PERIFORMANCE OPEN CALL FOR BOTTOM-UP STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVES IN CANCER RESEARCH & CARE

PERIFORMANCE Open Call (Grant Agreement 101216808) provides cascade funding under Horizon Europe to support up to 15 bottom-up local or regional stakeholder engagement initiatives in cancer research and care across Europe. Total budget is €150,000 with grants up to €10,000 per project and a cumulative cap of €60,000 per third-party entity; projects may run up to 12 months and must submit final reports by 31 August 2027. Eligible applicants are legally established organisations in Europe active in cancer research, care, education or community engagement, with a preference for non-profit coordination and activities addressing Mission: Cancer objectives. Submissions are in English via email to opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu by 31 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time, and proposals are evaluated against design, relevance, inclusion and ethics criteria with minimum scoring thresholds.

What it funds

Scope

Supports bottom-up local or regional stakeholder engagement initiatives that increase participation, trust and co-creation in cancer research, care and survivor support. Eligible activities include participatory workshops, capacity building, outreach and communication, artistic/cultural engagement, and work addressing ethical/societal aspects of emerging technologies (eg AI, European Health Data Space). Projects should align with EU Mission on Cancer objectives.

Budget and number of awards:Total available €150000; up to 15 initiatives funded; maximum per project €10000 (single project cap) and a cumulative cap of €60000 per same third‑party entity across projects ¹.

1. 1Who can apply: legally established organisations in Europe active in or connected to cancer research, care, education or community engagement (NGOs, patient groups, community organisations, universities, schools, biobanks, hospitals, clinics, research infrastructures).
2. 2Preference: coordination and primary benefit should remain with an eligible non-profit; large for-profit entities may participate only as partners.
3. 3Project duration: up to 12 months; final reports due by 31 August 2027.

How to apply and deadlines

Single-stage submission in English by e-mail. Applicants must download and complete the application form and budget template from the project website and submit to opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu with subject line Open Call Submission: [Submitting organization’s name]. Deadline: 31 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Applicants receive automatic receipt confirmation within 48 hours.

Evaluation and selection

Eligible proposals receive at least two independent evaluations (mix of internal and external experts). Scoring criteria (total out of 10): design quality and feasibility (4), relevance to Mission: Cancer (3), inclusion/accessibility/sustainability (2), data protection and ethics (1). Minimum overall score to pass: 6/10; minimum 50% per criterion. Ethics review applied to selected proposals.

Contact and application materials are available from the PERIFORMANCE project page; follow application instructions and use the official form when submitting PERIFORMANCE Open Call page ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and application documents, including the application form and budget template, are provided on the PERIFORMANCE portal: ec.europa.eu.

The PERIFORMANCE Open Call provides cascade funding to support up to 15 local or regional stakeholder engagement initiatives that strengthen participation, trust, and collaboration in cancer research and care across Europe. Activities may include participatory and co-creative formats, education and capacity-building, artistic or cultural engagement, and communication or outreach that foster awareness, dialogue, and inclusion. Projects must align with the EU Mission on Cancer objectives and are encouraged to explore the ethical and societal dimensions of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and the European Health Data Space.

This open call is implemented under the EU-funded project PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURES FOR MISSION CANCER: MANAGING COMPLEXITY OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (PERIFORMANCE), Grant Agreement 101216808, under Horizon Europe topic HORIZON-MISS. Total budget available for this call is €150,000, with up to €10,000 available per selected initiative. Projects can run for up to 12 months and must be completed in time to submit a final report by 31 August 2027.

Official call page:Full details and templates are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: PERIFORMANCE Open Call EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page.

Key Facts and Timeline

Scope and Example Activities

• Participatory and co-creative engagement formats bringing together patients, survivors, families, researchers, clinicians, communities, and policymakers to co-design solutions related to cancer research and care.
• Educational and capacity-building actions that improve understanding of cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment pathways, survivorship, and quality of life.
• Artistic and cultural engagement to foster inclusive dialogue, awareness, and stigma reduction in diverse communities.
• Communication and outreach initiatives that promote transparency, trust, and inclusion around cancer research and care, including responsible communication of scientific evidence.
• Engagement exploring emerging technologies in cancer research, including ethical and societal dimensions of artificial intelligence and the European Health Data Space (e.g., health data solidarity, privacy, algorithmic fairness, and explainability).
• Activities tailored to local or regional needs, designed for transferability or scale-up as best practices across Europe.

