The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) – Horizon Europe Grant Scheme supports Australian participation in leading international collaborative research under Horizon Europe, which is the European Union's (EU) key funding program for research and innovation. Horizon Europe facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation while tackling global challenges. It supports the creation and better dispersion of excellent knowledge and technologies.
NHMRC selects topics that align with the health priorities identified in the NHMRC Corporate Plan and are guided by the principles of the NHMRC’s International Engagement Strategy 2023–2026 to support collaborative approaches to health and medical research internationally.
Programme description
The following topics are being supported by NHMRC for the 2026 NHMRC-Horizon Europe grant opportunity. NHMRC will invite Australia-based researchers who are listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission to apply to NHMRC for support of the Australian component of research under the following topics submitted through the single-stage deadline model:
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-STAYHLTH-02: Behavioural interventions as primary prevention for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among young people
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-01: Towards a better understanding and anticipation of the impacts of climate change on health
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-04: Towards climate resilient, prepared and carbon neutral populations and healthcare systems
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-02: Innovative interventions to prevent the harmful effects of using digital technologies on the mental health of children and young adults
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-03: Advancing research on the prevention, diagnosis, and management of post-infection long-term conditions
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-04: Development of novel vaccines for viral pathogens with epidemic potential
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-11: Understanding of sex and/or gender-specific mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases: determinants, risk factors and pathways
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-DISEASE-15: Scaling up innovation in cardiovascular health
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-CARE-03: Identifying and addressing low-value care in health and care systems
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-03: Integrating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to advance biomedical research and regulatory testing
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-TOOL-06: Support to European Research Area (ERA) action on accelerating New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to advance biomedical research and testing of medicinal products and medical devices
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-IND-03: Regulatory science to support translational development of patient-centred health technologies
and submitted through the Partnerships in Health call:
- HORIZON-HLTH-2026-04-CARE-04: Enhancing and enlarging the European Partnership on Personalised Medicine (EP PerMEd) (Top-up).
Further information about Horizon Europe topics can be found on the European Commission’s webpage.
Application process
- European Commission invites submissions against advertised research topics
- European Commission conducts peer review
- European Commission advises NHMRC Administering Institution/s of applications deemed fundable
- NHMRC Administering Institution/s notifies NHMRC of applicant details
- NHMRC invites Australia-based researchers who are listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission to apply to NHMRC for support of the Australian component of research by submitting an application in Sapphire
- NHMRC assesses the budget requested for the Australian components of the research
- Funding recommendations approval process.
Eligibility
The NHMRC-Horizon Europe scheme has eligibility criteria and applications will be excluded from consideration if eligibility requirements are not met:
- Australia-based applicants must be listed on eligible applications deemed fundable by the European Commission
- The Administering Institution for the NHMRC- Horizon Europe scheme application must be listed as an Associated Partner in the EU application
- Evidence, such as the EU grant agreement or a letter from the EU, which indicates that the relevant EU application has been evaluated favourably and will proceed to the preparation of the grant agreement
- Applications must be under the selected topics as listed by NHMRC.
