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HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01
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Connected via , not directly to the current topic
No motivation recorded.
Center graph on this topic →Extended Reality for Media
Extended Reality Learning is the common topic
Extended Reality modelling is the common topic
Extended Reality Haptics nis the common topic
Extended Reality telepresence is the common topic
Extended Reality Industry
GenAI for Virtual Worlds
Virtual Worlds
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01-06, not directly to the current topic.
Proposals under HORIZON-CL4-2027-02-DIGITAL-EMERGING-52-two-stage are invited to build on the results of past projects on Extended Reality Technologies (XR), such as HORIZON-CL4-2021-HUMAN-01-06.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2022-HUMAN-01-19, not directly to the current topic.
HORIZON-CL4-2022-HUMAN-01-19 Uses XR to develop tools for education, training, and knowledge dissemination. It complements HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-21's application focus by targeting learning and training environments through XR solutions.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2023-HUMAN-01-22, not directly to the current topic.
This is stated in the call text; also this topic covered aspects of eXtended Reality, which is linked with Vitrual Worlds.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-15, not directly to the current topic.
This topic is also carried under the Virtual Worlds partnership; connections between all the Virtual Worlds topics are expected
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-15, not directly to the current topic.
Topic evaluation
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-15, not directly to the current topic.
Topic evolution
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-15, not directly to the current topic.
All topics under the GenAI4EU Initiative are supposed to link with the GenAI4EU central hub.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14, not directly to the current topic.
Activities on virtual worlds will be called for in HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14 and should be addressed there.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14, not directly to the current topic.
The DEP Topic on VW provides world-class testbed facilities to validate, test and experiment with virtual worlds technologies in real conditions and environments. Overlap regarding the targeted stakeholders, research organisations must also be part of the DEP consortium.
Connected via HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-14, not directly to the current topic.
Collaboration and synergies with initiatives such as Virtual Worlds, Web 4.0, 3C, Open Internet Stack, Digital Commons initiatives.
+1 more direct connection(s) not shown
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Expected Outcome:
Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
The next generation of Virtual Worlds technologies will propose a deeper and closer-to-reality immersion, stimulating all senses to accurately capture and interpret user movements and environmental data, while providing realistic multi-modal tactile and kinesthetic haptic and force-feedback, retroactions for engaging and lifelike experiences. Real-time user interactions should be favoured by minimizing latency, increasing responsiveness and naturalness of interactions. The developed technologies will also dynamically respond to users’ inputs and environmental changes.
Scope:
Proposals will focus on and address the following:
The proposals should also advance on the development of technological standards, common data formats and protocols that would enable real-time, seamless and intuitive user-interaction and exchange of information between different systems and platforms in the future, as stepping stones towards Web 4.0.
This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.
Proposals will include demonstrators of the developed technologies in real-world scenarios, illustrating the usefulness and efficiency of emerging technologies in Virtual Worlds in illustrative scenarios in the industrial and societal contexts, exploiting the Telco-Cloud-to-Edge Continuum and the 3C pilots on converged Telco Edge Cloud Infrastructure.
Proposals should demonstrate future synergies, provisions for future collaboration, and complementarity with other relevant actions carried out under call HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA-08: Demand-side 3C pilot demonstrators on converged Telco Edge Cloud Infrastructure. We consider that proposals with an overall duration of typically 36 months would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other durations.
This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Virtual Worlds.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to start at TRL 4 and achieve TRL 6 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.
EVALUATION RESULTS
Call HORIZON-CL4-2026-04
Published: 12.12.2025
Deadline: 15.04.2026
Available budget: EUR 221,800,000.00
The results of the evaluation for each topic are as follows:
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04
DATA-02
DATA-03
DATA-06
EMERGING-01
EMERGING-08
EMERGING-09
Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls)
31
6
63
4
8
41
Number of inadmissible proposals
0
0
2
1
0
0
Number of ineligible proposals
1
2
3
1
3
2
Number of above-threshold proposals
24
2
39
2
3
30
Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals
222,798,016.25 €
7,993,073.04 €
538,094,514.11 €
33,999,387.25 €
53,990,531.25 €
173,178,667.04 €
Number of proposals retained for funding
3
1
3
1
1
1
Number of proposals in the reserve list
1
1
1
1
1
1
Funding threshold [1]
14.00
14.00
14.50
12.50
14.50
14.50
Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14
3
1
8
0
1
2
Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13
7
0
5
0
1
3
Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 10
14
1
26
2
1
25
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04
EMERGING -14
EMERGING-15
EMERGING-17
EMERGING-19
HUMAN-01
HUMAN-02
Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls)
1
2
1
18
105
32
Number of inadmissible proposals
0
1
0
0
1
0
Number of ineligible proposals
0
0
0
2
0
3
Number of above-threshold proposals
1
1
1
12
81
19
Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals
3,043,282.50 €
999,976.25 €
1,163,306.74 €
179,979,870.75 €
387,981,592.72 €
126,943,323.25 €
Number of proposals retained for funding
1
1
1
3
6
2
Number of proposals in the reserve list
0
0
0
3
2
1
Funding threshold [1]
11.50
13.50
12.50
13.50
14.50
13.50
Number of proposals with scores lower or equal to 15 and higher or equal to 14
0
0
0
2
12
1
Number of proposals with scores lower than 14 and higher or equal to 13
0
1
0
1
20
3
Number of proposals with scores lower than 13 and higher or equal to 10
1
0
1
9
49
15
[1] Proposals with the same score were ranked according to the priority order procedure set out in the call conditions (for HE, in the General Annexes to the Work Programme or specific arrangements in the specific call/topic conditions). For HE, to determine the ranking for ‘Innovation actions’, the score for ‘Impact’ is given a weight of 1.5.