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible Applicant Types:Legally established organizations based in Europe that are active in or connected to cancer research, care, education, or community engagement. This explicitly includes non-governmental organizations (NGOs), patient and family support groups, community organizations, universities and schools, biobanks, hospitals, clinics, and research infrastructures. The call primarily targets academic, healthcare, civil society, and other not-for-profit stakeholders. Large for-profit companies may participate as partners provided that coordination and primary benefit remain with an eligible non-profit organization.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding (financial support to third parties) under Horizon Europe project PERIFORMANCE.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant projects are allowed. Partnerships are permitted but not mandatory. Large for-profit companies may join as partners only if a non-profit eligible organization coordinates and remains the primary beneficiary.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Organizations legally established in Europe. The opportunity aims to support activities across Europe and align with the EU Mission on Cancer.

Target Sector:Health and cancer research and care; patient and public involvement; education and capacity-building; culture and communication; data, AI and digital health ethics, specifically in relation to the European Health Data Space.

Mentioned Countries/Regions:Europe (regional scope). No individual countries are explicitly named in the call text. The call aligns with the EU Mission on Cancer and references the European Health Data Space.

Project Stage:Implementation and delivery of engagement and outreach activities, potentially including piloting or demonstration of new participatory formats and validation of inclusive practices in real-world settings.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €150,000. Up to €10,000 per selected project. An entity may participate in multiple projects, but the cumulative cap across all projects under this call is €60,000 for the same third-party entity.

Application Type:Open call with single-stage submission via email in English. Applicants must download the application form and budget template from the project website and email the completed materials to opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu with the subject line: Open Call Submission: [Submitting organization’s name]. Late submissions are not evaluated. Applicants receive an automatic confirmation of receipt within 48 hours.

Nature of Support:Money (subgrants). Any additional non-financial support is not specified.

Application Stages:1 application stage. The process includes eligibility check, individual evaluations by at least two experts including at least one external evaluator, panel agreement on a ranked list based on average scores, and an ethics review before final award.

Success Rates:Not specified. The call intends to fund up to 15 initiatives, but the total number of expected applications is not stated.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified in the call text. No explicit co-funding obligation is mentioned.

Evaluation and Selection

Proposals are first checked for eligibility. Eligible proposals are evaluated by at least two qualified experts, with at least one external evaluator not affiliated with the PERIFORMANCE consortium. Evaluators convene in an online panel to agree on a ranked list based on average scores out of 10. The average score is the sole ranking criterion. Minimum thresholds apply: minimum 50 percent of the maximum score for each criterion and a minimum overall average score of 6 out of 10. Proposals below thresholds are not considered for funding regardless of ranking.

Following panel ranking, the PERIFORMANCE Ethics Advisor conducts an ethics check of selected proposals and may impose ethics conditions. All applicants receive an Evaluation Result Letter with feedback.

Submission Instructions

1. 1Download the official application form and budget template from the PERIFORMANCE project website (linked via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal page).
2. 2Complete all sections in English, ensuring consistency between narrative, work plan, and budget.
3. 3Email your application to opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu with the subject: Open Call Submission: [Submitting organization’s name].
4. 4Submit before the deadline: 31 May 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Late submissions are not evaluated.
5. 5Retain the automatic confirmation email as proof of receipt. If no confirmation is received within 48 hours, follow up before the deadline.

What to Address in Your Proposal

While the official templates must be used, applicants can strengthen their submission by aligning content to the evaluation criteria and call objectives. The following outline reflects the information the evaluators will need and the criteria they will score against.

