6th REINFORCING Open Call (Incubators Call) on “Responsible Innovation”

The EU is launching the 6th REINFORCING Open Call (Incubator Call) focused on Responsible Innovation. This initiative aims to support organizations and institutions in Europe as they transition to more responsible and open research and innovation practices. The total funding available for this call is 480,000 euros, with each project receiving up to 60,000 euros. The call opens on September 30, 2025, and has a submission deadline of December 2, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. Successful projects will start on January 15, 2026, and conclude on January 14, 2027.

Eligible applicants must be part of a consortium that includes at least two entities based in EU Member States or associated countries. The primary coordinator should have little or no experience in Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI). The initiative promotes collaborative approaches towards addressing societal challenges, particularly focusing on the green and digital transitions. Proposals should emphasize practical activities that will implement new methods for responsible innovation within the applicants' organizations.

The application consists of an online form with general project information, an administrative document, a detailed technical proposal describing project objectives and funding use, and a Declaration of Honour from all project partners. Three evaluation stages will occur to ensure thorough assessment: an eligibility check, a preliminary assessment for alignment with call objectives, and a final evaluation by external experts.

Projects must engage with citizens through co-creation processes, ORRI training, and responsible management practices in research centers. Successful proposals will contribute to significant embedding of responsible innovation within their organizations. The call excludes funding for certain activities such as technological developments, marketing studies, and purely theoretical exploration of ORRI.

This opportunity serves as an entry point for organizations new to responsible innovation, providing financial support and networking opportunities, ultimately aiming to create a more transparent, inclusive, and socially responsible approach to research and innovation.

The REINFORCING project is offering the 6th Open Call (Incubator Call) on Responsible Innovation. The call aims to support organizations and institutions in Europe to transition to a new paradigm where responsibility and openness drive research and innovation (R&I) processes. The focus is on the green and digital transitions and the need for open and transparent R&I practices.

The call specifically targets institutions experimenting with Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) for the first time.

The opening date for submissions is 30 September 2025, and the deadline for submissions is 02 December 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 12 months. The total funding available for this call is 480,000.00 EUR. The project acronym is REINFORCING, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Responsible tEerritories and Institutions eNable and Foster Open Research and inClusive Innovation for traNsitions Governance. The grant agreement number is 101094435. The topic is HORIZON-WIDERA-2022-ERA-01-40 - Stepping-up institutional and territorial changes towards open and responsible research and innovation.

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the REINFORCING project website (https://www.reinforcing.eu/open-calls/open-calls). Late proposals or proposals submitted by any means other than those indicated in the Guide for applicants will not be considered.

The application form consists of four parts:

Part 1: An online form requiring general information on the project to be completed on the REINFORCING website for each applicant.
Part 2: Administrative information document.
Part 3: Technical proposal with the description of the project, using the mandatory template, including the detailed description of how the grant will be used. The completed template must be uploaded on the online form.
Part 4: A Declaration of Honour that must be signed by all project partners.

Only complete applications will be considered for selection/evaluation.

The evaluation process consists of three steps:

1. Eligibility Check and Formal Requirements.
2. Preliminary Assessment by the REINFORCING Consortium to evaluate the alignment with call objectives.
3. Final Evaluation carried out by external experts that will be selected through an open call.

The evaluation process will be fair and impartial. All applicants will be informed of the outcomes of the evaluation at the end of the selection process. All applicants from the final evaluation receive an Evaluation Summary Report with ranking and outcomes.

For more details on the submission and evaluation process, the Guide for Applicants can be downloaded from the project website.

The REINFORCING project aims to support the transition to open and responsible research and innovation. It addresses the societal challenges related to the green and digital transitions by promoting collaborative efforts, sharing research outputs, engaging citizens in co-creation processes, and opening R&I to the whole society. The REINFORCING platform (https://reinforcing.eu/oss-platform) serves as a central hub for ORRI, providing access to knowledge, training, ORRI skills matchmaking, and capacity building.

The 6th Open Call requires proposals to revolve around practices of Responsible Innovation. Responsible Innovation is a framework that guides scientific and technological advancement in principles of transparency, inclusiveness, responsiveness, and anticipation. It supports the creation of a "European Knowledge Commons" where open science, ethical standards, and public participation converge.

Specific and mandatory requirements for the REINFORCING Sixth Open Call (Incubator):

The consortium must include at least 2 entities based in EU countries (Member State or associated country), including their outermost regions or associated countries eligible to receive Horizon Europe grants, provided that the applicants are not covered by the Council sanctions in force.
The main applicant (in terms of budget and activities) the project Coordinator must have little or no experience in ORRI.
Release an ORRI resource (or ORRI Tool) to be inserted into the REINFORCING online platform. The resource should be included in the proposal text as one of the results to be delivered and its development in the list of activities to be performed.
Attend the online internal 6th REINFORCING Open Call Kick-off meeting and online monthly meetings with the 5th REINFORCING Open Call Coordinators and REINFORCING consortium representatives.
Partake in the REINFORCING ORRI training workshop on-site in Brussels, led by REINFORCING partners.
Take part in the online 6th Open Call mid-term review meeting.
Join the online internal 6th REINFORCING Open Call Final Event.
Participate in the public 6th REINFORCING Open Call Webinar at the end of the project.
Contribute to the online communication and update of the REINFORCING project channels (e.g., website, social media, etc.) with grantees' achievements and information.
Engage in peer learning activities.

