Federated CCAM data exchange platform (CCAM Partnership)

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for the topic titled "Federated CCAM data exchange platform (CCAM Partnership)" as part of the Horizon Europe program. This opportunity falls under the Horizon Innovation Action framework, specifically in the Cluster 5 Call for 2026 and carries a lump sum grant model agreement. The planned opening date for applications is September 16, 2025, with a submission deadline set for January 20, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. The budget for this call allocates €4 million, with one grant anticipated to be awarded.

The objective of the projects arising from this call is to address the current limitations of data exchange solutions for Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM). This includes mapping existing data interfaces, standards, and the needs for information and reference data relevant to key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with CCAM technologies. It aims to create a sustainable federated data exchange platform that improves data sharing for large-scale demonstrations and deployment across various stakeholders such as industry, social partners, authorities, and academia.

Key areas of focus include establishing a governance structure for the platform, proposing a sustainable business model, and ensuring alignment with existing European mobility data spaces while adhering to GDPR standards. The expected development stages for projects encompass development and validation, addressing specific use cases like digital twins, safety assessments, AI model training, and monitoring autonomous driving systems.

Eligible applicants for this grant include a diverse range of entities such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations involved in CCAM research and innovation. International cooperation, particularly with partners from Japan and the United States, is encouraged. The application is a single-stage process, and the nature of support is strictly monetary as a grant.

The call highlights the emphasis on co-funding, advocating for contributions from the private sector to enhance project viability. While success rates for proposals are not explicitly mentioned, Horizon Europe projects typically exhibit variability in competitiveness.

Overall, this initiative seeks to foster a robust data-sharing ecosystem within the CCAM sector, enhancing research and innovation capabilities, promoting safety and efficiency in mobility solutions, and solidifying EU leadership in the global transportation landscape.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals for the topic HORIZON-CL5-2026-01-D6-06, titled "Federated CCAM data exchange platform (CCAM Partnership)". This call falls under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically Cluster 5 Call 01-2026 (WP 2025) (HORIZON-CL5-2026-01). It is a HORIZON Innovation Action (HORIZON-IA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] model grant agreement. The call is forthcoming with a single-stage deadline model. The planned opening date is 16 September 2025, and the deadline for submission is 20 January 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time. The budget for this topic is 4,000,000 EUR for the year 2025, and it is expected that around 1 grant will be awarded.

The expected outcomes of the projects resulting from this topic include: an overview of CCAM-specific limitations of current data exchange solutions and existing data spaces related to interfaces, harmonized ontologies and taxonomies, standards, formats, and monetization/compensation; a mapping of information and reference data needs for KPIs collected by Member States and Associated Countries (where relevant and to the extent possible), related to impacts of CCAM technologies and solutions; a federated sustainable CCAM Data Exchange Platform that facilitates sharing of data for both large-scale demonstrations and deployment, interfacing existing data spaces and improving the exchange, availability, and accessibility of data for the development, testing and deployment of CCAM services (including but not limited to Digital Twins, digital scenario representations, safety assurance and validation, ADS regulation monitoring, driver behavior, AI model training, and the collection of national/EU level statistics and Key Performance Indicators); and a proposed governance structure for the Data Exchange Platform with a sustainability plan and viable business model.

The scope of the topic emphasizes the pivotal role of data sharing in supporting research and innovation, enabling deployment, and enhancing the competitiveness of the Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) industry. It identifies two distinct categories of data: mobility data and data for research and development. The call aims to address the need for a dedicated data space tailored specifically to the requirements of CCAM stakeholders, including Tier X suppliers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), traffic managers, and infrastructure providers, particularly in terms of vehicle and traffic safety considerations. It acknowledges the existence of several data spaces being developed in Europe for CCAM in specific R&I initiatives but highlights the need for significant enhancements in terms of developing connectors, APIs, and protocols for seamless data exchange, refining user profile management systems, and establishing robust contractual frameworks to govern data access and usage rights. The call also emphasizes the importance of aligning with the data space blueprint and taking advantage of common building blocks.

Proposed actions for this topic are expected to address the following aspects: identifying how to further evolve the data spaces for CCAM applications, connecting existing data spaces and bridging data gaps; identifying harmonization and standardization needs for taxonomies, interfaces, and data formats to push CCAM data exchange and extend and implement the CCAM taxonomies in the CCAM Test Data Space; identifying information needs and reference data for KPIs collected from Member States and Associated Countries (where relevant and to the extent possible) of i.e. high-level socio-economic statistics, accidents, infrastructure, vehicles; establishing a Federated CCAM Data Exchange Platform with tools and governance, including a viable business model to ensure the durability of the platform, which facilitates sharing of data for industry, social partners, authorities and academia that are supporting specific use cases related to: large-scale demonstrations, generation and maintenance of digital twins and representation of scenarios (for development or validation), performance and safety assessment, driver behaviour data from real and synthetic driving conditions, ADS regulation monitoring, AI model training, and common information source for national/EU level statistics and Key Performance Indicators; identifying and describing methods/algorithms/processes to refine and use data for the specific use cases tackled by the Platform; and identifying the effects of the EU General Data Protection Legislation (GDPR) on AI learning workflows and possible mitigation measures.