• Executive summary: Clear problem statement, target audience(s), goals, alignment with EU Mission on Cancer.
• Objectives and outcomes: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound objectives, with links to cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, or quality of life.
• Activity design and feasibility: Description of participatory or co-creative methods, formats, number and types of events, materials to be produced, recruitment and engagement strategies, inclusivity measures, accessibility provisions, timeline and Gantt chart, roles and responsibilities, procurement if any, and risk assessment with mitigations.
• Stakeholder mapping and involvement: Identification of patients, survivors, families, clinicians, researchers, communities, schools, policymakers, and other relevant groups; modes of engagement; co-creation steps; feedback loops and decision-making processes.
• Ethics, data protection, and societal aspects: GDPR compliance, informed consent processes, handling of personal and health data, safeguarding, inclusion of underserved or vulnerable groups, ethical considerations around AI, data sharing, and European Health Data Space-related activities.
• Impact and sustainability: Anticipated qualitative and quantitative impacts, indicators and data collection plan, dissemination and communication strategy, transferability and scale-up potential beyond the local context, legacy and maintenance of materials or networks.
• Budget and justification: Transparent budget up to €10,000, cost categories aligned with activities and eligibility, value-for-money rationale, any in-kind contributions if applicable, and cumulative funding checks relative to the €60,000 cap per entity.
• Work plan and schedule: Milestones, deliverables, timeline fitting within the 12-month limit, and plan to finalize activities and reporting before 31 August 2027.
• Legal and administrative information: Applicant’s legal status and registration in Europe, mandate of partners if any, contact details, authorized signatories, and declarations required by the template.

Administrative and Financial Conditions

• Each project may receive up to €10,000. Multiple awards to the same entity are possible across different projects; however, the cumulative ceiling is €60,000 to the same third-party entity under this call.
• Projects must not exceed 12 months and must complete in time to submit a final report by 31 August 2027.
• The call focuses on not-for-profit coordination. Large for-profit companies may participate strictly as partners, with coordination and primary benefit remaining with an eligible non-profit applicant.
• Proposals must be submitted in English and via email only. Late submissions are ineligible.
• An eligibility check precedes expert evaluation. Only eligible proposals move to scoring and ranking.

Categorization Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Nonprofit, NGO, patient and family support group, community organization, university, school, research institute, biobank, hospital, clinic, research infrastructure. Large for-profit enterprises may participate only as partners, not coordinators, and only where the primary benefit and coordination remain with an eligible non-profit.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding (financial support to third parties).

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant projects are eligible; partnerships are optional. No mandatory consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Organizations legally established in Europe.

Target Sector:Health, cancer research and care, public engagement, education, culture and communication, digital health and data ethics, artificial intelligence and European Health Data Space.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries named. Region referenced: Europe; EU-level initiatives referenced: EU Mission on Cancer, European Health Data Space.

Project Stage:Implementation, delivery, and demonstration of stakeholder engagement activities; validation of inclusive practices and responsible innovation approaches.

Funding Amount:Up to €10,000 per project; total call budget €150,000; up to 15 initiatives expected; cumulative cap per entity €60,000 across this call.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage, non-portal email submission using official templates.

Nature of Support:Money (subgrants). Non-monetary services are not specified.

Application Stages:1 stage. Internal eligibility check, external and internal expert evaluations, panel ranking, ethics review, and award.

Success Rates:Not provided. Selection intends to fund up to 15 projects.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified; the call text does not state a mandatory co-funding rate.

How the Application Templates Typically Look

Applicants must use the official application form and budget template downloadable from the PERIFORMANCE website linked on the EU portal. While the exact fields are defined in the official templates, proposals should cover the following structure to address scoring criteria and administrative needs:

1. 1Applicant identification and legal details: organization name, legal form, registration and address in Europe, contact person, and authorized signatory.
2. 2Project summary and objectives: title, abstract, alignment with EU Mission on Cancer priorities, intended outcomes and indicators.
3. 3Stakeholders and inclusion strategy: target groups, patient and community involvement plans, accessibility and equity considerations, participation of underserved groups.
4. 4Methodology and work plan: engagement formats, co-creation steps, materials and tools, schedule and milestones, roles and responsibilities, risk management.
5. 5Ethics and data protection: GDPR compliance, consent and data handling, safeguarding, ethical issues related to AI and health data, and mitigation measures.
6. 6Impact, dissemination, and sustainability: expected changes, metrics, data collection for monitoring, communication and dissemination activities, transferability and long-term use.
7. 7Budget breakdown: cost categories and justification consistent with activities, total request up to €10,000, verification against cumulative cap of €60,000 per entity across this call.
8. 8Timeline and deliverables: Gantt chart or timeline, key deliverables, and plan to finish and report by 31 August 2027.
9. 9Declarations and signatures: confirmations required by the template and applicant signature.

