SPADE Open Call #2 – Extended until 09/06/2025 17:00 CEST

The SPADE Open Call #2 is an EU funding initiative under the Horizon Europe program aimed at advancing drone technologies for sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and livestock management. The total budget for this call is €525,000, with individual projects potentially receiving around €60,000, with €45,000 allocated for specific data collection projects. The call's focus is on three primary case studies located in Spain, Norway, and Greece, addressing universal and specific challenges related to these sectors.

Eligible applicants include startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, research institutes, and technology developers engaged in drone solution development. The application process is structured as a single-stage open call, with submissions due by June 9, 2025, at 18:00 Brussels time.

The project aims to tackle various challenges through innovative solutions such as swarm navigation systems, open-source drone designs, and aerial image processing platforms. The expected project duration is six months, with deliverables required every three months.

The call is highly competitive, likely offering a low acceptance rate, given the high demand for funding. Applicants will undergo an evaluation process that involves eligibility checks, challenge alignment verification, and independent external assessment, focusing on criteria such as technical excellence, implementation, and impact.

Funding will be distributed in tranches based on project performance, and subcontracting for core tasks is prohibited. All project communications must respect confidentiality agreements and comply with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. The project also aligns with GDPR regulations, ensuring data privacy and protection rights for participants.

In summary, SPADE Open Call #2 is a strategic funding opportunity targeting innovation in drone technology for essential sectors, facilitating the development of actionable solutions that enhance sustainability and operational efficiency in agriculture, forestry, and livestock management.

The SPADE Open Call #2 is an EU funding opportunity focused on developing innovative drone technology solutions for agriculture, forestry, and livestock management. The call is structured around three main case studies and three universal challenges, with a total budget of €525,000. The opening date was March 24, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is June 9, 2025, at 18:00 Brussels time. The expected duration of participation is six months from the signing of the agreements. The project acronym is SPADE, which stands for multi-purpoSe Physical-cyber Agri-forest Drones Ecosystem for governance and environmental observation. The grant agreement number is 101060778, and the topic is HORIZON-CL6-2021-GOVERNANCE-01-21, addressing the potential of drones as multi-purpose vehicles, including risks and added values.

The submission process involves checking eligibility criteria, submitting the application online via the SPLORO platform, ensuring all documents are in English, and attending SPADE’s Info Days and Technical Webinars. A dedicated Helpdesk is available via contact@spade-horizon.eu. The evaluation process includes an eligibility check, challenge alignment verification, and external remote evaluation by two independent evaluators. The evaluation criteria are Team, Technical Excellence, Implementation, and Impact, each scored on a 0-5 scale. Proposals scoring below 10 points overall or below 2 points in any criterion will be rejected. Scores are normalized, and a virtual consensus meeting is held to finalize evaluations. In case of ties, preference is given based on gender representation, geographical diversity, and earlier submission date. Applicants can appeal within 5 days if they believe a factual evaluation error occurred. Selected applicants must provide legal documentation, and finalists sign a Sub-grantee Agreement.

The financial support includes €525,000 allocated as follows: 8 projects can receive up to €60,000 each, and 1 project can receive €45,000. Subcontracting is strictly prohibited for core tasks. Funding is released in two tranches: €30,000 / €22,500 after Month 4 (Interim Report & Deliverables) and €30,000 / €22,500 after Month 7 (Final Report & Deliverables). The funding comes from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Program. A single organization cannot receive more than €60,000 across all SPADE calls.

The rules and conditions specify that English is the official language, all documents must be in PDF format, SPADE consortium members cannot apply, and applicants must disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Proposals must comply with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity, and ethical self-assessment is required. Applicants must certify that they meet eligibility criteria, have no financial, legal, or ethical conflicts, and are not subject to any EU sanctions or restrictions. SPADE follows GDPR for data privacy, and personal data will only be used for proposal evaluation and project management. Data may be shared with the European Research Executive Agency (REA), SPADE consortium partners, and external evaluators under confidentiality agreements.

Beneficiaries must prevent conflicts of interest, maintain confidentiality for four years post-project completion, and promote their participation in SPADE, including the EU emblem and SPADE logo in all communication materials. The European Commission may conduct audits, and beneficiaries must retain project documentation for five years. Each funded project must assign a contact person, and project information will be published on public platforms. Applicants have rights under GDPR, including Access, Rectification, Erasure, and Data Portability. By submitting an application, applicants confirm that all information is accurate, they comply with EU funding rules, they have no pending legal or ethical issues, and they are not receiving duplicate funding from other EU programs.

