Open topic on reinvigorating and shielding European democracy

The Horizon Europe call for proposals, designated as HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09, aims to support research and innovation actions that contribute to strengthening and protecting European democracy. The initiative is aligned with the European Democracy Shield program and targets improvements in democratic resilience and citizen engagement.

Eligible applicants must form consortia, which must include at least one public body with a policy-making role and one civil society organization. This inclusion is intended to ensure that research outputs can directly inform policy and be effectively integrated into civil society practices. Eligible organizations include universities, research institutes, public bodies, civil society organizations, and technology companies with expertise in civic tech.

The funding type involves lump sum grants, with a total budget of €22 million allocated for this specific call. It anticipates awarding approximately six grants, each ranging from €2 million to €3.7 million. This financial mechanism allows for greater flexibility in handling project expenses, eliminating the need for matching funds from applicants.

The application process comprises two stages: the first stage's proposals must be submitted by May 4, 2027, and the second stage must be completed by September 30, 2027. The evaluation process for the first stage is blind, requiring anonymity in the submission.

Projects funded under this call are expected to operate in several stages, including research, validation, demonstration, and policy uptake. These projects should explore diverse challenges to democracy, engage with practitioners for feedback, and reflect interdisciplinary approaches, particularly in social sciences and humanities.

The overarching goal is to create evidence-based solutions that enhance citizen participation in democracy, bolster institutional trust, and address various threats to democratic practices. Additionally, proposals are encouraged to capitalize on digital technologies and civic innovations, with the aim of fostering inclusive participation across various demographics.

By strategically linking to broader EU initiatives and maintaining a strong focus on civil rights and democratic engagement, this funding opportunity is positioned as a key element in the EU's efforts to safeguard democratic values amid contemporary challenges.

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals under the Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society pillar, specifically targeting "Innovative Research on Democracy and Governance." The call, HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09-two-stage, aims to fund research and innovation actions (RIA) that will contribute to reinvigorating and shielding European democracy. The call operates under a two-stage submission process and utilizes a lump sum grant model.

The overarching goal is to equip EU institutions, national decision-makers, civil society organizations, and citizens with the data, knowledge, and methods necessary to address threats to democracies and enhance their inclusiveness and participatory spirit. A key expected outcome is strengthened citizen engagement in democratic life beyond electoral processes, fostering increased trust in democratic institutions.

The scope of the call is broad, encouraging proposals that address existing, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges to European democracy. It seeks creative and disruptive solutions to protect democracy, enhance citizen trust and participation, expand inclusiveness and fairness in democratic institutions, and support civil society. The call encourages exploration of digital and technological solutions, particularly from the civic tech sector, and aims to complement previous Horizon Europe calls by addressing unmet research needs.

Proposals should consider and build upon previous research, particularly within the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and other Horizon Europe projects, while avoiding duplication. Coordination among successful proposals is expected to maximize complementarities and impact. Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial, requiring consortia to include relevant disciplines based on the specific democratic challenge and research angle.

Innovative approaches are encouraged, including alternative models for democratic participation and engagement. A mid-term deliverable is required, involving democracy practitioners and policymakers in assessing the project's contributions to expected outcomes. Direct engagement with citizens and civil society organizations is essential to broaden public debate and explore the uptake of democratic innovations.

Collaboration with the JRC Competence Centre on Participatory and Deliberative Democracy is encouraged, particularly to demonstrate how structured citizen participation strengthens inclusiveness and fairness. Proposals should leverage data and services available through the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and relevant Data Spaces, ensuring that data produced is FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable).

The call is linked to the European Commission's Political Guidelines for 2024-2029 and the European Democracy Shield initiative, which builds on the European Democracy Action Plan and the Defence of Democracy Package. These initiatives aim to safeguard, strengthen, and promote democracy in the EU, reinforcing public trust and addressing threats from hostile actors. The call also aligns with the Commission's Civil Society Strategy, strategies on LGBTIQ equality, anti-racism, gender equality, women's rights, and the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030.

