Alignment of stakeholders towards the supply-side large-scale pilot of end-to-end infrastructures integrating device, network computing and communication capabilities (CSA)

The HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09 call titled "Alignment of stakeholders towards the supply-side large-scale pilot of end-to-end infrastructures integrating device, network computing and communication capabilities (CSA)" is a funding opportunity under Horizon Europe, specifically within Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, and Space). This Coordination and Support Action (CSA) operates under a grant mechanism aimed at fostering collaboration among various stakeholders.

Eligible applicant types include legal entities established in EU Member States, as well as Iceland and Norway, with a focus on industry stakeholders, research organizations, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and public-private partnerships. This call particularly emphasizes the importance of consortium collaboration among these stakeholders but does not explicitly mandate it.

The funding type is a grant with a total budget of €2,500,000 available for this specific topic. Individual contributions may range from €1,800,000 to €2,500,000, with one grant expected to be awarded. The nature of the funding supports coordination and stakeholder alignment rather than direct research activities.

The target sectors for this project include ICT, telecommunications, cloud computing, and edge technologies, focusing on the integration of devices, network computing, and communication infrastructures. The beneficial scope is geographically extended to EU and associated countries, excluding entities controlled by non-eligible countries.

The project stage emphasizes activities involved in coordination and support actions, which are aimed at preparing and managing large-scale demonstrations and validating integrated infrastructures. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline set for October 2, 2025.

While success rates typically vary between 10-39% for Horizon Europe calls, specific figures for this grant are not available. Notably, no co-funding is required, providing a full grant for proposed activities.

The objective of this call is to align diverse stakeholders, including those in software, hardware, computing, telecommunications, AI, and cloud sectors, to collaboratively develop a technology roadmap. This involves monitoring implementation, identifying gaps in supply and demand, and facilitating convergence towards a modular approach for telco-edge-cloud infrastructures. Additionally, the project aims to establish mechanisms for collaboration and shared governance between supply and demand-side activities, creating a common platform that employs open-source building blocks.

Overall, this Horizon Europe initiative seeks to establish a framework for collaboration among stakeholders in digital infrastructure, ultimately enhancing European technological autonomy and competitiveness in a global landscape.

The HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09 call, titled "Alignment of stakeholders towards the supply-side large-scale pilot of end-to-end infrastructures integrating device, network computing and communication capabilities (CSA)", is part of the Horizon Europe program under the DIGITAL CNECT (Connecting Europe) call. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The call adopts a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is June 10, 2025, and the deadline for submission is October 2, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The budget for this specific topic is 2,500,000 EUR, with contributions ranging from 1,800,000 to 2,500,000 EUR, and an indicative number of one grant to be awarded.

The expected outcome of this call is to coordinate different stakeholder communities involved in the supply-side large-scale pilot (LSP) of end-to-end infrastructures. These infrastructures integrate device, network computing, and communication capabilities to develop horizontal facilities. The action aims to bring together stakeholders from software, hardware, computing, telcos, AI, and cloud sectors to work on a common plan and technology roadmap. This includes monitoring implementation and identifying gaps in the supply and demand of these integrated infrastructures. The project results are expected to enable the supply-side LSP to consider the demand-side perspective, including requirements from various applications and user communities. It also aims to help stakeholders build small and large-scale demos based on the supply-side LSP developments and future Horizon research actions. The action seeks to assist stakeholders from various segments of the value chain, such as telecoms, software providers, and middleware stack providers, to converge towards a shared, modular, and flexible approach for telco-edge-cloud infrastructure and services. Furthermore, it aims to establish mechanisms for exchange, collaboration, and shared governance between supply and demand-side activities, including the Open Internet Stack, to create a common platform approach across industrial actors. This includes a repository with a critical mass of largely open-source building blocks, as well as maintenance and support services.

The scope of the CSA for this governance mechanism includes consolidating priorities and maximizing benefits across different demand perspectives and timelines for key infrastructure services. It also involves ensuring alignment of demand and supply-side strategies and roadmaps, contributing to the White Paper on communication infrastructures and other relevant EU policies. The action aims to ensure coordination and integration of the work of the actions on the supply side pilot and the Open Internet Stack. It promotes open-source delivery of Telco Edge Cloud building blocks by the supply side pilot, which will serve as the backbone for cooperation among supply and demand-side LSPs. These open-source modules should align with industrial interests and common European building blocks, including developments at IPCEI-CIS Telco Edge Cloud community initiatives like Sylva, Anuket, Nephio, and CAMARA. The demand-side developments in relevant verticals will provide a continuous feedback loop to the supply-side endeavors and benefit from the progressive developments of the supply LSP. The action also seeks to provide a foundation for exploiting European technology developed under the 3C initiative as an alternative to platforms led by large multinationals. It should provide a forum for consultation and input from demand-side application sectors and verticals into the development of the supply-side architecture and building blocks. Identification of paradigm shifts evolving in relevant vertical domains like virtual worlds as a driver for emerging network virtualisation and performance as well as vertical services like mobility, communities or energy is also within the scope. Furthermore, the action includes assessing the monetization of edge computing, interoperability of middleware and SW framework through trend scouting on markets, value chains, and ecosystems in areas such as dynamic content delivery, AI adoption for telco operation and edge computing, and convergence across the telco-cloud-edge-IoT continuum.

