Horizon Europe NATURE 2027: EUR 230 million call with ten topics on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, deadlines 14 January and 16 February 2027

The European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation has launched the Horizon Europe NATURE 2027 call under its Horizontal Activities work programme. The funding action is designed to support biodiversity protection, ecosystem restoration, and the mainstreaming of biodiversity across Horizon Europe Pillar II initiatives.

The total budget allocated for this call amounts to EUR 230 million, with individual topic budgets ranging from EUR 4 million to EUR 50 million. The programme encompasses ten thematic topics addressing critical environmental and ecological challenges across Europe and associated countries.

Proposal submission schedules vary across specific call strands. Deadlines begin on 14 January 2027 for topics HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01 and HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02, followed by 16 February 2027 for HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04, and 16 September 2027 for HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03.

What is funded

Funding is directed towards ten distinct research and innovation topics focusing on ecological restoration and conservation. Supported areas include investigating the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on biodiversity, as well as assessing the biodiversity impacts of clean and digital industries.

The call also finances initiatives aimed at driving transformative change for biodiversity, analyzing the drivers of invertebrate decline, and deploying living labs for ecosystem restoration. Additional covered areas include combating wildlife trafficking and invasive alien species, advancing biodiversity monitoring, exploring the biodiversity and health interface under a One Health approach, and strengthening the Global Ocean Observing System.

Projects will receive financial allocations according to topic specifications, with budgets for individual topics planned between EUR 4 million and EUR 50 million from the overarching EUR 230 million programme envelope.

Who can apply

Participation is open to a wide range of legal entities across eligible jurisdictions. The call welcomes applications from higher education institutions, research institutes and R&D organizations, small and medium-sized enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and government structures or central authorities.

Geographic eligibility encompasses European Union Member States as well as countries associated with Horizon Europe. Organizations located in enlargement countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, are fully eligible to take part under Horizon Europe association rules.

Applicants typically form collaborative transnational partnerships to meet the collective expertise requirements across the ten thematic priorities, bringing together academic, governmental, and private sector stakeholders.

Conditions and requirements

Submissions must comply with the work programme framework established under the Horizon Europe Horizontal Activities Work Programme 2026-2027. Projects must align directly with at least one of the ten specified call topics and address its stated ecological objectives.

Applicants must adhere strictly to the phased timetable governing the call. While the earliest submission window closes on 14 January 2027 for call tracks 01 and 02, track 04 closes on 16 February 2027, and track 03 remains open until 16 September 2027.

Practical tip. Prospective applicants should use the scheduled information sessions and brokerage events to identify relevant consortium partners across eligible Member States and enlargement countries, ensuring that technical capabilities align with the targeted topic scope well before the submission deadline.

How to apply

Proposals must be developed and submitted according to official Horizon Europe submission procedures through the designated European Commission portal. The donor advises potential participants to consult the full official call announcement published by the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.

Interested organizations can access preparatory resources and networking opportunities ahead of submission. The European Commission organizes an online information day covering the Nature and Bridging calls, alongside a dedicated brokerage event to support partnership building.

Applicants must select the appropriate call identifier matching their thematic focus, such as HORIZON-NATURE-2027-01, HORIZON-NATURE-2027-02, HORIZON-NATURE-2027-03, or HORIZON-NATURE-2027-04, and complete all required application documentation prior to the corresponding closing date.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: enlargement-infohub.eu.