Hungarian Co-funding for Horizon Europe Partnerships

NKFIH Horizon Europe Partnership Co-funding

Supports Hungarian entities participating in European Union Horizon Europe collaborative research partnerships.

The NKFIH Horizon Europe Partnership Co-funding program is a domestic funding instrument operated by Hungary's National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH) to enable Hungarian entities to participate in Horizon Europe co-funded Partnerships — the European Union's collaborative R&D framework. Approximately HUF 2.7 billion has been allocated to this program within the 2026 NRDI Fund portfolio, which carries a total envelope of approximately HUF 120 billion for research and innovation across all NKFIH instruments. The program is available on a rolling basis throughout 2026, with NKFIH reporting that support for Hungarian participation in Horizon Europe Partnerships has expanded and become more flexible compared with prior years.

Eligible applicants are Hungarian legal entities — including companies, universities, research organizations, and non-profits — that already hold a confirmed participation in an approved Horizon Europe Partnership consortium. NKFIH provides the domestic co-financing share that matches or supplements the EU-level Horizon Europe award; applicants must secure their place in the European consortium through the standard Horizon Europe process before applying for this domestic top-up. Individual award sizes and co-funding rates are not published in available sources; the program's rolling structure means there is no single annual submission deadline.

The instrument is well-suited to Hungarian technology companies, research institutions, and universities that are competitive in Horizon Europe Partnerships covering areas such as digital technologies, health, energy, climate, and advanced materials. Because the domestic co-funding reduces the net cost burden of Horizon Europe participation, it effectively lowers the financial barrier for smaller Hungarian entities to join international consortia. Applicants should establish their Horizon Europe consortium membership before approaching NKFIH, and should monitor the NKFIH Horizon Europe portal at horizonteuropa.nkfih.gov.hu for specific call windows and documentation requirements.