The Horizon Europe framework programme cluster 4 aims to enhance European capacity in key enabling technologies. Research & development on digital, industry and space technologies are combined to support a competitive, green, digitised and circular European industry.
This cluster’s vision is about Europe shaping competitive and trusted technologies for a European industry with global leadership in key areas, enabling production and consumption to respect the boundaries of our planet, and maximising the benefits for all parts of society in the variety of social, economic and territorial contexts in Europe.
Cluster 4 projects result in:
- An increased technological independence of the European Union, and
- A secured progress in the transformation of our economy, the workplace and society.
Calls for proposals
The Cluster 4 programme 2021-2022 has 6 goals:
- Climate-neutral, circular and digitised production - Which addresses the twin green and digital transition of the manufacturing and construction sectors. It also focusses on the green, flexible and digital way to build and produce goods. It contributes to climate neutral, circular and digitalized energy intensive industries.
- Increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry - This includes research on raw materials, advanced materials, circular value chains
- World-leading data and computing technologies - With a strong focus on High performance computing, cloud technology and data solutions. R&D on High Performance Computing is facilitated through the EUROHPC JU
- Digital and emerging technologies for competitiveness and the European Green Deal - Being the most extensive, this goal is supported by research on quantum, graphene, robotics, micro-nano electronics through the KDT JU, beyond 5G communication through the SNS JU and complemented with low TRL research in new key enabling technologies
- Open strategic autonomy to develop, deploy and use global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data - The research is focusing on competitiveness of space systems, reinforcement our capacity to access to space, further development of infrastructures, services and applications for Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus. It also contributes to SSA, GOVSATCOM and quantum and to space entrepreneurship ecosystems.
- A human-centred, ethical development of digital and industrial technologies.
The main challenges are clustered around: AI based on trust, an Internet of Trust, eXtended Reality and systemic approaches to make the most of the technologies within society and industry.
The European Commission will publish the calls for proposals throughout the period of 2021 and 2022.
See the European Commission’s Funding and Tender opportunities portal for the calls.
Questions or advice?
The Netherlands Enterprise Agency hosts the National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe. Contact the Digital, industry and space advisors for questions or advice on how to apply for funding and how to develop your project proposal.