Call for Pilots within the European data space for smart communities (submission round 4)

DS4SSCC-DEP Call for Pilots Round 4 (Digital Europe Programme, Grant Agreement 101123342) invites cross-border, cross-sector consortia led by at least two local or regional public administrations in EU Member States or DEP Associated Countries to deploy data-sharing pilots validating the DS4SSCC blueprint. Opening date is 1 April 2026 and the submission deadline is 31 May 2026 23:59 Brussels time; full proposals must be submitted in English by email to apply@ds4sscc.eu. EU contribution per pilot is €250,000 to €500,000 with mandatory direct co‑financing of at least 50% and an expected pilot duration of about three months. Evaluation includes eligibility, expert assessment on Relevance, Implementation and Impact, and successful proposals undergo financial and legal checks prior to grant signature.

What it funds

Purpose

Grants for cross-border, cross-sector pilot projects that deploy the DS4SSCC blueprint to create new data services for local and regional communities (mobility, climate/resilience, energy management, zero pollution, New European Bauhaus domains and related Green Deal areas).

Scale and total budget:EU contribution per pilot: €250,000 to €500,000. Total call envelope: €15,300,000. Co‑financing: applicants must provide at least 50% of pilot costs as direct financial contribution. Payment: 50% on signature, 50% after approved reporting. For details see the Call for Pilots Manual Call for Pilots Manual ¹

Who can apply

Consortia led by local or regional public administrations in EU Member States or DEP Associated countries, partnering with companies, academia, civil society or other stakeholders. Consortia must include at least two public administrations from different eligible countries and demonstrate cross-sectoral, cross-border implementation capacity.

Key eligibility and administrative requirements

1. 1Minimum consortium: two local/regional public administrations from different EU/DEP Associated countries.
2. 2Pilot must create new data services integrating data sharing across at least two specified domains (e.g., mobility, climate, energy, pollution, NEB-related).
3. 3All non-public entities must submit an Ownership Control Declaration at proposal stage; additional guarantees may be required for entities controlled from certain countries.
4. 4Applicants must co‑finance at least 50% of total pilot costs (no unmonetised in‑kind as sole co‑financing).

Evaluation follows eligibility check and expert assessment (Relevance, Implementation, Impact); decisions notified by email. Resubmission of previously submitted proposals is permitted.

Applicants are encouraged to consult the DS4SSCC blueprint, join the Stakeholder Forum, and attend info/matchmaking sessions (details and FAQ on the project website).

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation, templates and full application guidance are published by the DS4SSCC initiative: DS4SSCC Call Round 4.

Basic opportunity facts

Call identifier:DS4SSCC-DEP (Grant agreement No. 101123342). Programme: Digital Europe Programme (DEP) – DIGITAL-2022 (Data space for smart communities, deployment). Call type: Multi-Topic Call (open call / cascade funding). Opening date: 01 April 2026. Submission deadline: 31 May 2026 23:59 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage. Expected duration of participation: 3 months. Total funding available (for the deployment action / cascade): 15,300,000. Total number of pilots to be onboarded in this round: approximately 10 pilots. This is the fourth and last submission round following three previous rounds.

Primary contact and documentation:Full proposal template and supporting documentation must be submitted in English via email to apply@ds4sscc.eu before the deadline. All guidance, manuals and templates (Call for Pilots Manual, Application Form, Budget, Letter of Commitment, Ethics and Data Protection Self-Assessment and other templates) are available from the DS4SSCC call web pages and handbook Call for Pilots Manual & Templates ¹.

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary applicants and mandatory lead(s):local or regional public administrations (local public authorities) from EU member states or Digital Europe Programme Associated countries. Other eligible applicant types to be included in consortia: companies (private sector), SMEs, large enterprises, research organisations, universities, civil society organisations, nonprofits, and other partners working with the public administrations (e.g., technology providers, solution integrators). Individual applicants are not the intended applicants. Public-private partnerships may form part of consortia but the call mandates local/regional public administrations as pilot sites/lead partners.

Consortium Requirement

Consortia are required. Minimum composition:at least two local or regional public administrations located in different EU member states and/or DEP Associated countries. The public administrations must represent different jurisdictions to ensure cross-border collaboration. Consortia can and should include additional partners from private sector, academia, civil society and other stakeholders to deliver cross-sectoral pilot activities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility)

Eligibility is restricted to entities established in EU member states and Digital Europe Programme Associated countries. The call emphasizes cross-border activity across those countries. Entities controlled by ineligible third countries are subject to security restrictions and may be excluded unless a guarantee is provided and assessed. Ownership Control Declarations (OCD) are required for entities that are not validated public bodies.