The task description outlines three universal challenges applicable to all case studies:

UCU-CH1: Swarm Communication and Navigation, involving developing a system for communication and navigation of drone swarms, enabling drones to work collaboratively using LiDAR mapping, and creating a central or decentralized swarm control mechanism. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Algorithm prototype demonstration (Month 3), and Final system testing and validation (Month 6).

UCU-CH2: Open Source Tilted Rotor Drone System, involving developing an omnidirectional drone with tilted rotors for 360-degree movement, implementing vectored thrust control with PX4 integration, and delivering open-source hardware & software documentation. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Working prototype in a lab environment (Month 3), and Prototype tested in real-world scenarios (Month 6).

UCU-CH3: Aerial Image Processing Service, involving building an AWS-based open-source platform for drone photogrammetry, generating orthomosaics from RGB, thermal, and multispectral images, and creating a user-friendly API for data upload, processing, and export. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Beta version (Month 3), and Final version & system deployment (Month 6).

The case study challenges include:

Open-Field Agriculture Case Study (Spain):

CStudy1-CH1: ML-Based Disease Detection in Mediterranean Crops, involving developing an AI-based system for detecting plant diseases in olive groves, citrus trees, and potatoes, using RGB and multispectral imagery to identify Alternaria (potato blight) and Repilo (olive leaf spot), and providing heatmaps indicating affected areas and disease severity. Deliverables include an Initial Report on AI model design (Month 1), First prototype demonstration (Month 3), and Final ML model deployment (Month 6).

CStudy1-CH2: Open Field Data Collection and Annotation, involving collecting and annotating high-quality aerial images of crops, ensuring data covers multiple crop types and growth stages. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Local dataset (unlabeled) (Month 3), and Fully labeled dataset & documentation (Month 6).

Forestry Case Study (Norway):

CStudy2-CH1: Below-Canopy Forest Data Collection and Annotation, involving collecting below-canopy LiDAR & image data for training AI models, ensuring high-quality annotation for tree species identification. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Unlabeled dataset delivery (Month 3), and Fully labeled dataset & documentation (Month 6).

CStudy2-CH2: Ultralight Self-Levelling Landing Gear for Quadrotor Drones, involving developing adaptive landing gear for drones operating in rough terrain, testing gear on two different-sized drones. Deliverables include an Initial Report (Month 1), Preliminary design & control system (Month 3), and Final system testing & validation (Month 6).

Livestock Case Study (Greece):

CStudy3-CH1: Virtual Fencing Application for Livestock Grazing Management, involving developing a drone-based virtual fencing system, monitoring livestock movement and generating grazing patterns. Deliverables include an Initial Report & farm access confirmation (Month 1), Landscape detection & UAV integration (Month 3), and Real-world validation & dataset creation (Month 6).

CStudy3-CH2: Livestock Data Collection for ML-Based Disease Detection, involving collecting drone footage of livestock for disease detection AI models, ensuring data covers healthy and diseased animals in diverse environments. Deliverables include an Initial Report & farm setup (Month 1), Unlabeled dataset delivery (Month 3), and Fully labeled dataset & AI model development (Month 6).

SPADE focuses on solutions between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 (experimental proof of concept) and TRL 7 (system prototype demonstration). Higher TRLs are required for complex operational challenges like swarm navigation. Each project runs for 6 months, with deliverables required every 3 months. Solutions must integrate into the SPADE ecosystem. Maximum funding per project is €60,000, except for data collection projects, which receive €45,000.

In summary, the SPADE Open Call #2 is a funding opportunity for projects developing drone-based solutions for agriculture, forestry, and livestock management. It offers funding up to €60,000 for a 6-month project, focusing on specific challenges within defined case studies and universal technology advancements. The call aims to foster innovation in drone technology and its application in environmental and agricultural sectors, requiring adherence to EU regulations and ethical guidelines.

Eligible Applicant Types: The opportunity details do not explicitly define eligible applicant types. However, based on the context of Horizon Europe funding and the nature of the projects (drone technology for agriculture, forestry, and livestock management), eligible applicants could include startups, SMEs, research institutes, universities, and potentially other types of organizations with relevant expertise.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically cascade funding, where the SPADE project distributes funds received from Horizon Europe to selected applicants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. It is possible that both single applicants and consortia are eligible, but this needs to be verified from the official SPADE website or helpdesk.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but since the funding originates from the European Union's Horizon Europe program, it is likely that applicants from EU member states and associated countries are eligible. Further clarification may be needed to determine eligibility for applicants from non-EU countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: agriculture, forestry, livestock management, and drone technology. It also involves elements of ICT, specifically in aerial image processing, AI/ML-based disease detection, and data collection/annotation.

