Open Call 3 - Short Term and Long Term Funding to support ICT standardisation

StandICT.eu Open Call 3 HORIZON-CL4 is a single-stage cascade funding round running from 30 July 2026 to 2 October 2026 with a total budget of €650,000 to support European standardisation specialists' participation in international and global Standards Development Organisations. The call prioritises cybersecurity (notably activities related to the Cyber Resilience Act, Standardisation Request M/606 and ETSI TC-CYBER) while also accepting proposals aligned with the EU Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation. Funding is provided as fellowships: Long Term contributions up to €10,000 for up to 9 months and Short Term contributions up to €5,000 for up to 3 months, intended to cover activities such as chairing, liaison, drafting comments, meeting attendance and membership fees. Applications must be submitted via the TRUST-GRANTS platform and proposals are evaluated by external experts with results notified after the evaluation period.

What it funds

Summary

StandICT.eu Open Call 3 provides fellowships to support European ICT standardisation specialists to participate in international and global Standards Development Organisations (SDOs). Funding covers activities such as contributing to working groups, commenting on drafts, liaison tasks, attending meetings, and paying membership fees.

Key financials:Total budget for this call: €650,000. Individual fellowships: Long term up to €10,000 for up to 9 months; Short term up to €5,000 for up to 3 months ¹.

1. 1Who can apply: European ICT standardisation specialists and experts active or seeking to engage in SDO work (chairs, conveners, rapporteurs, WG members, liaison roles, etc.).
2. 2Types of support: Long term contribution (LT) for ongoing roles; Short term contribution (ST) for focused documentation or liaison tasks.
3. 3Priority topics: Cybersecurity (including Cyber Resilience Act and Standardisation Request M/606 / ETSI TC-CYBER) and other topics from the Multi-Stakeholder Platform Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation.

Applications are submitted through the TRUST-GRANTS platform. Evaluation:each proposal is independently assessed by three external evaluators with a fourth quality-control review; results communicated ~35 days after the call closes. More details and guidelines available on the Open Call 3 page Open Call 3 ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and application guidelines: standict.eu

Key facts

Call identifier HORIZON-CL4. Project acronym StandICT.eu 2029. Full project name ICT Standardisation Observatory and Support Facility in Europe. Grant agreement number 101213612. Opening date 30 July 2026. Deadline single-stage 02 October 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Total funding available for this open call cycle €650,000.00. This open call is one of six cascade funding rounds run by StandICT.eu through 2026–2027. Applications must be submitted through the TRUST-GRANTS™ platform.

Purpose and scope

Objective:provide direct funding to enable European ICT standardisation specialists to participate in and contribute to global and international Standards Development Organisations (SDOs), strengthening European presence and influence in global ICT standardisation. The activity supports the creation of a fully integrated European Standardisation Ecosystem by funding contributions such as chairing, convening, rapporteur roles, membership fees, attending meetings, providing written contributions and comments on drafts, producing liaison documents, and other standards-related actions.

Priority topics for Open Call 3:Applications addressing the following topics are prioritised: Cybersecurity / network and information security (notably Cyber Resilience Act CRA and Standardisation Request M/606, contribution to ETSI TC-CYBER); Electronic identification and trust services including e-signatures; e-Infrastructures and European Open Science Cloud; Broadband infrastructure mapping; Accessibility of ICT products and services; European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS); Digital health, healthy living and ageing; Safety, transparency and due process online; Emergency communications and public warning systems; e-Procurement; Fintech and Regtech standardisation; Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies; Smart and sustainable cities and communities; European Electronic Toll Service (EETS); Intelligent Transport Systems - Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (ITS-CCAM) and Electromobility; Digitisation of European Industry; Robotics and autonomous systems; Construction - building information modelling; Water Management Digitalisation; Circular economy and sustainability.

Types of support and funding details

Two types of fellowships are available under Open Call 3:Long Term contribution (LT) and Short Term contribution (ST). Each fellowship is a monetary contribution intended to reimburse costs directly related to standards participation activities.

Eligibility and applicants

The call targets European standardisation specialists. While the public information emphasises recruitment and enrollment of individual experts (fellowships), the type of eligible applicant entities typically includes natural persons and organisations that can implement the fellowship activities. Based on available documentation, eligible applicant types include individual experts and professionals active in ICT standardisation and can reasonably include organisations that support or host experts such as universities, research institutes, SMEs, non-governmental organisations, standardisation bodies and public administrations where applicable. The call is focused on European applicants (European standardisation specialists) and the StandICT.eu programme purpose is to fund participation in international/global SDOs by European actors.

