Improving socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia and informal caregivers

This document outlines a significant grant opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, specifically aimed at improving socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. This initiative falls within the broader theme of "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society" and allocates a total budget of 16 million euros, with an expected contribution of approximately 3.2 million euros per project for five anticipated grants. The application process is structured in two stages, beginning with the opening date on March 2, 2027, and initial proposal submission deadline on May 4, 2027, followed by a full proposal deadline on September 30, 2027.

The primary goal of this grant is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with dementia while alleviating the burdens faced by their informal caregivers, the majority of whom are women. The projects encouraged by this call aim to establish evidence-based, person-centered interventions that increase autonomy and social inclusion for those living with dementia, reduce the emotional and financial pressures faced by caregivers, and improve system-level coordination among various healthcare and social service providers.

Eligible applicants include a diverse range of entities such as universities, research organizations, civil society organizations, social partners, and small and medium-sized enterprises. The application process necessitates forming a consortium that operates in at least four Member States or Associated Countries. This multi-country requirement is intended to foster geographic diversity and enhance the testing of interventions across different healthcare systems.

Projects must implement interventions that have already demonstrated effectiveness at a smaller scale, reflecting a focus on scaling and contextualizing existing solutions rather than developing new ones. Furthermore, applicants will need to provide a rigorous evaluation framework to assess both the effectiveness and the economic viability of the proposed interventions, incorporating analyses of social inequalities and the potential integration into existing care structures.

The call also highlights the importance of technology, specifically digital tools and applications, in enhancing dementia care. The outcome is expected to yield improved social and economic data that can guide policy decisions, increase the effectiveness of dementia care, and facilitate resource optimization.

In summary, this Horizon Europe initiative seeks to bridge the gap in dementia care by supporting multi-disciplinary research that enhances systemic interventions, promotes social cohesion, and delivers sustainable care solutions. It emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice, partnership among various stakeholders, and sound data management principles in driving meaningful changes within the healthcare landscape for individuals living with dementia and their caregivers in Europe.

This is a call for proposals under the Horizon Europe program, specifically focusing on "Improving socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia and informal caregivers." The call falls under the "Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society" theme and is designated as a two-stage HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (RIA). The type of Model Grant Agreement is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant.

The planned opening date for submissions is March 2, 2027, with a first-stage deadline of May 4, 2027, and a second-stage deadline of September 30, 2027, both at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The overarching goal is to enhance the social, mental, and socio-economic well-being of individuals with dementia and their informal caregivers through the development and implementation of person-centered interventions. The projects should aim to improve autonomy, inclusion, and overall quality of life for those with dementia. For informal caregivers, the focus is on reducing emotional, financial, and physical burdens by providing evidence-based support measures, policies, and services that enhance their well-being and economic resilience. The call also seeks to foster more integrated and accessible care through strengthened coordination among healthcare providers, long-term care facilities, social services, and community organizations. Furthermore, the initiative aims to provide researchers and policymakers with improved, gender-sensitive data on dementia care to inform policies, optimize resource allocation, and enhance the effectiveness of care models.

The scope of the call acknowledges the growing number of people with dementia in the EU and the significant role of informal caregivers, particularly women, in providing care. It highlights the need for systemic interventions that address the economic, social, and mental health aspects of both patients and caregivers. The call prioritizes scaling up and contextualizing existing interventions that have shown promise, rather than developing entirely new solutions. Proposals should include a robust methodological framework for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions, assess their economic feasibility and sustainability, and consider their potential integration into existing health and social care systems. Projects are encouraged to focus on vulnerable groups, incorporate social inequality analyses, and include community-based models and technology. Interventions should be implemented in at least four Member States or Associated Countries, with the active involvement of informal caregivers throughout the research process.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include: Improved social, mental, and socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia through person-centered interventions. Reduced emotional, financial, and physical burden for informal caregivers through evidence-based support measures. More integrated and accessible care through strengthened coordination among healthcare providers and community organizations. Improved, gender-sensitive data on dementia care for researchers and policymakers to inform policies and optimize resource allocation.

This call contributes to the "Innovative Research on Social and Economic Transformations (2026-27)" destination, aiming to strengthen social and economic resilience, boost inclusive growth, and reduce vulnerabilities. It aligns with the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027 and supports various EU policy frameworks, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Education Area, the Union of Skills, the EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, and the Union of Equality policies.

