Pilot initiatives on Technology Infrastructures (CSA)

The grant opportunity titled "Pilot initiatives on Technology Infrastructures (CSA)" falls under Horizon Europe’s Cluster 4, specifically aimed at enhancing the landscape of technology infrastructures within the European Union. This grant is designed as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) focusing on pilot initiatives to foster advancements in digital and industrial technologies. Eligible applicant types include a wide array of organizations such as universities, research institutes, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, and other relevant entities involved in technology and industrial ecosystems. Specific eligibility often requires applicants to be based in EU member states or Horizon Europe-associated countries, with some emphasis on participants from lower-innovation regions. The funding provided with this grant is categorized as a lump sum grant and falls under the broader funding types of Horizon Europe, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA). The geographic scope of eligibility primarily encompasses EU member states and associated countries, with potential provisions for participation from non-EU countries under specific conditions. The project stage relates to early-stage coordination and networking initiatives, typical of CSAs, focusing on establishing collaborations and strategic actions to map and enhance technology infrastructure services. The funding range is variable, with amounts for similar projects generally noted between €1 million and €5 million depending on the specific topic and eligible actions. The application process is structured as a single-stage open call with a submission deadline set for September 23, 2025. The nature of support is purely monetary, with grants generally falling within the indicated budget ranges. Success rates for Horizon Europe grants typically vary between 10% and 39%, although individual outcomes for this call may differ. Co-funding requirements are not explicitly defined but may be applicable based on the type of action pursued. In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to advance the technological infrastructure across Europe through pilot initiatives. It encourages collaboration among diverse stakeholders, aiming to address service gaps, improve the provision of services tailored to industrial user needs, and strengthen the innovation landscape for European industry. Proposals are expected to develop comprehensive strategies and roadmaps, ensuring alignment with the overarching goals of enhancing European technological capacities and competitiveness.

This is a Horizon Europe call focused on pilot initiatives for Technology Infrastructures. The call, INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01), is for HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with funding provided as a lump sum grant. The submission deadline is September 23, 2025. The call aims to improve the European Technology Infrastructure landscape, focusing on industrial user needs, availability, resilience, and innovation capacity, and to validate a European approach to address service gaps. The scope includes identifying a specific technology area or industrial ecosystem for a pilot initiative, taking into account selection criteria from the Commission Expert Group on Technology Infrastructures. Proposals should cover strategic steps to achieve expected outcomes, demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the Technology Infrastructure landscape, and identify barriers to addressing needs. Activities should map available Technology Infrastructures in Europe, analyze service types, and understand user needs, including those of large companies, SMEs, and start-ups. Proposed actions should develop strategies, roadmaps, or agendas to overcome gaps and barriers, improve service provision, facilitate access, increase visibility, and identify investment priorities. Strategies may include specifications for new or upgraded Technology Infrastructures, deployment of new services, and development of EU-level networks. Pilot projects should propose implementation modalities, including the roles of infrastructure operators and support measures at various levels, and identify relevant actors and financial resources. Successful proposals will demonstrate relevance to EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy, involving industrial partners, Technology Infrastructure organizations, and technology, market, and legal experts. Projects should build on existing initiatives and develop synergies with other relevant programs. The expected outcomes are to provide evidence and understanding of the European Technology Infrastructure landscape, develop a sound understanding of industrial user needs, improve the availability and provision of services for enterprises, strengthen the innovation and technology development capacity of European industry, and contribute to the validation of a European approach to Technology Infrastructures. General conditions for participation include admissibility conditions, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria, all detailed in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. The legal and financial setup of the grants will follow a lump sum model. Application forms, evaluation templates, guidance documents, and model grant agreements are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. Additional support resources include the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, and IT Helpdesk. The budget overview lists several topics under the call, including DIGITAL, HUMAN, MATERIALS, and TWIN TRANSITION, each with varying budgets and indicative numbers of grants. The opening date for submissions is May 22, 2025, and the deadline is September 23, 2025. In summary, this Horizon Europe call seeks proposals for Coordination and Support Actions to pilot initiatives that will enhance Technology Infrastructures across Europe. It aims to map existing infrastructures, understand user needs, develop strategies to address gaps, and improve the overall innovation ecosystem for European industry, with a focus on SMEs and start-ups. Funding is provided as a lump sum, and the call encourages collaboration among various stakeholders, including industrial partners, Technology Infrastructure organizations, and experts. The available budget for the HORIZON-CL4 topic is €5,000,000 and the indicative number of grants is 5 with a budget of 500,000 to €1,000,000 per grant.

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, under the INDUSTRY pillar (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01), aims to bolster European industry through various funding instruments, including Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), Innovation Actions (IA), and Cofund Actions. The call focuses on key areas such as digital technologies, advanced materials, twin transition (digital and green), and human aspects within the industry. The primary goal is to enhance the European landscape of Technology Infrastructures (TIs), improve their availability and service provision, and strengthen the innovation and technology development capacity of European industry.

The call is structured around several specific topics, each with its own budget, scope, and expected outcomes. These topics range from pilot initiatives on Technology Infrastructures to the development of strategies for overcoming gaps and barriers in infrastructure service provision. The call emphasizes the importance of involving all relevant stakeholders, including industrial partners (SMEs and large enterprises), organizations hosting TIs, and technology, market, and legal experts.

Geographic eligibility extends to EU member states, associated countries, and potentially non-EU/non-associated countries with specific funding provisions. The funding amounts vary significantly, ranging from €1,000,000 to €45,000,000, depending on the type of action and specific topic. The application process is a single-stage open call, with eligible costs taking the form of lump sums.

Overall, this call seeks to foster collaboration, innovation, and strategic development within European industry, with a particular focus on strengthening Technology Infrastructures and promoting the twin transition towards a digital and green economy.