Horizon Europe - ERA 2026 Brokerage Event

NCP_WIDERA.NET, the network of National Contact Points for Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA), cordially invites you to the ERA Knowledge Day and Brokerage Event for the new ERA call 2026.

The ERA 2026 Brokerage Event will be held online on 17 December 2025.

The event will be focused on the ERA 2026 call topics specified in the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme for 2026-2027 (please find the draft version here).

The European Commission Info Day will be held online on 11 December 2025 and will present the new call topics, which offer opportunities for different types of organisations, for example, universities, research performing organisations, research funding organisations, research infrastructures, academies and learned societies, civil society organisations, researchers’ organisations, tech startups, incubators, science parks, innovation hubs, and regional, national and city authorities.

This Info day will inform interested applicants about the European Research Area calls in the WIDERA Work Programme 2026-2027, Destination “Reforming and enhancing the European research and innovation system”.

The ERA calls include both coordination and support and research and innovation actions, addressing a wide range of policy areas, including research careers, research management, knowledge valorisation, research assessment reform, open science, gender equality and inclusiveness, coordination of R&I funding programmes, science for policy, citizen engagement.

For further information click here.

The Brokerage Event will provide an opportunity for participants to engage in matchmaking with potential ERA call 2026 participants and stakeholders through pre-arranged bilateral meetings. This aims to identify possible collaborations and streamline the establishment of Horizon Europe ERA project consortia.

Participants will create profiles, including search terms based on the ERA call titles of 2026(please refer to the WP Draft).

Participation in this event is free of charge, and registration is mandatory.

Who should participate?

Research and Development Institutions
Higher Education Institutions
Industries and SMEs
Third sector
Authorities/Governments
R&I policy-makers
Research Managers and Administrators
Other interested ERA stakeholders

Why participate?

Not to miss an outstanding ERA networking opportunity
Present your competencies and project ideas to potential partners.

This event is organised by NCP_WIDERA.NET, the transnational network of National Contact Points for Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area under Horizon Europe.NCP_WIDERA.NET is funded by Horizon Europe, the European Union's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, under Grant Agreement 101055286.

How to find partners for your RTD project consortias?

How does the B2B Matchmaking work?

All participants are by default registered for the 1:1 networking (signing-off possible). To request 1:1 meetings with one of the participants you simply browse the participants list and identify good matches. Afterwards you send your meetings requests and add a line why a meeting would make sense. Once the recipient(s) accepts your request the meeting will be scheduled as 1:1 Video Call.

The networking is open before, during and 3 months after the event.

During Event | 17 Dec. 2025 | 10 am - 2 pm | Pre-scheduled 1:1 Video Calls 20 min
Post Event | 18 Dec. 2025 - 30 March 2026 | 9 am - 5 pm | Post Event 1:1 Meetings

How can you benefit from the matchmaking?

Publish and showcase your RTD projects to event participants.
- Consortia's can specific offers for new partner
- Partners can present their expertise to Consortia's
Initiate and arrange promising pre-scheduled 1:1 meetings at the event.
Generate fresh leads and meet new contacts in a time and cost-efficient way