Geographic scope:Beneficiaries must be European standardisation specialists. The call is run by an EU-funded project and targets applicants from the European area; the public material refers to European specialists and European standardisation ecosystem. The call is therefore limited to EU/European applicants rather than being open globally. ¹

Submission and evaluation process

Open Call cycles:StandICT.eu runs six open call cycles. Each call is open for 60 days for proposal submission. Submission must be made through the TRUST-GRANTS™ platform. After the 60-day submission window closes, proposals are screened for eligibility, evaluated by an external pool of evaluators (EPE), scored and ranked. The evaluation and notification process takes approximately 35 days after the call closes. All applicants will receive notification of results and access to a Consensus Report compiled by the EPE.

1. 1Single-stage call: applicants submit one application during the 60-day window.
2. 2Eligibility screening on receipt.
3. 3Each application is independently evaluated by three EPE members.
4. 4A fourth EPE member performs quality control after consensus.
5. 5Applicants receive evaluation outcome and Consensus Report (approx. 35 days after call close).
6. 6Redress/complaints are limited to procedural aspects; expert technical judgements are binding.

Application mechanics, deadlines and platform

Open Call 3 opening date 30 July 2026. Deadline 02 October 2026 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission only. Applications must be submitted electronically through TRUST-GRANTS™ (StandICT.eu guidance and application form available on the StandICT.eu open call page). An online information session will be organised in August 2026 to provide guidance on eligibility, submission, timeline and evaluation approach.

Assessment of applicants and selection

Evaluation is performed by an External Pool of Evaluators (EPE). Each proposal is evaluated independently by three experts; consensus is reached and quality control is performed by a fourth. The EPE are selected through an open call and their qualifications are binding. Decisions on redress are limited to procedural compliance issues.

Detailed answers to structured questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Primary targets: individual ICT standardisation specialists and experts (natural persons) seeking fellowships to participate in SDO activities. Secondary/acceptable hosts or affiliated entities: universities, research institutes, SMEs, NGOs, public bodies, national standards bodies or industry associations that support or host experts. The call documentation emphasises recruitment of experts rather than consortium submissions.

Funding Type:Cascade funding delivered as direct monetary fellowships (grant-style contributions) to support participation in standards activities. This is grant funding (sub-grant under the StandICT.eu CSA cascade).

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant / individual fellowship model. There is no requirement to form a consortium; applicants typically apply as individual experts or as the entity hosting the expert.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):European applicants—targeting European standardisation specialists and actors. The call is an EU-funded cascade targeted at reinforcing Europe's participation in global SDOs; public materials reference European specialists and the European Standardisation Ecosystem.

Target Sector:Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and related digital topics. Priority focus includes cybersecurity, eID and trust services, e-infrastructures and EOSC, broadband mapping, accessibility, GNSS, digital health, online safety/transparency, emergency communications, e-Procurement, fintech/regtech, blockchain/DLT, smart cities, EETS, ITS-CCAM and electromobility, digitisation of industry, robotics and autonomous systems, BIM, water management digitalisation, circular economy and sustainability.

Mentioned Countries:No individual countries are explicitly named in the open call text; the geographic reference is Europe / European standardisation specialists. Therefore the relevant region is the European Union / European area.

Project Stage:Active standards participation stage: the call funds involvement in ongoing standards development, contribution to drafts, liaison work, attendance at SDO meetings and related activities. This corresponds to operational/implementation stages (ongoing contribution, demonstration/validation in terms of standardisation outputs), rather than early-stage research or late-stage commercialization.

Funding Amount:Total funding available for this open call cycle: €650,000. Per-award maximums: up to €10,000 for Long Term (LT) fellowships (max 9 months), up to €5,000 for Short Term (ST) fellowships (max 3 months). The StandICT.eu programme will run six open calls amounting to a total of approximately €4,200,000 of direct funding across all cycles.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage. Submission via TRUST-GRANTS™ platform during the 60-day call window. The process is public and competitive.

Nature of Support:Monetary fellowships (grants). These are cash contributions to support costs such as time for standards work, travel and attendance at meetings, membership fees and other direct costs related to contributing to standardisation activities.

