Seed Funding for HORIZON Proposals — New Call for Proposals for 2027!

The Saxon State Ministry of Science, Culture, and Tourism (SMWK) provides funding for preparatory measures (“seed funding”) as part of direct applications to the EU’s Horizon Europe framework program in accordance with the EuProNet guidelines. Applications for the year 2027 have to be submitted to the Development Bank of Saxony (SAB). Applications may initially be submitted on an ongoing basis throughout 2026. The preparatory measures are to be carried out in 2027. However, it is possible to launch the project in 2026 with no costs—or, in a few isolated cases, with minimal costs—for the year 2026.

The following maximum funding amounts apply to preparatory actions under Horizon Europe: €10,000 for partners and €30,000 for coordinators.

A prerequisite for funding is a planned or existing call with a specified submission deadline under the EU’s Horizon Europe research framework program (exception: calls under the European Partnerships in Pillar II).

In accordance with the EuProNet guidelines, funding is available for additional staff to prepare the application, costs for networking meetings, and contracted services related to the application process. Research projects, equipment, or internal project costs are not eligible for funding. EuProNet “seed funding” is meant to be a support for the (short) period immediately preceding the submission of the application to the European competitive framework program and ends with the timely submission of the prepared application in response to the relevant call.

Important LINKs:

https://www.forschung.sachsen.de/aktuelles-4448.html

https://www.revosax.sachsen.de/vorschrift/17180-RL-EuProNet

https://www.sab.sachsen.de/eu-projekt-und-netzwerkf%C3%B6rderung