Moonshot 2026

Research

Funding organisation:

Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen

What?

Moonshot is an ambitious industrial innovation programme in which Flemish universities, research institutes and industries develop breakthrough technologies by 2040 to create new climate-friendly processes and products. Innovation will help Flemish industries make the big leap: carbon circular and low in CO₂ by 2050.

To achieve the Moonshot ambition, industry-driven innovative research is pursued in four Moonshot Research Paths:

• Path 1 - Bio-based chemistry
• Path 2 - Carbon circularity in Materials
• Path 3 - Electrification and Radical Process Transformation
• Path 4 - Energy Innovation

In 2026, the Moonshot program will support breakthrough innovations with a total budget of €15 million (compared to €20 million last year). Within this budget, €5 million is reserved as a dedicated priority budget for LSI projects, applying an approach similar to the 2025 Call. As before, LSI proposals will first be evaluated within this dedicated budget. Afterward, any remaining LSI proposals will be assessed together with the ESI proposals.

In the Moonshot 2026 call knowledge institutions can be beneficiaries in:

• Early Stage Innovation projects (ESI) 
  These can be “full” ESI projects (max. 4 years, max. 3 million euros subsidy) or “continuation” ESI projects (max. 2.5 years, max. 2 million euros subsidy, as a continuation of previously approved “sprint” cSBOs). There is a requirement for the consortium to comprise at least 2 research institutes and 3 research groups. The subsidy percentage is 100%.
  
  
•  Later Stage Innovation projects (LSI)
  These projects aim to further support and accelerate research that has already proven its feasibility at low TRL. LSI projects seek to bridge the gap between experimental process/product development and industrial implementation. The project modalities of the LSI project: max. 3 years, max. 2 million euros subsidy. LSI projects can be applied for by a consortium or a single research partner. The subsidy percentage is 100%.

 

Application?

A two-step evaluation procedure is foreseen. 
Project ideas can be submitted using the early application form available on the website. For ESI projects as well as LSI projects the deadline for pre-proposals is set for 30 January 2026 (midnight). 
  
Deadline full submission: to be announced
  

More information?

Please contact research@uhasselt.be if you are planning on submitting an application.

More information can be found on the Moonshot website,

Deadline intern

23.01.2026, 30.01.2026

Contact Hasselt University?

E-mail sarah.szyr@uhasselt.be

Tel. +3211269052