Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)

This EU grant opportunity, titled "Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)," is part of the Horizon Europe program under the DIGITAL call HORIZON-CL4-2027-04. It is structured as a Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) and operates under a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG) Model Grant Agreement. The application process is single-stage, with a planned opening date of November 17, 2026, and a submission deadline of March 18, 2027.

The total funding amount for this action is €3 million, aimed at developing a robust industrial and end-user ecosystem in the EU focused on Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 technologies. The initiative seeks to engage various stakeholders, such as academia, Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), industry (including SMEs), public actors, and end-users across all EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Key objectives include reviewing and updating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Virtual Worlds, strengthening the European Virtual Worlds Partnership, promoting widespread awareness, enhancing standardization methods, and increasing the adoption of these technologies while ensuring compliance with EU values and regulatory frameworks. The project emphasizes collaboration across various sectors and disciplines, integrating social sciences and humanities to enhance societal impact.

The expected impact involves fostering competitive advantages for European companies in adopting and deploying Virtual Worlds technologies, promoting an open, inclusive, and ethical approach to their development and implementation, and enhancing coordination among relevant initiatives within Horizon Europe and other programs.

Although the specific success rates for this grant are not disclosed, the call anticipates awarding one grant under this specific topic. Co-funding is not mandatory, although standard practices may require beneficiaries to provide additional resources. The application must comply with admissibility and eligibility criteria detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposals will undergo a multi-faceted evaluation covering admissibility, eligibility, and award criteria.

Ideal applicants are expected to possess demonstrated expertise in relevant fields and a capability to coordinate large-scale initiatives promoting technological advancements. This comprehensive effort aims to advance Europe's leadership in the domain of Virtual Worlds technologies, driving innovation while ensuring ethical considerations are upheld.

This EU grant opportunity, titled "Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)," falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2027-04) call. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The deadline model is single-stage, with a planned opening date of November 17, 2026, and a deadline of March 18, 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of this grant is to foster a thriving industrial and end-user ecosystem in the EU for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0, encompassing all aspects of the virtual worlds value chain. This involves actively engaging with industrial and societal sectors to provide access to funding, expertise, and technology.

Key project results should contribute to:

Reviewing and updating the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Virtual Worlds in Europe, ensuring it reflects EU values and principles for useful, open, interoperable, inclusive, sustainable, and trustworthy virtual world systems and applications.

Strengthening the European Virtual Worlds Partnership through continuous support.

Reinforcing the competitive ecosystem, with European companies leading in the adoption, acceptance, development, and deployment of Virtual Worlds technologies.

Enhancing links among virtual world initiatives within Horizon Europe, the Digital Europe Programme, and other EU, national, and regional programs.

Implementing widespread awareness and outreach programs.

Increasing the adoption of virtual worlds that are open, accessible, inclusive, interdisciplinary, safe, and ethically sound, respecting European legal frameworks, including privacy and security, across all Member States and Associated Countries.

Strengthening and promoting standardization methods for virtual worlds technologies in support of the EU regulatory framework.

The scope of this CSA involves further developing and reinforcing the community by strengthening and supporting the Virtual Worlds Partnership and its SRIA. It aims to establish a strong and inclusive network connecting academia, industry, public actors, and end-users, including major European industrial sectors and relevant stakeholders, ensuring close coordination at regional, national, and European levels.

The CSA will also promote the adoption of Virtual Worlds technologies and solutions across Member States and Associated Countries, emphasizing geographical aspects and the entire value chain. This includes developing and implementing outreach programs to enhance understanding, raise awareness, and foster acceptance and trustworthiness of Virtual Worlds solutions.

Furthermore, the CSA will support standardization efforts to promote interoperable, open, trustworthy, and ethical Virtual Worlds solutions by mobilizing stakeholders and organizing European representation in standardization working groups to support the Commission's regulatory framework.

Proposals should involve and be driven by representatives from relevant actors in the field, such as academia, Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), industry (including SMEs). The Commission suggests a typical project duration of 36 months, but other durations are also acceptable. Proposals should also integrate Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and experts to enhance the societal impact of research activities. Key stakeholders should prepare, manage, and coordinate this CSA, directly supporting the Virtual Worlds Partnership.