Summary of observer report:
The two independent observers were tasked by the EC services to follow the evaluation processes of call HORIZON-CL4-2026-04 with respect to their conduct, transparency, and fairness, and to provide recommendations for process improvement. This Observers’ Report consolidates their observations and recommendations. Based on the observed Consensus Meetings and Panel Meetings, the evaluation procedures for all topics 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 (Individual Evaluation, Consensus Meetings, Quality Check, Cross-reading, Panel Meeting and Final Ranking for funding). The evaluation processes were carried out in full accordance with the Horizon Europe evaluation rules and the provided Digital Europe Programme evaluation briefings. The Call with 12 topics received 312 proposals, where 5 were inadmissible, 17 ineligible and 0 withdrawn. The number of proposals per topic varied from 1 to 105. Proposals were evaluated by 218 experts, with a satisfactory gender balance (44,5% female; 55,5% male). The majority of experts were from EU Member States and a small number from associated countries. Sixteen invited experts declined due to conflict of interest or other reasons. In conclusion, the overall assessment of all submitted proposals were executed in full transparency and compliance with the Horizon Europe applicable rules in a fair and impartial manner to select the best proposals for funding according to the topics’ specifications and expected results. The observers’ conclusion is that the scientific evaluations have been carried out in a just, transparent, and unbiased manner based on the Horizon Europe evaluation rules.
We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals.
For questions, please contact the Research Enquiry Service.
PROPOSAL NUMBERS
Call HORIZON-CL4-2026-04 has closed on 15.04.2026
312 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-02
31
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-03
6
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06
63
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-14
1
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-15
2
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-17
1
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01
105
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-02
32
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01
4
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08
8
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09
41
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19
18
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in July 2026.
This call topic has been appended 3 times by the EC with news.
HORIZON-CL4-2026-04
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There are 14 other topics in this call:
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Hand-picked events relevant to this call topic.
Find your collaboration partners for EU projects in the digital domain of Cluster 4 here!
The Virtual Worlds Association (VWA) Annual Forum is a reference meeting point for Europe’s immersive technologies ecosystem. The Annual Forum reflects this mission: it is where strategic priorities are discussed, cross-sector alliances are formed, and Europe’s Virtual Worlds agenda takes shape.
The VWA Annual Forum 2026 will be held in Valencia in conjunction with EuroXR 2026, creating a unique convergence of scientific excellence, industrial innovation and policy leadership.
Receive in-depth feedback from experienced Horizon evaluators on your advanced proposal drafts.
The brokerage event brings together researchers, innovators, and stakeholders working on AI-related topics across Horizon Europe, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration.
It is designed for anyone preparing proposals that require AI expertise and meaningful SSH involvement—across fields such as health, digital technologies, climate, environment, and more.
Do you want to tackle the challenges of Industry, Manufacturing & Production, Materials, Digital/AI/Robotics, Batteries and Hydrogen? - Then use the unique opportunities of the KETs (Key Enabling Technologies) 2026 EU Brokerage Event on February 5, 2026 in Karlsruhe, Germany!
On 3 February, the VWA and the European Commission are organising the official brokerage event for the Horizon Europe call HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01 (Developing and demonstrating core technologies for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0).
During the Info Days, representatives of the European Commission will present the 2026 call topics in Horizon Europe Cluster 4 and answer questions from the audience. You do not need to register to attend this online event, simply follow the live stream on the day.
Events are added by the ideal-ist NCP community and are hand-picked. Would you like to suggest an event? Contact idealist@ffg.at.
Outcome expected · 15 Sep 2026 (3 weeks ago)
Next: Grant agreement signed, 2 months from now (15 Dec 2026, estimated)
Work programme published
15 Nov 2025 · est.
Call published
16 Dec 2025
Call opens
15 Jan 2026
Call closes
15 Apr 2026
Outcome expected
15 Sep 2026 · est.
Grant agreement signed
15 Dec 2026 · est.
Work programme published Estimated
15 Nov 2025 · 10 months ago
Topics are listed in the Work Programme before the call opens. Spotting this early gives you a head start on partner search and proposal planning.
Call published
16 Dec 2025 · 9 months ago
This topic was first published in TopicTree.
Call opens
15 Jan 2026 · 8 months ago
Submissions can be made from this date.
Call closes
15 Apr 2026 · 5 months ago
Deadline to submit a proposal.
Outcome expected Estimated
15 Sep 2026 · 3 weeks ago
The maximum time to inform applicants of the evaluation outcome is five months after the call closes.
Grant agreement signed Estimated
15 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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Project information comes from CORDIS (for Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe) and will be sourced from F&T Portal (for Digital Europe projects)
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