Large-Scale piloting of next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system (IA) - Apply ...

Horizon Europe Bridging Actions 2027 (topic HORIZON-BRIDGING) will fund a single Innovation Action of about €15 million to pilot next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system, with a planned opening on 20 October 2026 and a deadline of 16 February 2027 (17:00 Brussels time). The project must deliver large-scale cross-border operational pilots in at least six Member States or Associated Countries, involve a multi-stakeholder consortium (minimum counts for energy actors, digital technology providers, mobility actors and energy communities are specified), and demonstrate market-ready solutions validated in real conditions. Applicants must comply with Horizon Europe rules and the call-specific ownership and control restrictions, target TRL 7–8 by project end, and provide measurable impacts on emissions, energy savings, costs and grid flexibility within an approx. 36-month duration.

What it funds

Scope and expected outcomes

One large cross-border Innovation Action to deliver and operate market-ready AI-driven digital platforms that optimise electricity system operation and cross-border flexibility, increase renewable integration, improve grid utilisation and reduce costs and emissions through real operational pilots.

Apply and find full topic text and documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Topic page.

Footnotes

1. 1BRIDGE is the collaborative initiative for energy digitalisation projects; proposers are expected to actively participate and align with BRIDGE activities where relevant BRIDGE initiative.

Call and Administrative Basics

Call identifier HORIZON-BRIDGING. Programme Horizon Europe (HORIZON). Call title Bridging actions 2027. Type of action HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA). Type of grant agreement HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Opening date planned 20 October 2026. Deadline date 16 February 2027, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage). Expected duration of the funded project approximately 36 months. Expected number of grants to be funded: one single grant for this topic. Expected EU contribution: around €15 000 000 (indicative). Technology Readiness Level targeted: projects are expected to reach TRL 7-8 by the end of the project (see General Annex B).

Scope, Objectives and Expected Outcomes

This topic supports one large-scale cross-border pilot demonstrating operational use of next-generation AI-driven Digital Platforms (DPs) for the European electricity system. The pilot is intended to optimise electricity system operation and flexibility management across multiple European energy systems and forms a core implementation layer of the AI-enabled digital backbone flagship from the Apply AI Strategy. The pilot must implement operational validation in real infrastructures and demonstrate performance over a duration sufficient to show seasonal and operational variability (e.g., renewable generation variability, EV charging patterns). The objective is to show that AI-enabled DPs can enable real-time coordination of distributed energy resources and cross-border flexibility services to improve grid utilisation, increase renewable integration, reduce system costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and provide measurable energy savings, cost reductions and grid flexibility improvements.

Detailed Scope Requirements and Mandatory Consortium Composition

This topic expects a single, large-scale cross-border pilot project. The proposal must deliver at-scale development and piloting of next-generation AI-driven digital platforms and the critical digital infrastructures to enable seamless data exchange across the European energy system. The approach must be transversal, integrating energy systems, AI, digital infrastructures and user uptake, and must build on and connect to prior and ongoing projects and initiatives (for example MetaOS for the edge, swarm project clusters, Edge-IoT large scale pilots in energy, Operational Digital Platforms in CEF, AI-powered digital spine) and actively participate in the BRIDGE collaborative initiative BRIDGE.

Eligibility and Participation Conditions

Participation and eligibility conditions follow Horizon Europe General Annexes. The topic specifically limits participation to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and associated countries. Entities established in eligible countries but directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible countries/entities may be excluded from participation under the ownership and control restrictions. Public bodies validated in the Participant Register are considered controlled by their country. Applicants must respect the admissibility conditions (page limits and layout as per Part B of the Application Form) and meet financial, operational capacity and exclusion rules (General Annexes).

Eligible Applicant Types

The topic is open to consortium-based consortia composed of diverse legal entities. Eligible applicant types that should be included or may apply: energy operators (TSOs, DSOs), electricity retailers, aggregators, digital technology providers (AI vendors, cloud and edge service providers, IoT vendors), mobility actors (EV manufacturers, fleet operators, charging infrastructure operators), energy communities, SMEs (including start-ups), large enterprises, universities, research organisations and institutes, public authorities, non-profit organisations and other stakeholders relevant to energy system operation. Subcontractors and associated partners may be used following Horizon Europe rules. Public bodies validated in the Participant Register are eligible, subject to ownership/control checks.

Funding Type, Amount, and Financial Modalities

Consortium Requirement and Project Structure

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Application and Evaluation Process

Success Rates and Competition

The call expects to fund a single project for this topic, making competition high. No official numerical success rate is provided in the call text. Success likelihood depends on meeting strict scope, eligibility, cross-border coverage, stakeholder composition and the ability to present a convincing operational large-scale pilot, TRL trajectory, business plan and market-readiness strategy.

Co-funding, Financial and Operational Capacity

Horizon Europe Innovation Actions typically fund a percentage of eligible costs. This topic follows Horizon Europe rules: applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity (General Annex C). The call text does not state an additional mandatory co-funding percentage beyond normal Horizon rules. Applicants should plan to contribute co-financing (own resources or in-kind contributions) as necessary to cover project costs not funded by the EU and to demonstrate investment readiness and sustainability. Detailed budget composition and eligible costs must follow the HORIZON-AG MGA and General Annexes.