Funding Type and Financial Conditions

Primary funding mechanism:grant (cascade funding for pilots under the DS4SSCC-DEP project). EU contribution per pilot: planned between €250,000 and €500,000, to be shared among the consortium members and balanced proportionally among pilot sites. The call follows a co-financing model: applicants must provide at least 50% of the total pilot costs as direct co-financing. Co-financing must be monetary, explicitly budgeted and auditable; in-kind contributions not explicitly monetised are not eligible as co-financing. Payment schedule: 50% of the grant at start upon signing of the grant agreement, and remaining 50% after approval of the technical report and financial statement.

Total funding available for this call:€15,300,000 (total envelope available for the deployment action / cascade across rounds).

Scope, Thematic Priorities and Expected Outcomes

Objective:validate and demonstrate an EU-wide federated cross-sectoral data space for smart communities using the DS4SSCC blueprint (governance and technical). Pilots must implement actual data-sharing-based services, demonstrate applicability of the DS4SSCC blueprint, and show feasibility of a federated European data space for smart communities. The initiative emphasises supporting local businesses and ecosystems, ethical considerations, AI-enabled local solutions, and alignment with European Green Deal objectives and the New European Bauhaus initiative.

1. 1Pilots must create new data services based on data sharing across at least two of the specified domains.
2. 2Pilots must be cross-border (public administrations in different EU/DEP-associated countries) and cross-sectoral.
3. 3Pilots should demonstrate reuse or replication of active DS4SSCC-DEP local data space components where feasible.
4. 4Pilots must follow DS4SSCC data space blueprint technical and governance requirements.

Specified domains (minimum two must be combined in the pilot)

1. 1Predictive traffic management and sustainable mobility planning (including synergies with mobility data space and use of Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators where appropriate).
2. 2Data services related to weather, climate and extreme weather events for risk prevention, disaster resilience and climate change adaptation.
3. 3Management of energy flows in a city/community context, including cross-sector interactions.
4. 4Zero pollution actions (air, water, soil pollution, waste management).
5. 5Any other domain under the New European Bauhaus initiative (urban design, building management, public services, nature-based solutions, etc.).

Security, Ownership and Legal Requirements

Consortium members are subject to security and ownership controls. Entities must not be controlled by ineligible third countries. All entities except those validated as public bodies by EU countries must submit an Ownership Control Declaration (OCD) at proposal time (self-declared). If awarded, the official OCD must be provided within 14 days from notification. If an entity is later found to be controlled by a non-EU or DEP-associated country, a guarantee will be required and assessed; participation may be permitted or excluded based on that assessment. Applicants must also respect state-aid rules, avoid double funding, and ensure all costs are actual, incurred within the pilot timeframe and auditable.

Submission and Application Process

Submission method:single-stage Full Proposal. Applications and supporting documentation (in English) must be sent by email to apply@ds4sscc.eu before the deadline. Required documents and templates include: Application Form, Budget template, Letter(s) of Commitment, Ethics and Data Protection Self-Assessment, Ownership Control Declaration (self-declared at proposal stage) and any other templates in the Call for Pilots Manual. The latest versions of all documents must be used as provided on the DS4SSCC call pages Call for Pilots Manual & Templates ¹.

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation process:initial eligibility check followed by expert evaluation on scored criteria. Main evaluation criteria: Relevance, Implementation and Impact. Evaluation scoring mechanisms and detailed thresholds are outlined in the Call for Pilots Manual. The evaluation for each submission round is expected to take around one month after the submission deadline; applicants will be notified by email with short feedback. Successful proposals will undergo further financial and legal checks before negotiation and signing of the grant agreement. Resubmissions from previous rounds are permitted.