A strong alignment with the common European mobility data space and related projects is expected. The work should ensure coherence and interoperability with other common European data spaces, especially regarding its cross-sectoral blueprint and building blocks, by aligning with the Data Spaces Support Centre and by using, as far as possible, the smart cloud-to-edge middleware platform Simpl. The work should build on the outcomes of the FAME project and the FAME Test Data Space (Data Sharing - Connected Automated Driving). Finally, links with related activities under the future European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) for Mobility and Logistics Data and cooperation with the CCAM Partnership’s States Representative Group (SRG) is expected. Particular attention should be dedicated towards establishing interoperability standards for data sharing within and across data ecosystems, through the implementation of the FAIR data principles and leveraging already adopted practices, especially in relevant European common data spaces.

International cooperation is encouraged in particular with Japan and the United States but also with other relevant strategic partners in third countries. Projects resulting from this topic will be expected to report on results to the European Partnership ‘Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility’ (CCAM) in support of the monitoring of its KPIs and are expected to apply the European Common Evaluation Methodology (EU-CEM) for CCAM.

The general conditions for this call include admissibility conditions, eligible countries, other eligible conditions, financial and operational capacity and exclusion, evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, and legal and financial set-up of the grants. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Specific conditions include application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA), with application form templates available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility, 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.

This funding opportunity aims to establish a federated, sustainable data exchange platform for the CCAM industry. It seeks to overcome the limitations of existing data solutions by creating a unified space for mobility data and R&D data, fostering innovation, and enhancing the competitiveness of European CCAM solutions. The platform should facilitate data sharing among various stakeholders, including industry, academia, and authorities, and support the development of digital twins, safety assessments, and AI model training. The call encourages international collaboration and alignment with existing European data initiatives to ensure interoperability and adherence to FAIR data principles. The ultimate goal is to create a robust and sustainable ecosystem that promotes the development and deployment of safe, efficient, and trustworthy CCAM technologies.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls and the targeted actions (Innovation Actions and Research and Innovation Actions), eligible applicants could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other relevant organizations involved in research and innovation within the CCAM sector. The mention of "social partners, authorities, and academia" suggests that these entities are also considered relevant stakeholders and potential applicants or partners.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA) and HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe Programme. The eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required, but the scope and expected outcomes suggest that a consortium approach is highly encouraged, if not mandatory. The need for a "Federated CCAM Data Exchange Platform" and the involvement of various stakeholders (industry, social partners, authorities, academia) imply that a consortium of multiple applicants is likely necessary to address the topic comprehensively. Partner search announcements are available in the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility is for EU Member States and Associated Countries, as indicated by the reference to "Member States and Associated Countries" in the context of KPI data collection. However, the encouragement of "international cooperation in particular with Japan and the United States but also with other relevant strategic partners in third countries" suggests that entities from these countries may also participate, potentially with their own funding.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM). This encompasses various sub-sectors, including automotive, infrastructure, ICT, AI, data sharing, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance related to automated driving systems. The focus is on establishing a data space and exchange platform to support the development, testing, and deployment of CCAM solutions.

Mentioned Countries: Japan, United States, EU Member States, and Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage spans from development and validation to demonstration and deployment. The emphasis on "large-scale demonstrations" and "deployment of CCAM services" indicates that projects should be at least at the validation or demonstration stage, with a clear path towards commercialization or practical implementation.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call, ranging from EUR 1,500,000 for Coordination and Support Actions to EUR 30,000,000 for Research and Innovation Actions. The indicative number of grants per topic also varies, providing a general sense of the scale and scope of each funding opportunity. The individual grants range from around 4,000,000 EUR to around 11,000,000 EUR.

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 per topic provides some insight into the potential competitiveness of each call.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, given that this is a Horizon Europe call, co-funding may be required depending on the type of organization and the specific rules outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Summary: This opportunity is a Horizon Europe Cluster 5 call focused on establishing a Federated CCAM Data Exchange Platform to support the development, testing, and deployment of Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM) solutions. The call aims to address the limitations of current data exchange solutions by creating a sustainable platform that facilitates data sharing among industry, social partners, authorities, and academia. Projects should identify harmonisation needs, establish a governance structure with a viable business model, and tackle specific use cases related to large-scale demonstrations, digital twins, safety assessment, driver behaviour, and AI model training. International cooperation is encouraged, and projects are expected to align with the European mobility data space and apply the European Common Evaluation Methodology (EU-CEM) for CCAM. Funding is provided as a lump sum grant, and applications are submitted through a single-stage process. The call is open to a wide range of eligible applicants from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and potentially third countries, with a strong emphasis on consortium-based projects that involve diverse stakeholders.