Open Internet Stack Support for Scale (CSA)

The expected outcomes of the projects are:a common approach and hub for cataloguing, packaging, reviewing, and validating Open Internet Stack components and projects; long-term viability by advising on Open Source sustainability and maintenance models, including business and foundation aspects, and promotion of the EU and Associated Countries as ideal locations for Open Source Foundation sieges; a common branding, marketing, training, and communication plan ensuring consistent perception and scale-up; and a close interleave with policy development through a dedicated policy sandbox.

The scope of the call includes applicants devising a plan for:cataloguing solutions in a structured and easy-to-discover way; performing security and accessibility audits on the selected solutions under the Open Internet Stack; screening and selecting European-funded Open Source projects, including by exploring the relevant Horizon Europe programs, and devising a strategy for the Open Internet Stack to become a central hub for those solutions; establishing links and mutual support with national, multi-country, and pan-European initiatives supporting Open Source sovereign solutions; advising on sustainability models (both for and non-for profit), on standardisation, licencing schemes, or localisation/internationalisation; elaborating a common branding with associated marketing and communication tools; developing training material on these solutions that stresses their value in terms of EU legislation compliance (GDRP, DSA/DMA, CRA…), security (e.g. reference to security audits, list of dependencies), use cases, funding/business model, deployment requirements (server side, user side), link to repository and community resource (maintainers, community manager, discussion board…), with training material tailored to each target audience: Operators of infrastructure, Integrators, Government & verticals IT, end users; implementing measures to identify/attract technology adopters (e.g. services providers, integrators, OSPOs in governments/verticals) to become promoters of these technologies; developing sandbox tools for ensuring smooth compliance-by-design of the Open Internet Stack with relevant existing or futures EU policies; and supporting Open Source awards scheme and sustainability models after the action is finished.

1. Admissibility Conditions:Proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

5a. Evaluation and award:Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award:Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award:Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants:The granting authority may object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results up to 4 years after the end of the action, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021. This is further described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

The application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) include:Application form templates (Standard application form (HE CSA)), Evaluation form templates (Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)), the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, Call-specific instructions, Detailed budget table (HE LS), and Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?".

Additional documents include:HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly defined 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 specific eligibility criteria are detailed in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant. The call includes Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). 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.

Consortium Requirement:The text does not explicitly state whether a single applicant or a consortium is required. However, given the scope and nature of the activities, particularly for RIAs and IAs, a consortium is highly probable. The specific requirements are likely detailed in the specific topic descriptions within the Work Programme.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The primary geographic eligibility is focused on EU and associated countries. However, the text mentions that a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination.

Target Sector:The program targets the digital sector, specifically focusing on developing an agile and secure single market for data and trustworthy AI services. It also addresses the convergence of the Telco-Edge-Cloud continuum (3C) and the development of a sovereign Open Internet Stack. The targeted sectors include mobility, energy, health, and manufacturing.

Mentioned Countries:China is explicitly mentioned as a country whose legal entities are not eligible to participate in Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. The primary geographic focus is on the EU and associated countries.

Project Stage:The program supports various project stages, including research (Research and Innovation Actions), development and demonstration (Innovation Actions), and coordination and support (Coordination and Support Actions).

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary depending on the type of action:

HORIZON-RIA:€7,000,000 to €17,000,000, €18,000,000, €10,000,000, €45,000,000, €16,800,000, €20,500,000

HORIZON-CSA:€1,000,000 to €4,000,000, €2,000,000, €3,000,000

HORIZON-IA:€6,000,000 to €46,500,000, €30,000,000

Application Type:The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages:The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the text.

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

Summary:This opportunity is a Horizon Europe call (DIGITAL, HORIZON-CL4-2026-04) focused on supporting the development and scaling of an Open Internet Stack within the EU. It aims to foster digital sovereignty and competitiveness by promoting open-source, interoperable, and standard-based solutions. The call includes various funding instruments: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), each with different funding ranges. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as universities, research institutions, SMEs, and large enterprises from the EU and associated countries. Projects should contribute to cataloguing, packaging, reviewing, and validating Open Internet Stack components, advising on sustainability models, and developing training and communication plans. The call emphasizes alignment with EU policies such as GDPR, DSA/DMA, and CRA, and aims to build a secure, compliant, and adaptive data-sharing framework. Legal entities from China are not eligible for RIAs and IAs under this call. The application process is a single-stage submission, and funding is provided as a lump sum.