As a rule, R&D and innovation funding provided by Horizon Europe is available for any public or private entity that is legally based in an EU Member State, an EU Associated Country, a third country associated to Horizon Europe, or any another third country unless specific limitations or conditions are laid down in the work programme. The European Commission provides an updated list of countries eligible for fundings.
Non-Associated countries such as the United States, Switzerland or Japan can also participate to a project but are not eligible for funding.
However, Horizon Europe legislation introduces a new restrictive clause, Article 22.5 of the Horizon Europe Regulation (2021/695) that lays down its rules regarding participation and dissemination.
Participation rules for Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security
For activities falling under the notion of the Union strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security, participation in project consortia can be restricted to entities based in certain countries only.
Eligible entities are thus only those legally based in:
- EU Member States
- specified associated or other third countries
Only a few calls of the Cluster 3 and Cluster 4 in the 2023-2024 Work Programmes fall under this restriction. When the restriction applies, it is outlined in the eligibility section of each call. Calls where the restriction of Art 22.5 is applied include those covering cybersecurity in the field of quantum-resistant cryptography (Cluster 3), next generation quantum (Cluster 4) and space technologies for security and European non-dependence and competitiveness (Cluster4).