Beneficiaries intending to transfer ownership or grant exclusive licenses must notify the granting authority (DG-CNECT and HaDEA) before the transfer or licensing, and the granting authority may object within four years after the action's end.

This topic is implemented through the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, and all proposals should allocate tasks to cohesion activities with the Partnership, including the CSA: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17.

General conditions for admissibility include 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 detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are 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 criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D, while submission and evaluation processes are in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is also described in Annex F.

Legal and financial aspects of the grants are outlined, noting that the granting authority may object to ownership transfers or exclusive licensing of results up to four years after the action's end, as specified 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, as well as the model grant agreement (MGA), are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE CSA) and evaluation form (HE CSA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide and HE MGA. Call-specific instructions and additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 (General Introduction, Digital, Industry and Space, and General Annexes), the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for legal entity validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment, the EU Grants AGA, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions and Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for 2027 includes various topics with their respective budget allocations, action types, opening and deadline dates, indicative contributions, and the number of grants. For example, HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA-03, a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA), has a budget of 35,000,000 EUR, opens on November 17, 2026, closes on March 18, 2027, and expects to award around 2 grants with contributions of around 17,500,000 EUR.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

This funding opportunity aims to bolster the European Virtual Worlds Partnership and its SRIA, fostering a competitive ecosystem for virtual world technologies and solutions. It seeks to connect various stakeholders, promote the adoption of ethical and trustworthy virtual worlds, and support standardization efforts. The initiative encourages collaboration among academia, industry, and public sectors to drive innovation and ensure Europe's leading role in the development and deployment of virtual world technologies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call specifies that proposals should involve and be driven by representatives of the relevant actors of the field, including academia, Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs), industry including SMEs, public actors, and end-users. Therefore, eligible applicant types include academia, RTOs, industry (including SMEs), public actors, and end-users.

Funding Type: The funding type is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA), which falls under the broader category of a grant. The specific type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: While the call does not explicitly mandate a consortium, it strongly suggests that proposals should involve and be driven by representatives of various actors in the field, implying that a consortium approach is highly encouraged, if not practically necessary, to meet the requirements of the call.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The call explicitly mentions that the adoption of Virtual Worlds technologies and solutions should be promoted in all Member States and Associated Countries. Furthermore, the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds aims to develop a thriving industrial and end-user ecosystem in the EU. Therefore, the geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. The general conditions also mention that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects, subject to certain restrictions.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is ICT, specifically focusing on virtual worlds and Web 4.0 technologies. This includes aspects of digital technologies, industry, and space, as indicated by the call DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2027-04). The call also touches upon innovation, standardization, and the development of a competitive ecosystem.

Mentioned Countries: The call explicitly mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries as the target beneficiaries for the adoption of Virtual Worlds technologies and solutions. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that may have specific funding provisions.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on coordination and support actions, which implies a focus on strengthening the Virtual Worlds Partnership, reinforcing the competitive ecosystem, reinforcing links among initiatives, widespread awareness and outreach programs, increased adoption of virtual worlds, and strengthening standardization methods. This suggests a stage of development and promotion rather than basic research or initial idea development.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates that the topic HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02 has a budget of EUR 3,000,000. The indicative number of grants is 1. Therefore, the funding amount is around EUR 3,000,000.

Application Type: The deadline model is single-stage, meaning that applicants submit a full proposal in one stage.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support coordination and support actions.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage, as indicated by the deadline model.

Success Rates: Based on the budget overview, for the topic HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02, the budget is EUR 3,000,000 and the indicative number of grants is 1. This suggests that only one project will be funded out of all the applications received, making it difficult to estimate the success rate without knowing the number of applications. Therefore, the success rate is other.

Co-funding Requirement: The information provided does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02, aims to foster a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem in the EU. It seeks to achieve this through a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) that will strengthen the Virtual Worlds Partnership, update the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), reinforce links among relevant initiatives, promote widespread awareness, increase the adoption of virtual worlds, and strengthen standardization methods. The call targets academia, RTOs, industry (including SMEs), public actors, and end-users from EU Member States and Associated Countries. The funding amount is approximately EUR 3,000,000, and the application process involves a single stage with a deadline of March 18, 2027. The selected project will play a crucial role in coordinating and supporting the European Virtual Worlds Partnership, driving the adoption of virtual world technologies, and ensuring that these technologies align with EU values and principles.