The European Commission has published this year’s work programmes for the thematic clusters of Horizon Europe. This is a unique opportunity for battery sector players looking to be at the forefront of future technologies and innovation. A total of €7.2 billion in funding is available under the 2025 Horizon Europe work programmes. The European Commission has published this year’s work programmes for the thematic clusters of Horizon Europe, following a delay of several months. The delay was due to the need to align the programmes with the updated priorities of the new Commission. These priorities aim to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and reduce the administrative burden related to funding applications. The goal was to reflect these changes already in the calls opening in 2025. The funding calls for collaborative projects target six thematic areas, including health and creative sectors, security, digitalisation and space, energy, bioeconomy and food. The calls aim to support impactful research and innovation that is jointly developed by stakeholders from different EU member states, with the goal of turning research results into concrete products and services. In total, the 2025 Horizon Europe work programmes offer €7.2 billion in funding. Each main topic area, or “destination”, serves as a thematic umbrella under which individual calls are organised. These calls are designed to support the overarching goals of each destination. Cluster 5 focuses on climate, energy and mobility. Destination 2 highlights the development of battery technologies through new materials, advanced manufacturing techniques and life cycle management. It also supports R&I projects on long-duration energy storage based on battery systems. Proposals related to battery ageing, reliability and safety are also encouraged in this round of funding. Cluster 4 covers digitalisation, industry and space. Destination 1 focuses on advancing European manufacturing technologies, while Destination 2 aims to reduce Europe’s dependency on non-EU sources for advanced materials and raw materials. Some of the calls opened already in May, and the first deadlines will be in September. Cluster-specific info days and networking events were held in May. (Presentation materials from the events provide a clear overview of the current funding priorities, along with practical tips for preparing proposals. Read more here.) Business Tampere offers guidance for companies interested in a specific call. EU funding expert Jari Ahola highlights that several key battery players are located in the Tampere region, including Avant Power, Cellife and Celltech. “This is a perfect moment to take advantage of the opportunities Horizon Europe has to offer. In addition to end users, companies in the Pirkanmaa region are actively working on battery technologies, their manufacturing and life cycle activities,” says Ahola. Work programmes – click here! battery sector circular economy digitalisation EU European Commission