Assessment of Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine (CSA)

This EU grant opportunity focuses on assessing the Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine post-conflict. It is part of the Horizon Europe Programme, under the INDUSTRY call, specifically classified as a Horizon Coordination and Support Action (CSA) offering a lump sum grant. The application process is single-stage, currently open, with a deadline set for September 23, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

The key objectives of funded projects include obtaining a detailed understanding of the existing Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine, evaluating the damage due to war, assessing the needs of industrial users including SMEs and large companies, and establishing an investment agenda aimed at post-war reconstruction. This includes identifying Technology Centres in Ukraine that can pilot an integrated network for Technology Infrastructure services to enhance collaboration between research and industry.

Eligible applicants comprise research and technology organizations, universities, research institutes, technology centers, and private sector entities from EU member states, associated countries, and certain non-EU countries. The grant will provide monetary support in the form of a lump sum with expectations for comprehensive project methodologies that build on EU organizational experiences.

Additionally, projects should conduct needs analyses for Technology Infrastructures across public and private sectors, identify capacity gaps, and propose strategic investments necessary for Ukraine’s technological development. Collaborations with existing frameworks such as European Digital Innovation Hubs are encouraged for maximizing impact and synergy.

Overall, the initiative aims to facilitate the revitalization and innovation capacity in Ukrainian industry following the conflict, addressing critical gaps in Technology Infrastructure, and promoting sustainable economic development through enhanced research and development engagement.

This EU grant opportunity focuses on assessing and addressing the Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine following the damages caused by the war. It falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01) call, and is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement. The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline of September 23, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time, and the opening date was May 22, 2025.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this topic include:

A comprehensive understanding of the existing Technology Infrastructures landscape in Ukraine, detailing available facilities and services.

An assessment of the capacities lost in Technology Infrastructures due to the Russian aggression.

A sound understanding of the specific needs of industrial users, including large companies and SMEs, regarding Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine.

An investment agenda for Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine, addressing capacity losses from the war and supporting the future technological development of Ukrainian industry to aid reconstruction.

Identification of Technology Centres in Ukraine capable of piloting an integrated approach to providing Technology Infrastructure facilities and services to Ukrainian companies, aiming to strengthen the connection between research and industry through technology transfer and reduce risks for private R&I investments.

The scope of the projects should include:

Developing a robust methodology to analyse the current state of Technology Infrastructure facilities and services in Ukraine and to assess the damages resulting from the war. This involves engaging with Ukrainian authorities at national and regional levels, as well as relevant organizations within the R&I ecosystem, such as RTOs, technical universities, research institutes, and technology centers.

Conducting a comprehensive analysis of user needs for Technology Infrastructures in both the public and private sectors, considering strategic technologies and the long-term development needs of the Ukrainian economy.

Analysing capacity gaps and mismatches between the supply and demand of Technology Infrastructure facilities and services.

Developing an investment agenda for Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine to support post-war reconstruction, identifying priority areas and types of investments needed to foster innovation. This may include specific large-scale investments in individual facilities, developing new TI services, creating national networks or ecosystems of TIs, building partnerships with EU-based TIs, and other actions to strengthen TI service provision in Ukraine.

Identifying Technology Centres in Ukraine to pilot an integrated network providing Technology Infrastructure services in a selected technology area or industrial ecosystem. This network should include RTOs, universities, research institutes, and private sector entities to develop a joint offer of research, technology, and business support services for Ukrainian companies, with a strategy for scaling up such networks regionally, nationally, and internationally.

Proposed methodologies should consider relevant EU-level work and build on the experiences of EU organizations hosting similar facilities, ensuring strong engagement from public and private sector stakeholders.

Projects should collaborate with existing initiatives on Technology Infrastructures, such as Open Innovation Test Beds, Testing and Experimentation Facilities, and European Digital Innovation Hubs.

The general conditions for this grant include:

Admissibility conditions related 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.

Eligibility of countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, noting that some non-EU/non-Associated Countries have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Other eligible conditions as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial setup of the grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and evaluation forms, the model grant agreement (MGA), and additional documents are available in the Submission System and include:

Standard application form (HE CSA)

Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)

HE Programme Guide

Lump Sum MGA

Detailed budget table (HE LS)

Information on financial support to third parties (HE)

Information on clinical studies (HE)

Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"

HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, 7. Digital, Industry and Space, and 14. General Annexes

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Statement

The budget overview includes various topics under the HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01 call, spanning Digital, Human, Materials, and Twin Transition areas, with opening dates on May 22, 2025, and deadlines on September 23, 2025. The indicative number of grants and budget allocations vary by topic.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

This opportunity aims to support Ukraine's post-war reconstruction by thoroughly assessing its Technology Infrastructure landscape, identifying damages, understanding user needs, and developing an investment agenda. It also seeks to establish pilot networks of Technology Centres to strengthen the connection between research and industry, ultimately fostering innovation and economic development in Ukraine. The funding mechanism is based on lump sum contributions, and applicants are encouraged to collaborate with existing projects and initiatives to maximize synergies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the context, eligible applicants could include Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), technical universities, research institutes, technology centers, SMEs, large companies, and other relevant organizations within the Research and Innovation (R&I) ecosystems. Engagement with Ukrainian authorities at national and regional levels is also expected.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" and "Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum". There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, HORIZON Innovation Actions and HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required, but the scope mentions engaging with various organizations within the R&I ecosystems, suggesting that a consortium approach is suitable, if not implicitly encouraged. The action funded under this call should identify a set of Technology Centres in Ukraine that would pilot the establishment of an integrated network providing Technology Infrastructure services is selected technology area or industrial ecosystem. Such a network should include a critical mass of RTOs, universities and research institutes, as well as the private sector as relevant, that would develop a joint offer of research and technology services and other business support services to Ukrainian companies.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): While the primary focus is on Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine, the methodologies should build on the experience of EU organizations. Also, the text mentions 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. This suggests that applicants from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU countries are eligible.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: Industry, Technology Infrastructures, Research and Innovation (R&I), Digital, Materials, Human, Twin Transition.

Mentioned Countries: Ukraine, EU member states, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific provisions for funding.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on analysis, assessment, and development of an investment agenda, which suggests a stage of development and planning rather than basic research or commercialization. The action funded under this call should identify a set of Technology Centres in Ukraine that would pilot the establishment of an integrated network providing Technology Infrastructure services is selected technology area or industrial ecosystem.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific HORIZON call. Some examples include:
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-DIGITAL-61: EUR 30,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-66: EUR 1,500,000
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-64: EUR 45,000,000
HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-TWIN-TRANSITION-01: EUR 35,000,000
The indicative number of grants also varies, ranging from 1 to 7 depending on the call.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage open call, as indicated by "Deadline model: single-stage" and "Open For Submission".

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

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the text.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is required for HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-MATERIALS-64 - HORIZON-COFUND HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions.

Summary: This opportunity is a Horizon Europe call focused on assessing and addressing the Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine, particularly in light of the damages caused by the war. It aims to develop an investment agenda for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine's innovation capacity. The call is structured around Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), with funding provided as lump sum grants. Eligible applicants include RTOs, universities, research institutes, technology centers, and private sector entities from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially some non-EU countries. The projects should analyze the current landscape of Technology Infrastructures in Ukraine, assess the damages, understand the needs of industrial users, identify capacity gaps, and develop an investment agenda. The call also encourages collaboration with EU organizations and synergies with existing initiatives. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of September 23, 2025. This initiative is part of the broader Horizon Europe program and aims to support the reconstruction and future technology development of the Ukrainian industry.