Support for R&I policy making in the EU enlargement countries

The grant opportunity titled "Support for R&I policy making in the EU enlargement countries" falls under the Horizon Europe framework, specifically linked to the Widening Participation program. This initiative aims to enhance research and innovation (R&I) capacity in EU enlargement countries, which include Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The objective is to align national and regional policies with European standards, ultimately fostering sustainable growth, resilience, and competitiveness in these regions.

Eligible applicants for this grant include universities, research institutes, and public-private partnerships. The coordinator must be a legal entity based in a Widening country, and at least 50% of the budget should benefit entities in these countries. The funding type is classified as a Horizon Action Grant (HORIZON-AG), specifically designed for Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). The total budget for this opportunity is projected at €3,000,000, although the exact funding for individual projects is not specified.

The grant is structured as a single-stage application process, with the submission window opening on May 6, 2025, and closing on September 16, 2025. The application aims to encourage collaboration among various stakeholders, focusing on key areas such as capacity building, technology transfer, and the integration of these countries into the European Research and Innovation Areas.

Projects funded under this grant are expected to support the Western Balkans Steering Platforms and enhance the implementation of the Western Balkans Agenda across various sectors, such as education, culture, and innovation. They should also address significant EU priorities including the Green Deal and digital transformation. Activities may involve policy support, networking, and the implementation of joint initiatives aimed at improving research ecosystems.

Co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated, and the success rates for applications remain uncertain. However, beneficiaries may have the ability to provide financial support to third parties, capped at €60,000 per third party to further encourage collaboration and dissemination of funds.

Overall, this grant opportunity presents a vital channel for enhancing the R&I capabilities of EU enlargement countries, fostering regional cooperation, and facilitating their integration into the broader European framework.

The HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-04-ACCESS-01 call, under the Horizon Europe program, aims to bolster Research and Innovation (R&I) and education initiatives in EU enlargement countries. This call specifically targets Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. The goal is to align national and regional policies in these countries with European standards, fostering sustainable growth, resilience, and competitiveness.

The expected outcomes of projects funded under this call are multifaceted. They include supporting the Western Balkans Steering Platforms, facilitating the implementation of the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and fostering the integration of enlargement countries into the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Innovation Area. Projects should also highlight the strategic importance of these countries, promote regional economic growth through investments in game-changing innovations, support the reform of R&I ecosystems, and contribute to the EU's Green Deal and digital transformation priorities. Furthermore, the call aims to reduce the innovation divide, support the accession process, identify common R&I priorities, and implement joint activities that support R&I uptake.

The scope of this call involves capacity building in enlargement countries to advance R&I ecosystems, improve technology transfer, promote networking, and optimize participation in Horizon Europe. Activities should strengthen the human capital base, promote open and responsible national R&I ecosystems, support institutional reform through gender equality plans, and support evidence-based policymaking. Synergies across Horizon Europe and related EU funding programs are encouraged to create economies of scale and avoid overlapping actions. The call also supports a platform for coordination of services addressing research and innovation in enlargement countries, people-to-people cooperation projects, partnerships between higher education institutions, creative professionals, industries, and European incubation networks. Alignment with ERA and Widening objectives is crucial, including strengthening links with EU partners, improving R&I management capacities, and supporting national policy reforms through Smart Specialisation Strategies.

The eligibility conditions require the coordinator to be a legal entity established in a Widening country, with at least 50% of the budget allocated to beneficiaries in Widening countries. 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. Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties, with a maximum grant amount of EUR 60,000 per third party.

The call utilizes a single-stage submission process. The opening date for submissions is May 6, 2025, and the deadline is September 16, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-04-ACCESS-01 topic is EUR 3,000,000, with an indicative number of 1 grant to be awarded.

Application forms are available in the Submission System, including standard forms for HE RIA, IA, CSA, RI, PCP, PPI, COFUND, and FPA. Evaluation form templates will be adapted as necessary. Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA), and call-specific instructions. Additional documents such as the HE Main Work Programme, HE Framework Programme, EU Financial Regulation, and rules for legal entity validation are also provided.

The Funding & Tenders Portal offers various support services, including an Online Manual, FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesks. Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited on the portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to bridge the R&I gap between EU member states and enlargement countries by fostering collaboration, capacity building, and policy alignment. It seeks to create sustainable and inclusive growth, enhance competitiveness, and promote the integration of these countries into the European Research and Innovation landscape. The call encourages projects that support regional economic development, digital transformation, and the implementation of key EU policies such as the Green Deal. The funding is specifically targeted towards coordination and support actions, with a focus on enabling entities from widening countries to participate effectively in European research and innovation programs.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is open to legal entities. The coordinator must be a legal entity established in a Widening country. At least 50% of the budget must be allocated to beneficiaries established in Widening countries. The specific types of legal entities eligible are not explicitly defined in the provided text, but based on the context of Horizon Europe, they could include universities, research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, and other organizations involved in research and innovation.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. The call falls under HORIZON-CSA (Coordination and Support Actions). Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants, with a maximum of EUR 60,000 per third party.

Consortium Requirement: The text suggests a consortium is required, as it refers to pooling resources and joint initiatives. The call aims to support national and regional R&I initiatives, which typically involves multiple entities working together.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The primary geographic eligibility focuses on "Widening countries" and "enlargement countries." The enlargement countries specifically listed are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine. While non-EU/non-Associated Countries may have specific provisions, the coordinator must be from a Widening country, and at least 50% of the budget must benefit entities in Widening countries.

Target Sector: The program targets the Research and Innovation (R&I) and education sectors, with a focus on aligning policies, fostering capacity building, improving technology transfer, promoting networking, and supporting the integration of enlargement countries into the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Innovation Area. It also touches upon digital transformation, ICT, skills development, green deal, smart specialisation strategies, and regional economic growth.

Mentioned Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine. The Western Balkans region is also mentioned.

Project Stage: The call appears to target projects that support policy making, coordination, and support actions. It aims to foster integration, capacity building, and the implementation of strategies, suggesting a focus on development, implementation, and coordination stages rather than basic research or initial idea phases.

Funding Amount: The topic budget for HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-04-ACCESS-01 is EUR 3,000,000. The indicative number of grants is around 1.

Application Type: The deadline model is single-stage. The call is open for submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant. They may also provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants up to EUR 60,000 per third party.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

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

Summary:

This Horizon Europe call, HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-04-ACCESS-01, aims to bolster research and innovation (R&I) and education initiatives in EU enlargement countries. The primary goal is to align national and regional policies, foster capacity building, and integrate these countries into the European Research and Innovation Areas. The call targets Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine.

The funding mechanism is a Horizon Coordination and Support Action (CSA) grant, with a total budget of EUR 3,000,000 for a single project. The coordinator of the project must be a legal entity from a Widening country, and at least 50% of the budget must be allocated to beneficiaries in Widening countries. The call supports a comprehensive policy approach, seeking synergies across Horizon Europe and related EU funding programs. It aims to create economies of scale, complementarity, and avoid overlapping actions in the R&I landscape of the enlargement countries.

The expected outcomes include supporting the Western Balkans Steering Platforms, facilitating the implementation of the Western Balkans Agenda on Innovation, Research, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and promoting regional economic growth through investments in game-changing innovations. The call also emphasizes the importance of the Green Deal, digital transformation, and skills development.

Eligible activities involve coordination, policy support, networking, and the implementation of joint initiatives. The call is a single-stage application process, with a deadline of September 16, 2025. The selected project is expected to act as a platform for coordinating various services addressing research and innovation in the targeted enlargement countries.