Horizon Europe
2025 Internal Notice of Intent (iNOI)
Overview of Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union's 2021-2027 research and innovation funding programme with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion.
The objective of the programme is to support and strengthen the scientific and technological base of the European Union (EU) and respond to political priorities and global challenges, with an emphasis on climate change, digital transition, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Horizon Europe is an extension of the EU's former Horizon 2020 framework.
The Government of Canada has allocated $147 million dollars (CAD) to fund Canada’s association to Horizon Europe as an Associated Member to Pillar II. As an Associated Member, Canadian researchers can now receive funding directly from the Horizon Europe programme by joining consortium projects under Pillar II and as a Beneficiary applicant to Pillar I opportunities.
PILLAR II
Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness
How we support you
Research Services (RSO) and UCalgary International (UCI) can provide support to guide researchers through the EU funding environment and navigate complex administrative requirements. RSO offers proposal development support for Pillar II research applications, and early engagement with RSO and UCI is strongly recommended.
UCalgary International supports:
- Partner matching & search as needed.
- Connecting on-campus teams and initiatives to PI if needed or relevant for participation in consortium and to the context of the proposal.
- Horizon Europe Funding opportunity search and contextual pairing.
- Facilitating initial meetings between campus units and external team members for required support and inputs as needed.
Research Services Office supports:
- Anticipate timelines, INOIs and proposal submission.
- Proposal/Application development review; components and final draft prior to submission in EU portal.
- Facilitate RMS record creation and updates.
Joint UCI/RSO supports:
- Liaising with faculty research facilitators on coordinating proposal development and updates.
- Topic/Program Analysis: technical and bespoke advice on developing different components of the proposal to PI and partners as needed.
- Advice on developing different sections of the proposal (Starter --> Advanced).
- Working with and connecting to in-house specialist teams (RSO, research security, open science, data management, legal, finance etc.).
Instructions for Interested Applicants
Admissibility & Eligibility
As an Associated Member country to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, Canadian businesses, universities and researchers can now receive funding directly from the programme by joining consortium projects.
Researchers interested in a Horizon Europe Pillar II funding opportunity who are planning to apply in 2025 should contact horizoneurope@ucalgary.ca for tips on planning a Horizon Europe proposal and securing consortium partners.
Internal Notice of Intent (iNOI)
Pillar II funding opportunities require submission of an internal Notice of Intent (iNOI) to Research Services. The iNOI process will offer three (3) intake deadlines for 2025 applicants and be used to inform Research Services of the supports required for development of your research proposal.
Deadlines for submission of the 2025 iNOI are organized by funding cluster. The deadline to submit is 12 p.m. (noon) on the specified date, unless otherwise indicated.
- May 15, 2025
- June 2, 2025
- June 16, 2025
Please note: Submission of an iNOI is mandatory. Download the submission form.
Researchers are encouraged to submit their iNOI proposals as early as possible. Allocation of supports for grant application development will be made after each deadline.
Don’t see your funding opportunity listed above? Let us know at horizoneurope@ucalgary.ca.
Application Preparation
Researchers successful in the iNOI process will receive an application development plan from Research Services with tailored supports identified for their Horizon Europe submission.
Applications for Horizon Europe are prepared and submitted in the European Commission’s online digital submission system the Funding & Tenders portal. Researchers must create an EU Login account and associate their login to UCalgary’s Participant Information Code (PIC: 998757203) to access the application documents and begin a submission in the portal.
The Coordinator (ie. the organization leading the application process) assigns roles, responsibilities and deadlines for the development of the application in the portal. Research Services can help you manage these timelines and provide assistance navigating the submission portal.
Internal Deadlines
To meet internal requirements for review and submission, applicants will be required to submit a fully complete application with budget at least ten (10) business days in advance of the earliest deadline set by the Lead/Coordinating Institution. This should arrive in RSO via the Research Management System (RMS), complete with approvals.
Please be sure to select "Submitted for approvals" (under Save & Progress) in RMS in time to allow for approvals from your Department Head and/or ADR prior to the Research Services deadline. Consult your department and faculty for more information on their approval processes and timelines.
Need Support?
Our teams can assist with:
- Navigating specific conditions of the funding opportunity and helping your research team understand the EU administrative requirements for Horizon Europe.
- Identifying suitable funding topics and potential research partners.
- Offering tips for proposal building and submission strategies.
