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EU Opens Health Research Funding Calls: Three Opportunities To Apply

The European Commission has opened new Horizon Europe funding opportunities for research into chronic diseases, independent living for people with disabilities and the effects of climate change on human health.

The three calls are part of the EU’s Horizon Europe Cluster 1: Health programme, which supports research and innovation aimed at improving healthcare, disease prevention and public health.

The opportunities are relevant to research institutions, universities, healthcare innovators and other organisations in Cyprus interested in participating in European research projects, subject to the eligibility requirements of each call.

The deadline for submissions is 17 February 2027, with one programme operating a two-stage application process.

What Funding Opportunities Are Available?

The three calls address different areas of health research and innovation.

1. Innovative Healthcare Interventions for Non-Communicable Diseases

This call focuses on developing innovative healthcare interventions for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including long-term conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes.

Non-communicable diseases account for more than 80% of Europe’s disease burden, according to the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).

The funding opportunity aims to support research into effective treatment and disease management approaches, improving the quality of care for patients when prevention strategies have not been sufficient.

Application deadlines:

  • First stage: 17 February 2027
  • Second stage: 16 September 2027

The call follows a two-stage application process, with proposals progressing to the second stage subject to selection.

View the official funding call and application requirements.

2. Supporting Independent Living for People with Disabilities

The second call addresses the challenges faced by people with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory disabilities, focusing on improving independent living and social inclusion throughout their lives.

Research may explore new approaches to accessible and person-centred support, including community-based care, personal assistance, assistive technologies and more inclusive living environments.

A central objective is to identify ways to reduce everyday barriers and support the transition from institutional care to independent living within communities.

The call encourages approaches that consider the needs of people with disabilities and their families, while improving access to appropriate support services.

Application deadline: 17 February 2027

View the official funding call and application requirements.

3. Understanding How Climate Change Affects Human Health

The third opportunity supports research into the relationship between climate change, environmental exposure and human health.

Its focus is the human exposome, a scientific concept describing the combined environmental and other exposures individuals experience throughout their lives, including chemical, physical, biological, nutritional and psychosocial factors.

Researchers are invited to investigate how climate-related factors such as extreme heat, air pollution and drought interact with other exposures and influence health outcomes.

The programme encourages multidisciplinary research examining how these exposures change in response to climate conditions, including the role of social and environmental inequalities in determining health risks.

The findings are intended to improve scientific understanding of the health consequences of climate change and environmental degradation.

Application deadline: 17 February 2027

View the official funding call and application requirements.

How To Apply

The three opportunities are part of the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Health programme for 2027.

Applicants should review the individual call documents before preparing proposals, as eligibility rules, consortium requirements and funding conditions vary by topic.

Key application information:

  • Deadline: 17 February 2027, at 17:00 Brussels time, for all three initial submissions.
  • Application platform: EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
  • Eligibility: Determined by each funding topic’s specific requirements and the relevant Horizon Europe participation rules.
  • Two-stage exception: The non-communicable diseases call has an additional deadline of 16 September 2027 for second-stage submissions.

Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Applicants can also consult the European Commission’s complete announcement of the 2027 Health funding calls for information on additional opportunities within the programme.

NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026 To Take Place In Nicosia And Limassol On 14–15 November

Overview

The NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026 will take place on 14–15 November, with local events in Nicosia and Limassol giving participants in Cyprus the opportunity to join the international hackathon.

Held under the theme “The Next Frontier,” the two-day event invites participants to develop solutions to challenges involving Earth and space science, using publicly available data from NASA and its international space agency partners.

The global competition brings together students, engineers, scientists, developers, designers, entrepreneurs, and other enthusiasts to work in teams, exchange ideas, and develop projects addressing scientific and technological challenges.

Participation is free, and previous experience in programming or space science is not required.

What To Expect

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an international hackathon in which teams work on challenges developed by NASA experts.

Participants use open scientific data to develop applications, data visualisations, games, prototypes and other creative solutions.

The challenges cover a range of subjects related to Earth and space science, including space exploration, astrophysics, agriculture, software development and storytelling.

Participants can bring together skills from different disciplines, including artificial intelligence, data analysis, engineering, science, design and communication.

Teams can include up to six participants, who select a challenge according to their interests and expertise.

Completed projects must be submitted through the official NASA Space Apps platform. Submissions are evaluated through a local judging process, with selected eligible projects nominated for consideration in the global judging stage.

Two Local Events In Cyprus

The 2026 competition includes local events in both Limassol and Nicosia, allowing participants to take part in the same global hackathon from either city.

Limassol

The Limassol edition is scheduled for 14–15 November 2026.

Further information and local registration are available through the NASA Space Apps Challenge Limassol page.

Nicosia

Participants should consult the NASA Space Apps Challenge Nicosia page for venue information, local arrangements and registration.

Both events form part of the same international NASA Space Apps Challenge.

Who Can Participate

The hackathon welcomes people of all ages, experience levels and professional backgrounds.

Participants do not need to be programmers or scientists. The competition encourages collaboration among people with interests and skills in technology, engineering, entrepreneurship, design, communication, science, and other fields.

Individuals can register and form or join a team, while existing groups can participate together.

Participants under the age of 18 must be registered by a parent or legal guardian and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian throughout the event, in accordance with NASA’s participation rules.

How To Register

Registration for the NASA Space Apps Challenge 2026 is open through the official competition website.

Participants must create or access a NASA Space Apps account, register for the 2026 competition, and select their preferred local event in Nicosia or Limassol.

Team formation and project submissions are also managed through the platform.

Global registration remains open until the hackathon closes on 15 November 2026. Projects must be submitted by 23:59 local time on Sunday, 15 November, to be considered for judging.

Participation is free.

Full details, official challenges and registration instructions are available at spaceappschallenge.org/2026.

About The NASA Space Apps Challenge

The NASA Space Apps Challenge is an annual international hackathon bringing together participants from different disciplines to develop solutions using NASA’s open data and information from its space agency partners.

Held annually since 2012, the competition encourages collaboration, problem-solving, and public engagement with science and technology.

According to NASA, the 2025 edition attracted more than 114,000 registered participants across 551 local events worldwide.

The 2026 edition involves 17 international space agency partners, including the European Space Agency.

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