Mentioned Countries: Spain, Norway, and Greece are explicitly mentioned as locations for the case studies. The funding is from the EU, so EU member states are implicitly included.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets projects with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 3 (experimental proof of concept) and 7 (system prototype demonstration). Higher TRLs are required for complex operational challenges like swarm navigation.

Funding Amount: The allocated budget is €525,000. Eight projects can receive up to €60,000 each, and one project can receive €45,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, specifically SPADE Open Call #2. The submission is single-stage and must be done online via the SPLORO platform.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in tranches based on performance and deliverables.

Application Stages: The application process involves multiple stages: eligibility check, challenge alignment verification, external remote evaluation by two independent evaluators, score normalization, final selection, validation of the legal entity, and sub-grantee agreement preparation. This suggests at least 7 stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned. Given the limited number of projects to be funded (9 in total) and the likely high number of applicants, the success rate is likely to be below 10%.

Co-funding Requirement: The opportunity details do not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

SPADE Open Call #2 is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program, aimed at supporting innovative drone technology solutions for agriculture, forestry, and livestock management. The call has a total budget of €525,000, with individual projects receiving up to €60,000 (or €45,000 for data collection projects). The call is structured around three case studies located in Spain (open-field agriculture), Norway (forestry), and Greece (livestock), as well as three universal challenges applicable to all case studies.

The universal challenges include:

Swarm Communication and Navigation: Developing a system for communication and navigation of drone swarms, enabling collaborative work using LiDAR mapping, and creating a central or decentralized swarm control mechanism. Deliverables include an initial report, algorithm prototype demonstration, and final system testing and validation.

Open Source Tilted Rotor Drone System: Developing an omnidirectional drone with tilted rotors for 360-degree movement, implementing vectored thrust control with PX4 integration, and delivering open-source hardware & software documentation. Deliverables include an initial report, a working prototype in a lab environment, and a prototype tested in real-world scenarios.

Aerial Image Processing Service: Building an AWS-based open-source platform for drone photogrammetry, generating orthomosaics from RGB, thermal, and multispectral images, and creating a user-friendly API for data upload, processing, and export. Deliverables include an initial report, a beta version, and a final version with system deployment.

The case study challenges are:

Open-Field Agriculture (Spain):

ML-Based Disease Detection in Mediterranean Crops: Developing an AI-based system for detecting plant diseases in olive groves, citrus trees, and potatoes, using RGB and multispectral imagery to identify Alternaria (potato blight) and Repilo (olive leaf spot), and providing heatmaps indicating affected areas and disease severity. Deliverables include an initial report on AI model design, a first prototype demonstration, and final ML model deployment.

Open Field Data Collection and Annotation: Collecting and annotating high-quality aerial images of crops, ensuring data covers multiple crop types and growth stages. Deliverables include an initial report, a local dataset (unlabeled), and a fully labeled dataset & documentation.

Forestry (Norway):

Below-Canopy Forest Data Collection and Annotation: Collecting below-canopy LiDAR & image data for training AI models, ensuring high-quality annotation for tree species identification. Deliverables include an initial report, an unlabeled dataset delivery, and a fully labeled dataset & documentation.

Ultralight Self-Levelling Landing Gear for Quadrotor Drones: Developing adaptive landing gear for drones operating in rough terrain, testing gear on two different-sized drones. Deliverables include an initial report, a preliminary design & control system, and final system testing & validation.

Livestock (Greece):

Virtual Fencing Application for Livestock Grazing Management: Developing a drone-based virtual fencing system, monitoring livestock movement and generating grazing patterns. Deliverables include an initial report & farm access confirmation, landscape detection & UAV integration, and real-world validation & dataset creation.

Livestock Data Collection for ML-Based Disease Detection: Collecting drone footage of livestock for disease detection AI models, ensuring data covers healthy and diseased animals in diverse environments. Deliverables include an initial report & farm setup, unlabeled dataset delivery, and a fully labeled dataset & AI model development.

The projects should target TRL levels between 3 and 7, with a focus on integrating into the SPADE ecosystem. The project duration is 6 months, with deliverables required every 3 months. Subcontracting for core tasks is strictly prohibited. The application deadline is June 9, 2025, at 18:00 Brussels time, and submissions must be in English via the SPLORO platform. The evaluation process includes eligibility checks, challenge alignment verification, external evaluation, score normalization, and a final selection based on ranking, gender representation, geographical diversity, and submission date.