Develop Open Call

The Develop Open Call under the PoliRuralPlus project seeks to fund small-scale digital innovation projects that address rural-urban challenges within designated pilot regions in the EU. The funding opportunity is open to a variety of entities with operational and financial capacity, including startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutions, nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and NGOs. Applicants may apply individually or in consortia of up to three entities, with one designated as the lead applicant.

The funding type is a grant, specifically a lump-sum disbursement ranging from €30,000 to €100,000 per successful proposal. The total allocation for this call is €450,000, with the expectation to fund between 5 and 15 projects. The geographic eligibility is restricted to entities legally established in EU Member States or Associated Countries, aligned with objectives targeting specific pilot regions.

The call emphasizes digital solutions in the ICT sector, focusing on technologies such as AI, IoT, and GIS, while promoting sustainability and inclusivity as part of the New European Bauhaus values. Projects are expected to be in the development and validation stage, translating innovative concepts into practical applications.

Applications are accepted through an open call process, with a single-stage evaluation occurring before a deadline set for July 31, 2025. Proposals must adhere to criteria evaluated on their objectives, impact, and implementation, requiring a minimum score in each category for funding consideration. There is no co-funding requirement, and the call prohibits subcontracting or financial transfers to third parties.

The submission involves an online application that includes an administrative form and a technical description. Relevant technology and methodologies must ensure interoperability with existing PoliRuralPlus digital tools. The deadline for submission aligns with project timelines from October 2025 to June 2026, stressing the importance of replicability and scalability of solutions.

Overall, this call aims to facilitate the development of innovative digital solutions to improve rural-urban synergies, contributing to the overarching goals of sustainability and equitable development within the EU framework.

The Develop Open Call within the PoliRuralPlus project aims to fund small-scale, applied innovation projects that deliver place-based digital solutions addressing rural-urban challenges identified in PoliRuralPlus pilot regions. These projects will also contribute to the technical advancement of the PoliRuralPlus platform and ecosystem.

The opening date for submissions is May 26, 2025. The deadline for submissions is July 31, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is from October 2025 to June 2026. The total funding available is 450,000 EUR. The project acronym is PoliRuralPlus. The full name of the EU funded project is Fostering Sustainable, Balanced, Equitable, Place-based and Inclusive Development of Rural-Urban Communities' Using Specific Spatial Enhanced Attractivenes Mapping ToolBox. The grant agreement number is 101136910. The topic is HORIZON-CL6-2023-COMMUNITIES-01-2 - Improving rural future through better territorial governance and rural-urban synergies.

The submission process is conducted online via https://www.poliruralplus.eu/open-calls/develop-call/. The proposal consists of two parts: Part A, the Administrative Form including documentation verifying the legal status and beneficial ownership of the lead applicant (Coordinator), and Part B, the Technical Description in PDF format.

Proposals will be evaluated based on three main criteria: Objectives (0-5 points), Impacts (0-5 points), and Implementation (0-5 points). A minimum score of 3 in all criteria and an overall score of at least 11 is required for funding. In the event of equal overall scores within a region, the proposal with better relevance to PoliRuralPlus will be selected to ensure that the most potentially transformative project is chosen.

The funding ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 EUR lump sum for successful proposals. The total allocation is 450,000 EUR, and it is expected to fund 5-15 sub-projects.

The objectives of the Develop Call are to: Develop and deploy practical, place-based digital applications aligned with PoliRuralPlus pilot-specific objectives (see Guidelines for Applicants, Section 2.4); Translate promising concepts into action, moving from ideation to implementation by funding pilot activities that apply advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), geographic information systems (GIS), or data-driven decision tools; Be designed to be interoperable with the PoliRuralPlus digital tools (see Guidelines for Applicants, Section 4) and technical frameworks, allowing for smooth integration and exchange of data if required, including licensing and communication compatibility; Demonstrate replicability and scalability, showing how proposed solutions could be adapted and applied across other regions or contexts in the EU; Support the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) by promoting sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics in the development of rural-urban solutions; Ensure that all data collected during implementation is incorporated into PoliRuralPlus tools, including the JackDaw platform and related AI components, to enhance decision-making capabilities and generate stronger project-wide results.

Eligibility criteria include: Open to all types of entities with operational and financial capacity. Single applicants or consortia of up to three entities are eligible to apply. In the case of consortia, one partner must act as the lead applicant (Coordinator). Applicants must be legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The proposal should not include any subcontracting or transfer of financial contribution to third parties. Only one proposal will be accepted for funding per applicant. Applicants must declare their eligibility and no conflict of interest in the online application. The proposal must address specific objectives identified within one of the 9 designated pilot regions of the PoliRuralPlus project. The language of the proposal must be English. GDPR adherence is required. Current PoliRuralPlus beneficiaries and their affiliated entities are ineligible. Deliverables commitment as outlined in Chapter 6 of the Guidelines for Applicants is required.