- Reviewing proposals to ensure clarity, coherence, and alignment with key evaluation criteria.
- Connecting your team with specialist units to support with development of application components related to gender diversity, open science, and data management.
- Assisting with RMS record creation and electronic submission.
If you have questions, or are considering applying to a 2025 Horizon Europe funding opportunity, please contact us at horizoneurope@ucalgary.ca.
Resources
May 1 Info Session Webinar: Access the recording and the webinar slides.
For Applicant Resources, and information about Canada’s status as Associate Member to Horizon Europe visit Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada (ISED)
To Create an EU Login or explore current and upcoming funding opportunities in the Funding and Tenders Portal:
Visit CORDIS to access information on past successful Horizon Europe projects and their results, subscribe to their newsletter to discover ongoing projects, or locate partners with a track-record of Horizon Europe funding:
Horizon Europe work programmes: What work programmes are, what they cover, download available Horizon Europe work programmes.
The University of Calgary Statement on Gender Equality Plan demonstrates how UCalgary’s EDIA commitments, plans, and programs meet Horizon Europe’s requirements for an organizational Gender Equality Plan.
Upcoming Info Sessions
Title: Unlocking Horizon Europe - Practical Pathways to Research Collaboration (Edmonton)
Date/Time: 2:30 pm -5:30 pm. (MDT), Thursday, Sept 11
About:
- This event is organized in collaboration by the Czech Consulate General in Toronto, the Delegation of the EU to Canada, Czech Invest Agency and AMIRES, the event will provide insights into tangible opportunities for cooperation under Horizon Europe: the upcoming call 2026/27, practical recommendations and concrete project opportunities with emphasis on Engineering and Life Sciences.
- The workshop is organized at the occasion of the Czech R&D mission to Canada and will offer an opportunity to meet Czech research organizations, universities and innovation ecosystem stakeholders.
Title: European Research & Innovation Days
Date/Time: 06:00 (GMT) (12 a.m. MDT) Sept 16 -17, 2025
About: Across two days and more than 20 sessions, the programme explores Europe’s competitiveness and industrial leadership including debates on the Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the European Life Sciences Strategy, the AI in Science Strategy and the European Innovation and European Research Area Acts. From high-level panels to hands-on breakouts and focused networking, Research and Innovation Days link policy with real-world impact.
The programme features a keynote by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and opening remarks by the Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva. Speakers include leading voices from EU institutions, science and industry - among them Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and author and science communicator Lucy Hawking.
Title: Science Diplomacy Symposium: EU-Canada Scientific Collaboration in Horizon
Date/Time: 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM (EDT) October 3, 2025 (In Person Event, Toronto)
About: This flagship event will highlight the European Union-Canada scientific cooperation, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe, the European Union’s largest research and innovation program. It will bring together European and Canadian leaders in research, innovation, and policy to explore the future of transatlantic scientific collaboration, spotlighting Horizon Europe as a powerful tool for advancing shared priorities between the European Union and Canada.
The event will feature three high-level panels:
- Advancing European Union-Canada Research and Innovation: Focus on Horizon Europe
- Building Global Scientific Leadership: Youth Engagement through Horizon Europe
- The Future of Scientific Collaboration between the European Union and Canada
Additional details on the program and speakers will be announced soon, so stay tuned!
For more information or questions related to this event, please email: info@sciencepolicy.ca
Title: European Research Council (ERC) Grants - Q&A and Testimonials (Virtual)
Date/Time: 10 AM - 11:30 AM (MDT) Wednesday
About: EURAXESS North America will host an online meeting with officials from the European Research Council Executive Agency, which administers ERC grants, as well as current ERC grantees, who will share their experiences applying for the prestigious bottom-up grants and setting up their labs in Europe. Register now and join us live to hear from EU representatives and the researchers themselves, to see if ERC grants could be for you and to improve your proposal.
Title: Horizon Deep Tech Summit (Madrid)
Date/Time: In Person Event. November 26-27, 2025
Price: From 29 € to 499 €
About: The Horizon Deep Tech Summit 2025 is the leading international event in Deep Tech, set to take place in Madrid.
The event will cover key topics such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence, space tech, energy & decarbonisation, mobility, food tech, med tech, biotech, cybersecurity, advanced materials, dual-use technologies, and defence tech.
The event will host panel discussions, start up competitions and multiple networking opportunities with key players in the ecosystem.