The 2026 calls for proposals on digitalization are now open within Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe.

The 'cluster 4 – Digital' of Horizon Europe focuses on the development of digital technologies to support a green and digital transition, as well as ethical and human-centered development. Cluster 4 2026 has a total budget of over €570 million for research and industrial innovation projects.

The 2026 Work Programme includes two calls under the 'DIGITAL' pillar, in two destinations: HORIZON-CL4-2026-04 (€221,8 million, 15 topics) and HORIZON-CL4-2026-05 (€85,5 million, 3 topics).

The following are the calls for applications.

Call HORIZON-CL4-2026-04, expiring on April 15, 2026:

Destination: Develop a secure and agile single market and infrastructure for trusted data and AI services:
- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-02: Open Internet Stack Sovereign Solutions (RIA)
  Project budget: max. EUR 10.25 million
  N. Projects to be financed: 2

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-03: Open Internet Stack Support for Scale (CSA)
  Project budget: EUR 4 million
  N. Projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DATA-06: Efficient and compliant access to and use of data (IA) (AI, Data and Robotics partnership)
  Project budget: max. EUR 23.50 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 3

Destination: Achieving open strategic autonomy in emerging digital and enabling technologies:
- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01: Apply AI: Pilot of the “Science for AI” Pillar of RAISE (“Resource for AI science in Europe”) (RIA)
  Project budget: EUR 17 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-19: Challenge-Driven GenAI4EU Booster in Apply AI prioritized sectors (RIA) (AI/Data/Robotics Partnership)
  Project budget: EUR 15 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 3

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-08: Apply AI: Robotics for Manufacturing: Advancing Core Skills through Technical Challenges (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)
  Project budget: EUR 18 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-09: Advanced Local Digital Twins using AI for Early Warning and Preparedness (IA)
  Project budget: EUR 6 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-11: Grand Challenge on Quantum Sensors for Inertial Navigation
  Project budget: EUR 500 thousand
  Number of projects to be financed: 3

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-12: Standards for Quantum Technologies – Coordination and Support Action (CSA)
  Project budget: EUR 1 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-18: Large-Scale Photonic Quantum Computing Platform Technologies (RIA)
  Project budget: EUR 10 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-14: Networking and Future Photonics Strategy (CSA) (Photonics Partnership)
  Project budget: EUR 3 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-15: Strengthening the cooperation of semiconductor-intensive EU regions (CSA)
  Project budget: EUR 1 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-17: Fostering 2-Dimensional Materials (2DM) based emerging and enabling technologies (CSA)
  Project budget: EUR 1 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 1

Destination: Digital and industrial technologies that drive human-centered innovation
- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-01: Developing and demonstrating core technologies for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 (IA) (Virtual worlds Partnership)
  Project budget: max EUR 5 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 7

- HORIZON-CL4-2026-04-HUMAN-02: Web 4.0 architectural framework and Open Internet Stack applications for virtual worlds (RIA)
  Project budget: max EUR 8.4 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 3

Call HORIZON-CL4-2026-05 expiring on April 15, 2026:

Destination: Raw materials
- HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-MAT-PROD-25: New or enhanced Innovative Advanced Materials (IAM) enabled sensing functionality (RIA)
  Project budget: EUR 7.5 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 3

Destination: Achieving open strategic autonomy in emerging digital and enabling technologies
- HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02: Next-Generation AI Agents for Real-World Applications in the Apply AI sectors (RIA) (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics)
  Project budget: EUR 19 million
  Number of projects to be financed: 2

HORIZON-CL4-2026-05-DIGITAL-EMERGING-03: Apply AI: Next-Generation Agile and Intelligent Robotics Platforms for Industrial and Service Applications (Partnership in AI, Data and Robotics) (RIA)
Project budget: max EUR 13 million
Number of projects to be financed: 2

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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Success Cases

Be.CULTOUR

Beyond CULtural TOURism: human-centred innovations for sustainable and circular cultural tourism

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €4.097.203,75
Contribution: €3.993.328,75
Date: February 2021

Business organization

Intervention to modernize and optimize the company's organizational and management structure, with consequent updating of the Organization Regulations and the Organization Implementation Regulations, aimed at making management more efficient

Sector: Computer programming activities
Turnover: €16.392.207
Date: 2022

Sidereus Space Dynamics

Primo Venture and CDP Venture Capital enter the capital of Sidereus Space Dynamics with a seed round of 1,5 million. Iniziativa as financial Co-Advisor he accompanied the start-up in the operation.