The scope of the Develop Call is to: Develop and pilot digital applications that respond to pilot-specific rural-urban challenges, as outlined further and aligned with the overarching policy framework of PoliRuralPlus. Translate innovative concepts into operational prototypes, leveraging advanced technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and data-driven decision-making tools. Ensure interoperability with existing PoliRuralPlus digital infrastructure, including the JackDaw platform, the Multi-Actor Approach Tool (MAAT), and the Knowledge Space ecosystem (See Guidelines for Applicants, Chapter 4). Demonstrate replicability and scalability, providing documentation (APIs, user manuals, or open standards) to enable adaptation in other EU regions. Embed New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, promoting sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusivity through human-centred design and stakeholder co-creation. Contribute to data integration by feeding collected data into PoliRuralPlus AI tools to enhance geo-intelligence, foresight, and stakeholder decision support.

For more information, visit https://www.poliruralplus.eu/open-calls/develop-call/. Before submitting a proposal, applicants should carefully check https://www.poliruralplus.eu/docs/179/Annex_2_Guidelines_for_Applicants_DEVELOP.pdf.

In summary, this opportunity is a call for proposals under the PoliRuralPlus project, seeking to fund innovative, small-scale projects that develop and implement digital solutions addressing challenges in rural-urban areas. The call encourages the use of advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and GIS, and emphasizes interoperability with the PoliRuralPlus platform. The projects should be place-based, addressing specific needs in one of the nine pilot regions, and should align with the New European Bauhaus values of sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics. The funding ranges from 30,000 to 100,000 EUR, and the call is open to various types of entities legally established in EU Member States or Associated Countries. The application process involves submitting an administrative form and a technical description, and proposals will be evaluated based on their objectives, impact, and implementation plan. The ultimate goal is to improve rural-urban synergies and contribute to the technical advancement of the PoliRuralPlus platform.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to all types of entities with operational and financial capacity. This includes single applicants or consortia of up to three entities. In the case of consortia, one partner must act as the lead applicant (Coordinator). Current PoliRuralPlus beneficiaries and their affiliated entities are ineligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding. Successful proposals will receive a lump sum payment.

Consortium Requirement: Both single applicants and consortia are eligible. Consortia can include up to three entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Applicants must be legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: digital solutions, rural-urban development, agriculture/food, innovation, and technology. It focuses on place-based digital solutions addressing rural-urban challenges. Specific technologies mentioned include Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and data-driven decision-making tools. The call also supports the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB), promoting sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity is open to entities legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. No specific countries are mentioned, but the eligibility is for EU Member States and Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The expected project stage is development and piloting of digital applications, translating innovative concepts into operational prototypes. The call aims to fund small-scale, applied innovation projects. It supports moving from ideation to implementation by funding pilot activities.

Funding Amount: The funding ranges from 30,000 EUR to 100,000 EUR lump sum for successful proposals. The total allocation for the call is 450,000 EUR, with an expected funding of 5-15 sub-projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Submission is done online.

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

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate can be estimated based on the total funding available (450,000 EUR) and the funding per project (30,000 to 100,000 EUR), with an expectation to fund 5-15 sub-projects. This suggests a potentially competitive process, but without knowing the expected number of applications, a precise success rate cannot be determined. The success rate is likely to be in the 10 to 39% range.

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

Summary:

The PoliRuralPlus Develop Call is an open call for proposals aimed at funding small-scale, applied innovation projects that deliver place-based digital solutions addressing rural-urban challenges within the PoliRuralPlus pilot regions. The call seeks to advance the PoliRuralPlus platform and ecosystem through the development and piloting of digital applications. The projects should align with the objectives of the PoliRuralPlus project and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, promoting sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics.

Eligible applicants include all types of entities with operational and financial capacity, whether applying individually or as part of a consortium of up to three entities. Applicants must be legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The call provides grants ranging from 30,000 EUR to 100,000 EUR as a lump sum, with a total allocation of 450,000 EUR expected to fund 5-15 sub-projects.

The application process is single-stage, with online submission required. Proposals will be evaluated based on their objectives, impacts, and implementation. Projects should leverage advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, IoT, and GIS, and ensure interoperability with the PoliRuralPlus digital infrastructure, including the JackDaw platform. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is from October 2025 to June 2026. The call encourages the translation of innovative concepts into operational prototypes and the demonstration of replicability and scalability of the proposed solutions across other EU regions.