Application Documents and Templates (structure and guidance)

Applicants must use the templates and guidance provided in the Call for Pilots Manual. Required elements and typical structure expected in the full proposal include:

1. 1Executive summary: concise description of pilot objectives, participating public administrations and partner roles, geographic coverage, targeted domains and expected outcomes.
2. 2Consortium description and legal statuses: confirmation of at least two local/regional public administrations from different eligible countries, full partner list, roles and responsibilities, contact points, and declarations (including OCD where applicable).
3. 3Technical and governance plan: how the pilot will implement the DS4SSCC blueprint, data sharing architecture, interoperability, security measures, data protection compliance and governance arrangements.
4. 4Pilot concept and methodology: description of the data services to be created, data sources and participants, cross-sector interactions, integration with existing DS4SSCC local data spaces (if applicable), and AI components / ethical considerations.
5. 5Impact and sustainability: expected socio-economic and environmental impacts, alignment with European Green Deal and New European Bauhaus, replication and scaling plans, engagement with local ecosystems and stakeholders.
6. 6Implementation plan and timeline: tasks, deliverables, milestones, resource allocation, pilot site activities and cross-border coordination.
7. 7Budget and co-financing plan: detailed cost breakdown, demonstration of at least 50% direct co-financing per pilot, financial capacity statements, and explanation of how funds will be balanced across pilot sites.
8. 8Risk management and mitigation: identification of technical, legal, financial and operational risks and proposed mitigation measures.
9. 9Ethics and data protection assessment: completed self-assessment template, GDPR compliance measures, data access and consent procedures, anonymisation or pseudonymisation where needed.
10. 10Letters of Commitment or support from public administrations and major partners.

Where to find templates and the manual:All templates and the Call for Pilots Manual (latest version) are published on the DS4SSCC web pages. Use those official documents as authoritative templates for submission Call for Pilots Manual & Templates ¹.

Nature of Support, Payment and Co-Funding

Beneficiaries will receive monetary support in the form of grants. Each pilot grant is between €250,000 and €500,000 (EU contribution). Co-funding: mandatory direct monetary co-financing of at least 50% of the total eligible project costs must be provided by applicants; co-financing must be declared in the budget and cannot rely on unmonetised in-kind contributions. Payment modality: 50% pre-financing at grant signature and 50% after approval of final technical and financial reporting, subject to audit and verification.

Application Stages and Timeline for Applicants

This is a single-stage submission:applicants prepare and submit a full proposal before the deadline. The evaluation process includes an eligibility check, expert scoring and selection (expected timeline approximately one month after the deadline). Post-selection, successful applicants undergo legal and financial scrutiny, negotiation and grant agreement signature. Therefore the applied process includes two principal stages from applicant perspective: submission and evaluation/selection, followed by contracting and grant execution for awarded pilots.

1. 1Stage 1: Proposal preparation and submission (use provided templates; submit via email by 31 May 2026).
2. 2Stage 2: Eligibility check and expert evaluation (approx. 1 month).
3. 3Stage 3: Notification, then financial and legal checks, negotiation and contract signing for successful applicants.
4. 4Stage 4: Pilot implementation, monitoring and final reporting (receipt of second tranche upon approval).

Success Rates and Selection Intensity

The call will onboard approximately 10 pilots in this round; exact number depends on quality and available budget allocation per pilot. Typical competitive selection in cascade calls means success rates vary based on the number of applications received and their quality. No explicit historical success rate is published in the call text; applicants should expect competitive selection and ensure high alignment with DS4SSCC blueprint, cross-border composition and co-financing capacity.

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Target project stage:demonstration / validation / demonstration-to-deployment. Pilots are expected to implement actual services (not purely research) and demonstrate feasibility, interoperability and governance of a federated data space. Proposals should therefore aim for TRL/TRL-equivalent maturity that allows short-term implementation, demonstration and auditable results within the pilot timeframe.

Target Sector(s) and Technologies

Target sectors:smart cities / smart communities, mobility and transport, climate and environment, energy management, disaster resilience and weather/climate services, pollution control and waste management, urban design/building management and New European Bauhaus-related domains. Technology emphasis: data spaces architecture and interoperability, secure and sovereign data infrastructure, federated data sharing, APIs and connectors, data governance tools, privacy-preserving data handling, AI-enabled local solutions (with ethical safeguards), and integration with domain-specific indicators (e.g., Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators).

Mentioned Countries

Explicit geographic reference:EU member states and Digital Europe Programme Associated countries. No specific individual countries were listed in the call text; eligible parties must be established in those jurisdictions.