Acquisition transaction: Venture Capital seed round
Sector: Aerospace
Deal: 1.500.000,00
Date: 2021

Management control

Design and support for the implementation of the management control system, the design of a KPI dashboard for monitoring company performance and the optimization of organizational processes

Sector: Production of pastry products
Turnover: €3.947.216
Date: 2019

Technical assistance

Technical assistance to the Managing Authority, to the Single Managers for Implementation/Action Line Managers and to the Certification Authority for the implementation of the intervention plan financed with the resources of the Regional Development and Cohesion Fund Campania for the programming periods 2000-2006, 2007-2013, 2014-2020, 2021-2027

Sector: Territorial authorities - Technical assistance for FSC programming, monitoring and reporting
Date: 2014 - 2026
FSC resource allocation assigned to the Campania Region: €9.323.000.000

EOS LAUNCH VEHICLE

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €391.324,00
Contribution: €273.926,80
Date: July 2023

Sustainability Report

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Production of Plastic Materials
Turnover: €69.978.904
Date: 2023

Training

Design and delivery of training on corporate finance management: "Knowing the present to plan the future" to the top figures of 30 SMEs, in collaboration with the Naples Industrial Union

Sector: Banking
Date: 2022

ISTHMUS

Smart Infrastructures for Transport and Mobility

Contract: Major R&D Projects
Project cost: €5.578.468,75
Contribution to spending: €1.834.279,63
Concessionary Financing: €1.115.693,75
Date: June 2021

MUNICIPALITY OF COMELICO SUPERIORE – CABLE CAR CONNECTION WITH SOUTH TYROL

Economic-financial analysis aimed at verifying the compatibility of the aid pursuant to art. 55 of the GBER of Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 relating to the construction of "a "system connection between the Padola-Comelico Superiore district and Passo Monte Croce Comelico di Valgrande to the Tre Picchi - Col d'La Tenda station", developed by the Municipality of Comelico Superiore (Belluno) as part of the STACCO project for the valorization of the resources of Val Comelico

Sector: Sports Facilities PPP
Date: 2023

Heineken Italia SpA

Expansion of the production capacity of the Assemini site in order to cover the growing market demands for the products of the Ichnusa range

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €61.123.573,72
Non-refundable contribution: €13.890.446,72
Date: April 2022

AERONAUTICAL CONSTRUCTION TECNAM SPA

Innovate and expand the product range, in particular with the development and launch of the new P2020 aircraft; as well as expanding production capacity, with the construction of a new production site.

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €37.536.422,57
Non-refundable contribution: €13.638.819,00
Concessionary Financing: €4.417.290,00
Date: April 2024

CASTLE

CAbin Systems design Toward passenger well-being

Program: HORIZON - Clean Sky2
Project cost: €11.695.656,00
Contribution: €9.533.525,00
Date: July 2016

CA.MPANIA

MEASUREMENT CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMERS: NON-INVASIVE ANALYSIS

Contract: Campania startUp 2020
Project cost: €78.862,00
Contribution: €67.032,70
Date: June 2023

HERMAS

Evolution of Robotized cell for Machining and Additive manufacturing with wireless Sensor for data acquisition management and analysis

Contract: Smart Factory, Agrifood and Life Sciences
Project cost: €3.527.812,50
Contribution to spending: €1.215.398,13
Concessionary Financing: €705.562,50
Date: December 2023

SGAM SpA

Expansion of production capacity through technological adaptation and extraordinary maintenance interventions of the production plant located in the Municipality of Pratella (CE).

