Economic inequalities and their impact on democracy

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL2 from the European Union focuses on investigating the relationship between economic inequalities and democratic processes. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutions, NGOs, and public-private partnerships from EU member states and associated countries, with a particular emphasis on those from “Widening countries,” which are less researched-intensive European nations. The funding type is primarily a lump sum grant under the Horizon Europe framework, specifically through Research and Innovation Actions (RIA). Consortium requirements dictate that proposals must involve at least three independent legal entities from different EU member states or associated countries. Projects are expected to be in stages of research, development, or validation, with budget estimates ranging from €2 to €5 million based on recent similar funding opportunities. The application type involves a single-stage process with a submission deadline of September 16, 2025. This grant encourages research on topics such as how economic disparities affect voter turnout, political polarization, and trust in institutions, while also urging an intersectional perspective that considers factors like gender, age, and disability. The proposals should promote civic engagement and aim to provide evidence-based policy recommendations that enhance social justice and democratic participation. Successful applications are expected to utilize existing data sources, engage diverse stakeholders, and foster collaborative efforts within the research community, particularly with regards to democratic practices. Overall, this funding opportunity seeks innovative methodologies to address the critical impact of economic inequality on democratic values, with funding allocated on a competitive basis across various thematic areas within the research and innovation spectrum under Horizon Europe.

This is a summary of EU funding opportunities related to culture, creativity, and inclusive society, specifically addressing economic inequalities and their impact on democracy. The opportunities are part of the Horizon Europe program, with a call for proposals under HORIZON-CL2-2025-01. The funding is provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), utilizing a lump sum grant approach.

The central theme revolves around the interplay between economic inequalities and democratic values. The EU acknowledges that rising wealth gaps can fuel political polarization and distrust in democratic institutions. The goal is to foster research that enhances understanding of this relationship, promotes evidence-based policy recommendations, and ultimately bolsters democracies.

Key aspects of the funding include:

Research Focus:Projects should investigate how economic inequalities (wealth, income, and perceived inequalities) affect democratic practices, policy preferences, political polarization, voter turnout, and trust in institutions. The research should also explore the role of intergenerational wealth transfers and intersecting dimensions of inequality (sex, gender, disability, etc.).

Expected Outcomes:The projects should lead to:

Enhanced understanding of the interplay between economic inequalities and attitudes towards democracies.

Deeper insights into economic inequalities, including citizens’ own perceptions.

Enhanced policymakers’ awareness through evidence-based policy recommendations.

Effective use of existing data and exploration of new data avenues.

Novel and intersectional approaches to enhance understanding of and participation in democratic processes among economically vulnerable populations.

Scope and Activities:The scope encompasses a wide range of activities, including:

Analyzing the impact of income and wealth inequalities on policy preferences and democratic engagement.

Investigating the influence of perceived economic inequalities on trust and participation.

Examining how economic inequalities intersect with other social dimensions.

Studying the role of local media and community networks in shaping perceptions of inequality.

Analyzing the effects of geographic mobility on the transmission of economic inequalities.

Developing strategies to address varying levels of civic engagement.

Disciplines and Methodologies:Proposals are encouraged to involve diverse disciplinary perspectives, including economics, political economy, political science, public administration, history, sociology, psychology, gender studies, and public policy. Approaches that combine social science theories with data science techniques or incorporate novel mixed methodologies are also encouraged.

Stakeholder Engagement:Projects should involve a diverse array of stakeholders across diverse demographic groups, including representatives from trade unions, civil society organizations, social welfare bodies, and (local) government representatives.

Data Utilization:Applicants are encouraged to use data from European Research Infrastructures like CESSDA, the European Social Survey, or SHARE, and to leverage data and services available through the European Open Science Cloud and relevant Data Spaces. Data produced should be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable).

Collaboration:Cooperation is encouraged with the Community of democracy practitioners and researchers funded under HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01-12, as well as building on the results of other EU projects.

Budget and Timeline:

The call opens on 15 May 2025, with a deadline of 16 September 2025.

The indicative budget for each topic varies, with contributions ranging from approximately €2,000,000 to €26,000,000.

The number of grants awarded per topic also varies, ranging from 1 to 8.

Specific Topics and Budget Allocations:

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-01:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €3,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-02:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €3,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €7,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 2

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-05:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-06:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €3,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-09:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-10:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-11:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-12:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €3,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-03:HORIZON Innovation Actions, Budget: €26,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 8

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-04:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €15,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-05:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-06:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €13,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €12,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-08:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €3,500,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-HERITAGE-09:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €2,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-01:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-02:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-03:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-05:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-06:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-07:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-08:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €15,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-09:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-10:HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions, Budget: €10,200,000, Indicative number of grants: 3

HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-11:HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions, Budget: €2,000,000, Indicative number of grants: 1

Application Process:

The application form is available in the Submission System.

The page limit for Part B of the Research and Innovation Action (RIA) application using lump sum is 50 pages.

A detailed budget table must be submitted using the template in the Submission System.

Overall, this funding opportunity aims to support research and innovation that addresses the critical issue of economic inequality and its impact on democracy, encouraging interdisciplinary approaches and stakeholder engagement to develop effective policy recommendations and strategies for a more inclusive and resilient society.

Eligible Applicant Types:The opportunity is open to a diverse array of stakeholders across diverse demographic groups, encompassing different age groups, genders, minority communities, persons with disabilities, and socio-economically disadvantaged populations, including representatives from trade unions, civil society organisations, social welfare bodies, and (local) government representatives. While not explicitly stated, it is implied that eligible applicants would include research organizations, universities, and other entities capable of conducting social science and humanities research.

Funding Type:The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, under HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA). There are also HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity appears to favor consortia, as it encourages the involvement of a diverse array of stakeholders and cooperation with other projects and research infrastructures. However, the possibility of single applicants cannot be ruled out completely.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility is broad, including EU Member States and associated countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries as detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector:The program targets the thematic areas of culture, creativity, and inclusive society, with a specific focus on democracy, social cohesion, and the impact of economic inequalities. It falls under the broader sector of social sciences and humanities (SSH) research.

Mentioned Countries:The opportunity explicitly mentions EU Member States and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage:The expected maturity of the project is geared towards research and innovation actions (RIA) and innovation actions (IA), suggesting projects in the research, development, validation, and potentially demonstration stages. Coordination and support actions (CSA) are also included, which may focus on earlier stages such as idea and research.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the type of action:

HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (CSA):approximately €2,000,000 to €3,500,000

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA):approximately €3,000,000 to €5,000,000

HORIZON Innovation Actions (IA):approximately €2,500,000 to €4,000,000

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.

Application Stages:The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential competitiveness.

Co-funding Requirement:The information does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, part of the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society pillar, focuses on addressing economic inequalities and their impact on democracy. It seeks to fund research and innovation actions (RIA), innovation actions (IA) and coordination and support actions (CSA) that enhance understanding of the interplay between economic disparities and democratic values. The call encourages proposals that adopt an intersectional perspective, involve diverse stakeholders, and leverage existing data from European Research Infrastructures. Projects should aim to provide evidence-based policy recommendations to foster informed discussions and targeted measures that promote social justice, inclusion, and equal participation in democratic processes. Funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process involves a single stage. The call is open to a wide range of eligible countries, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-associated countries.