Contact and Links

• Official call information and templates: EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page
• Submission email: opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu
• Related EU policy references: EU Mission on Cancer; European Health Data Space.

Comprehensive Summary

The PERIFORMANCE Open Call is a cascade funding opportunity under Horizon Europe that finances bottom-up, local or regional stakeholder engagement initiatives in cancer research and care throughout Europe. It aims to foster trust, co-creation, and inclusive participation among patients, families, clinicians, researchers, communities, and policymakers. With a total budget of €150,000 and grants up to €10,000 per project, it supports practical, implementable activities ranging from participatory workshops, cultural and educational engagement, to communication and outreach. Proposals must align with the EU Mission on Cancer and are encouraged to tackle the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies, notably artificial intelligence and the European Health Data Space. Eligible applicants are European organizations active in or connected to cancer research, care, education, or community engagement, with a primary focus on not-for-profit stakeholders. Submissions are made in English by email using the official templates. Selection follows a single-stage process with strict thresholds and an ethics review. Funded projects can last up to 12 months and must conclude in time for final reporting by 31 August 2027. The call is designed to generate scalable good practices in inclusive engagement and responsible innovation, advancing equitable, transparent, and socially responsive cancer research and healthcare systems in Europe.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The PERIFORMANCE Open Call supports bottom-up stakeholder engagement initiatives that strengthen participation, trust, and collaboration in cancer research and care across Europe. The call invites organizations to design and implement innovative local or regional activities that actively involve patients, researchers, healthcare professionals, communities, policymakers, and other stakeholders in dialogue and co-creation processes related to cancer research, care, and survivor support. The initiative is funded through the EU Mission on Cancer within the Horizon Europe framework.

Project Context:This open call is part of the PERIFORMANCE project (Grant agreement 101216808), which runs from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2028. PERIFORMANCE promotes local action under the Mission: Cancer initiative using federated biobanking as a key platform for transdisciplinary research and innovation. The project adopts a quadruple helix model including patients, healthcare professionals, industry partners, and policymakers, going beyond standard Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) practices.

Funding Details

Total Budget:€150,000 total funding available for all selected projects.

Individual Project Awards:Each selected engagement activity may receive up to €10,000 in funding. The call will support up to 15 initiatives. A third-party entity may participate in multiple funded projects, however each project is capped at €10,000 and the total cumulative funding allocated to the same third-party entity across all projects shall not exceed €60,000.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include legally established organizations based in Europe that are active in or connected to cancer research, care, education, or community engagement. The call primarily targets academic, healthcare, civil society, and other not-for-profit stakeholders.

Eligible Organization Types:

• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
• Patient and family support groups
• Community organizations
• Universities and schools
• Biobanks
• Hospitals and clinics
• Research infrastructures

Large for-profit companies may participate as partners provided that the coordination and primary benefit remain with an eligible non-profit organization.

Eligible Activities and Focus Areas

Funded initiatives may include a range of engagement formats designed to foster awareness, dialogue, and inclusion in cancer research and care.

Eligible Activity Types:

• Participatory and co-creative formats
• Educational and capacity-building activities
• Artistic or cultural engagement
• Communication or outreach actions
• Dialogue and co-creation processes involving stakeholders

Activities should address local needs while aligning with the objectives of the EU Mission on Cancer, such as improving understanding of cancer, prevention and early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and quality of life for patients and families. The call particularly emphasizes innovative engagement practices that explore emerging technologies in cancer research, including the ethical and societal dimensions of artificial intelligence (AI) and the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

Key Timelines and Deadlines

Call Opening Date:22 March 2026

Submission Deadline:31 May 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time)

Project Duration:Funded engagement activities are expected to run for a maximum duration of 12 months, starting from the signature of the contract with the project coordinator.

