On 24 March 2025, POLIS hosted a webinar to update members on upcoming Horizon Europe Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, and Mobility) Work Programme funding calls for September 2025, as well as early insights into funding opportunities for 2026-2027.

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POLIS supports its members by providing access to key research findings and tailored guidance on securing funding for their ambitious urban mobility projects. Identifying the right calls and forming strong consortia can be challenging, so regular updates are essential.

During the webinar, Ivo Cré (Director of Policy and Projects) and Cláudia Ribeiro (Project and Proposal Lead) guided members through funding opportunities and explored how POLIS can further assist in navigating the complex ecosystem of upcoming Horizon Europe calls.

What are Societal Readiness Pilots?

For urban mobility research and innovation to have a real impact, projects must align with people’s needs, local policies (e.g., the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission), and cities’ practical capacities. Effective solutions should be easily understood by city experts, seamlessly integrated into mobility systems and other sectors, and scalable.

Horizon Europe is bringing forth the concept of Societal Readiness Pilots, as a part of Cluster 5, emphasising innovation that meets real urban and environmental challenges, perfectly aligned with cities’ objectives. These pilots encourage multi-stakeholder collaboration, consideration of diverse perspectives, and adaptation to mitigate unintended consequences.

Horizon Europe: Cluster 5 – Climate, Energy and Mobility, Early 2026

Additional information about call topics in early 2026 was also shared. To consult these together with a full overview of this and other opportunities, please see the presentation slides attached to this report. We will share additional information once the Work Programme is published and publicly available.

What is next?

There are a few things you can do right now to learn more and get your project engagement started:

• Let us know when there are specific contacts to be added to our mailing lists for this purpose!
• Check internally if your procedures are adapted to joining proposals. 
• For any ideas, questions, comments… Contact Cláudia and Ivo!
• Keep an eye on our Members' Area for more updates!
• We count on you to suggest us as a potential partner in your projects too! 
• Do join POLIS project communities! 

In the meantime, we invite you to consult the latest edition of the POLIS Funding and Project Involvement Opportunities Guide with a comprehensive outline of upcoming calls beyond Horizon Europe.