Are you interested in research & innovation funding opportunities under Horizon Europe Cluster 2? This information day aims to inform (potential) applicants about the 2026 topics included in the Cluster 2 'Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society' work programme 2026-2027.

Under the Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, Cluster 2 "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society" aims to meet EU goals and priorities on enhancing democratic governance and citizens’ participation, on the safeguarding and promotion of cultural heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), and on to responding to and shaping multifaceted social, economic, technological and cultural transformations.

Cluster 2 mobilises multidisciplinary expertise of European social sciences and humanities (SSH) for understanding fundamental contemporary transformations of society, economy, politics and culture. It aims to provide evidence-based policy options for a socially just and inclusive European green and digital transitions and a post-COVID 19 recovery.

Future projects should deliver on the three intervention areas matching the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan (2025-2027):

• Green transition

• Digital transition

• A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe

All topics under this Cluster are expected to mainstream Social Sciences and Humanities and to include a gender dimension in their research.

On 11 February 2026, the widerAdvance Facility organised the Mutual Learning Event “Unlocking Funding Potential: Leveraging Funding for Knowledge Valorisation” at the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics (CIIRC), Czech Technical University in Prague. The event brought together policymakers, researchers, research managers, project coordinators, and innovation stakeholders to exchange practical insights on how knowledge valorisation and funding synergies can strengthen the long-term impact of research, particularly in Widening countries.

Katarzyna Walczyk-Matuszyk, widerAdvance Facility Coordinator at IPPT PAN, and Ian Gauci Borda from Xjenza Malta opened the event by introducing the services of the widerAdvance Facility and its role in supporting organisations through tailored coaching, training, and capacity building. They emphasised that knowledge valorisation should be embedded throughout the project lifecycle and that strengthening organisational and RMA capacities is essential to increase the maturity and exploitation potential of Key Exploitable Results (KERs).

Building on this perspective, Federica Roffi, Deputy Head of Unit at REA “Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence”, highlighted in her keynote the strategic importance of synergies across EU programmes. She stressed that combining funding instruments is a powerful way to increase impact and ensure continuity beyond a single project, while effective knowledge valorisation attracts additional public and private investment and strengthens Europe’s competitiveness.

The widerAdvance Facility team then presented the widerAdvance approach and tools to reinforcing regional and organisational valorisation systems, illustrating how successful outcomes rely on coordinated capacities across organisations, ecosystems, and policies, with the presentation of the Funding Matrix and the Self-assessment tool.

Concrete examples from practice brought these ideas to life, as Dušan Galusek (FunGlass), Viera Pechancová (Tomas Bata University), Fabio Figurella (DAN Europe Foundation) and Tomáš Mozga (MOLIPEC) shared their success stories in leveraging and combining funding opportunities, providing practical insights and inspiration for participants. The discussion then shifted to policy instruments supporting synergies, with contributions from Alžběta Plachá of the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, Omar Cutajar from Xjenza Malta, and Piotr Świerczyński of the National Centre for Research and Development.

The event concluded with an interactive session where participants shared their experiences and reflected on opportunities and challenges in leveraging funding synergies and knowledge valorisation.

The widerAdvance Facility will continue to support organisations from Widening countries through training, coaching, and capacity building activities.

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Unlocking Funding Potential: Highlights from the widerAdvance Mutual Learning Event – Xjenza Malta

Wild Thyme Honey

Honey is distinguished according to the plants from which the bees collect their nectar. Mifsud outlines certain traits that visibly distinguish wild thyme honey (għasel tas-sagħtar): unlike most honeys, wild thyme honey ‘tends to remain in the liquid phase’, because one particularity of the thyme flower is that it contains more fructose than glucose. It is ‘the only mono-floral honey that we can produce in Malta’ (Mifsud) – that is, its nectar is primarily drawn from only one floral source. Wild thyme honey is amber in colour and has ‘a strong aromatic flavour’, says Matthew Calleja.

Maltese wild thyme honey has received international recognition, having been awarded gold at the 2021 London International Honey Awards.

Where and when does it grow?

There are three honey flows in Malta’s seasonal cycle of honey production. The spring multi-floral honey is collected by beekeepers at the end of May, with the nectar coming from different floral sources such as citrus, red clover, borage, different thistles, among others. Wild thyme shrubs flower from the end of May through June, and typically grow wild in open garrigue habitats found mostly in the northern parts of Malta, some areas in Gozo, and on Comino. Wild thyme honey is therefore also known as ‘summer honey’. This is followed by the ‘autumn honey’, in which period bees typically collect nectar from the eucalyptus trees and carob trees, producing honey that is ‘dark brown-black in colour’ (Mifsud). It is generally collected by beekeepers at the end of October to mid-November. Each of these honeys has a distinctive taste and colour.

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Public event presenting the European Partnership for Brain Health and its vision for collaborative brain health research across Europe

The European Partnership for Brain Health is hosting a public event during Brain Awareness Week 2026 to share insights into this newly launched project. The half-day session will bring together diverse voices from the brain health community to discuss how collaborative, interdisciplinary approaches are transforming brain health research and innovation across Europe.

Through dynamic panel discussions, attendees will hear from experts about upcoming funding opportunities and how the Partnership is fostering dialogue between science and society to ensure research truly serves the needs of patients, caregivers and communities.

Whether for a researcher, healthcare professional, patient advocate, policymaker, or someone simply interested in the future of brain health, this event offers a valuable opportunity to learn about what’s ahead for European brain health research and connect with the wider brain community. 

The European Partnership for Brain Health invites you to a half-day event on Thursday, March 19th to explore the future of brain health research across Europe.

What to expect: 
✅ Insights into the Partnership's vision and goals
✅ Panel discussions on interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation
✅ Information on upcoming funding opportunities
✅ Networking coffee and lunch with the wider brain health community

Who should attend? Researchers, healthcare professionals, patient advocates, policymakers, and anyone interested in advancing #brainhealth in Europe.

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The European Commission launched BE READY, a new European Partnership for pandemic preparedness. Through BE READY, the European Union will strengthen its capacity to anticipate, prevent and respond rapidly to epidemics and pandemics. BE READY focuses on advancing research on emerging and re-emerging pathogens and accelerating the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, said:

“Europe’s pandemic preparedness must be built on sound scientific foundations. That is why we are making €120 million from the Horizon Europe budget available for the BE READY partnership. Through BE READY, we are putting our citizens’ health first while reinforcing Europe’s innovation leadership.”

This call is accessible through the A2P scheme, where Malta-based entities are eligible for up to €300,000 per proposal.

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