Cluster 2 mobilises topics that require multidisciplinary expertise of European social sciences and humanities (SSH) to understand fundamental and contemporary transformations of society, economy, politics and culture. It aims to provide evidence-based policy options for a socially just and inclusive European green and digital transition and recovery. 

Below are the internal deadlines and budget template for all University of Malta applications under Cluster 2, along with a summary of 2 specific topics under this destination. For a complete list of topics under the destination of Innovative Research on Social and Economic Transformations, please consult the work programme.

Call ID: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-08
Call Title: Strengthened implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and a focus on inclusion, integration, and health

Call Type: Research and Innovation Action with Lump Sum Funding. The programme aims to fund 3 Projects with a contribution of around EUR 3 to EUR 4 Million per project under this call.

Topic: Effective migration governance requires balancing legal frameworks, administrative capabilities, and human rights. This interdisciplinary research project evaluates key EU migration policies and integration strategies to generate evidence-based recommendations that improve health equity, streamline social inclusion, and support the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.

Projects should contribute to either the first and second (combined), or the third and fourth (combined) of the following expected outcomes:

• Improved implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum through evidence-based insights in asylum and migration management, age assessment of minors, and resettlement frameworks, ensuring fair and efficient migration governance.
• Insight into legal pathways addressing both EU Member States’ needs and potential offers of circular and permanent migration schemes in selected partner countries.
• Enhanced health equity for migrants, including refugees by integrating robust health data into national systems, addressing governance barriers, and tackling intersectional inequities in healthcare access, identifying data/indicators on basic needs in health and sanitation, including as compared to adequate treatment.
• Comprehensive evaluation of long-term social inclusion and integration strategies, providing evidence-based policy recommendations for labour market access, housing, education, health (including mental health), recognition of qualifications and validation of skills, youth participation, and social, political, and cultural inclusion.

Call ID: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-03
Call Title: Tackling child poverty and ensuring disadvantaged children's access to Early Childhood Education and Care.

Call Type: Research and Innovation Action with Lump Sum Funding. The programme aims to fund 3 Projects with a contribution of around EUR 3 to EUR 4 Million per project under this call.

Topic: Child poverty imposes significant long-term economic and social costs that undermine social cohesion and fiscal sustainability. This interdisciplinary research project generates EU-specific evidence on the cost of child poverty and the economic, social, and educational returns of expanding access to quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) for disadvantaged children.

Projects should contribute to both key outcomes:

• Economic & Social Cost Insights: Policymakers gain robust data on the long-term economic costs of child poverty and the returns of quality ECEC access.

• Operational Policy Advice: Decision-makers receive actionable strategies and best practices to reduce poverty costs and close the ECEC participation gap for disadvantaged children.