Horizon Europe Research Fund

Horizon Europe Roadshow 2025 - Registrations

This year's Horizon Europe roadshow is organised by MBIE, in partnership with the European Union Delegation to New Zealand, EURAXESS Australia & New Zealand, Otago University, Auckland Business Chamber, Massey University, and the Cawthron Institute.

Come and learn more about Horizon Europe, including:

• The structure of the programme
• Funding opportunities
• Topics in the current work programme
• Advice on forming research partnerships and consortia
• How to apply for funding

2025 roadshow sessions:

Note: All sessions will run from 1:00pm-4:30pm (Nelson will finish at 4:00pm). Registrations for each session will close when the capacity limit is reached.

• Thursday 6th November at Otago University in Dunedin
  • Otago University, The Terrace Lounge, 640 Cumberland Street, Dunedin North
  • capacity limit: 135
  • register for Dunedin on Microsoft Teams(external link).
• Monday 10th November at Auckland Business Chamber in Auckland
  • Level 9/90 Symonds St, Grafton, Auckland
  • capacity limit: 100
  • register for Auckland on Microsoft Teams(external link).
• Tuesday 11th November at Massey University in Palmerston North
  • SSLB 1 Lecture Theatre, Tennett Drive, Turitea, Palmerston North
  • capacity limit: 200
  • livestream and recording on Massey University website(external link)
  • register for Palmerston North on Microsoft Teams(external link).
• Wednesday 12th November at Cawthron Institute in Nelson
  • EnviroTech Wing (ETW) Atrium, 98 Halifax Street, The Wood, Nelson
  • capacity limit: 80.
  • register for Nelson on Microsoft Teams(external link).

For further questions, contact MBIE International Science(external link).

Horizon Europe and New Zealand

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s key funding programme for research and innovation, with a budget of more than €95 billion. It is built around three main pillars (New Zealand is an associated country of Pillar 2 only):

1. Excellent Science: Supports frontier research projects, fellowships, and exchanges for researchers.
2. Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness: Addresses societal challenges and promotes industrial competitiveness.
3. Innovative Europe: Focuses on innovation and technology development.

Horizon Europe – Pillar 2

Horizon Europe Pillar 2 focuses on science and technologies to address major global challenges, such as climate change, energy and health, and addressing the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. It has funding of €53.5 billion (approximately NZD$90 billion) over the 2021 to 2027 period.

Horizon Europe Pillar 2 actions are structured in 6 thematic 'Clusters', with each having a published work programme outlining topics to be addressed in the current period. The work programmes include details of the scope of the topics, the expected impacts and outcomes, the available budget, and any conditions relating to the call.

The details of each Cluster, including links to the current work programmes and details of the relevant New Zealand National Contacts for each Cluster, are linked on the pages below.

• Cluster 1: Health
• Cluster 3: Civil security and society
• Cluster 4: Digital, industry and space
• Cluster 5: Climate, energy and mobility
• Cluster 6: Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment

Who can apply

Proposals for most Pillar 2 actions are made by multinational research consortia with partners from a minimum of 3 EU Member States or Associated Countries (note that these are minimum criteria, and most proposals include additional partners).

The program is open to any legal entity, meaning that alongside researchers in traditional research organisations, partners can include businesses, local or regional authorities, non-government organisations, community groups and more.

How to get started

Pillar 2 has a strong focus on impact and implementation, so bringing the right mix of partners to deliver the expected outcomes is a key to being successful. It’s essential to find your partners early in the process.

Good ways to get started are:

• Browsing the work programme of the relevant Cluster for open and forthcoming calls by following the links above
• Reaching out to your networks in Europe as early as possible to find partners and build your consortium
• Speaking to one of the National Contact Points for advice

Further information on Horizon Europe for New Zealand entities

How to apply for Horizon Europe funding

All Horizon Europe proposal submission and contracting takes place through the European Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal. The portal has all the documentation, guidance, and details of funding calls. Every project requires one participant to act as the coordinator, and the coordinator manages all of the inputs from the consortium partners.

EU Funding & Tenders Portal(external link) – European Commission

Participating in other parts of Horizon Europe

Although New Zealand remains a non-associated third country participant in Pillar 1 and Pillar 3 of Horizon Europe, there are still many possibilities for New Zealand researchers to be involved. These will mostly fund New Zealand researchers to work internationally, although there are some cases where researchers can be supported to work in New Zealand.

If you’d like to know more see the additional information and guidance page.

Further information on Horizon Europe for New Zealand entities

Cécile Richardeau – NCP for Pillar I (ERC, MSCA)

• New Zealand Mission to the European Union
• Brussels, Belgium
• Email: nzncp@mbie.govt.nz

Note that the MBIE top-up scheme does not apply to actions outside of Pillar 2.

Further information

MBIE support

For more information or advice, contact our Horizon Europe secretariat by emailing:

nzncp@mbie.govt.nz

Or see the following page for more detailed information from MBIE on participation of New Zealand entities in Horizon Europe.

Further information on Horizon Europe for New Zealand entities

To receive occasional updates and information by email subscribe to the topics of interest.

Receive updates(external link)

European Commission guidance

Horizon Europe guidance and reference documents are available through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Horizon Europe reference documents and guidance(external link) — European Commission

Other useful resources are available from EURAXESS Australia and New Zealand, an initiative of the European Commission providing free information about European research, career opportunities, international collaboration & networking possibilities.

EURAXESS Australia and New Zealand(external link) — European Commission

Documents on the House of Representatives website

Parliamentary Treaty Examination: Report of the EDSI Select Committee [PDF, 528KB](external link) — House of Representatives NZ