REINFORCING does not fund:

Training or consulting activities for institutions, organizations, and territories that are not part of the consortium.
Activities related to technological developments and/or proof of concepts.
Marketing and consumer studies that do not foresee a meaningful engagement of citizens or other societal actors.
Activities of any kind in which artificial intelligence-based systems or techniques are used or developed.
Projects mainly revolving around the design of a new Code of Practices on Citizen Engagement for Knowledge Valorisation in a specific innovation field.
Projects just exploring Responsible Innovation, RRI, or ORRI theory.

For the 6th REINFORCING Open Call, no more than 8 consortia implementing projects lasting 12 months will be supported with grants of up to 60,000 euros each. The funded projects will start on 15th January 2026 and end on 14th January 2027.

Projects applying for the REINFORCING 6th Open Call should consist of several activities, examples of which include:

Designing and/or implementing co-creation processes with citizens to develop innovative products, processes, and services.
Designing and/or implementing ORRI journeys (e.g., training and dialogue workshops) for innovators.
Implementing citizen engagement models (such as citizen juries or scenario workshops) to co-design strategic innovation plans and key innovation policies.
Designing and implementing responsible processes to manage innovations in research centers and universities (e.g., introducing and adopting Socially Responsible Licensing mechanisms and instruments).
Implementing the Societal Readiness approach to better align innovation trajectories with societally desired and needed goals.

Applicants must demonstrate how they intend to embed and institutionalize ORRI within their organization or territory.

The MLE on Public Engagement in R&I reports, the Code of Practice on Citizen Engagement for Knowledge Valorisation, and the Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets should be considered relevant sources of reference.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals under the REINFORCING project, aimed at fostering Responsible Innovation within European institutions and territories. It provides funding for projects that implement new modes of research and innovation, emphasizing openness, responsibility, and societal engagement. The call is specifically designed for organizations with little to no prior experience in ORRI, offering them a chance to experiment and develop new approaches to research and innovation that align with societal needs and ethical standards. The projects should focus on practical activities, such as co-creation processes, citizen engagement models, and responsible innovation management, and should contribute to embedding ORRI principles within the applicant organizations. The call excludes certain activities, such as technological development, AI-related projects, and pure theoretical exploration of ORRI. Successful applicants will receive funding of up to 60,000 euros and will be expected to participate in various project activities, including training workshops, meetings, and communication efforts.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are organizations and institutions in Europe. The consortium must include at least 2 entities based in EU countries (Member State or associated country), including their outermost regions or associated countries eligible to receive Horizon Europe grants, provided that the applicants are not covered by the Council sanctions in force. The main applicant (project Coordinator) must have little to no experience in Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI).

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

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The consortium must include at least 2 entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU countries (Member States or associated countries), including their outermost regions or associated countries eligible to receive Horizon Europe grants.

Target Sector: The target sector is research and innovation (R&I), specifically focusing on Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI), green and digital transitions, and responsible innovation.

Mentioned Countries: EU countries (Member States or associated countries), Brussels (Belgium).

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at institutions experimenting with ORRI for the first time, indicating an incubator stage.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to 60,000 euros per project. A total of 480,000 euros is available, supporting no more than 8 consortia.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of three stages: Eligibility Check and Formal Requirements; Preliminary Assessment by REINFORCING Consortium; and Final Evaluation carried out by external experts.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

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

Summary:

The REINFORCING 6th Open Call (Incubator Call) on Responsible Innovation is a funding opportunity aimed at supporting organizations and institutions in Europe to transition to more open and responsible research and innovation practices. This call, funded under the Horizon Europe program, seeks to promote the principles of Responsible Innovation, which include transparency, inclusiveness, responsiveness, and anticipation, to align research and innovation with societal needs, democratic values, and ethical standards.

The call requires consortia of at least two entities based in EU member states or associated countries, with the main applicant having limited experience in Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI). Successful projects will receive grants of up to 60,000 euros for a 12-month project period, with the funded projects expected to start on January 15, 2026, and end on January 14, 2027. A total of 480,000 euros is available to support no more than 8 consortia.

Projects should focus on implementing new modes of doing R&I that drive more just transitions and embed ORRI within the applicant's organization or territory. Activities may include designing and implementing co-creation processes with citizens, ORRI training workshops, citizen engagement models for strategic innovation plans, and responsible processes to manage innovations in research centers and universities.

The application process involves submitting a proposal electronically through the REINFORCING project website, including an online form, administrative information document, technical proposal, and a declaration of honor. The evaluation process consists of an eligibility check, a preliminary assessment by the REINFORCING Consortium, and a final evaluation by external experts.

This call aims to support institutions experimenting with ORRI for the first time, providing them with the resources and networking opportunities to become part of the European ecosystem that is transforming the R&I system by bringing it closer to society and societal needs. The REINFORCING project serves as a central hub for ORRI, offering knowledge, training, skills matchmaking, and capacity building for organizations interested in creating an inclusive R&I ecosystem.