The aim of Horizon Cluster 4 is to maintain and strengthen the presence of the European Union in key parts of digital and non-digital supply chains in industrial ecosystems, since Europe is gearing up for greener, more resilient and increased digital industries. There is a need to develop and deploy new technologies, and to reshape industries and services so that industry can be become an accelerator and enabler of this necessary change. The thought behind the proposed projects is to shape competitive and trusted technologies for industries in the EU, while achieving leadership in the following key areas: enabling production and consumption patterns that respect planetary boundaries; and maximising the benefits in societal, economic and territorial contexts in Europe.
Horizon Cluster 4 is especially relevant for cities and regions that are developing a Circular Systemic Solution that includes an already existing industrial ecosystem, or that want to develop climate-neutral industrial value chains and/or digital systems and infrastructures.

2023/24 calls addressed topics such as the establishment of circular hubs with industrialised peripheral areas or near zero emission hubs in heavy industrialised clusters and surrounding ecosystems.
Within the program special attention is given to ensuring cooperation between universities, scientific communities and industry, including small and medium enterprises, and citizens and their representatives, to bridge gaps between territories, generations and regional cultures, especially caring for the needs of the young in shaping Europe’s future.

Open to any legal entity based in EU Member States and Associated Countries. Cooperation between at least three parties from three different countries is often required (at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries).

Horizon Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space is based on six destinations that are set out to fulfil the overarching aim of the programme. The destinations are:
 

• climate neutral, circular and digitised production;
• increased autonomy in key strategic value chains for resilient industry;
• world-leading data and computing technologies;
• digital and emerging technologies for competitiveness and fit for the Green Deal;
• open strategic autonomy in developing, deploying and using global space-based infrastructures, services, applications and data;
• a human-centred and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies.

€ 15.3 billion for Cluster 4 for the period 2021–2027; € 3-20 million per project (typically)

1. The European Commission publishes calls for proposals on the Funding and Tenders Portal https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/
2. The call is open for a typical period of around five months, during which applicants can submit they proposal.
3. Proposals can be single or two-stage application processes. A single stage application process requires the filling in of a structured proposal of a maximum of 45 pages including objectives and innovation approach (excellence), tangible impacts that can be achieved through the project (impact) and the project planning and tasks (quality). If it is a two-stage application process, the aforementioned would be the second stage application, while the first is a simplified proposal of a maximum of 10 pages including only excellence and impact sections. These documents are to be uploaded to the portal in PDF format alongside filling in the respective parts of the portal with administrative information on the beneficiaries, affiliated entities or others. All participants in a project need to possess a Participant Identification Code (i.e. PIC number, a 9-digit number registered on ECAS). For more information, please see the work programme and the call documents.
4. Proposal submitted within the deadline will be evaluated by experts against evaluation criteria. 
5. Winning proposals will be invited to sign a grant agreement with the European Commission. 

The deadline depends on a specific call. Typical deadline periods are September–October and February–April. The current Horizon Europe programme will run until 2027.