Intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change in the EU

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-10 is part of the Horizon Europe program, focusing on the enhancement of intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change across the EU. This initiative is designed to support research projects that contribute to socio-economic transformations, particularly in terms of policy-making related to demographic trends.

Eligible applicants for this grant include universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public-private partnerships capable of conducting relevant socio-economic research. Projects must be structured as consortia, requiring at least three independent entities from different EU member states or associated countries, adhering to Horizon Europe's Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) standards.

The funding provided is a lump-sum grant, with the total indicative budget for this call set at 10.20 million euros. Each project can receive between 3 million and 4 million euros. The application process is a single-stage open call, with proposals due by September 16, 2025.

The target sectors for this funding encompass social sciences and public policy, aiming to address challenges such as intergenerational inequality, health, wealth accumulation, and the affordability of housing. Funded projects should focus on developing indicators, policy frameworks, and socio-economic models that promote equity, and must explore at least three drivers of intergenerational inequalities through an intersectional lens.

Proposals are encouraged to incorporate findings from European Research Infrastructures and ensure that data used is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). Collaboration among selected projects is emphasized, alongside engagement with the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC).

While the specific criteria for success rates are not provided, historically, Horizon Europe projects see success rates ranging from 10% to 39%. Additionally, co-funding is not required for this grant, as lump-sum funding typically covers 100% of eligible costs.

Overall, this grant aims to tackle critical issues surrounding demographic changes and their implications for different generations in Europe, fostering collaborative research efforts to inform policy and promote social equity.

The EU Funding and Tenders Portal presents a Horizon Europe call focused on Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society for 2025, specifically addressing intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change within the EU. The call, designated as HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-10, seeks to fund HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) using a lump sum grant agreement (HORIZON-AG-LS). The submission process is single-stage, opening on May 15, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of funded projects include enhancing the understanding and engagement of policymakers, researchers, and citizens regarding intergenerational fairness, providing policymakers with scientific knowledge and data for evidence-informed policies, and developing an action plan with viable policies to adapt the European economic and social model to reduce intergenerational imbalances.

The scope of the call emphasizes the challenges posed by demographic trends, such as an increasing aging population and declining fertility rates, which impact intergenerational fairness and the social contract. Proposals should analyze at least three drivers of intergenerational inequalities and their interdependencies, investigate intergenerational fairness through an intersectional lens, and may have regional or national dimensions. Projects can focus on developing fairness indicators, drawing lessons from policy interventions, or promoting democratic participation for current and future generations.

Clustering and cooperation among selected projects and relevant initiatives are encouraged. Applicants should consider data from European Research Infrastructures, particularly SHARE, and leverage data and services available through the European Open Science Cloud and relevant Data Spaces, ensuring data is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable). The involvement of the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) is also encouraged.

General conditions for admissibility include adhering to the proposal page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. The page limit for Part B of the RIA application using a lump sum is 50 pages, with a mandatory detailed budget table. Eligible countries are specified in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. The JRC can participate as part of the consortium.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are outlined in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. Evaluation and award processes, criteria, scoring, and thresholds are detailed in Annex D and Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreements is also in Annex F. Legal and financial aspects are governed by the lump sum decision of July 7, 2021, and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme. Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the standard application form (HE RIA, IA). Evaluation form templates and guidance documents such as the HE Programme Guide and Lump Sum MGA are also provided. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and rules for Legal Entity Validation.

The budget overview indicates that the HORIZON-CL2-2025-01-TRANSFO-10 topic has a budget of 10,200,000 EUR for the year 2025, with contributions ranging from 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 EUR and an indicative number of 3 grants. The opening date is May 15, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025.

Partner search announcements are available for collaboration, and support is provided through various resources such as the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, and European IPR Helpdesk.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to address the critical issue of intergenerational fairness in the face of changing demographics within the EU. It seeks research and innovation actions that can provide policymakers with the knowledge and tools necessary to create a more equitable and sustainable future for all generations. The call encourages comprehensive analysis, intersectional perspectives, and the use of existing data infrastructures to develop effective policy recommendations and interventions. The funding is provided as a lump sum, and the application process is a single-stage submission with a deadline in September 2025. The initiative is designed to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to inform evidence-based policies and promote social innovation for a fairer European society.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe calls, eligible applicants typically include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other legal entities capable of conducting research and innovation activities. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission can also participate as a member of a consortium.

Funding Type: The funding type is primarily grant-based, specifically HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) and HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA). The grants are awarded as lump sums.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to favor consortia, as clustering and cooperation with other selected projects is strongly encouraged. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium selected for funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and associated countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions may exist for non-EU/non-associated countries, as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society sector, with a focus on intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change. Specific areas of interest include education, labor market opportunities, wealth accumulation, housing affordability, well-being, health, environmental impact, and the role of institutions and public services.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Project Stage: The project stage varies depending on the type of action. Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) typically support activities from research to demonstration, excluding direct commercial exploitation, while Innovation Actions (IA) focus on demonstration and piloting activities. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) support networking, coordination, and dissemination activities.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action. For Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), the contributions range from around 3,400,000 EUR to 4,000,000 EUR, with some topics offering 3,000,000 to 3,500,000 EUR. For Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), the contributions are around 2,000,000 EUR to 3,500,000 EUR. Innovation Actions (IA) can receive contributions from 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 EUR.

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

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of lump sum grants to support their research, innovation, coordination, and support activities.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirement is not explicitly mentioned. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a significant portion of the project costs, with the possibility of requiring some co-funding from the applicants.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society pillar, focuses on addressing intergenerational fairness in the context of demographic change within the EU. The call encompasses various funding instruments, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), each with specific objectives and funding ranges. The projects aim to enhance understanding, provide scientific knowledge for evidence-informed policies, and develop action plans to reduce intergenerational imbalances. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, SMEs, and other legal entities capable of conducting relevant research and innovation activities. The call encourages collaboration and clustering among projects and emphasizes the importance of FAIR data practices. The application process involves a single-stage submission, and eligible costs will be reimbursed as lump sums.