GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal has announced a call for proposals titled "GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI" as part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the EIC Accelerator 2025. This initiative aims to strengthen European leadership in generative AI by supporting high-potential projects.

Eligible applicants primarily include startups and SMEs, and small mid-caps focusing on TRL 9 activities may also apply for investment support. Geographic eligibility extends to EU Member States and associated countries, with provisions for non-EU applicants to relocate before submission.

The funding type is a Horizon Lump Sum Grant, with grants ranging from €500,000 to a maximum of €17.5 million per project. The application process is structured as an open call with two main stages: a short proposal followed by a full proposal. The planned opening date for submissions is November 26, 2024, with key deadlines on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.

Other highlights include a focus on projects that are ready for commercialization or scale-up, particularly in sectors like telecommunications, aerospace, and healthcare. The program aims to boost AI solutions that align with EU ethical guidelines, especially the EU AI Act. While consortia are not compulsory, collaboration is encouraged in some aspects of the initiative.

The evaluation process involves specific criteria for scoring and awarding funds, and applicants are advised to familiarize themselves with numerous guidelines and documents provided for the application process. National Contact Points and the Enterprise Europe Network are available to assist businesses in navigating the application and funding landscape.

This call represents a significant opportunity for innovative projects contributing to AI advancements in Europe, with a total budget allocation of €634 million across various topics in 2025.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a call for proposals titled "GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI" under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, specifically the EIC Accelerator 2025 Full application (HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02). The type of action is HORIZON-EIC-ACC, which stands for HORIZON EIC Accelerator, and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. This is a forthcoming call with a multiple cut-off deadline model. The planned opening date for submissions is November 26, 2024. There are two deadline dates: March 12, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time and October 1, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The general conditions for admissibility include proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and further details in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. Eligible countries are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Other eligible conditions are also described in Annex B, while financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

The evaluation and award process involves award criteria, scoring, and thresholds described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 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. The legal and financial setup of the grants is outlined 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, along with the Model Grant Agreement (MGA), are available. Application form templates specific to this call can be found in the Submission System, including standard application forms for various action types such as HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA DN, PF, SE, COFUND, ERC STG, COG, ADG, POC, SYG, EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES, EIC PATHFINDER OPEN, and EIC TRANSITION. Evaluation form templates, which will be adapted as necessary, include standard evaluation forms for HE RIA, IA, CSA, PCP PPI, COFUND, FPA, MSCA, EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES, EIC PATHFINDER OPEN, EIC TRANSITION, and EIC Accelerator (stage 1 and stage 2).

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, HE MGA, HE Unit MGA, Lump Sum MGA, Operating Grants MGA, and Framework Partnership Agreement FPA. Call-specific instructions are provided in the detailed budget table (HE LS), information on financial support to third parties (HE), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 sections on General Introduction, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Research Infrastructures, Health, Culture, creativity and inclusive society, Civil Security for Society, Digital, Industry and Space, Climate, Energy and Mobility, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE), Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area, Missions, and General Annexes. Further reference documents are the HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, 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 total budget for 2025 is EUR 634,000,000. The funding is allocated across multiple topics: HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01, HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-03, and HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-01. The contributions range from EUR 500,000 to EUR 17,500,000 per grant. The indicative number of grants for each topic is 15, 15, 15, 65, 15, and 15, respectively.

There are currently no partner search announcements. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Portal. The submission system is planned to open on November 26, 2024.

Applicants are encouraged to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual serves as a guide for procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ addresses frequently asked questions on proposal submission, evaluation, and grant management. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) offer guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in non-EU and non-associated countries. The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) provides advice to businesses, especially SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions related to the Funding & Tenders Portal. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk advise on standardisation in project proposals. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers, employers, and funders. A Partner Search tool is available to help find partner organisations for proposals.

In summary, this Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator call aims to foster European leadership in Generative AI by providing substantial funding to projects that address specific challenges or are open to any field. The call provides detailed guidelines and resources for applicants, covering eligibility, proposal preparation, evaluation, and grant management. With a significant budget and multiple cut-off dates, it offers numerous opportunities for innovative projects to secure funding and contribute to the advancement of AI in Europe.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator program. While the specific eligible applicant types are not explicitly listed in the provided text, the EIC Accelerator typically targets startups, SMEs, and occasionally larger enterprises that are seeking to scale up breakthrough innovations. The Enterprise Europe Network is mentioned, indicating a focus on businesses, especially SMEs.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant, as indicated by the "Type of MGA: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]" designation. The EIC Accelerator also sometimes provides blended finance (grant and equity), but this is not explicitly stated here.

Consortium Requirement: The text does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required. However, the presence of a "Partner Search" function suggests that while single applicants might be possible, consortia are also encouraged or permitted. The availability of standard application forms for various project types (RIA, IA, CSA, etc.) might indicate different options for single or multiple applicants.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. The text mentions that non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions for funding. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide provides more information on this. Therefore, the geographic eligibility includes EU member states and associated countries, with potential participation from non-EU/non-associated countries under specific conditions.

Target Sector: Based on the available information, this opportunity targets a wide range of sectors. The Horizon Europe Work Programme includes sections on Health, Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, Civil Security for Society, Digital, Industry and Space, Climate, Energy and Mobility, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, and European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE). The mention of "GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI" explicitly targets Artificial Intelligence. The EIC Accelerator is generally focused on DeepTech and breakthrough innovations across various sectors.

Mentioned Countries: The text refers to EU member states, associated countries, and non-EU/non-associated third countries. No specific countries are explicitly named, but the geographic scope is clearly defined by the Horizon Europe framework.

Project Stage: The EIC Accelerator is designed to support projects at the commercialization and scale-up stages. It targets innovations that are beyond the research phase and ready to be brought to market or scaled up significantly.

Funding Amount: The budget overview indicates a funding range of 500,000 EUR to 17,500,000 EUR per project. The total budget allocated to the topics listed (HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, -04, -02, -03, -01 and HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01) is 634,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with multiple cut-off dates. The planned opening date is November 26, 2024, with deadline dates on March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a Lump Sum Grant. The EIC Accelerator may also offer blended finance, which combines grant funding with equity investment, although this is not explicitly mentioned in this particular excerpt.

Application Stages: The application process involves at least two stages: a short proposal (stage 1) and a full proposal (stage 2), as indicated by the "Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal)" and "Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal)".

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is listed as 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-05, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-04, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-02, 65 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-OPEN-01, 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-03 and 15 for HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-02-CHALLENGES-01. Without knowing the number of applications, it is impossible to determine the success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement. However, given that the EIC Accelerator sometimes uses blended finance (grant and equity), there may be an expectation of some level of investment or financial commitment from the applicant, especially in cases where equity is involved.

Summary:

This opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator program, offering lump sum grants ranging from 500,000 EUR to 17,500,000 EUR to support the commercialization and scale-up of breakthrough innovations. The program is open to startups, SMEs, and potentially larger enterprises from EU member states, associated countries, and, under specific conditions, non-EU/non-associated countries. The call encompasses a wide array of sectors, including health, digital, industry, space, climate, energy, mobility, and artificial intelligence, with a particular emphasis on DeepTech. The application process involves multiple cut-off dates and at least two stages: a short proposal and a full proposal. While consortia are not explicitly required, the presence of a partner search function suggests that collaborative projects are welcome. The funding mechanism is primarily a lump sum grant, although blended finance options may also be available. Applicants should consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and related annexes for detailed eligibility criteria, proposal guidelines, and evaluation procedures. The call aims to foster European innovation ecosystems and support the development of groundbreaking solutions across various societal challenges.