Application Stages:Effectively one application stage (single-stage submission). After submission the evaluation process includes eligibility screening and expert evaluation; there is no multi-stage proposal progression (e.g., no separate shortlisting then full proposal stage) described in the public call text.

Success Rates:The call documentation does not publish historical or expected success rates for Open Call 3. StandICT.eu runs competitive rounds and ranks proposals by score; the probability of success will depend on the number and quality of applications and available budget. No explicit success rate or target number of fellowships is provided in the public text.

Co-funding Requirement:No co-funding requirement is stated in the published Open Call 3 materials. The fellowships are direct grants up to stated ceilings. Applicants should consult the official guidelines and application form for any specific cost eligibility rules or requirements regarding host organisation involvement.

Application form and template guidance (recommended structure)

The official application form and detailed guidelines are hosted on the StandICT.eu open call page. Applicants must use the TRUST-GRANTS™ platform form. The following structure summarises the typical sections and information applicants should prepare in advance and that are consistent with the call objectives and evaluation approach:

1. 1Administrative information: applicant name, contact details, host organisation (if any), nationality/residency, ORCID or other identifier where available.
2. 2Fellowship type selection: indicate whether applying for Long Term (LT) or Short Term (ST) contribution and requested amount (not exceeding limits).
3. 3Activity description and work plan: concise plan of standards participation activities, objectives, tasks, expected outputs and timeline (aligned with LT up to 9 months or ST up to 3 months).
4. 4Relevance and impact: explanation of how the proposed activities advance European interests in SDOs, contribution to priority topics and expected impact on the European standardisation ecosystem.
5. 5Role in SDO(s): description of current or targeted role (chair, convener, rapporteur, member, liaison, observer), SDO names and working groups (if known), planned meetings and deliverables.
6. 6Budget justification: breakdown of requested fellowship amount, indicating eligible cost items (membership fees, travel, subsistence, time allocation, document preparation, liaison costs).
7. 7Curriculum Vitae and track record: CV demonstrating expertise in standardisation, past roles in SDOs, publications or contributions to standards, and relevant professional experience.
8. 8Host letter of support (if applicable): where hosted by an organisation, optional letter confirming support and enabling conditions.
9. 9Ethics and legal compliance: declarations where relevant for standardisation activities and any conflicts of interest.
10. 10Additional attachments: evidence of SDO affiliation or invitations, previous standards contributions, letters of recommendation where appropriate.

Applicants should consult the StandICT.eu Open Call 3 guidelines and the TRUST-GRANTS™ form for exact mandatory fields, templates, file size limits, and submission checklist. The online info session planned in August 2026 will provide practical guidance and common pitfalls to avoid.

What to emphasize in a competitive application

1. 1Clear, concise activity plan with measurable deliverables tied to specific SDO working groups or standardisation tasks.
2. 2Demonstrated track record of prior standardisation contributions, leadership roles or clear evidence of capacity to act effectively in the proposed role.
3. 3Strong alignment with the call priority topics and explanation of European added value.
4. 4Budget directly linked to planned activities and within the per-award ceilings.
5. 5Where applicable, endorsements or letters from SDO chairs, working group conveners or host organisations that confirm the need and feasibility of the proposed participation.

Risk areas and compliance

Evaluation decisions are binding on technical judgement by experts; only procedural complaints are admitted. Ensure eligibility and completeness of the submission to pass screening. Prepare evidence of SDO engagement or realistic plans to join/participate in SDO work to avoid rejection on feasibility grounds.

Useful links and further information

Official Open Call 3 page and application guidelines are available on the StandICT.eu website. The StandICT.eu web page hosts the application form and practical guidance for using the TRUST-GRANTS™ platform. Full call details are mirrored on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. StandICT.eu Open Call 3 EU Funding & Tenders Portal - Competitive Call TRUST-GRANTS platform StandICT.eu project overview

Summary

Open Call 3 under the StandICT.eu 2029 cascade funds short-term and long-term fellowships to enable European ICT standardisation specialists to participate and contribute to international and global SDOs. The call is single-stage, open and competitive, with submissions via TRUST-GRANTS™ during a 60-day window. Funding is provided as direct monetary fellowships: up to €10,000 for long-term contributions (up to 9 months) and up to €5,000 for short-term contributions (up to 3 months). The call prioritises a broad range of ICT topics with a special emphasis on cybersecurity (including the Cyber Resilience Act and related standardisation requests). Evaluation is performed by an External Pool of Evaluators with independent reviews by three experts and fourth-person quality control. The public documentation emphasises European applicants and the reinforcement of Europe’s presence in global standardisation work. Applicants should prepare a targeted activity plan, CV and budget justification, and consult the StandICT.eu guidance and online info session for submission details and best-practice tips.

