Horizon Europe opens call for rural community innovation projects — deadline April 2026

The Horizon Europe 2026-2027 work programme has opened a call focused on boosting sustainable competitiveness in rural areas through innovation (HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01). The call targets projects that improve innovation capacity, access to services, skills development, and entrepreneurship in rural communities — with particular attention to young people, demographic challenges, and territorial inequalities.

The programme is part of a EUR 14 billion Horizon Europe investment across 2026-2027. While the call is not exclusively about remote work, projects addressing digital infrastructure, distributed work models, and rural repopulation through location-independent employment would fit squarely within its scope.

This is relevant for organisations working at the intersection of remote work and rural development across Europe. Municipalities offering remote worker incentives, coworking networks in rural areas, and digital skills programmes could all find funding opportunities here. Deadline is April 2026 — check the Horizon Europe funding portal for exact dates and application requirements.