Cybersecure and resilient road e-mobility ecosystem (2ZERO Partnership)

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity designated as HORIZON-CL5 focuses on creating a cybersecure and resilient road e-mobility ecosystem under the 2ZERO Partnership. This grant primarily aims to enhance the security and resilience of electric vehicles and their related infrastructure against cyber threats. The eligible applicant types include small and medium enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, research institutions, universities, and public-private partnerships. The funding type is a lump sum grant categorized under the Horizon Lump Sum Grant model. Collaboration is a key requirement, as applicants must form a consortium comprising at least three entities from different EU member states or associated countries. The geographic scope for beneficiaries is primarily the EU and associated countries, allowing some flexibility for non-EU entities under specific conditions. The target sectors for this grant encompass transport, mobility, cybersecurity, and clean energy, reflecting a strong alignment with the objectives of Horizon Europe’s Cluster 5, which focuses on climate, energy, and mobility solutions. Although no specific countries are listed, the initiative is open to applicants from the EU region. The project stage is primarily for validation and demonstration, common for Innovation Actions where prototypes and theoretical models are tested in real-world settings. Although a specific funding amount is not disclosed, similar Innovation Actions typically range between €1 million and €5 million. The application process follows a single-stage open call structure, with a deadline set for September 4, 2025. Successful proposals are expected to deliver outcomes like a holistic architecture that integrates cyber-resilient hardware and software, guidelines for future cybersecurity mitigation plans, and practical demonstration of e-mobility tools. The funding is designed to support projects that implement robust cybersecurity measures consistent with the forthcoming Cyber-Resilience Act scheduled for compliance by November 2027. The grant opportunity promotes comprehensive cybersecurity solutions in e-mobility, emphasizing secure charging infrastructures and the software-defined vehicle concept. It encourages projects that conduct thorough threat analyses and develop strong risk mitigation strategies through advanced security measures, including digital twins and Post-Quantum Cryptography. In conclusion, this Horizon Europe call seeks collaborative efforts to pioneer cybersecurity enhancements within the e-mobility sector, supporting the transition toward a greener and more secure transportation system across Europe. The initiative not only aims to fortify the infrastructure against cyber threats but also strives to contribute to achieving zero-emission road transport objectives.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically under Cluster 5, focusing on Climate, Energy and Mobility. The call is designated as HORIZON-CL5-2025-04 and includes various topics related to this theme. All topics are single-stage submissions with an opening date of May 6, 2025, and a deadline of September 4, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The grants will be awarded as HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA), HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and will use the HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement.

The specific topic HORIZON-CL5 focuses on creating a cybersecure and resilient road e-mobility ecosystem, as part of the 2ZERO Partnership. The expected outcomes include: a holistic architecture integrating cyber-resilient hardware and software modules, implementation and demonstration of cybersecure e-mobility and system tools, guidelines towards future mitigation plans for enhanced cybersecurity, guidelines towards a data breach response plan, and hardened Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) against various threats.

The scope of this topic involves addressing the system approach of e-mobility, ensuring open and accessible charging infrastructures that comply with the Cyber-Resilience Act (CRA) by November 2027. It emphasizes secure and reliable interactions, considering the software-defined vehicle (SDV) concept and Over-The-Air (OTA) software updates. Proposals should develop a secure-by-design architecture, conduct threat analysis and risk assessment, define a comprehensive testing framework, implement a shared system of systems testing approach, demonstrate the use of the framework in real-life environments, ensure compliance with existing standards, extend Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) deployment, support the implementation of the EC’s PKI ecosystem governance, develop digital twins for risk mitigation, and consider HW/SW elements and communication channels. Synergies with projects related to the Software-Defined Vehicle of the Future are encouraged.

The general conditions for this call include:admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, other eligible conditions subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks, financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, evaluation and award processes, and legal and financial setup of the grants. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement, are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme, EU Financial Regulation, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, LEAR appointment, financial capacity assessment, and grant management.

The budget overview lists multiple topics under the HORIZON-CL5-2025-04 call, each with its specific budget, type of action, opening date, deadline, contributions, and indicative number of grants. For example, HORIZON-CL5-2025-04-D5-01 has a budget of €20,000,000 and aims to award around 2 grants, while HORIZON-CL5 has a budget of €10,000,000 and aims to award around 1 grant.

Partner search announcements are available for those seeking collaboration on this topic. The submission session is now available for all topics.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call focuses on enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of the e-mobility ecosystem. It seeks proposals that develop secure architectures, conduct thorough threat analyses, implement comprehensive testing frameworks, and demonstrate real-life applications. The call aims to ensure compliance with existing standards and promote the deployment of advanced security measures, such as Post-Quantum Cryptography and digital twins. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the call is open to eligible entities from EU and associated countries. The overall goal is to create a more secure, reliable, and robust e-mobility infrastructure that can withstand cyber-attacks and contribute to the broader goals of zero-emission road transport.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, given the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation activities. The specific eligibility criteria are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" designation. 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.

Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, Horizon Europe Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) often involve consortia to bring together diverse expertise and resources.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The opportunity is primarily targeted at EU member states and associated countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible, subject to specific provisions as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector:The program targets the e-mobility sector, with a specific focus on cybersecurity and resilience. This includes electric vehicles (EVs), electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), charging infrastructure, and related ICT systems. The call also aligns with the European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO).

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is within the Horizon Europe framework, implying eligibility for EU member states and associated countries. Non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible.

Project Stage:The opportunity targets both research and innovation actions, suggesting projects at the development, validation, and demonstration stages. The emphasis on "Innovation Actions" (HORIZON-IA) indicates a focus on projects closer to deployment and market uptake, while "Research and Innovation Actions" (HORIZON-RIA) suggests support for earlier-stage research and development activities.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1.6 million to €22.5 million. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, typically between 1 and 2.

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

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a lump sum grant to cover eligible costs.

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but given the competitive nature of Horizon Europe calls, success rates are typically below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, Horizon Europe projects often require beneficiaries to contribute to the project costs, although this is not always a strict requirement.

Summary:This Horizon Europe call, part of the Cluster 5 Call 04-2025 (WP 2025), focuses on enhancing the cybersecurity and resilience of the road e-mobility ecosystem. The call aims to support projects that develop and demonstrate innovative solutions for securing electric vehicles, charging infrastructure, and related ICT systems against cyber threats and physical intrusion. The projects should contribute to a holistic architecture that integrates cyber-resilient hardware and software modules, implement and demonstrate cybersecure e-mobility tools in real-life environments, and provide guidelines for future mitigation plans and data breach response. The call is structured around Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA), with funding amounts ranging from €1.6 million to €22.5 million per topic. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations from EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU/non-associated countries, with a single-stage application process and funding provided as a lump sum grant. The call is aligned with the European Partnership on ‘Towards zero emission road transport’ (2ZERO) and seeks to ensure that e-mobility systems comply with the Cyber-Resilience Act (CRA) by November 2027.