Contract: Development Contract
Project cost: €28.116.140,00
Non-refundable contribution: €7.431.980,00
Date: September 2016

ARACNE

Advocating the role of Silk Art and Cultural Heritage at National and European scales

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €2.999.634,50
Contribution: €2.999.634,50
Date: March 2023

South Tyrol Health Authority

Technical assistance in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal presented pursuant to paragraph 15 of the art. 183 of Legislative Decree 50/2016 relating to "Digitization and optimization of the sanitization service and the main Facility Management services of the buildings of the South Tyrol Health Authority"

Sector: Healthcare company PPP
Date: 2019

Colser Services

Consultancy and support for economic-financial and procedural aspects in all phases of the procedure relating to a PPP initiative (pursuant to paragraph 15 art. 183 Legislative Decree 50/2016) relating to an "Infrastructural enhancement intervention for the integrated management of classrooms, monitoring of structures and environments, environmental hygiene services and general services for the IUAV University of Venice"

Sector: Facility Management
Date: 2020

MUNICIPALITY OF LUCCA – PORTA ELISA STADIUM

Technical assistance to the Grantor in the evaluation of a Project Financing proposal relating to a "Recovery with demolition and reconstruction of the "Porta Elisa Municipal Stadium" of Lucca and restoration of the historic grandstand" presented pursuant to Law 147/2013 and subsequently adjusted in compliance to Legislative Decree 38/2021

Sector: Sports Facilities PPP
Date: 2021

Tecno

Iniziativa assisted Tecno in the M&A process which saw them involved in the process of acquiring 65% of Aere. The acquisition is aimed at expanding the services offered by Tecno

Acquisition transaction: Purchase of majority stake
Sector: Energy services
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2021

iGUESS-MED

Innovative Greenhouse Support System in the Mediterranean Region: efficient fertigation and pest management through IoT based climate control

Program: BEFORE
Project cost: €1.733.000,00
Contribution: €1.597.700,00
Date: April 2020

Sustainability reports

Support in the preparation of the corporate sustainability report and definition of the ESG strategy and indicators for monitoring sustainable variables

Sector: Textile company
Turnover: €36.081.512
Date: 2023

Icimendue 2025

Improvement of product quality and consequent reduction of waste due to defects, thanks to the installation of automatic and innovative printing control systems.

Contract: Sustainable Investments 4.0
Project cost: €2.867.514,37
Non-refundable contribution: €1.433.757,10
Date: January 2023

BRIDGESMEs

Boosting Resilience In five industrial ecosystems through adoption and Deployment of advanced technoloGiEs among SMEs

Program: Horizon
Project cost: €2.487.491,25
Contribution: €2.487.491,25
Date: 2023

Technical assistance

Technical, specialist and management assistance service for projects financed under the Pact for the City of Naples FSC 2014-2020

Sector: Local authorities - Technical assistance for FSC programming, monitoring and reporting
Date: 2018 - 2023
FSC resource allocation assigned to the Metropolitan City of Naples: €310.999.041

Protom Group SpA

Protom has acquired the Espero business branch, geographically expanding the market served, Iniziativa He provided a 360° view of the acquisition operation.

Acquisition transaction: Purchase of the business unit
Sector: Training
Deal: Undisclosed
Date: 2024

GEVEN SpA

Construction of a new production unit for the manufacture of aircraft seats

Contract: Law 181/89 and subsequent amendments.
Project cost: €10.441.948
Non-refundable contribution: €2.014.000
Concessionary Financing: €5.220.000
Date: October 2017

NATURE 4.0

Acquisition of enabling technologies functional to the expansion of existing production capacity, for which it is also necessary to invest in masonry works and technological systems for the adaptation of work spaces.

Contract: Sustainable Investments 4.0
Project cost: €1.285.595,90
Non-refundable contribution: €642.797,95
Date: December 2022

A.Abete Srl

Iniziativa, as financial advisor, assisted A.Abete in the subscription of the Campania Bond.

Acquisition transaction: MiniBond
Sector: Aerospace
Deal: 3.500.000
Date: 2024

€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |