Fostering the consolidation of European science diplomacy

The grant opportunity titled "Fostering the consolidation of European science diplomacy" falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically within the Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society call for 2025. It is categorized as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) and offers funding through lump sum grants. The total budget for this initiative is €3 million, with each project eligible to receive between €2.5 million and €3 million. The call for applications opened on May 15, 2025, and concludes on September 16, 2025.

Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States and associated countries, with provisions for certain non-associated third-country entities to participate as beneficiaries or affiliated entities. The primary focus of the grant is on science diplomacy, aiming to integrate scientific insights into foreign policy and foster mutual understanding among diverse stakeholders from academia, government, civil society, and the business sector.

Key expected outcomes of the grant include the creation of a taxonomy mapping various players involved in science diplomacy, the establishment of a European Science Diplomacy Platform for collaboration, and development of training and competence frameworks to empower science counsellors and diplomats. The initiative emphasizes engagement with global partners and aims to ensure that the generated data adheres to FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).

The application process consists of a single-stage open call, with specific evaluation and submission guidelines detailed in various supporting documents. The grant is designed to enhance the EU's role in science diplomacy, addressing geopolitical challenges through strategic collaboration and capacity building in science and technology-related areas.

This opportunity is particularly relevant for organizations and entities focused on improving science-policy interfaces, fostering international scientific collaboration, and increasing the impact of science on global challenges.

This EU grant opportunity, HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-02, aims to foster the consolidation of European science diplomacy. It falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society call for 2025. It is a HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline model. The opening date was May 15, 2025, and the deadline for submission is September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of this grant are:

1.  A taxonomy of European science diplomacy, mapping relevant players from academia, policymaking, diplomacy, civil society, and business. This includes an overview of science diplomacy ecosystems in the EU, existing capacities, infrastructures, networks (including diaspora and alumni networks), training activities, strategies, and publications at EU and national levels. It also involves mapping science diplomacy strategies of third countries to inform EU responses.

2.  Design and launch of a European Science Diplomacy Platform as a community of research and practice. This platform will provide an impartial space for interaction and resources for institutional capacity building, knowledge sharing, and scaling up of best practices. It will involve key players in European science diplomacy from both EU and national levels, liaise with European scientists in the diaspora and alumni of European mobility schemes, and create links with existing platforms.

3.  Development of schemes, competence frameworks, and curricula for training, capacity-building, and mutual learning in European science diplomacy. This will build on existing mechanisms such as the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), ERC, COST, EURAXESS, the European Universities initiative, the European Diplomatic Academy, and relevant programmes at the national level. Particular attention will be paid to the needs of science counsellors and other diplomats dealing with matters that rely heavily on scientific expertise.

The scope of this grant opportunity includes:

*  Consolidating the European science diplomacy landscape in research and practice.
*  Mapping all relevant players and establishing a European Science Diplomacy Platform.
*  Providing concrete support for policy needs by bringing together scientists (including from SSH disciplines) and diplomats. This support includes:
 *  Advising on the use of science diplomacy to help achieve the EU’s foreign and security policy goals (e.g., in the context of Global Gateway).
 *  Identifying research needs and providing expert knowledge to policymakers and diplomatic services through science advice and science communication, thereby strengthening multilateralism and democratic governance.
 *  Designing methods for assessing the impact of relevant actions.
 *  Exploring synergies with other fields of diplomacy, most notably tech / innovation / digital diplomacy, as well as public diplomacy and culture diplomacy, including the use of arts to communicate science related to global challenges.
 *  Assisting policy dialogues with audiences and stakeholders in third countries as well as international organizations and other multilateral settings.
 *  Supporting the EU’s science diplomacy outreach to partners world-wide, including to relevant international organizations, such as UNESCO.
*  Exploring and developing mechanisms for training, capacity-building, and mutual learning in science diplomacy in a consistent manner, including by exploring the feasibility of science diplomacy fellowship schemes in European and Member State/Associated Countries’ institutions at home and in diplomatic representations abroad.
*  Engagement with partners outside the EU is particularly encouraged.
*  Particular efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced in the context of this topic is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable).

The general conditions for this grant include:

1.  Admissibility Conditions: The proposal page limit for Part B of a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) using lump sum funding is 33 pages. A detailed budget table must be submitted using the template available in the Submission system.

2.  Eligible Countries: As described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3.  Other Eligible Conditions: Legal entities established in non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate in this Coordination and support action as a beneficiary or affiliated entity, if eligible for funding.

4.  Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds: The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes: As described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: As described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6.  Legal and financial set-up of the grants: 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.

The application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) include:

*  Application form templates available in the Submission System (Standard application form (HE CSA)).
*  Evaluation form templates that will be used with the necessary adaptations (Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)).
*  Guidance from the HE Programme Guide.
*  Model Grant Agreements (MGA) for Lump Sum MGA.
*  Call-specific instructions.
*  Detailed budget table (HE LS) (version 3.3).
*  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 – 5. Culture, creativity and inclusive society
*  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
*  Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for the call in 2025 includes various topics related to Democracy, Heritage, and Transformation, with opening dates on May 15, 2025, and deadlines on September 16, 2025. The contributions and indicative number of grants vary by topic.

This grant opportunity seeks to consolidate European science diplomacy by mapping key players, establishing a European Science Diplomacy Platform, and developing training mechanisms. It aims to strengthen the role of science in foreign policy and international cooperation, encouraging engagement with partners outside the EU and ensuring data is FAIR. The project is designed to create a vibrant community of scholars and practitioners, providing support for policy needs and enhancing the EU’s global outreach through science diplomacy.

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 legal entities that can apply are not explicitly defined in the provided text, but can be inferred to include those involved in academia, policymaking, diplomacy, civil society, and business.

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

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to allow for both single applicants and consortia. The text mentions "key players in European science diplomacy, from both the EU and national levels," suggesting that multiple entities can be involved. Partner search announcements are also available, implying that applicants can form consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and associated countries. However, legal entities established in non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate under certain conditions.

Target Sector: The target sector is science diplomacy, focusing on consolidating the European science diplomacy landscape. This includes areas such as research and innovation, foreign and security policies, international cooperation, and cultural relations. It also involves tech/innovation/digital diplomacy, public diplomacy, and culture diplomacy.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions Spain as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU during the European Science Diplomacy Conference in Madrid in December 2023. It also refers to EU Member States and associated countries, as well as non-EU/non-Associated Countries (third countries).

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on coordination and support actions, which suggests a maturity level beyond the initial idea or research phase. The emphasis is on consolidating existing efforts, mapping players, establishing platforms, and developing training mechanisms, indicating a development and implementation stage.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for the HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-02 topic is €3,000,000, with contributions ranging from €2,500,000 to €3,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is a single-stage open call.

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

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate is not explicitly mentioned in the provided text. However, the budget overview indicates that for the HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-02 topic, only one grant is expected to be awarded.

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

Summary:

This Horizon Europe funding opportunity, HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-DEMOCRACY-02, aims to consolidate European science diplomacy efforts through a Coordination and Support Action (CSA). The project seeks to map relevant players, establish a European Science Diplomacy Platform, and develop training mechanisms for science diplomacy. Eligible applicants include legal entities from EU Member States, associated countries, and, under specific conditions, non-associated third countries. The funding will be provided as a lump sum grant, with a total budget of €3,000,000 and individual contributions ranging from €2,500,000 to €3,000,000. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of September 16, 2025. The project should contribute to a taxonomy of European science diplomacy, the design and launch of a European Science Diplomacy Platform, and the development of training schemes and competence frameworks. Engagement with partners outside the EU is encouraged, and particular efforts should be made to ensure that the data produced is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). The granting authority can fund a maximum of one project. This initiative is part of the broader Horizon Europe Programme, focusing on Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society, and aims to strengthen the role of science and technology in EU foreign and security policies.