Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space

Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space

What is Cluster 4 and what are its main objectives?

Cluster 4 is one of the key areas within Horizon Europe, the European Union’s funding program for research and innovation. Its primary goal is to foster technological competitiveness in Europe in strategic sectors such as digitalization, advanced industry, and space, promoting innovation in cutting-edge technologies that will strengthen Europe’s global position. This cluster supports the creation of innovative solutions that address the major challenges facing society and the economy.

The three pillars of Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space

This pillar focuses on boosting digital transformation in Europe, fostering the development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and cybersecurity. The goal is to improve the ability of European companies and institutions to compete in an increasingly digital world. Through this pillar, Europe aims to lead digital innovation, enhancing its global technological competitiveness.

The industry pillar aims to strengthen the European manufacturing sector by adopting advanced technologies and sustainable solutions. From industrial automation to green production, the focus is on improving efficiency and sustainability of industrial processes across Europe. This pillar is essential for making European industries more competitive, innovative, and resilient in the face of global challenges.

The space pillar focuses on space exploration and space applications as drivers of innovation. Through the research and development of new space technologies, the goal is not only to advance space exploration but also to leverage satellites and space-based technologies to solve Earth-bound problems such as environmental management, security, and connectivity.

What do there areas aim to achieve?

SMEs, Large Enterprises, Universities, research centres, public authorities (municipalities, regional authorities and national governments and their agencies), civil society.

Collaborating across sectors to drive innovation, knowledge sharing, and sustainable development.

Who can apply for Cluster 4 funding?

Together, all these Cluster 4 destinations aim to:

  • Strengthen European technological competitiveness in key sectors.
  • Accelerate the digital and green transition of European industries.
  • Ensure strategic autonomy in critical technologies for the economy, security, and social welfare.

Areas of intervention and work programmes

Leadership in materials and production for Europe

Promotes advanced European production and materials, supporting innovation in sustainable materials, green manufacturing processes, and resilient production chains that enhance industrial competitiveness.

Developing an agile and secure single market and infrastructure for data‑services and trustworthy AI services

Fosters a single European market for data services and trustworthy AI services, with secure infrastructures that enable the responsible use of data and digital technologies.

Promotes innovation and competitiveness by facilitating cross-border data sharing and accelerating the development of advanced digital solutions.

Achieving open strategic autonomy in digital and emerging enabling technologies

Ensures strategic autonomy for Europe in digital and emerging enabling technologies, such as advanced AI, semiconductors, computing, and other key capabilities for future technological leadership.

Open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space‑based infrastructures, services, applications and data

Strengthens Europe’s capacity to develop and utilize space-based infrastructures and services, promoting competitiveness in Earth observation systems, communications, navigation, and satellite data.

Digital and industrial technologies driving human‑centric innovation​

Supports digital and industrial technologies centered on people, addressing aspects such as ethics, trust, inclusion, and usability of technological solutions in society.

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Funding opportunities and type of support

Types of Funding, Intensity, and TRL in Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe

  • Types of funding

Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe provides various types of funding depending on the project development stage and research nature:

  • RIA (Research and Innovation Actions): Projects focused on disruptive technologies, including basic research, experimental development, and early-stage technology validation.
  • IA (Innovation Actions): Focused on technology innovation, bringing lab-tested technologies toward commercialization, including prototypes and pilot testing.
  • CSA (Coordination and Support Actions): Support and coordination projects that promote collaboration and knowledge transfer between institutions, organizations, and key sectors.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL)

TRL (Technology Readiness Level) is a scale that measures the maturity of a technology, ranging from basic research (TRL 1), moving to testing, validating and demonstrating in intermediate TRLs to piloting or full commercialization (TRL 9). It helps assess how close a technology is to being applied in real-world situations.

Projects in Cluster 4 align with different levels of Technology Readiness (TRL):

  • TRL 1-4 (Basic research to early-stage development): Primarily applies to RIA, where projects are in the phases of basic research, initial concept validation, and laboratory testing.
  • TRL 5-6 (Technology development and validation): Applies to IA, where technologies move into functional prototypes and pilot testing.
  • TRL 7-9 (Demonstration and commercialization): IA projects in this range aim to bring technologies to market and demonstrate their effectiveness at a large scale.

Funding intensity

The funding intensity varies depending on the action type and the profile of participants. Non profit or public authorities normally are 100% funded. 

  • RIA (Research and Innovation Actions): Up to 100% of eligible costs, focused on basic research and experimental development.
  • IA (Innovation Actions): Up to 70% funding (except for non-profit organizations, which may receive up to 100%), for innovation and experimental development activities.
  • CSA (Coordination and Support Actions): Up to 100% of eligible costs for coordination and support activities.

Why work with Euro-Funding?

At Euro-Funding, we have extensive experience in managing and advising on European research and innovation projects across various sectors. If you would like more information or have specific questions, feel free to request a meeting with our experts to explore how we can support your projects.