Promoting strong research partnerships throughout Europe
Join a matchmaking event for R&I stakeholders seeking to build consortia for upcoming Horizon Europe calls, in line with current and emerging EU priorities. Brought by the HE CROSSPATHS Consortium in partnership with Brussels-based ETAG and PolSCA liaison offices, the event brings together policy context and practical insights with pitching sessions and bilateral meetings, offering a practical platform for initiating project cooperation within HE Cluster 6 calls. The event will take place in Brussels on 25th March 2026.
Matchmaking Focus – Horizon Europe Cluster 6
A key element of the event will be a practical matchmaking session dedicated to the development of future project consortia. Participants will be divided into thematic groups aligned with three destinations of Horizon Europe Cluster 6:
- Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
- Fair, healthy and environment-friendly food systems from primary production to consumption
- Biodiversity and ecosystem services
The session will encompass short pitching presentations as well as bilateral meetings, focusing on specific consortium roles and concrete next steps for project collaboration.
List of selected topics under CL6 HE HERE
What else to expect in the Programme?
Beyond the core matchmaking activities, the programme offers a structured mix of policy insight, strategic foresight and hands-on experience designed to support high-quality consortium building. Dedicated sessions will unpack the policy landscape shaping Horizon Europe Cluster 6 topics for 2026–2027, as well as provide forward-looking reflections on FP10 priorities and expected directions. The CROSSPATHS consortium will discuss concrete lessons learnt, good practices and common pitfalls from their Horizon Europe experience, offering actionable guidance for future applicants. Networking opportunities are fully integrated into the programme to facilitate informal exchanges and strengthen emerging partnerships. Together, these elements ensure a balanced programme that links policy awareness, proposal readiness and partner finding within a single day.
Draft agenda of the event HERE
Target Audience of the event
The event is designed for research and innovation actors actively preparing or supporting Horizon Europe Cluster 6 proposals, including in particular:
- Researchers and research group leaders working in areas related to circular economy, bioeconomy, sustainable food systems, biodiversity and ecosystem services, who are seeking consortium partners, coordination roles or complementary expertise.
- Research Managers and Administrators (RMAs) providing R&I support services such as identifying funding & collaborative opportunities, proposal development and consortium building, advising on strategic positioning, compliance and project management.
The proposed matchmaking format encourages researcher–RMA collaboration, recognising the complementary roles of scientific leadership and professional research support in successful Horizon Europe proposals.
Widening Countries as Drivers of R&I cooperation
The event also highlights the role of widening countries as credible and capable leaders of cooperation within the European Research Area. It will demonstrate that institutions from Estonia, Poland and Portugal not only participate in Horizon Europe projects, but also initiate, coordinate and co-create international consortia, sharing proven cooperation models and good project practices.
How to participate?
Interested participants are invited to register for the event via their respective Brussels-based research and innovation liaison offices, cooperating in the organisation of the matchmaking as organisers or partners. Registration is managed through national liaison structures, including in particular Estonia (via ETAG) and Poland (via PolSCA) as co-organisers of the event, as well as other partner offices (i.e. KOWI – for German participants and CZELO – for Czech participants). Interested participants are encouraged to contact their relevant liaison office for information on registration procedures, participation criteria and practical arrangements.
Registration for Polish participants
> registration link: CROSSPATHS Matchmaking Event on HE Cluster 6 // POLAND – Fill out form
> deadline: 19 February 2026 EOB
> contact: Lukasz.Pieczonka@polsca.pan.pl
Following this initial expression of interest, invited participants will be asked to create their profiles in the b2match online matchmaking system. The platform will be used to present project ideas, expertise and collaboration offers, and will enable the scheduling of one-to-one bilateral meetings, forming the basis of the dedicated matchmaking sessions taking place during the on-site event in Brussels on 25 March 2026.
Financial support
The NCP_WIDERA.NET project offers travel grants of up to 1,000 EUR to support applicants from Widening countries in attending on-site Pillar II clusters, European Partnerships, and Missions brokerage events. The grant covers travel and accommodation costs. More information and how to apply: https://www.ncpwideranet.eu/travel-grants/
CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026
Taking place on 24 March 2026, one day ahead of the CROSSPATHS matchmaking event, the CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026 will be held in Brussels, Belgium. Under the theme “Driving impact – bio-based innovation for a competitive, sustainable Europe”, the forum will bring together over 400 stakeholders from the circular bio-based sector, including primary producers, industry representatives, policymakers and researchers. The event will showcase how the CBE JU community is delivering tangible impact for Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and green transition, and how bio-based innovation can continue driving systemic change. Secure your place and join both events!
Organisers and Project Background
The event is organized by the CROSSPATHS project consortium: InLife Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research – Polish Academy of Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Wageningen Research, and Innotrope. Local partners are two Brussels-based R&I liaison offices: Polish Science Contact Agency (PolSCA) of the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Estonian Liaison Office for EU RTD (ETAG) of the Estonian Research Council.
CROSSPATHS is a Horizon Europe-funded project aimed at creating a cross-border network of food technology, health and bioeconomy R&I institutions. The project focuses on developing a joint internationalisation strategy, enhancing staff competences, and enabling more effective use of regionally-funded research infrastructures towards Framework Programme opportunities.
