LUKE Joint Call

LUKE Joint Call is sponsored by EU Horizon Europe LUKE project (multiple funding parties). This call is for basic and/or applied research, development, and innovation projects fostering cross-border research collaboration, with Ukraine as the central partner.

LUKE Joint Call – Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine International cooperation General regulatory framework Specific support for Ukrainian research and innovation Dashboard: Participation of Ukraine in the Horizon Europe Programme Pillar I – Excellent Science European Research Council Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society Cluster 3: Civil security for society Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Pillar III – Innovative Europe European Innovation Council European Institute of Innovation & Technology European Innovation Ecosystems Widening participation and strengthening the European research area Widening participation and spreading excellence Reforming and enhancing the European Research and Innovation system Adaptation to Climate Change Restore our Ocean and Waters Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Euratom Research and Training Programme Horizon Europe for business Legal & financial aspects Preparation, submission and assessment of applications Preparations to start a project FAQ about how to participate in the Horizon Europe Programme FAQ about submitting applications to the Horizon Europe Programme Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine List of the NCPs in Ukraine Communications and mass-media Partnership theme: Digital, Industry and Space Partnership theme: Health Partnership theme: Climate, Energy and Mobility Partnership theme: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Partnerships across themes Communication and visibility Newsletter (Dec 2025 Special) FAQ about the Horizon Europe Programme FAQ about how to participate in the Horizon Europe Programme FAQ about submitting applications to the Horizon Europe Programme FAQ about the Horizon Europe Office in Ukraine We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

The LUKE Joint Call (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Call’) for basic and/or applied research, development and / or innovation projects, fostering research collaboration across borders, is now open. Proposal submission deadline: 15 May 2026 at 23:59 CEST / 00:59 EEST (+1). The Call aims to build research and innovation partnerships, with Ukraine as the central partner.

It is jointly implemented by 13 funding parties actively involved in the EU Horizon Europe LUKE project, ensuring participation of 11 countries. The LUKE project serves to pool resources and support Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area.

Who can apply and how consortia should be organised The Call is open to legal entities, including institutions, organisations, and enterprises, registered in one of the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine. We encourage the formation of consortia involving different types of organisations in research, innovation and business.

However, the partner eligibility criteria vary depending on the National Rules of the Funding Parties (see Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call ). A project consortium must include an eligible partner from Ukraine and at least two other mentioned countries participating in the Call. The Lead Partner is nominated within the consortium.

The Call covers the following four topics to strengthen Ukraine’s capacities in jointly identified priority areas: Energy: Sustainable and renewable energy and energy security Cybersecurity: Cyber resilience of critical infrastructures and adaptive cybersecurity systems Medical and health research: Telemedicine, biomedical research Sub-topic 3. 1: Adoption of telemedicine for remote healthcare solutions Sub-topic 3.

2: Innovative research on cellular signaling pathways for biomedical applications Social sciences and humanities: Social reconciliation, sustainable social development, and human capital restoration Call topic descriptions are available here . General information and Terms of Reference of the Call are available here: LUKE Terms of Reference (ToR) . Applicants must be eligible for funding by their respective national funding parties.

Unless it contradicts the respective National Rules of Funding Parties, they can represent: Research and higher education institutions established according to respective national legislation; Research performing small and medium enterprises ; Other entities eligible for funding according to respective national legislation.

Details and definitions can be found in the National Rules of Funding Parties (see Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call ). Duration of the projects is up to two years. Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG, Austria Focus: Applied research (industrial research and experimental development) Webpage : https://www.

ffg. at/LUKE/Call2026 Funding by FFG of multiple applicants from Austria within one consortium is possible . Austrian Science Fund, FWF, Austria Webpage: https://www.

fwf. ac. at/en/funding/portfolio/subject-specific-funding/luke-ukraine Funding by FWF of multiple applicants from Austria within one consortium is not possible .

Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TA CR, Czech Republic Webpage: https://tacr. gov.cz/soutez/luke/luke-call-2026/ Funding by of multiple applicants from Czech Republic within one consortium is possible . Estonian Research Council, ETAG, Estonia Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://etag.

ee/en/funding/support-for-ukrainian-researchers/ Funding by of multiple applicants from Estonia within one consortium is possible . Research Council of Finland, RCF, Finland Focus: Basic research and applied research Webpage: https://www. aka.

fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/calls-for-applications/international-calls/luke-joint-call–linking-ukraine-to-the-era/ Funding by of multiple applicants from Finland within one consortium is possible . Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, BMFTR, Germany Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://www. bmftr.

bund. de/SharedDocs/Bekanntmachungen/DE/2026/02/2026-02-27-bekanntmachung-ukraine. html Funding by of multiple applicants from Germany within one consortium is possible .

Latvian Council of Science, LZP, Latvia Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://www. lzp. gov.lv Multiple applicants from Latvia to this funding party within one consortium: Please contact the funding party!

National Agency for Research and Development, NARD, Republic of Moldova Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://ancd. gov.md Funding by of multiple applicants from Moldova within one consortium is possible . National Science Centre, NCN, Poland Webpage : https://ncn.

gov.pl/ogloszenia/konkursy/luke-joint-call-2026 Funding by of multiple applicants from Poland within one consortium is possible . The Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI, Romania Focus: Exploratory and applied research Webpage: https://uefiscdi.

gov.ro/luke-linking-ukraine-to-the-european-research-area Funding by of multiple applicants from Romania within one consortium is possible . The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, TÜBİTAK, Türkiye Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://www. tubitak.

gov.tr Funding by of multiple applicants from Türkiye within one consortium is possible . National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, NASU, Ukraine Focus: Basic and applied research Webpage: https://www. nas.

gov.ua/ Funding by NASU of multiple applicants from Ukraine within one consortium is not possible . The National Research Foundation of Ukraine, NRFU, Ukraine Focus: Basic/applied research (developments) Webpage: https://nrfu. org.

ua/ Funding by NRFU of multiple applicants from Ukraine within one consortium is not possible Proposal submission must take place exclusively in electronic form by using the PT-Outline webtool accessible at: https://ptoutline.

eu/app/LUKE Technical support: PT-Outline technical support In addition, partners from Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Türkiye and Ukraine (NASU) must submit further information directed to the relevant Funding Party. Please ensure compliance with the national rules of the respective Funding Party.

Publication of the Call: 27 February 2026 Deadline for proposal submission: 15 May 2026 at 23:59 CEST / 00:59 EEST (+1 day) Tentative date for starting the projects: First quarter 2027 Tentative end date of the projects: December 2028 General information and Terms of Reference of the Call (PDF) Guidelines for using the online submission tool PT-Outline (PDF) Structure for proposal description: checkboxes on PT-Outline (PDF) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (PDF) For detailed information about the respective national eligibility and funding criteria, you are strongly recommended to contact your respective LUKE National Contact Point before submitting your proposal.

All contact details are accessible in the National Rules of each Funding Party ( Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call ). Joint Call Secretariat: Jörn Grünewald, DLR Project Management Agency, Germany: Joern. Gruenewald@dlr.

de Are you looking for partners or interested in following up on the LUKE Joint Call? Register for the CEF LUKE Joint Call on the EU. FFICIENT platform: https://community.

eufficient. eu/ The platform is designed to support participants connecting with potential partners and learning more about co-creation principles to integrate into R&I activities. LUKE Joint Call 2nd Pre-Announcement: Launch date update (pdf) LUKE Joint Call 1st Pre-Announcement (pdf) Funded by the European Union.

Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.