Approaches, verification and training for Edge-AI building blocks for CCAM Systems (CCAM Partnership)

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity titled "Approaches, verification and training for Edge-AI building blocks for CCAM Systems (CCAM Partnership)" falls under the HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-05 topic. This initiative aims to advance Edge-AI technologies to enhance Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) systems. The funding type is a grant, specifically a lump sum grant totaling €4 million. The call adopts a single-stage application process, with the submission deadline set for January 20, 2026.

Eligible applicants include research institutes, universities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, and public-private partnerships. Collaboration within consortia is required, especially encouraging international cooperation with countries like Japan, the United States, and Norway. The geographical eligibility primarily focuses on EU member states and Horizon Europe-associated countries, along with some non-EU countries under specific conditions.

The project targets the development and validation stages (Technology Readiness Level 5), emphasizing the optimization of AI algorithms for edge computing to improve real-time data processing while minimizing latency and power consumption. Key sectors include smart mobility, AI, and automotive technologies.

The expected outcomes are significant: reducing power consumption and latency in CCAM solutions, enhancing safety and cybersecurity related to data-driven functionalities, and improving the integration of edge-AI solutions into the action chain of CCAM functionalities. The scope encourages the development of optimized algorithms and techniques such as model quantization and pruning, while addressing challenges associated with cybersecurity and data protection.

Application procedures consist of a single stage, with no co-funding requirement indicated, suggesting that projects can be fully funded through this grant. Competitive success rates for Horizon Europe grants are typically within the range of 10% to 39%, reflecting the high demand for funding.

Overall, this grant opportunity focuses on innovative approaches to leveraging Edge-AI for automated mobility, aiming to contribute significantly to enhancing safety, efficiency, and cybersecurity in the field.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for "Approaches, verification and training for Edge-AI building blocks for CCAM Systems (CCAM Partnership)" under the HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-05 topic. This call falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically Cluster 5 Call 01-2026 (WP 2025) and aims to support HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) through a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. The call adopts a single-stage deadline model with a planned opening date of September 16, 2025, and a deadline of January 20, 2026, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The project results are expected to contribute to several key outcomes, including: CCAM solutions (both hardware and software) with reduced power consumption and latency, and improved speed and accuracy; enhanced safety, cybersecurity, and privacy for data-driven CCAM functionalities using edge-AI applications; well-balanced distributions of AI calculations for connected, cooperative, and automated driving applications; and validated approaches incorporating edge-AI solutions into the action chain for advanced CCAM functionalities.

The scope of this call focuses on addressing the limitations of existing AI computing tasks for automated vehicle applications that rely on general-purpose hardware. It emphasizes the need for powerful and optimized large data processing algorithms that can handle real-time data sharing and processing while maintaining high levels of security. The call encourages a dual approach that combines AI advancements with hardware advancements, considering complementarities with projects funded under Cluster 4 “Digital Industry and Space” of Horizon Europe. It also highlights the importance of addressing requirements related to AI algorithm optimization, latency, on-board energy availability, unbiased datasets for AI training, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) capacity, and potential safety-critical scenarios.

Proposed actions are expected to address several aspects, including: developing and reshaping approaches and building blocks for CCAM solutions viable to run on edge-hardware, focusing on time-critical applications; developing optimized edge-AI algorithms and demonstrating their applicability and scalability using real-world CCAM scenarios; optimizing models for edge deployment, including techniques such as model quantization, pruning, and knowledge distillation; and developing tools and approaches for edge-AI model monitoring to ensure resilience and accuracy.

The research will require due consideration of cybersecurity, connectivity, data protection rules (including GDPR compliance), and ethical considerations, including gender and other social categories, as well as Explainable AI to enhance trust and regulatory compliance. International cooperation is encouraged, particularly with Japan and the United States. Projects resulting from this topic are expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility’ (CCAM) and apply the European Common Evaluation Methodology (EU-CEM) for CCAM.

The call specifies several general conditions related to admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, evaluation and award processes, and legal and financial setup. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum. Specific conditions include application and evaluation forms, model grant agreements, and additional documents such as the HE Programme Guide and relevant EU regulations and decisions.

The budget overview indicates that the HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-05 topic has a budget of EUR 4,000,000 for the year 2025, with an indicative number of 1 grant to be awarded. The call also lists other related topics with their respective budgets and indicative number of grants. Partner search announcements and support services are available through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on advancing edge-AI technologies for connected, cooperative, and automated mobility (CCAM) systems. It seeks to address the limitations of current AI computing tasks by optimizing AI algorithms for edge-specific hardware, enhancing safety and security, and promoting international cooperation. The call encourages projects that develop and validate approaches for integrating edge-AI solutions into the action chain of CCAM functionalities, with a strong emphasis on real-world scenarios and compliance with ethical and regulatory standards. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the call is open to a wide range of participants, with specific provisions for non-EU countries.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given that it is a Horizon Europe call for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), eligible applicants are likely to include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The mention of LEAR appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment suggests that any legal entity can apply as long as they are validated and can demonstrate financial capacity.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the Type of MGA (Model Grant Agreement) being "HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]". The call includes HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA).

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required, but the nature of Research and Innovation Actions and Innovation Actions, as well as the encouragement of international cooperation, suggests that consortia are likely to be favored, if not required. Partner search announcements are available, indicating that applicants are expected to form consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU member states and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. However, the text also mentions that "A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects," suggesting some flexibility for participants from other countries. International cooperation is encouraged, particularly with Japan and the United States.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is connected, cooperative, and automated mobility (CCAM), with a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing. Specific areas include: AI algorithm optimization, cloud-edge-IoT technologies, cybersecurity, data protection, Electronic Control Unit (ECU) capacity, mobility, connectivity, automotive, software-defined vehicles, traffic management, and edge-AI.

Mentioned Countries: Japan, United States.

Project Stage: The project stage targets research, development, validation, and demonstration, as indicated by the inclusion of both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA). The scope emphasizes developing, optimizing, validating, and demonstrating edge-AI algorithms and building blocks for CCAM solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1,500,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to €30,000,000 for Research and Innovation Actions. The indicative number of grants and their corresponding budgets are listed in the "Budget overview" section. For example, HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-05 has a budget of €4,000,000 and aims to award one grant.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the "Budget overview" section provides the "Indicative number of grants" for each topic, which can be used to estimate the potential success rate based on the number of expected applications.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe projects often require some level of co-funding, which would be detailed in the specific call documents and annexes.

Summary: This Horizon Europe Cluster 5 call focuses on advancing Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility (CCAM) through the development and optimization of Edge-AI building blocks. The call aims to address the limitations of current AI computing tasks in automated vehicles by promoting the use of edge computing devices to enhance real-time insights, reduce latency, and improve energy efficiency. The scope includes optimizing AI algorithms for CCAM functionalities, ensuring cybersecurity and data protection, and fostering international cooperation. Projects are expected to contribute to validated approaches for integrating edge-AI solutions into the action chain of CCAM functionalities, both on-board and on the infrastructure side. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and the call is structured as a single-stage submission process. The call encourages applicants to consider complementarities with other Horizon Europe projects and initiatives, such as the Software-Defined Vehicle of the Future (SDVoF) initiative and projects funded under Cluster 4 “Digital Industry and Space”. The call is relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including universities, research institutions, SMEs, and large enterprises, with the potential for participation from non-EU countries.