Applicants are encouraged to consider the services offered by European Research Infrastructures, leverage data from the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), and ensure that data produced is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable). International cooperation is also encouraged.

The evaluation process will be a two-stage process, with first-stage proposals evaluated blindly. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum.

The budget for the HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage topic is 16,000,000 EUR, with an indicative contribution of around 3,200,000 EUR per grant, and an expected 5 grants to be awarded.

The call also lists several other related topics: HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09-two-stage with a budget of 22,000,000 EUR and individual contributions ranging from 2,000,000 to 3,700,000 EUR, and HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-HERITAGE-09-two-stage with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR and individual contributions ranging from 2,000,000 to 4,000,000 EUR.

This funding opportunity aims to address the growing societal challenge of dementia by supporting research and innovation that improves the lives of both those living with dementia and their caregivers. It emphasizes the importance of systemic interventions, evidence-based practices, and the integration of technology and community-based models. By fostering collaboration among researchers, policymakers, healthcare providers, and community organizations, this call seeks to create more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable care systems for individuals with dementia and their families across Europe. The focus on social sciences and humanities (SSH) and the encouragement of international cooperation further underscore the comprehensive and multi-faceted approach of this initiative.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity is open to a vast array of stakeholders, not limited to universities and research centres, but also extending to social partners (trade unions and business organizations), civil society organizations, practitioners, VET providers, and SMEs. The text mentions researchers (including from SSH disciplines) and policymakers.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]. 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 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025).

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to require a consortium, as it aims to bring together a balanced and appropriate set of stakeholders. The text also mentions partner search announcements, which implies that multiple entities are expected to collaborate.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The interventions should be implemented in at least four Member States or Associated Countries. The text also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding but have made specific provisions for funding their participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is health, specifically focusing on improving socio-economic outcomes for persons with dementia and their informal caregivers. It also touches upon social sciences and humanities (SSH), social policy, healthcare systems, and technology/digital tools. The call falls under the broader theme of Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity explicitly mentions the European Union and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The opportunity prioritizes scaling up and contextualizing interventions that have already shown promise or effectiveness at a smaller scale, suggesting a focus on the validation, demonstration, and potentially scale-up stages.

Funding Amount: The budget for the topic HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage is EUR 16,000,000. The expected contribution per project is around EUR 3,200,000.

Application Type: The application type is a two-stage open call. The first deadline is for the first stage proposals, and the second deadline is for the full proposals. The first-stage proposals of this topic will be evaluated blindly.

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

Application Stages: The application process is two-staged.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants for the topic HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage is 5. The success rate cannot be determined exactly without knowing the expected number of applications.

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

Summary:

This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) call, HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage, aims to improve the socio-economic outcomes for individuals with dementia and their informal caregivers. The call, with a budget of EUR 16,000,000 and an expected contribution of around EUR 3,200,000 per project, encourages systemic interventions that address the economic, social, and mental health aspects of dementia caregiving. The European Union recognizes that dementia is a growing problem and that informal caregivers, often women, face significant burdens. The call seeks to scale up and contextualize existing interventions, rather than developing entirely new solutions.

Eligible applicants include a wide range of stakeholders such as universities, research centers, social partners, civil society organizations, practitioners, VET providers, and SMEs. Consortia are expected, fostering collaboration among diverse entities. The geographic focus is on EU Member States and Associated Countries, with potential for participation from non-EU/non-Associated Countries under specific conditions.

Projects should implement interventions in at least four Member States or Associated Countries and must involve informal caregivers throughout the research process. Proposals should outline evidence-based strategies for tailoring, deploying, and assessing interventions at various levels (individual, family, community, societal). The call encourages the use of technology and digital tools.

The application process is two-staged, with a blind evaluation for the first stage. Funding will be provided as a lump sum grant. The call aligns with the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan, aiming to strengthen social and economic resilience, boost inclusive growth, and reduce vulnerabilities. It also supports various EU initiatives, including the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Education Area, and the Union of Equality policies. The planned opening date is 02 March 2027, with deadlines on 04 May 2027 and 30 September 2027.