Proposals are expected to build synergies with relevant topics under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement for this topic.

General conditions for admissibility include adherence to proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions include the limitation of participation to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway, and associated countries to safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, and security. Entities directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity are not allowed to participate. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. The legal and financial set-up of the grants is described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are detailed in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) are available in the Submission System. Application form templates include the standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates, including the standard evaluation form (HE CSA), will be used with necessary adaptations. Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide. The Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include the HE MGA. Call-specific instructions include the Ownership Control Declaration. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

There are 18 partner search announcements available for this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile. The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header.

The call aims to foster collaboration and shared governance among stakeholders in the supply and demand sides of end-to-end infrastructures, focusing on integrating devices, network computing, and communication capabilities. It seeks to develop horizontal facilities, promote open-source solutions, and ensure alignment with EU policies and industrial interests. The call encourages the creation of a common platform approach with a repository of open-source building blocks and support services, ultimately aiming to strengthen European technological autonomy and competitiveness in the digital landscape.

In essence, this Horizon Europe call is about establishing a framework for various stakeholders in the digital infrastructure domain to come together, coordinate their efforts, and build a shared, open-source platform that benefits both the supply and demand sides of the market. It's about creating a collaborative ecosystem that promotes European technological independence and innovation in the face of global competition.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway, and associated countries. Entities established in eligible countries but directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or entity are not allowed to participate. The call is specifically targeted towards key stakeholders in the field, with an emphasis on a neutral coordinator. The stakeholders include those from software, hardware, computing, telcos, AI, and cloud sectors.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The call anticipates bringing together all relevant stakeholders, suggesting a consortium approach is preferred, although not explicitly mandated. The CSA action should be prepared, managed, and coordinated by key stakeholders in the field.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to legal entities established in EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and associated countries. Entities controlled by non-eligible countries or entities are excluded.

Target Sector: The program targets the digital sector, specifically focusing on end-to-end infrastructures integrating device, network computing, and communication capabilities. It also addresses software, hardware, computing, telecommunications (telcos), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, open internet stack, telco-edge-cloud infrastructure, virtual worlds, mobility, communities, energy, dynamic content delivery, IoT, middleware, and SW frameworks.

Mentioned Countries: Iceland, Norway, EU Member States.

Project Stage: The project stage is aimed at coordination and support actions, which implies a focus on consolidating existing priorities, ensuring alignment of strategies, and integrating work across different initiatives. It also involves building small and larger-scale demos, suggesting a move towards validation and demonstration.

Funding Amount: The budget for the HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09 topic is EUR 2,500,000. The contributions range from EUR 1,800,000 to EUR 2,500,000.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call for proposals.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants for the HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09 topic is 1. Success rates cannot be determined from the provided information.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-DATA-09, seeks to fund a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) focused on aligning stakeholders towards a supply-side large-scale pilot (LSP) of end-to-end infrastructures. These infrastructures integrate devices, network computing, and communication capabilities. The primary goal is to develop horizontal facilities that benefit various constituencies, including those on the demand side. The CSA aims to bring together stakeholders from diverse areas such as software, hardware, computing, telecommunications, AI, and cloud computing to create a common technology roadmap. The project should enable the supply-side LSP to consider demand-side perspectives, assist stakeholders in building demos, and facilitate convergence towards a shared approach for telco-edge-cloud infrastructure. The initiative also aims to establish mechanisms for collaboration and shared governance, promoting a common platform approach with open-source building blocks. Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU Member States, Iceland, Norway, and associated countries, excluding entities controlled by non-eligible countries. The funding available is EUR 2,500,000, with an expected contribution between EUR 1,800,000 and EUR 2,500,000. The application process is a single-stage submission with a deadline of October 2, 2025. This CSA is about fostering collaboration and strategic alignment in the development of next-generation digital infrastructure, ensuring European technological autonomy and competitiveness.