GUARDIANS Co-Creation Open Call

The GUARDIANS project has launched two open calls aimed at empowering small and medium-sized farms through innovative digital solutions. The initiative seeks to bridge the technological divide between smaller farms and larger producers by implementing cost-effective and human-centric digital applications that promote sustainable agriculture models, including regenerative practices and biodiversity enhancement. The two open calls are the Co-Creation Open Call, providing funding up to €81,000 per project for the development and validation of new technologies, and the Test Before Invest Open Call, offering up to €10,000 for applying existing technologies in real-world farm settings.

The funding for the Co-Creation Open Call is structured in four phases over a 15-month program. Milestones include co-design, development, validation, and replication, with funds dispersed based on deliverables met. Eligible applicants include technology providers and farms, specifically focusing on small and medium-sized farms. Importantly, a collaborative approach is emphasized, requiring at least one technology provider and one farm to form a consortium for project applications.

The total budget for the Co-Creation Open Call is €729,000, covering up to nine supported projects, while the total budget for both calls stands at €819,000. The application process involves an online submission and includes a three-stage selection procedure: eligibility check, external expert evaluation, and final validation by the GUARDIANS Selection Committee.

Applications can be submitted online starting from May 15, 2025, until July 15, 2025. The grant mechanism is designed to foster multi-actor collaboration, reflecting the project's goal of enhancing the adoption of smart solutions in agriculture. More details, including application forms and guidelines, can be accessed through the project's dedicated website and microsite. The GUARDIANS initiative, under the HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-04 topic, aims for significant technological advancement in farming practices across EU member states.

The GUARDIANS project has launched two open calls to empower small and medium-sized farms through smart solutions. The project aims to bridge the technological gap between smaller farms and larger food producers by implementing cost-effective and human-centric digital solutions. These solutions will support and empower the adoption, sustainability, and resilience of agroecological farming models, including regenerative agriculture, natural grazing, alternative managed grazing strategies, and the promotion of pollinators. The project will customize nine different technologies, combining software and hardware, to meet the specific needs of farmers using a multi-actor co-creation methodology.

The two open calls are the Co-Creation OC and the Test Before Invest OC. The Co-Creation OC will fund up to 9 projects with up to €81,000 per project, with a total budget of €729,000. The Test Before Invest OC will also fund up to 9 projects, but with up to €10,000 per project, and a total budget of €90,000. The total budget for both open calls is €819,000.

Beneficiaries of the Co-Creation Open Call will participate in a 15-month funding program divided into four phases:

Phase 1: Co-Design (3 months). This phase involves delivering a detailed roadmap describing the proposed implementation of the solution and how it will be implemented, considering specific user requirements. Milestone 1 marks the end of this phase. A presential workshop or roadshow will also be organized for farms associated with cooperatives involved in the project to introduce these innovations to small and medium-sized farms. This is Milestone 2, which can also be achieved in month 6 of the project if presenting a more developed Proof of Concept (PoC) is beneficial. Note that this may affect the Lump Sum payment.

Phase 2: Development (6 months). This phase focuses on the development and initial deployment (if needed) of the digital solution, making it ready for implementation in the pilot. All developments in this phase should be documented and justified. Milestone 3 marks the end of this phase.

Phase 3: Validation (6 months). This phase involves the implementation and modification of the digital solution in the pilot. It includes defining and performing test scenarios to ensure the solution meets the requirements specification, testing the solution with end-users to gather feedback, and conducting usability testing. An action plan for post-project sustainability and commercialization is also required, along with the delivery of recommendations and technical guidelines for using the solution in similar settings. Milestone 4 marks the end of this phase.

Phase 4: Replication (3 months). Solutions developed within the Co-Creation Open Call will be replicated in the use cases resulting from the Test-Before-Invest Open Call. This phase runs in parallel with the last 3 months of Phase 3. Milestone 5 marks the end of this phase.

Funding for the Co-Creation Open Call is deliverable-based and provided in 4 installments, distributed upon successful submission of the relevant deliverables and their positive assessment by the GUARDIANS Selection Committee. Payments are made after the Milestone Review at the end of each phase, with no pre-financing.

The funding scheme is as follows:

Phase 1 / Design (3 months): Technology provider up to €10,000, Farm up to €6,000.
Phase 2 / Development (6 months): Technology provider up to €20,000, Farm up to €6,000.
Phase 3 / Validation (6 months): Technology provider up to €20,000, Farm up to €10,000. Payments for Phase 3 are linked to the tech provider's participation in the Test-Before-Invest Open Call, which runs in parallel during the last 3 months, and the mandatory video-demo submission and online presentation to validate the technology.
Phase 4 / Replication (3 months): Technology provider up to €10,000. This phase runs in parallel with phase 3.
The total funding available is up to €81,000.

