Early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021

The EU Funding Opportunity is part of Horizon Europe, specifically under the Research Infrastructures 2025 call. Its objective is to support the early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects included in the 2021 ESFRI Roadmap. The call is officially titled "Early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021" and is marked with the identifier HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-DEV-02. This initiative is categorized under HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and utilizes a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant model.

The submission window has been open since May 6, 2025, with a final deadline of September 18, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The expected outcomes for funded projects include expedited implementation of selected ESFRI Projects, improved European Research Area capabilities, and strong engagement from Member States in pan-European research infrastructures that facilitate full operational status.

Eligible activities targeted for funding involve addressing challenges in the early research infrastructure life cycle, such as establishing governance structures, securing funding, developing ICT solutions, and creating access policies. Proposals must explicitly identify the ESFRI Project they aim to support. Projects eligible for funding include EBRAINS, SLICES, SoBigData++, MARINERG‑I, EIRENE RI, and others.

The funding is primarily intended for consortia formed by various stakeholders, including governmental bodies and research organizations, ensuring comprehensive financial commitments for project advancement. Participation is open to legal entities in EU Member States and Associated Countries, with limited opportunities for legal entities from non-associated third countries, contingent on certain conditions.

While specific funding amounts are not always detailed, historical data suggests a range between €1 million and €15 million for different actions. Applications follow a single-stage open call process, and co-funding is generally required, necessitating collaboration among the involved stakeholders. Success rates are not explicitly stated but are inferred from anticipated grant allocations across the funding topics.

In summary, this call aims to enhance critical research infrastructures by adequately addressing bottlenecks and challenges hindering their transition to full operation. It incentivizes partnerships and the inclusion of key stakeholders in proposal development while providing substantial financial support structured as a lump sum. The initiative seeks to fortify the European Research Area by facilitating the establishment of effective research infrastructures pivotal to scientific progress.

The EU Funding Opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically under the Research Infrastructures 2025 call (HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01). It aims to support the early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021. The call is titled "Early phase implementation of ESFRI Projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021" and its identifier is HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-DEV-02.

The type of action is HORIZON-CSA, which stands for HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS].

The call is currently open for submission and follows a single-stage submission model. The opening date for submissions was May 6, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of the projects funded under this opportunity include: Faster and larger implementation of the ESFRI Projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021, enhanced ERA excellence and attractiveness through the availability of additional capacities from the targeted ESFRI Projects, solid Member States/Associated Country engagement in pan-European research infrastructures, leading to their full implementation, long-term perspective for investments in research infrastructures, and synergies and complementarities between new and existing research infrastructures.

The scope of this funding opportunity is to target research infrastructure projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021. These projects are recognized for their scientific excellence, organizational maturity, and strategic importance for the European Research Area and the structuring of the European research infrastructure ecosystem. Proposals must explicitly state which ESFRI Project they target.

The funding aims to address the challenges in the early stages of the research infrastructure life cycle, where recurrent bottlenecks can hamper full implementation and the start of the operation phase. Proposals should identify and address the most critical issues that could prevent or delay the entering of these ESFRI Projects into the implementation phase.

Eligible activities for support include: Enlargement of the membership, establishment of the governance structure and legal entity, securing funding, finalization of the distributed architecture, development of ICT and data management solutions (including data management according to the FAIR principles and possible open access to data), development of access policies and users’ strategies, consolidation of the international dimension, consolidation of the service offer, assessing possible expansion to new user communities/new needs, and addressing staff and procurement related issues. Proposals should focus on the activities addressing the identified bottlenecks.

Proposals should involve all stakeholders necessary to move the project forward and ensure financial commitments, including national/regional ministries/governments, research councils, or funding agencies. They should also explain any synergies and complementarities with previous or current EU grants.

ESFRI Projects eligible for support under this topic are: EBRAINS, SLICES, SoBigData++, MARINERG‑I, EIRENE RI, ET, EuPRAXIA, GGP, GUIDE, OPERAS, RESILIENCE.

Topic updates indicate that the submission session is now available for various HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01 topics, including EOSC-05, EOSC-04, TECH-01, EOSC-03, TECH-03, DEV-01, DEV-05, SERV-02, SERV-01, TECH-02, DEV-02, SERV-04, TECH-04, DEV-03, DEV-04, SERV-03, EOSC-02, and EOSC-01.

