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Horizon Europe Euratom Research & Training Lump Sum

Horizon Euratom: Nuclear Materials Partnership (CONNECT-NM) Phase 2

Funds a €15M continuation of the CONNECT-NM nuclear materials partnership, open only to its sitting coordinator and any partners it adds.

OpenEuropean CommissionEU

CONNECT-NM is the EU's co-funded partnership for nuclear materials research — the network of national research organisations that study the materials nuclear reactors are built from. This topic is its second phase: EU money to add new activities, and optionally new partners, to the grant agreement CONNECT-NM already holds from a 2023 call. It is not a new competition. Only the coordinator of that

Continuation funding for the co-funded European partnership on nuclear materials research (CONNECT-NM), delivered as additional activities — and optionally additional partners — added to the existing HORIZON-EURATOM-2023-NRT-01-04 grant agreement, not a new consortium or a new competition. Funds materials-science work behind the safety, efficiency and economics of nuclear installations: structural materials and fuels for current reactors and advanced designs including small modular reactors (SMRs), predictive modelling ('materials by design'), experimental qualification such as neutron irradiation testing, knowledge-management tools including nuclear design codes, and financial support to third parties that secure access to shared nuclear research infrastructure (capped at €300,000 each). The partnership's own research scope widens beyond CONNECT-NM's original materials list — for example to polymers — and covers every EU Member State and Associated Country working on nuclear materials research, not only countries that generate nuclear power.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.One-off
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.15 Sept 2026
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.45%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€15M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-EURATOM-2026-01-08Source: ec.europa.eu