Technology providers whose solutions are selected in the Test Before Invest Open Call will receive up to €10,000 for deploying their technology in a second farm during the replication phase (Phase 4). The payment of this amount, as well as the payment of up to €20,000 for Phase 3 (Validation), is conditional on the technology provider’s participation in the replication phase. Technology providers whose solutions are not selected in the Test Before Invest Open Call will receive the payment of up to €20,000 for Phase 3 (Validation).

The opening date for submissions is May 15, 2025, and the deadline is July 15, 2025, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 15 months. The total funding available is €729,000. The project acronym is GUARDIANS, and the full name of the EU-funded project is "Smart solutions to empower small- and medium-sized farms as guardians of the territory." The grant agreement number is 101084468. The topic is HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-04-two-stage - Smart solutions for the use of digital technologies for small- and medium-sized farms and farm structures.

The submission process involves an application form available at http://url.ctic.es/guardiansopencall. The selection process consists of three steps: checking eligibility criteria, external expert evaluation, and final validation by the GUARDIANS Selection Committee. Further information can be found in the Guide for Applicants, section 4.

The Open Call application form is available at http://url.ctic.es/guardiansopencall. Inquiries can be sent to the Open Call helpdesk email: ocguardians@ctic.es. The project website is https://guardians-project.eu/, and the Open Call Microsite is https://guardians-project.eu/call/open-call-1-co-creation.

In summary, the GUARDIANS project is offering two open calls to support the development and implementation of smart, digital solutions for small and medium-sized farms. The Co-Creation OC provides funding and a 15-month program for technology providers and farms to co-develop and validate solutions, while the Test Before Invest OC offers smaller grants for testing existing technologies. The project aims to promote agroecological farming models and bridge the technological gap in the agricultural sector. The funding is milestone-based, and participation in both open calls can influence the amount of funding received. The project seeks to foster collaboration between researchers, technology experts, and farmers to create real-world impact.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for the GUARDIANS Co-Creation Open Call are technology providers and farms, specifically small and medium-sized farms. The project aims to foster co-creation between research and technical experts and farmers.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding, distributed in four installments based on the successful completion and assessment of deliverables.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, consisting of at least one technology provider and one farm. The project emphasizes multi-actor collaborations and co-creation.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): While the text doesn't explicitly state the geographic eligibility, it is implied that the opportunity is targeted towards entities within the EU, given that it is an EU-funded project under the Horizon Europe program. The project is part of the HORIZON-CL6-2022-FARM2FORK-02-04 topic.

Target Sector: The target sector is agriculture/food, specifically focusing on smart solutions and digital technologies for small and medium-sized farms. The program supports agroecological farming models such as regenerative agriculture, natural grazing, alternative managed grazing strategies, and the promotion of pollinators. The technologies involved combine software and hardware.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is an EU initiative, so it is applicable to the EU member states.

Project Stage: The project stage encompasses development, validation, and replication. The program supports the customization, development, implementation, and testing of digital solutions in real-world farm settings. The phases include co-design, development, validation, and replication, suggesting a progression from initial design to practical application and scaling.

Funding Amount: The funding amount for the Co-Creation Open Call is up to €81,000 per project. The funding is divided across four phases, with specific amounts allocated to technology providers and farms in each phase. The Test Before Invest Open Call offers up to €10,000 per project.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. Applications must be submitted through an online application form.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in installments based on deliverables.

Application Stages: The selection process involves three stages: eligibility check, external expert evaluation, and final validation by the GUARDIANS Selection Committee.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement. The funding scheme outlines specific amounts for technology providers and farms within each phase, suggesting that the grant covers the eligible costs.

The GUARDIANS project is a European initiative designed to empower small and medium-sized farms by bridging the technological gap with larger producers. It aims to implement cost-effective, human-centric digital solutions that promote sustainable and resilient agroecological farming practices. The project involves two open calls: the Co-Creation Open Call and the Test Before Invest Open Call. The Co-Creation Open Call provides up to €81,000 in funding for projects that involve technology providers and farms working together to develop and validate digital solutions. The Test Before Invest Open Call offers up to €10,000 for deploying technologies in farm settings. The Co-Creation Open Call follows a 15-month program divided into four phases: co-design, development, validation, and replication. Funding is disbursed in installments upon successful completion and assessment of deliverables. The project seeks to foster multi-actor collaborations, expand its portfolio of technologies, and generate a multiplier effect through real-world use cases, ultimately supporting the adoption of innovative solutions in the agricultural sector. The application process involves a three-step selection process, including an eligibility check, external expert evaluation, and final validation by the GUARDIANS Selection Committee.