Strengthening skills and capacity for the deployment of EU Missions

TOPIC ID: HORIZON-MISS-2026-07-CROSS-01

Type of grant: Call for proposals

General information

Programme:

Call: Cross-cutting activities (HORIZON-MISS-2026-01)

Type of action: HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Type of MGA: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]

Status: Open for submission

Deadline model: single-stage

Opening Date: 09 December 2025

Deadline dates: 31 March 2026 17:00 (Brussels time)

Topic description

• Local authorities, including those not directly participating in the action, have a better understanding of required skill sets and expertise to more effectively participate in EU Missions and accelerating the deployment of solutions.
• Increased uptake and scaling of innovations, fostering a culture of experimentation and impact-driven action.
• Enhanced collaboration and knowledge exchange across regions, strengthening the overall implementation of the EU Missions.

Scope: This call aims to strengthen research-driven capacity-building and institutional readiness to accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions in support of the five EU Missions. By identifying skills gaps, enhancing capacity within local authorities, and fostering experimentation and innovation at the local level, this action will empower key actors to fully leverage the Missions’ potential.

Proposals should address the following key areas:

• Skills inventory and gap analysis: conduct a comprehensive assessment of required and desirable skills and capacities relevant to the implementation of the EU Missions. Develop and promote methods to identify gaps, barriers and training needs across sectors and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with the specific challenges of diverse missions.
• Specific capacity building activities with local authorities should be undertaken to co-create and validate the methods and materials to be developed related to skills mapping and skills gap analysis for the deployment of innovative solutions. Such capacity building activities may take the form of targeted training programmes, peer-learning networks, and mentoring schemes for local authorities to build up skills and knowledge necessary to deploy innovative solutions, engage stakeholders, and mobilize funding for Mission-related activities.

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