Final Report Deadline:31 August 2027. All selected projects must be completed in time to submit their final report by this date.

Submission Process

Proposal submissions take place online via email and in English. Applicants should download the application form including the budget template from the project website (currently under development).

How to Submit:The completed application form should be submitted via email to opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu with the subject line: Open Call Submission: [Submitting organization's name]. All submissions will be registered in a call management log including date and time of receipt. Proposals received after the submission deadline will not be evaluated. Applicants will receive an automatic confirmation of receipt within 48 hours.

Evaluation Criteria and Process

Eligible proposals receive at least two independent evaluations by qualified experts, with at least one external evaluator not affiliated with the PERIFORMANCE consortium. Evaluators meet in an online panel to agree on a ranked list based on average scores (out of 10).

Evaluation Criteria:

Minimum Thresholds:

• Minimum score per criterion: 50% of the maximum score
• Minimum overall score: 6 out of 10
• Proposals failing to reach these thresholds will not be considered for funding, regardless of ranking position

The PERIFORMANCE Ethics Advisor reviews the selected proposals and may assign ethics conditions. All applicants receive an Evaluation Result Letter (ERL) with feedback.

Key Strategic Objectives

The PERIFORMANCE open call seeks to achieve four main objectives ¹:

1. 1Identify and disseminate good practices of participation, transparency, and governance, with a leading role for biobanks as infrastructures connecting research and citizenship
2. 2Analyse the impact of AI and the EHDS on trust and social engagement in cancer research
3. 3Fund local participatory pilot projects through open calls for proposals
4. 4Provide training and workshops to ensure inclusive, adapted, and sustainable approaches

Expected Outcomes and Impact

By funding up to 15 initiatives, PERIFORMANCE seeks to generate scalable best practices, strengthen inclusive participation, and promote responsible innovation. The initiative aims to contribute to more equitable, transparent, and socially responsive cancer research and healthcare systems across Europe. Selected projects should demonstrate potential for generating outcomes that are widely accessible and scalable, supporting the broader goal of achieving lasting impact across Europe.

Program and Funding Framework

EU Programs:

• HORIZON.2.1 - Health (Primary)
• HORIZON.2.2 - Culture, creativity and inclusive society
• HORIZON.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space

Funding Scheme:HORIZON-RIA (HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions)

Call Identifier:HORIZON-MISS - Experimental local action for EU missions: knowledge institutions as focal points of transdisciplinary research and innovation activities with European outreach

Project Coordination and Consortium

The PERIFORMANCE project is coordinated by the Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure - European Research Infrastructure Consortium (BBMRI-ERIC) based in Graz, Austria. The consortium includes 12 partner organizations across Europe, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), major universities, national cancer research centers, patient organizations, and research infrastructure networks.

Lead Partner:BBMRI-ERIC (Austria) - coordinating the open call administration and project management

Important Conditions and Requirements

• Proposals must be submitted in English
• Organizations must be legally established in Europe
• All activities must comply with EU data protection regulations and ethical requirements
• Projects must address local or regional needs while contributing to EU Mission on Cancer objectives
• Activities should foster meaningful stakeholder engagement and inclusion
• Applicants should ensure accessibility of materials and training for diverse audiences
• Organizations must be prepared to contribute to project dissemination and training activities

Contact and Further Information

Submission Email:opencall.periformance@bbmri-eric.eu

Official Funding Portal:Detailed information and application forms are available on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal at [[ec.europa.eu

Project Website:Coming soon - applicants should monitor the PERIFORMANCE project page for updates on application materials and submission guidelines

This open call represents a significant opportunity for European organizations working in cancer research, care, and community engagement to develop innovative stakeholder engagement practices. The focus on emerging technologies, ethical dimensions, and inclusive participation aligns with current EU priorities for cancer prevention, treatment, and patient quality of life. Organizations are encouraged to submit proposals that address local or regional cancer research and care needs while contributing to broader European objectives. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1These objectives are derived from the PERIFORMANCE project description on the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) website and project documentation, emphasizing the project's commitment to citizen participation and ethical research practices within the European Cancer Mission.