General conditions for participation include: Admissibility Conditions related to 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 those described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Legal entities from non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate as beneficiaries or affiliated entities if eligible for funding. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The evaluation and award process includes: Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. Grants will be awarded to ensure balanced coverage of targeted ESFRI Projects, prioritizing the highest-ranked proposals for each project that meet all thresholds. Submission and evaluation processes are detailed 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 of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021, with further details 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 agreements (MGA) are available in the Submission System. Application form templates include the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) and Standard application form (HE CSA). Evaluation form templates include the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) and Standard evaluation form (HE CSA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide. Model Grant Agreements (MGA) include HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA. Call-specific instructions include a Detailed budget table (HE LS), Information on financial support to third parties (HE), Information on clinical studies (HE), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include: HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. 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, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget overview for 2025 includes various topics with their respective budgets, opening dates, deadlines, contributions, and indicative number of grants.

Partner search announcements are available, and LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests.

To start the submission process, applicants should access the Electronic Submission Service via the provided link and select the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement.

Support resources include the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, the European Charter for Researchers, and Partner Search tools.

In summary, this Horizon Europe funding opportunity aims to bolster the implementation of key European research infrastructure projects by addressing critical bottlenecks in their early phases. It provides financial support and guidance to projects that can demonstrate scientific excellence, organizational maturity, and strategic importance to the European Research Area. Applicants are encouraged to form strong partnerships, involve relevant stakeholders, and align their proposals with the goals of the ESFRI Roadmap. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and detailed guidelines are available to assist applicants throughout the submission and project management process. The initiative seeks to enhance the European Research Area by ensuring the successful establishment and operation of world-class research infrastructures.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are legal entities established in EU member states, associated countries, and under certain conditions, legal entities from non-associated third countries. The specific types of organizations that can apply include, but are not limited to, research organizations, universities, governmental bodies, national/regional ministries/governments, research councils, and funding agencies, and other stakeholders necessary to move the project forward and ensure financial commitments. The call is open to a wide range of stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of research infrastructures.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the type of action HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions and the type of MGA HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. There are also HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. Proposals should involve all stakeholders necessary to move the project forward and ensure financial commitments (including national/regional ministries/governments, research councils or funding agencies).

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. 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. If eligible for funding, legal entities established in non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate in this Coordination and support action as a beneficiary or affiliated entity.

Target Sector: The target sector is research infrastructures, specifically those projects that entered the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021. This includes a broad range of scientific domains supported by these infrastructures, such as ICT, data management, and various research areas that the listed ESFRI projects (EBRAINS, SLICES, SoBigData++, MARINERG‑I, EIRENE RI, ET, EuPRAXIA, GGP, GUIDE, OPERAS, RESILIENCE) cover.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States, Associated Countries, and non-EU/non-Associated Countries (third countries).

Project Stage: The project stage targeted is early phase implementation, focusing on addressing bottlenecks and challenges that could prevent or delay the entering of ESFRI Projects into the implementation phase. This includes activities such as establishment of the governance structure and legal entity, securing funding, and finalization of the distributed architecture.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from €1,000,000 to €15,000,000 for Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and from €3,000,000 to €15,000,000 or around €5,000,000 to €10,000,000 for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).

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

Nature of Support: The 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 are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is implicitly required, as proposals should involve all stakeholders necessary to move the project forward and ensure financial commitments (including national/regional ministries/governments, research councils or funding agencies).

This Horizon Europe call focuses on supporting the early phase implementation of research infrastructure projects that were included in the ESFRI Roadmap in 2021. The goal is to help these projects overcome challenges and bottlenecks that often hinder their progress towards full implementation and operational status. The call provides funding for a range of activities, including expanding membership, establishing governance structures, securing funding, finalizing architectures, developing ICT and data management solutions, creating access policies, and consolidating international dimensions.

The call is structured around several topics, each with a specific budget and focus, covering both Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) and Research and Innovation Actions (RIA). The geographic scope is primarily EU Member States and Associated Countries, with possibilities for legal entities from non-associated third countries to participate under certain conditions. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and proposals should involve all relevant stakeholders and demonstrate synergies with existing EU grants.

In essence, this call aims to bolster the European Research Area by facilitating the development and implementation of key research infrastructures, ensuring their long-term sustainability and contribution to scientific excellence.