Community of practice - Data-Driven Decision-Making in Energy

The funding opportunity titled "Community of Practice - Data-Driven Decision-Making in Energy" is part of Horizon Europe, specifically under the Coordination and Support Actions category. The call identifier is HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28. The project's aim is to enhance collaboration within the EU on data-driven decision-making practices for energy, specifically regarding planning and operations of electricity grids that integrate renewable energy sources.

The total budget for this opportunity is €6 million, with one grant expected to be awarded. The application opens on August 4, 2027, and the deadline for submission is December 1, 2027. The process is a single-stage application, with proposals submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Eligible applicants include entities involved in the energy value chains, such as research organizations, universities, grid operators, technology suppliers, and governmental bodies from EU Member States, Associated Countries, or those with specific funding arrangements with the EU. The program aims to facilitate cooperation among these stakeholders to build a community of practice and create European innovation hubs that promote the use of data analytics, digital twins, and AI systems.

The successful project will focus on developing methodologies and open-source tools for electricity grid planning and operations, improve EU-wide cooperation on data solutions, and establish shared approaches that benefit a wide range of energy sector actors. The project is expected to involve networking and coordination activities rather than basic research, ultimately fostering an environment for future technology development and implementation through shared resources and collaborative standards.

Co-funding is not explicitly required, but additional resources may be beneficial for fully realizing the project goals. The funding is structured as a lump sum, providing flexibility in fund allocation across various project needs.

The initiative connects to broader EU objectives, notably the Green Deal and encourages collaboration across major European and international efforts in the energy sector. Proposals will be evaluated based on predefined criteria, and the project is positioned at a stage focused on coordination, validation, and demonstration rather than early exploratory research.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity seeks to strengthen the EU's energy decision-making framework by fostering collaboration among key energy stakeholders, thereby advancing the collective capability to manage and innovate within the electricity grid landscape in Europe.

This is a description of the HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 funding opportunity, titled "Community of practice - Data-Driven Decision-Making in Energy," under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-07) call. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of 04 August 2027 and a deadline of 01 December 2027 at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

 The expected outcomes of this funding opportunity are:

 Enhanced EU cooperation to generate knowledge sharing on data and analytics used for the planning and operation of European grids, and market integration.
 Better EU coordination with regard to planning and simulation tools to support the development of electricity grids and integration of RES are made available to the research, academia, grid operators, and key actors in the energy value chains.
 Coordinated processes to generate new and innovative open-source solutions, software modules etc. that are added to the existing and/or new repositories that support the development of grids and integration of high shares of RES.
 Improved EU-wide cooperation and coordination of actions on developing and utilising innovative data-driven solutions for energy, including AI-powered tools.
 Support to researchers and research organizations to maintain their research results FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable) beyond research project ending and accommodating for technology evolution.
 Promotion of opensource practices and collaboration across the energy sector value chain to foster the industrialization of shared methods and standards in and by the energy industry.

 The scope of projects is expected to:

 Facilitate the coordination and cooperation of key actors in the energy value chains (e.g. grid operators, research and academia, providers of technologies and solutions, energy suppliers, providers of energy services traded on energy markets, representatives of consumers) to build a community of practice focused on developing and maintaining key tools and technologies for using data and analytics in planning, operating and maintaining the European electricity grids, while actively managing high shares of RES in the system.
 Involve, cooperate with, and/or build synergies with major European and international initiatives and groupings that are active in this field.
 Create a European ecosystem of innovation hubs that bring together key stakeholders in the energy sector to collaborate on digitalization projects, providing a space for experimentation and agile innovation.
 Showcase targeted cooperation between grid operators and research & academia for implementing specific projects and/or programmes.
 Build blueprints, methodologies, and repositories of open-source solutions for enhanced simulations, observation, forecasting, infrastructure asset management, and decision-making in energy with a view to reduce the overall costs of system operation.
 Promote the use of modern solutions, such as digital twins and AI-enabled systems.

 Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative and actively participate in its activities.

