Horizon Europe Cluster 6 | HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02
Towards the water infrastructures of the future
This pack is designed for university researchers who may join a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 proposal under CLIMATE-02. Fields to personalise are shown in square brackets.
Official topic text location: Cluster 6 Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 9, pages 248-251 of 356.
1. Ready-to-send email to invited researchers
2. Short internal note for the Research Office / Grant Office
3. Why CLIMATE-02 is a fit for the project concept
4. What I would like from partner researchers now
A quick indication of interest in principle.
The likely PI / lab / department that would participate.
A short note on the most relevant scientific contribution from your side.
Confirmation of the internal no-objection path at your university.
The contact person in your Research / Grants Office, if available.
Practical note: because this topic uses a lump-sum model, early alignment on roles, work packages and internal budgeting assumptions is especially useful.
5. Official EU links to share internally
General Horizon Europe baseline: for most calls, the consortium must include at least 3 partner organisations from 3 different EU or associated countries, with at least 1 from an EU country. Topic-specific conditions should still be checked on the call page and by each university's grant office.
PARTNER BRIEFING PACK
Topic ID: | HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02 | Call: | HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE (single-stage)
Type of action: | Research and Innovation Action (RIA) | Funding model: | Lump sum
Indicative budget: | EUR 10.00 million | EU contribution: | Around EUR 5.00 million / project
Call launch: | 12 February 2026 | Deadline: | 14 April 2026
Selection info: | 15 September 2026 (indicative) | Grant signature: | 15 December 2026 (indicative)
Subject: Invitation to join a Horizon Europe CLIMATE-02 consortium on future water infrastructures / Dear Colleague, / I am writing to explore whether your group would be interested in joining a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 proposal under HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02, 'Towards the water infrastructures of the future'. / We are shaping a collaborative project around a modular water-treatment concept that combines desalination and decontamination modules, with possible applications in resilient drinking-water and wastewater infrastructures. Based on the official topic text, this appears well aligned with CLIMATE-02, especially regarding modular processes and tools, emerging contaminants, digital monitoring, digital twins / AI, operational resilience and collaboration with universities and utilities. / If your group is interested in principle, I would be grateful if you could: / identify the most relevant PI / research unit on your side; / confirm whether your university could participate in a Horizon Europe RIA lump-sum proposal under this topic; / check with your Research / Grants Office whether a preliminary no-objection is needed for consortium building and proposal preparation; / let me know any internal templates, deadlines or approval steps that we should respect. / For convenience, I include below a short internal note and the official EU links (call page, work programme and REA guidance pages). I would be very happy to discuss the scientific positioning and a possible contribution from your group. / With best regards, / [Your Name] / [Institution] / [Email] | [Phone]
Subject: Request for preliminary no-objection to participate in Horizon Europe proposal preparation (Cluster 6) / Dear [Research Office / Grant Office / Head of Department], / I would like to request a preliminary internal no-objection for [University Name] to participate as a partner in the preparation of a Horizon Europe Cluster 6 proposal under HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02, 'Towards the water infrastructures of the future'. / This is a single-stage Research and Innovation Action (RIA) funded as a lump-sum grant. The topic has an indicative budget of EUR 10.00 million, and the Commission indicates around EUR 5.00 million per project. The call launched on 12 February 2026 and the submission deadline is 14 April 2026. / The topic addresses future drinking-water and wastewater infrastructures, including modular processes and tools, adaptation to emerging pollution and climate impacts, advanced monitoring, digital twins / AI, data sharing and resilience / security of water infrastructures. The official topic text also states that proposals should target a broad range of stakeholders including universities, SMEs, water utilities and energy utilities, and that international cooperation is strongly encouraged. / At this stage, I am only requesting permission to participate in consortium-building discussions and proposal preparation. This is not yet a final institutional commitment. / Official EU references are listed below for internal verification. / Kind regards, / [Name] / [Department / Institute] / [University Name]
Project element | What the topic explicitly supports
Modular architecture | The topic explicitly asks proposals to develop and integrate modular processes and tools to improve the adaptability of drinking-water and wastewater infrastructures.
Decontamination / water quality | The expected outcomes refer to changing pollution loads and emerging or yet unknown contaminants affecting water and sanitation systems.
Digital layer | The scope explicitly mentions smart sensors, IoT, digital twins, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robust data-sharing frameworks.
Resilience and sustainability | The topic links future water infrastructures with material recovery, reduced greenhouse-gas emissions, Nature-based Solutions and improved flood / drought anticipation.
Partnership model | The official text says proposals should target a broad range of stakeholders including universities, SMEs, water utilities and energy utilities, and that international cooperation is strongly encouraged.
Resource | Official link
Funding & Tenders call page | https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/calls-for-proposals?callIdentifier=HORIZON-CL6-2026-02&frameworkProgramme=43108390&isExactMatch=true&order=DESC&pageNumber=1&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate&status=31094501%2C31094502%2C31094503
Cluster 6 Work Programme 2026-2027 (Part 9 PDF) | https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2026-2027/wp-9-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment_horizon-2026-2027_en.pdf
REA page: Land, oceans and water for climate action | https://rea.ec.europa.eu/funding-and-grants/horizon-europe-cluster-6-food-bioeconomy-natural-resources-agriculture-and-environment/land-oceans-and-water-climate-action_en
REA page: Who should apply | https://rea.ec.europa.eu/horizon-europe-who-should-apply_en
REA page: Support for applicants | https://rea.ec.europa.eu/horizon-europe-support-applicants_en
Horizon Europe Programme Guide | https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/programme-guide_horizon_en.pdf
Funding & Tenders Online Manual | https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/funding-tenders-opportunities/spaces/OM/pages/1867795/Online+Manual