Evaluation Criteria (high level)

1. 1Relevance: alignment with DS4SSCC blueprint, cross-sectoral / cross-border nature, alignment with European Green Deal and local policy priorities.
2. 2Implementation: quality of technical solution, governance, consortium capability, realistic workplan and budget, demonstration readiness and data governance arrangements.
3. 3Impact: expected benefits for communities and local ecosystems, replicability, sustainability and potential to scale, ethical and privacy considerations.

Support, Matchmaking and Additional Opportunities

Applicants are encouraged to join the DS4SSCC Stakeholder Forum to engage with other actors and the DS4SSCC consortium and to attend scheduled Info Sessions (two Info Sessions organised in April including matchmaking) and other events. Matchmaking opportunities are offered during info sessions. The DS4SSCC website lists events, the stakeholder forum and FAQs; direct queries are handled by support@ds4sscc.eu. Applicants should monitor the DS4SSCC web pages for updates and the latest templates DS4SSCC events & stakeholder forum ¹.

Required Declarations and Administrative Obligations

Ownership Control Declaration (OCD):all non-public-body entities must submit a self-declared OCD with the proposal and, if awarded, provide the official OCD within 14 days of notification. Applicants must declare and demonstrate financial capacity to provide at least 50% direct co-financing. Ethics and Data Protection Self-Assessment must be submitted. Letters of Commitment from local public administrations are expected to demonstrate municipal/regional buy-in and resource commitment.

Templates: Structure to use when preparing the Application Form and Annexes

Follow the official Application Form and Budget template provided in the Call for Pilots Manual. The core structure applicants should prepare mirrors typical template sections (see also section Application Documents and Templates above) and will include partner identification, short project description, detailed work packages or tasks, deliverables, milestones, detailed budget with EU requested amount and co-financing breakdown, ethics and data protection self-assessment, ownership declarations, and signed letters of commitment.

Key risks and constraints applicants should consider

1. 1Mandatory co-financing of at least 50% must be available and auditable; budget proposals must reflect this constraint.
2. 2Consortium must include at least two public administrations from different eligible countries; cross-border coordination complexity must be planned for.
3. 3Security and ownership controls (OCD and guarantees for entities controlled by third countries) may delay participation if ownership is unclear; prepare documentation early.
4. 4Pilots must implement DS4SSCC blueprint requirements for interoperability and governance; technical compliance is critical.
5. 5All costs must be actual, incurred during the pilot period and auditable; follow state-aid and double funding rules.

How to prepare a competitive proposal (practical tips)

1. 1Engage early with the DS4SSCC Stakeholder Forum and attend info sessions and matchmaking events to find cross-border partners and technical support.
2. 2Demonstrate clear and functional public administration commitment (letters of commitment) and ensure the cross-border sites are ready for data-sharing experimentation.
3. 3Map existing data sources and DS4SSCC local data space components you want to reuse or interoperate with and describe specific data flows, APIs and governance.
4. 4Provide a transparent and auditable budget showing the EU grant requested, explicit monetary co-financing (>=50%), and distribution of funds across pilot sites.
5. 5Include an ethics and data protection self-assessment explaining GDPR compliance, consent arrangements, anonymisation/pseudonymisation and privacy-preserving measures.
6. 6Address security and ownership issues proactively: prepare OCDs and pre-check ownership chains to speed eligibility checks.

This opportunity is part of a broader European effort to validate federated data spaces for smart communities and to operationalise data sharing that supports green and digital transition in cities and regions.

Summary - What is this opportunity about and how to explain it

This call (DS4SSCC-DEP Call for Pilots, submission round 4) seeks to fund roughly 10 cross-border, cross-sectoral pilot projects led by consortia anchored by at least two local or regional public administrations from different EU member states and/or Digital Europe Associated countries. Each pilot will receive an EU grant contribution between €250,000 and €500,000, with mandatory applicant co-financing of at least 50% of the total pilot cost. Pilots must implement real data services that demonstrate the DS4SSCC data space blueprint in practice, show interoperability and governance of a federated European data space for smart communities, and address domains such as mobility, climate and weather services, energy flow management, zero pollution actions and other New European Bauhaus areas. Applications must be submitted in English using the official templates by email to apply@ds4sscc.eu before 31 May 2026. Evaluation covers eligibility checks and expert scoring on Relevance, Implementation and Impact; the expected evaluation time is roughly one month after the deadline. Successful pilots receive 50% pre-financing and the balance upon approval of technical and financial reporting. Applicants must manage ownership declarations, security constraints and ensure auditable monetary co-financing. Use the DS4SSCC manuals, attend info sessions and matchmaking events, and join the Stakeholder Forum to increase chances of a competitive proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary call information, templates and the Call for Pilots Manual are published on the DS4SSCC project pages: ds4sscc.eu and DS4SSCC events and stakeholder forum pages: ds4sscc.eu and ds4sscc.eu. For questions contact support@ds4sscc.eu or apply@ds4sscc.eu for submissions.