 The general conditions include:

 Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
 Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
 Other Eligible Conditions: If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used), subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks, and described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
 Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
 Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
 Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
 Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
 Legal and financial set-up of the grants: Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
 Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

 Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information includes:

 Application form templates available in the Submission System, specifically the Standard application form (HE CSA).
 Evaluation form templates that will be used with the necessary adaptations, specifically the Standard evaluation form (HE CSA).
 Guidance from the HE Programme Guide.
 Model Grant Agreements (MGA) including the Lump Sum MGA.
 Call-specific instructions and a Detailed budget table (HE LS).
 Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"

 Additional documents include:

 HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
 HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
 HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
 HE Programme Guide
 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
 Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
 Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

 The budget overview shows several topics:

 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-11 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 17,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 2 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-16 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-17 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 18,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-25 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-26 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 28,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-27 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 22,500,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions with a budget of 6,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 1 grant.
 HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-32 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions with a budget of 30,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening 2027-08-04, deadline 2027-12-01, and an indicative number of 3 grants.

 Partner search announcements are available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header. There are no topic Q&As currently listed.

 For general support, applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Applicants can find answers to frequently asked questions on the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in non-EU and non-associated countries. The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding. The IT Helpdesk addresses questions about forgotten passwords, access rights, technical aspects of proposal submission, etc. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk advise on tackling standardisation in project proposals. Applicants should also consult the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment. Partner Search tools can help find partner organisations for proposals.

 In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to foster collaboration and innovation in data-driven decision-making for the energy sector, particularly concerning the planning, operation, and maintenance of European electricity grids with high shares of renewable energy sources. It seeks to enhance EU cooperation, improve coordination of tools and resources, and promote the development and utilization of innovative data-driven solutions, including AI-powered tools and digital twins. The call encourages the creation of a community of practice involving key stakeholders from research, academia, grid operators, technology providers, and consumers. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative. Applicants should carefully review the general and specific conditions, application and evaluation forms, and additional documents provided on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated, but the call is open to key actors in the energy value chains, including grid operators, research and academia, providers of technologies and solutions, energy suppliers, providers of energy services traded on energy markets, and representatives of consumers. This suggests a broad range of eligible applicants, including research institutions, universities, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under the HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) funding scheme.

Consortium Requirement: The information suggests that a consortium is preferred, as the project scope emphasizes coordination and cooperation among key actors in the energy value chains and the creation of a European ecosystem of innovation hubs. However, the specific requirements for consortium composition are not detailed in the provided text.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is primarily focused on EU and associated countries, as indicated by the reference to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the mention of non-EU/non-Associated Countries with specific funding provisions.

Target Sector: The program targets the energy sector, specifically focusing on data-driven decision-making in energy, planning and operation of European grids, integration of renewable energy sources (RES), digitalization projects, and the development of innovative data-driven solutions, including AI-powered tools.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on EU cooperation and EU-wide initiatives. The opportunity is relevant to the European Union and associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is focused on coordination and support actions, suggesting a stage of development and implementation rather than early-stage research or idea generation. The emphasis is on building communities of practice, facilitating cooperation, and promoting the use of existing solutions.

Funding Amount: For the HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 topic, which is a HORIZON-CSA, the budget is EUR 6,000,000, and the indicative number of grants is 1. For the other HORIZON-IA topics, the budget ranges from EUR 17,000,000 to EUR 30,000,000, with the indicative number of grants ranging from 2 to 3. The contribution per project for HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 is around EUR 6,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage call, as indicated by the "single-stage" deadline model.

Nature of Support: 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 cannot be determined from the provided text.

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

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically targeting the energy sector. It aims to foster EU cooperation and knowledge sharing in data-driven decision-making for energy grids and the integration of renewable energy sources. The call, ENERGY (HORIZON-CL5-2027-07), includes several topics, with a focus on coordination and support actions (CSA) and innovation actions (IA). The HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 topic, "Community of practice - Data-Driven Decision-Making in Energy," seeks to enhance EU cooperation, improve coordination of planning and simulation tools, generate open-source solutions, and promote innovative data-driven solutions for energy.

Eligible applicants include key actors in the energy value chain, such as grid operators, research institutions, academia, technology providers, energy suppliers, and consumer representatives. The funding mechanism is a lump sum grant, and the application process involves a single stage. The geographic focus is primarily on EU and associated countries, with potential provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Projects are expected to facilitate coordination and cooperation among energy stakeholders, involve synergies with major European and international initiatives, create a European ecosystem of innovation hubs, showcase cooperation between grid operators and research institutions, build open-source solutions, and promote modern solutions like digital twins and AI-enabled systems. Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative.

The HORIZON-CL5-2027-07-D3-28 topic has a budget of EUR 6,000,000 and aims to fund one project. The call for proposals is scheduled to open on August 4, 2027, with a deadline of December 1, 2027. Applicants are advised to consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and other provided resources for detailed guidance on the application process and requirements.