Footnotes

1. 1StandICT.eu Open Call 3 and official call text on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal specify the programme targets European standardisation specialists and the European Standardisation Ecosystem. See the open call page for geographic and eligibility clarifications: standict.eu

This is a single stage cascade funding call under StandICT.eu 2029, funded through Horizon Europe topic HORIZON-CL4, with the call opening on 30 July 2026 and closing on 2 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.[1] The call has a total budget of €650,000, and the wider StandICT.eu 2029 programme plans six open calls with €4,200,000 in direct funding running until August 2027.[1][5]

What the funding is about

The funding supports European standardisation specialists who contribute to international and global Standards Development Organisations, with the aim of strengthening a fully integrated European Standardisation Ecosystem and Europe’s position in global standardisation initiatives.[1][5] For Open Call 3, cybersecurity is the main priority, especially work linked to the Cyber Resilience Act, Standardisation Request M/606, and ETSI TC-CYBER, while applications may also align with the broader Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation topics.[1][4]

Who can apply

The programme describes potential applicants as standardisation specialists, meaning professionals with proven expertise and experience in standardisation activities such as previous contributions to standards development, participation in SDO groups, or chair roles.[10] The FAQ materials for the open call programme also indicate that individuals or natural persons residing in EU Member States and Associate Countries, from public or private sectors, industry and service companies including SMEs and start-ups, academia and research, and associations including NGOs representing consumer interests, may apply.[10]

Eligibility focus:Applicants should be able to demonstrate a clear and credible standardisation track record and show how the proposed work contributes to an identified standards body, working group, or draft standard.[10][1]

Priority topics

The call gives highest prominence to cybersecurity, particularly the Cyber Resilience Act and M/606, but the accepted themes follow the European Commission’s Multi Stakeholder Platform Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation.[1][4]

• Cybersecurity and network and information security; ePrivacy.[1]
• Digital identity, trust services, and e-signatures; e-infrastructures and the European Open Science Cloud; broadband infrastructure mapping; accessibility; artificial intelligence; EGNSS; quantum technologies.[1]
• Digital health, healthy living and ageing; digital skills and learning; eGovernment; eCall; pandemic preparedness; safety, transparency and due process online; emergency communications and public warning systems.[1]
• e-Procurement, e-invoicing, retail payments, digital cinema preservation, fintech and regtech, blockchain and distributed ledger technologies, web 4.0 and virtual worlds, and media.[1]
• Smart grids and smart metering; smart and sustainable cities and communities; ICT environmental impact; EETS; ITS CCAM and electromobility; digitisation of European industry; robotics and autonomous systems; construction and building information modelling; water management digitalisation; single European sky; U-space; circular economy and sustainability.[1]

Submission, evaluation and timing

Each open call cycle runs for 60 days, and proposals are first checked for eligibility, then evaluated by three external experts, quality controlled by a fourth expert after consensus, scored, and ranked for funding.[1] Applicants are notified of the outcome after an estimated 35 days from the end of the submission window, and the evaluators’ decision is binding, with complaints limited to procedural issues rather than scientific or technical judgement.[1]

1. 1Submit through the TRUST-GRANTS platform during the 60 day window.[1]
2. 2Pass the eligibility screening before external evaluation.[1]
3. 3Undergo independent assessment by three evaluators and a fourth quality control review.[1]
4. 4Receive the consensus report and final decision notification after the evaluation period.[1]

Practical applicant notes

The published materials do not state a percentage co funding rate; instead, they define fixed maximum amounts for each fellowship type.[1] Programme level materials also indicate that an individual may receive multiple awards over the project lifetime, up to a cumulative €50,000 across the three year StandICT.eu 2029 programme.[5]

Official guidance and support:The project directs applicants to the dedicated Open Call 3 page for guidelines and application form, and it also planned an online information session in August 2026 to explain eligibility, process, and common application pitfalls.[1][4] More information is available at Open Call 3.