This is the fourth and final round of calls for pilots under the DS4SSCC-DEP deployment action, funded by the Digital Europe Programme (Grant Agreement 101123342). The initiative validates an EU-wide cross-sectorial data space supporting green-digital transformation, policy priorities for cities and communities, and European Green Deal objectives through secure, sovereign data infrastructure. Approximately 10 additional pilots will be onboarded to build on prior rounds that launched 11 pilots.

Key Dates and Submission Process

Opening date:1 April 2026. Deadline: 31 May 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time (single-stage submission). Full proposals in English must be emailed to apply@ds4sscc.eu. Evaluation takes about 1 month post-deadline, with eligibility check followed by expert assessment on Relevance, Implementation, and Impact. Notifications sent by email with feedback. Successful proposals undergo financial and legal scrutiny before grant agreement signing. Resubmissions from prior rounds permitted.

Expected Duration:3 months.

Total Funding Available:€15,300,000.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Targeted at local public administrations in EU Member States and Digital Europe Programme (DEP) Associated Countries, plus partners such as companies, civil society organisations, and academia. Consortia must execute cross-sectorial, cross-border pilots and co-finance at least 50% of costs.

Consortia Requirements

• At least two local or regional public administrations from different EU/DEP Associated countries, promoting cross-sectoral collaboration aligned with European Green Deal objectives.
• May include other partners (e.g., companies, academia, civil society).
• Security restrictions: Entities must not be controlled by ineligible countries; guarantees required if risk identified.
• Ownership Control Declaration (OCD) mandatory for non-validated public bodies (self-declared at submission, official within 14 days of notification).

Scope and Objectives of Pilots

Pilots must develop actual data-sharing services, demonstrate applicability of the DS4SSCC blueprint, and show feasibility of a federated European data space. Consortia should create new services across at least two specified areas (or more, including other Green Deal domains), building on existing DS4SSCC-DEP local data spaces where feasible. Experiences will evolve the blueprint.

Priority Data Service Areas

• Predictive traffic management/sustainable mobility planning (synergies with mobility data space and Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators).
• Weather, climate, and extreme weather events for risk prevention, disaster resilience, and climate adaptation.
• Management of energy flows in city/community contexts, integrated with other sectors.
• Zero pollution actions (e.g., air, water, soil pollution, waste).
• New European Bauhaus domains (urban design, building management, public services, nature-based solutions).

Funding Details

EU Contribution per Pilot:€250,000 - 500,000, shared proportionally among consortium members/pilot sites.

50% co-financing required (direct cash; no unmonetized in-kind). Grant covers up to 50% of total costs. Budget must detail co-financing capacity via own resources. Costs must be actual, incurred during pilot period, auditable, compliant with state aid rules and no double funding. Payment: 50% at grant signing, 50% after technical report and financial statement approval.

Application Documents and Resources

• Call for Pilots Manual (covers legal, financial, technical, business, organisational, ethical frameworks; evaluation; pilot support).
• Templates: Application Form, Budget, Letter of Commitment, Ethics and Data Protection Self-Assessment.
• Review updated DS4SSCC data space blueprint.
• Primary portal: EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Project site: DS4SSCC-DEP.

Support and Networking Opportunities

• Info Sessions: 1 April and 29 April 2026, with matchmaking (register at Events).
• Stakeholder Forum: Join for networking (>400 members; public authorities, civil society, academia, companies; workshops for co-creation) at Stakeholder Forum.
• Support email: support@ds4sscc.eu. FAQ: FAQ.

Applicants must monitor https://ds4sscc.eu/cfp-four for updates, though current access shows page not found¹. Prior pilots (e.g., UrbanMind, Traffic Flow Data Space) demonstrate cross-border data sharing in sustainability and mobility.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation referenced throughout; check project site for latest versions.