3 €

4883754.27 €

Number of proposals retained for funding

1

2

1

1

20

Number of proposals in the reserve list

1

1

1

1

4

Funding threshold[1]

14.5

14.0

13.5

15.0

10.5

Ranking distribution

Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14

3

1

0

3

7

Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13

3

0

4

1

6

Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 10

20

3

10

4

12

Summary of observer report:

For Topics HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46.

The observed evaluation process was carried out remotely. The selected evaluators represented a good mix of backgrounds, sectors and expertise to fully assess the quality of the proposals assigned to them. The design of the process, including multi-step procedures, the involvement of knowledgeable evaluators and detailed discussions on the evaluated proposals, ensured that the entire process was impartial and its outcome fair. All eligible proposals were evaluated against the same set of criteria, fully respecting the context of the call and topic requirements. They were subject to the same thorough consideration regarding their quality. The evaluation criteria and scoring system were consistently applied across topics. The proposals were subject to individual evaluations carried out independently by 3 or 4 experts (depending on the topic and type of action). This evaluation step was followed by subsequent steps, including joint consensus discussions on individual proposals and - for the topics where different sets of evaluators were assessing different proposals - cross-reading and panel review. The evaluation process was conducted in full compliance with the applicable rules and procedures. It was generally efficient and transparent. Conflicts of interest were carefully managed, starting from the phase of selection of experts through the entire process. No unmanaged conflict of interest was observed or brought to the attention of the observer. The quality of the observed evaluation was good.

For Topics HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48

The independent observers were tasked by the EC services to follow the evaluation processes regarding their conduct, transparency, and fairness, and to provide recommendations for process improvement. According to the observed Consensus meetings (CMs) and Panel meetings with some cross reading activities, the evaluation procedures were carried with transparency, efficiency, fairness, consistency, impartiality with homogenous criteria in compliance with the applicable evaluation rules for each stage of the selection exercise (IER, CR, Quality Check, Cross-reading, Panel ranking): the evaluation process was carried out in full accordance with the Horizon Europe documents on proposal evaluation. The observed calls with 7 topics received 320 proposals, where 3 were inadmissible, 7 ineligible. The number of proposals per topic varied from 12 to 91. These proposals were evaluated by 185 experts that represented 91% of Member States, with a good gender balance (45% female; 55% male). The evaluation used the IT system SEP, designed for the evaluation procedures. Apart from the proposals, many supporting documents were made available in the system to help the experts’ work. There were some technical problems with SEP but promptly resolved. So, the meetings were well managed and no consequences were evidenced in the evaluation procedures. Webex tool was used for the consensus meeting, and it worked very well permitting a good interaction level for the experts and rapporteur during their discussion about each evaluated proposal. In this way all the procedures to select the best proposal were very adequate to define the final ranking in order to select the best projects to be financed according to the calls’ indications.

---

We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals.

For questions, please contact the Research Enquiry Service.

[1] Proposals with the same score were ranked according to the priority order procedure set out in the General Annexes to the Work Programme or specific arrangements in the specific call/topic conditions. To determine the ranking for ‘Innovation actions’, the score for ‘Impact’ is given a weight of 1.5.

2026-10-08

Call HORIZON-CL4-2026-01 closed on 21.04.2026.

647 proposals have been submitted.

The breakdown per topic is:

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01

137

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04

93

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05

91

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11

32

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12

28

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13

3

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14

33

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23

46

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24

12

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31

73

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41

32

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44

5

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45

20

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46

9

HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48

33

Evaluation results are expected to be communicated around the 2nd week of August 2026.

2026-10-08

If your lump sum budget contains any cost items in cost category C and/or D, please make sure to justify these items in the ‘Any comments’ sheet of the Excel detailed lump sum budget table.

The reason is that we simplified the proposal template, removing this information from Part B and bringing it closer to the relevant budget items.

Specifically, you must include justification in the ‘Any comments’ sheet if you are in any of the following situations:

If the sum of the costs for ’travel and subsistence’, ‘equipment’, and ‘other goods, works and services’ (i.e. the purchase costs) exceeds 15% of the personnel costs for a participant. If this is the case, justify the most expensive cost item(s) up to the level that the remaining costs are below 15% of personnel costs.

If other cost categories (e.g. internally invoiced goods and services) are used.

If in-kind contributions are used (non-financial resources made available free of charge by third parties, which must be included as direct costs in the corresponding cost category, e.g. personnel costs or purchase costs for equipment).

2026-10-08
The submission session is now available for: HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-24, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-46, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-13, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-01, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-45, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-12, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-41, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-11, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-14, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-04, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-31, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-44, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23, HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48
call topic details
Call status: Closed
Opening date: 2026-01-06 (9 months ago)
Closing date: 2026-04-21 (5 months ago)
Procedure: single-stage

Budget: 5,000,000
Expected grants: 2
Contribution: 1,500,000 - 2,500,000
News flashes

This call topic has been appended 5 times by the EC with news.

  • 2026-10-08
    corrigendum to the published resultsdue...
  • 2026-10-08
    published: 12 december 2025deadline: 21...
  • 2026-10-08
    call horizon-cl4-2026-01 closed on 21.04...
  • 2026-10-08
    if your lump sum budget contains any cos...
  • 2026-10-08
    the submission session is now available...
Source information

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  • 2026-08-27_06-48-50
  • 2026-08-14_06-45-25
  • 2026-04-25_06-34-09
  • 2026-04-22_06-34-05
  • 2026-02-17_06-32-35
  • 2026-01-06_06-30-54
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  • 2025-12-13_06-30-34

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Timeline

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Outcome expected · 21 Sep 2026 (2 weeks ago)

Next: Grant agreement signed, 2 months from now (21 Dec 2026, estimated)

Today

Work programme published

06 Nov 2025 · est.

Call published

13 Dec 2025

Call opens

06 Jan 2026

Call closes

21 Apr 2026

Outcome expected

21 Sep 2026 · est.

Grant agreement signed

21 Dec 2026 · est.

Preparation Open for submission Evaluation Grant preparation Not yet reached
  1. Work programme published Estimated

    06 Nov 2025 · 11 months ago

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  2. Call published

    13 Dec 2025 · 9 months ago

    This topic was first published in TopicTree.

  3. Call opens

    06 Jan 2026 · 9 months ago

    Submissions can be made from this date.

  4. Call closes

    21 Apr 2026 · 5 months ago

    Deadline to submit a proposal.

  5. Outcome expected Estimated

    21 Sep 2026 · 2 weeks ago

    The maximum time to inform applicants of the evaluation outcome is five months after the call closes.

  6. Grant agreement signed Estimated

    21 Dec 2026 · 2 months from now

    The maximum time to sign the grant agreement is three months after applicants are informed of the outcome.

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