The expected impact of funded projects is to reinvigorate democratic governance by improving the independence, accountability, transparency, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of institutions and policies based on the rule of law. This includes expanding active and inclusive citizen participation and engagement, empowered by safeguarding fundamental rights. The research investment aims to develop a robust evidence base to inform effective policies that bolster the resilience of democratic systems and protect them from threats, while fostering critical thinking and reinforcing citizen trust in democracy.

Synergies with other EU programs are encouraged, including Digital Europe (DIGITAL), Technical Support Instrument, CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values), Erasmus+, ESF+, and Global Europe: Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. Applicants are encouraged to consider services offered by European Research Infrastructures in the social sciences and humanities domain, such as CESSDA, ESS, SHARE, and the European Holocaust Research Infrastructure.

The first-stage proposals will undergo a blind evaluation process, requiring applicants to anonymize their submissions. Consortia must include at least one relevant public body with a policy-making role and one relevant civil society organization.

The total budget for the HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09-two-stage topic is 22,000,000 EUR. The indicative contribution per grant ranges from 2,000,000 to 3,700,000 EUR, with an expected 6 grants to be awarded. The planned opening date for submissions is March 2, 2027. The deadline for the first stage is May 4, 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time, and the deadline for the second stage is September 30, 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

Additional related topics include HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-HERITAGE-09-two-stage with a budget of 20,000,000 EUR and HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-TRANSFO-09-two-stage with a budget of 16,000,000 EUR.

This funding opportunity is about strengthening democracy in Europe through research and innovation. It seeks projects that can identify and address challenges to democratic systems, enhance citizen participation, and build trust in democratic institutions. The EU is looking for projects that are not only innovative and interdisciplinary but also actively involve citizens, policymakers, and civil society organizations in the research process. The ultimate goal is to create a more resilient, inclusive, and trustworthy democracy in Europe, capable of withstanding current and future threats.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include public bodies with a policy-making role and civil society organizations. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a member of the consortium with zero funding or as an associated partner. Other types of organizations are not explicitly excluded, but the consortium must include the specified public body and civil society organization.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. The consortium must include at least one relevant public body with a policy-making role and at least one relevant civil society organization, either as beneficiaries or affiliated entities.

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. 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.

Target Sector: The target sector is Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, with a focus on democracy, governance, political participation, digital transformation, social sciences, and humanities (SSH). The program aims to address challenges to European democracy, enhance citizens' trust, and support civil society. It also considers the impact of AI and digital transformation on democracy.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on the European Union and associated countries. The call is relevant to EU Member States and countries associated with the Horizon Europe program.

Project Stage: The project stage is research and innovation actions. The call seeks proposals that address existing, upcoming, or unforeseen challenges and/or creative or disruptive solutions for protecting European democracy. It builds on previous research and aims to develop a robust evidence base for effective policies.

Funding Amount: The funding range is between €2,000,000 and €3,700,000 per project. The total budget for the topic is €22,000,000, with an indicative number of 6 grants to be awarded.

Application Type: The application type is a two-stage open call. The first stage proposals will be evaluated blindly.

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

Application Stages: The application process consists of two stages. The first stage proposals will be evaluated blindly.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the information provided indicates that 6 grants will be awarded from a total budget of €22,000,000. The number of contributions is 2000000 to 3700000.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required. However, since the eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum, it is implied that the funding covers the entire project cost.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-CL2-2027-02-DEMOCRACY-09-two-stage, aims to support research and innovation actions that contribute to reinvigorating and shielding European democracy. The call falls under the Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society pillar of Horizon Europe and seeks projects that address challenges to democracy, enhance citizen participation, and support civil society. The projects should contribute to the European Democracy Shield initiative and align with the European Commission's political guidelines for 2024-2029. Consortia applying for this grant must include a public body with a policy-making role and a civil society organization. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with individual projects expected to receive between €2,000,000 and €3,700,000. The application process is a two-stage process, with the first stage being evaluated blindly. The call encourages interdisciplinary collaborations and the use of digital technologies to foster democratic participation and resilience. The ultimate goal is to equip EU institutions, national decision-makers, civil society organizations, and citizens with the data, knowledge, and methods needed to confront threats to democracy and enhance its inclusiveness.