6G-PATH - Open Call #2

The 6G-PATH Open Call #2 is a funding opportunity from the European Union designed to support the development of innovative applications and services leveraging the 6G-PATH infrastructure. This initiative targets individual legal entities, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including startups and research organizations, while excluding consortia applications.

Funding is available in the form of grants, with each project eligible for a maximum of €60,000, contributing towards a total budget of €1,800,000 for the funding of up to 30 projects. The call emphasizes projects within four key verticals: Education, Farming, Health, and Smart Cities, aligning with the overarching goals of the Beyond 5G/6G ecosystem.

Eligible applicants are allowed from EU member states as well as a selection of acknowledged non-EU countries, detailed in the guidelines. The project implementation period spans nine months, structured into three distinct phases: Specification & Design lasting two months, Development & Deployment taking four months, and finally, Validation & Evaluation over three months. Each project is required to produce reports at the end of these phases to qualify for funding.

The application process follows a single-stage model with a deadline for submissions set for September 10, 2025. Applications must be submitted via the F6S platform, where participants are required to provide various administrative details and a technical proposal.

The evaluation criteria focus on four key areas: Concept & Innovation, Impact, Implementation, and Applicant qualifications, each scored from 0 to 5 with a minimum threshold needed for consideration. Notably, there is no requirement for co-funding from applicants.

This funding opportunity is aimed at fostering innovation in the development of new tools and products from European companies within the 5G and 6G landscape, emphasizing the integration of new use cases into the existing ecosystem. Projects funded through this call are expected to commence in January 2026, driving advancements in key sectors pivotal for future technological integration.

The 6G-PATH Open Call 2 is an EU funding opportunity seeking technology developers to create innovative applications and services (use cases) utilizing the 6G-PATH infrastructure. This infrastructure includes established testbeds and those introduced through Open Call 1 projects.

The opening date for submissions is July 1, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 10, 2025, at 18:00 (Brussels time). The deadline model is single-stage. The expected duration of participation is 9 months. The total funding available is 1,800,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is 6G-PATH. The full name of the EU funded project is 6G-PATH: 6G Pilots and Trials Through Europe. The grant agreement number is 101139172. The topic is HORIZON-JU-SNS-2023-STREAM-D-01-01 - SNS Large Scale Trials and Pilots (LST&Ps) with Verticals – Focused Topic.

Eligible applicants are individual legal entities, specifically SMEs (including startups) or research organizations (RTOs or academia/higher education organizations). Consortia are not eligible. Applications are accepted from EU Member States and a selection of other countries, as specified in the Guidelines.

Applicants must register at FS6 to submit proposals via https://www.f6s.com/6g-path-open-call-2/apply. The application requires administrative information, indication of the use case topic, and a technical proposal using the provided template.

The remote evaluation will be conducted by internal and expert evaluators. The evaluation criteria are:
1. Concept & Innovation
2. Impact
3. Implementation
4. Applicant

Each criterion is scored from 0-5, with a minimum threshold of 3 points. Selection rules ensure balanced distribution across testbeds/use cases and broad geographical distribution.

The 6G-PATH Open Call 2 will fund up to 30 projects, with a maximum budget of 60,000 EUR per project.

The objective of the 6G-PATH project is to foster the development and integration of new and improved tools and products from EU companies within the 5G/6G landscape. The project incorporates seven testbeds as an integral part of the consortium, supporting ten use cases across four key verticals: Education, Farming, Health, and Smart Cities.

This Open Call aims to fund and integrate 30 new innovative use cases into the Beyond 5G (B5G)/6G ecosystem. It targets forward-thinking industry players (startups, SMEs) and research organizations to propose use cases leveraging the 6G-PATH infrastructure, including the project’s seven cutting-edge testbeds and the two testbeds funded through Open Call 1.

Awarded projects will commence in January 2026, with a nine-month implementation period divided into three phases:
1. Specification & Design (2 months)
2. Development & Deployment (4 months)
3. Validation & Evaluation (3 months)

Sub-grantees must provide a report at the end of each phase to receive the associated payment. Monitoring and technical support will be provided to all sub-grantees.

Full details can be found at https://6gpath.eu/open-call-2-power-the-future-with-your-6g-use-case/.

In summary, the 6G-PATH Open Call 2 is a funding opportunity for SMEs and research organizations in the EU and selected other countries to develop innovative applications and services using the 6G-PATH project's 5G/6G testbeds. The call aims to bring new use cases into the Beyond 5G/6G ecosystem, focusing on verticals like education, farming, health, and smart cities. Successful applicants will receive up to 60,000 EUR to implement their projects over nine months, starting in January 2026. The application process involves registration on the FS6 platform and submission of a technical proposal. Projects will be evaluated based on concept, innovation, impact, implementation, and applicant qualifications. The overall goal is to foster the development and integration of European 5G/6G technologies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are individual legal entities, either SMEs (including startups) or research organisations (RTOs or academia/higher education organisations). Consortia are not eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: A single applicant is required. Consortia are not eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and a selection of other countries. Applicants should consult the Guidelines for specific countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on Beyond 5G (B5G)/6G technologies. The use cases are spread across four key verticals: Education, Farming, Health, and Smart Cities.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is open to EU Member States and a selection of other countries, which are not explicitly named in the provided text. Applicants must consult the guidelines for a list of eligible countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is development, validation, and demonstration, focusing on innovative applications and services (use cases) leveraging the 6G-PATH infrastructure.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to €60,000 per project. A total of 30 projects will be funded, with a total funding available of €1,800,000.00.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Applicants are required to register at FS6 to submit their proposals via the provided link: https://www.f6s.com/6g-path-open-call-2/apply.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. They will also receive monitoring and other technical support. Payments are associated with the completion of phases, with sub-grantees required to provide a report at the end of each phase.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with a single deadline for submissions. The implementation of awarded projects is divided into three phases: Specification & Design (2 months), Development & Deployment (4 months), and Validation & Evaluation (3 months).

Success Rates: The success rate can be estimated. With 30 projects being funded and the call being open to SMEs, startups, and research organizations across the EU and selected other countries, the success rate is likely to be below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The 6G-PATH Open Call #2 is a funding opportunity aimed at fostering innovation in the Beyond 5G (B5G)/6G ecosystem. It seeks to fund and integrate 30 new, innovative use cases into this ecosystem by leveraging the 6G-PATH infrastructure, which includes seven cutting-edge testbeds and two testbeds funded through Open Call #1. The call is open to individual SMEs (including startups) and research organizations from EU Member States and a selection of other countries. Consortia are not eligible.

The selected projects will receive up to €60,000 each and will have a nine-month implementation period, starting in January 2026. This period is divided into three phases: Specification & Design, Development & Deployment, and Validation & Evaluation. Sub-grantees will receive payments tied to the completion of each phase, contingent upon the submission of a report. They will also receive monitoring and technical support throughout the project.

The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of September 10, 2025. Applicants must register on the FS6 platform and submit their proposals, including administrative information, the use case topic, and a technical proposal. Evaluation criteria include Concept & Innovation, Impact, Implementation, and Applicant, each scored from 0-5, with a minimum threshold of 3 points. The 6G-PATH project aims to facilitate the development and integration of new and improved tools and products from EU companies in the 5G/6G domain, focusing on key verticals such as Education, Farming, Health, and Smart Cities. This call provides a chance for technology developers to create innovative applications and services using the 6G-PATH infrastructure.