Templates, Documents and Forms to Prepare

Application Content Guidance and Structure

Proposals should provide a structured technical approach and project plan addressing all evaluation criteria: scientific/technical excellence; clear innovation beyond the state of the art; detailed pilot deployment plan across the required countries and partners; an operations plan demonstrating TRL progression to TRL 7-8; measurable impact indicators (GHG reduction, energy savings, cost reduction, grid flexibility improvements); data governance and security mechanisms; open APIs and interoperability commitments; integration with European data spaces and digital infrastructure; user engagement and energy community mobilisation; and a robust business plan and market-readiness strategy including risk analysis and regulatory/permitting pathways. Include preparatory go/no-go decision points and KPIs for pilots and deployment readiness.

Nature of Support and Deliverables

Beneficiaries will receive monetary support (grant funding). Non-monetary support expected includes access to EU collaborative networks and visibility, coordination with BRIDGE and R&I ecosystems, alignment with EU data spaces, and guidance from Programme Officers. Projects may provide Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) only where explicitly permitted in the call and MGA — this topic description does not explicitly request FSTP but Horizon rules apply if used.

Geographic Eligibility and Mentioned Countries

Target Sectors and Technologies

Project Deliverables, KPIs and TRL Targets

Administrative and Practical Tips

Quick Facts Table

Templates and Application Structure (guidance)

Application must follow the standard HE Application Form structure (Part A and Part B) with adaptations for IA proposals. Part B content typically includes the following structured sections: excellence (objectives, relation to call and state of the art, methodology and TRL progression), impact (expected outcomes, measurable KPIs, business plan and market-readiness strategy), implementation (work package descriptions, resources, consortium, ethical and security aspects), and annexes (CVs, letters of support, Ownership Control Declaration). The Ownership Control Declaration template must be completed by each participant and assembled into a single file by the coordinator. Call-specific extended page limits for Part B to include a business plan may apply; consult call instructions and General Annexes for exact layout and page limits.

Cooperation with BRIDGE and Related Initiatives

Projects must actively participate in BRIDGE activities and draw on outputs of related initiatives (Operational Digital Platforms in CEF, Edge-IoT pilots, MetaOS and swarm clusters, AI-powered digital spine). Participation in BRIDGE facilitates knowledge sharing, scaling of best practices and alignment with energy sector stakeholders and regulators BRIDGE Impact.

Final General Summary

This Horizon Europe Bridging Actions 2027 topic funds one large-scale Innovation Action to pilot next-generation AI-driven digital platforms as an operational backbone for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system. The project must demonstrate cross-border operational pilots across at least six Member States or Associated Countries, involve a broad multi-stakeholder consortium (energy actors, digital providers, mobility actors, energy communities, research organisations and public authorities) and deliver market-ready AI-driven platforms validated to TRL 7-8. Applicants must follow Horizon Europe rules and the call-specific ownership and control restrictions, prepare mandatory business plans and market-readiness strategies, and show measurable impacts on emissions, energy savings, costs and grid flexibility. The single-stage application is submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal, and applicants should prepare ownership control documentation, consortium commitments, and a rigorous technical, operational and exploitation plan in line with the Horizon Europe application templates and General Annexes.

Footnotes

1. 1See Guidance on participation in EU calls with ownership and control restrictions and the Ownership Control Declaration template in the call documents available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The BRIDGE collaborative initiative provides coordination and knowledge sharing for energy digitalisation projects BRIDGE Secretariat.

This is a forthcoming Horizon Europe Innovation Action under Bridging actions 2027, with one expected grant of about €15 million, a planned opening on 20 October 2026, and a deadline on 16 February 2027 at 17:00 Brussels time.14 Independent topic previews describe it as a single-stage call with one project expected and a budget of €15 million.46

Opportunity snapshot

What the funding is about

The topic aims to demonstrate large scale, cross-border AI driven digital platforms for the European energy system. The focus is on operational pilots that improve grid operation, flexibility management, renewable integration, storage integration, cross border data exchange, smart charging, and the use of secure digital services that can be scaled across the EU energy ecosystem.

Applicants are expected to move beyond prototype work and show market ready solutions that operate in real conditions, with measurable effects on emissions, energy savings, electricity costs, grid flexibility, and system resilience.

Main themes applicants should address

Who can apply

Participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland, Norway, and eligible associated countries. Entities established in an eligible country but directly or indirectly controlled by a non eligible country or a non eligible country entity are not allowed to participate under this call.

The call is designed for consortia capable of delivering a large scale pilot. Applicants should be able to assemble the required mix of energy actors, digital technology providers, mobility actors, energy communities, researchers, and public authorities, and should be prepared to demonstrate operational performance under real system conditions.

Minimum consortium and pilot expectations

Funding size, duration, and timing

The topic is designed as a single large scale pilot, and the work programme expects one project to be funded. The project duration is approximately 36 months, and the technical target is to reach TRL 7 to 8 by the end of the project.

Key proposal requirements and conditions

What evaluators are likely to look for

Strong proposals will combine technical excellence with deployment readiness. The most convincing applications will show a realistic pilot architecture, clearly defined stakeholder roles, measurable system level benefits, a sound route to interoperability and standardisation, and a credible plan for uptake after the project ends.

From an applicant perspective, the strongest differentiators are likely to be the breadth of operational pilots, the quality of industrial and public sector partners, the degree of cross border coordination, and the strength of the evidence base for economic, environmental, and system level impact.