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Horizon Europe and the rise of printed electronics

  • Writer: Rita
    Rita
  • Nov 3
  • 7 min read

Printed electronics are quietly redefining the way Europe designs, manufactures, and integrates technology. From flexible solar panels to biodegradable sensors, this field represents a major step toward sustainable, lightweight, and adaptable devices, essential for Europe’s twin green and digital transition.


At NETO Innovation, we see printed electronics as a perfect intersection between advanced materials, digitalisation, and sustainability, all key pillars of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space). With the release of the draft of 2026–2027 Work Programme, new funding opportunities are opening for researchers, startups, and industries working on flexible, smart, and resource-efficient electronics.

This blog explores how Horizon Europe supports innovation in printed electronics, where the EIC (European Innovation Council) fits in, and what roadmap future applicants can follow.


1. Printed electronics: a field on the move

Printed electronics use functional inks, polymers, and advanced innovative materials to create circuits on flexible substrates like films, paper, or textiles. Instead of traditional rigid silicon wafers, devices can be printed using techniques such as screen or inkjet printing. The result? Electronics that are lighter, cheaper, and more sustainable to produce.

Applications now cover:

●      Energy: printed photovoltaics, thin-film batteries, and energy-harvesting layers;

●      Healthcare: wearable biosensors, smart patches, and medical textiles;

●      Mobility: embedded sensors for electric vehicles and smart surfaces;

●      Packaging and retail: RFID tags, printed antennas, and interactive labels.

As the technology matures, it fits perfectly with EU policy priorities: reducing dependence on critical raw materials, promoting circular design, and boosting Europe’s autonomy in advanced manufacturing.

Infographic showing the printed electronics value chain, featuring a circular flow of arrows linking advanced materials, substrates, printing processes, applications, and sustainability. Includes icons for materials, roll-to-roll printing, sensors, and recycling, with the NETO Innovation logo.

2. Horizon Europe funding opportunities in 2026-2027

Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4 Work Programme is structured around partnerships that connect digital and industrial innovation. Several of these partnerships - Made in Europe, Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU / IAM-I, Processes4Planet, and Photonics Partnership - have introduced calls that align closely with the development and integration of printed electronics.


Below are the most relevant ones.


Advanced manufacturing for key products (Made in Europe partnership, 2026)


One of the most strategic calls in the 2026 Work Programme focuses on advanced manufacturing technologies for key and high-performance products. The goal is to make cutting-edge manufacturing machinery and processes available in Europe while improving resource and energy efficiency.

This call encourages the integration of innovative materials into production lines, an area where printed electronics shine. By combining new functional materials with automated production systems, companies can:

  • Create lightweight, flexible devices for mobility or aerospace;

  • Reduce waste by using additive (printing-based) processes;

  • Integrate sensors directly into product surfaces;

  • Adopt circular manufacturing models through reuse of secondary raw materials.

For innovators in printed electronics, this call provides the chance to position their technologies as part of Europe’s next-generation manufacturing ecosystem, one that is cleaner, smarter, and more resilient.


Innovative materials and production processes to reduce dependence on critical raw materials (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU / Processes4Planet, 2027)


Another key opportunity focuses on reducing Europe’s dependency on critical and strategic raw materials. Many electronic components currently rely on scarce elements like indium, silver, or rare earths. Printed electronics can help change that.

This call supports:

  • Partial or total substitution of critical materials with safer, more sustainable alternatives (for example, copper-based conductive inks instead of indium-tin oxide);

  • Efficient use of resources through low-temperature and low-waste manufacturing;

  • Demonstration of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles in materials innovation.

For European companies developing printable nanomaterials, organic semiconductors, or biodegradable substrates, this is a natural fit. It encourages innovation that enables independence from imported materials and strengthens Europe’s industrial sovereignty and clean-tech competitiveness.


Circular innovative advanced materials - from design to market (Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU and Made in Europe partnerships, 2027)


Close-up of a flexible electronic circuit held between two fingers, symbolizing innovation in printed electronics under Horizon Europe. Caption text reads “Horizon Europe and the rise of printed electronics – Sustainable, flexible, and digital by design” with the NETO Innovation logo.

Circularity is becoming a core principle across Horizon Europe. This call focuses on advanced materials designed for recyclability and reuse, supporting the development of circular composites, polymers, and metal alloys for additive manufacturing.

Printed electronics projects can align by demonstrating:

  • Recyclable conductive inks based on carbon or biodegradable polymers;

  • Flexible circuits that can be disassembled or reused;

  • Industrial demonstrators proving integration of circular materials into scalable manufacturing systems.

What makes this call especially relevant is its focus on industrial uptake. It doesn’t stop at research. It seeks proof of real-world integration and demonstrators ready for market adoption. For printed electronics developers, this means opportunities to test, validate, and show sustainable design approaches directly with industrial users.


Smart sensing with innovative advanced materials (IAM-I partnership, 2026)


Printed electronics are not only about circuits, they’re about functionality. Under the IAM-I (Innovative Advanced Materials Initiative), one 2026 call targets smart sensing solutions for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and health applications.

It supports:

  • Multifunctional surfaces that detect temperature, pH, or chemical changes in the environment;

  • Miniaturised and integrated sensors for IoT devices, wearables, and lightweight systems;

  • Next-generation health monitoring devices that combine printed electronics with biological sensing.


This is directly aligned with the growing market for flexible, printed biosensors and environmental monitoring devices. It invites projects that connect material science with smart system integration, a key strength of European research and SMEs.


Advanced integrated photonic devices (Photonics Partnership, 2027)


While not strictly within the traditional “printed electronics” domain, the Photonics Partnership introduces a call for advanced integrated photonic devices with ultra-low power consumption. It aims to integrate novel materials - including graphene, thin-film oxides, and 2D materials - into scalable photonic systems.

The relevance for printed electronics lies in hybrid integration: printed conductive layers and photonic elements can be combined to create sensors, displays, and flexible interconnects for communication, computing, and healthcare. As power efficiency becomes a design priority, the convergence between printed and photonic technologies offers a strong research frontier.


3. The EIC 2026: where breakthrough ideas meet market scale


Beyond Horizon Europe’s collaborative calls, the European Innovation Council (EIC) offers individual funding for frontier technologies and disruptive innovations.

Three instruments are particularly relevant for printed electronics and materials-based innovation.


EIC Pathfinder

The EIC Pathfinder supports early-stage research for breakthrough technologies. The 2026 Pathfinder Challenge on advanced materials for miniaturised energy harvesting systems invites ideas on flexible and scalable materials for self-powered devices, from wearable thermoelectric layers to printed triboelectric nanogenerators. This fits perfectly with printed electronics that operate at ultra-low energy consumption.


EIC Transition

The EIC Transition targets the validation of results from previous EU projects (Pathfinder, ERC Proof of Concept). It’s ideal for teams ready to build prototypes or pilot lines of printed electronic systems or sustainable inks, demonstrating technical and commercial feasibility (TRL 4-6).


EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator is designed for SMEs and startups ready to scale and commercialise. The EIC Accelerator Challenge on advanced materials for renewable energy and storage systems directly supports printed and flexible energy devices, such as thin-film solar cells or printed batteries. The scheme offers up to €2.5 million in grants and up to €15 million in equity for scaling and market entry, with continuous cut-offs throughout 2026.

Together, these programmes create a full pipeline - from fundamental discovery to industrial market deployment - for innovators in printed and flexible electronics.


4. A roadmap for innovators in printed electronics


For teams looking to enter or scale in this field, here’s a practical roadmap through Horizon Europe and EIC funding stages:

Infographic illustrating the innovation roadmap for Horizon Europe applicants in printed electronics, from research to market: EIC Pathfinder / RIA (up to TRL 4), RIA topics (up to TRL 6), IA topics (up to TRL 7/8), EIC Accelerator (up to TRL 8/9). Designed in NETO Innovation’s color palette with icons and timeline style.

Explore new materials (TRL 1-3)

  • Apply under EIC Pathfinder or IAM-I calls.

  • Focus on discovering or demonstrating smart materials for printed devices, especially those with sensing, energy harvesting, or environmental monitoring capabilities.


Prototype and validate (TRL 4-6)

  • Target Horizon Europe calls under Made in Europe or Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU (IAM-I).

  • Demonstrate pilot production lines for circular, resource-efficient printed components. Integrate SSbD and LCA to strengthen the sustainability case.


Scale up and commercialise (TRL 6-9)

  • Transition to EIC Accelerator or IA-type calls.

  • Show manufacturing readiness, IP strategy, and market scalability. Build industrial partnerships for roll-to-roll or additive manufacturing.


Market adoption and industrial integration

  • Engage with Photonics and Processes4Planet partnerships for hybrid or multi-sector applications.

  • Develop proof-of-market demonstrators and cross-sector collaborations, for instance, integrating printed sensors in packaging, energy, or automotive systems.


5. NETO Innovation’s insight


At NETO Innovation, we’ve supported dozens of Horizon Europe and EIC proposals in advanced materials, printed electronics, and circular manufacturing.

Our key lessons for successful applications:

  • Build a story around materials and sustainability. Reviewers are looking for technologies that improve both performance and circularity.

  • Quantify your impact. Use measurable indicators: reduced energy use, lower emissions, or new manufacturing efficiencies.

  • Integrate digitalisation early. Data-driven design and process control through AI are now expected in most advanced materials projects.

  • Plan for exploitation. Strong business models, stakeholder engagement, and exploitation strategies are essential to move from prototype to product.

  • Show collaboration. Combine research partners, SMEs, and industry to ensure the project delivers real-world outcomes.


Printed electronics projects succeed when they combine materials innovation, process engineering, and clear impact pathways. The new 2026-2027 Work Programme offers more alignment with these principles than ever before.


6. Conclusion: Europe’s path to flexible, sustainable electronics


Printed electronics perfectly illustrate Europe’s industrial transformation goals. They merge materials science, circular manufacturing, and digital innovation into tangible solutions.


The 2026-2027 Horizon Europe Work Programme strengthens this link with calls that reward sustainability, circularity, and technological independence. From smart sensing to advanced manufacturing, the opportunities are rich for innovators ready to build the next generation of flexible and sustainable electronics.


At NETO Innovation, we help research teams and companies turn these opportunities into funded, high-impact projects. Whether you’re at the idea stage or preparing for full proposal submission, our team brings the expertise to align your innovation with Horizon Europe’s priorities and turn your project into a success story.


If you’re developing new materials, printed sensors, or flexible devices and want to explore funding opportunities under Horizon Europe or the EIC, NETO Innovation can guide you every step of the way, from concept shaping to full proposal preparation.


Get in touch to discuss how we can support your next innovation journey:

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