Towards human-centric, sustainable and resilient energy-intensive industries (Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships) (CSA)

The Horizon Europe grant opportunity identified as HORIZON-CL4 is focused on promoting sustainability and resilience within energy-intensive industries through human-centric approaches. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster innovation in line with the EU's strategies such as the Green Deal and the transition towards Industry 5.0. Eligible applicants include a wide range of organizations situated in EU member states and associated countries, encompassing universities, research institutes, industries, and eligible public-private partnerships. The grant emphasizes the formation of consortia, typically requiring at least three independent legal entities from different EU or associated countries to collaborate, aligning with general practices in Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Actions (CSA). The funding type is a grant characterized as non-repayable under the lump-sum model, reinforcing the emphasis on collaboration and project support without financial burden on beneficiaries. Expected funding amounts for individual projects are anticipated to range from approximately €200,000 to €1 million, based on precedents established within similar funding calls. Applications for this grant are subject to a single-stage submission process with a deadline set for September 23, 2025. The evaluation will consider factors such as the quality of proposals, their anticipated impact, and implementation feasibility. The funding aims to support activities that foster innovative practices in energy-intensive sectors by enhancing interactions between humans and machines, developing human-centric technologies, and facilitating new production processes that prioritize sustainability alongside industrial competitiveness. The call also underscores the importance of inclusivity, urging applicants to address gender, age, and disability considerations throughout their proposals. The overarching goal is to support the transition to advanced, human-centric, sustainable industrial practices, ultimately contributing to the broader goals of European industry, environmental stewardship, and social responsibility. The initiative seeks to leverage digital and green technologies, positioning the EU as a leader in transforming its manufacturing and industrial processes for the future.

The EU funding opportunity is part of the Horizon Europe program, specifically under the INDUSTRY (HORIZON-CL4-2025-01) call. It focuses on "Towards human-centric, sustainable and resilient energy-intensive industries" through the Processes4Planet and Clean Steel partnerships. The action type is HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant (HORIZON-AG-LS) model grant agreement.

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline. The opening date is May 22, 2025, and the deadline is September 23, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include:

Facilitating radical workplace innovation by optimizing human-machine interactions and leveraging the value of human workers using digital technologies.

Contributing to the development of innovative technologies in a human-centric manner, reducing risks and negative health impacts at work.

Incorporating new breakthrough technologies and production processes that prioritize human-centric design, environmental and societal impacts, and resilience.

Improving the ability of stakeholders to integrate Industry 5.0 principles (human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience) into technological development while enhancing industrial competitiveness.

The scope of the call emphasizes Industry 5.0, which aims to achieve societal goals beyond jobs and growth by becoming a resilient provider of prosperity. This involves respecting planetary boundaries, improving the competitiveness of European process industries, and prioritizing the well-being of industrial workers. The approach embraces digital and green technologies to ensure European industries remain solution providers.

Coordination and support activities should include:

Preparing an overview of preconditions for integrating Industry 5.0 into energy-intensive industries, covering human-centric, gender-specific, resilience, and sustainability aspects.

Mapping technologies like industrial wearables, human digital twins, and extended reality that integrate individual skills and increase usability in energy-intensive sectors. Examples include technologies that support co-design of processes and workplaces, enhance remote monitoring, create new operational capabilities, provide real-time feedback on performance, and integrate workplace experience.

Conducting a practical assessment of how process automation technologies in process industries utilize innovative Industry 5.0 technologies, covering several companies and at least five industry sectors.

Developing an Industry 5.0 framework and engaging with stakeholders, including labor authorities and European-level sectoral social dialogues, to empower employees in adding the Industry 5.0 dimension to industrial processes, including reducing risks and health issues.

Disseminating information and knowledge to stakeholders, including industry, policymakers, research and education actors, civil society, and the general public.

Addressing gender, age, and disability considerations in proposals, recognizing potential variations in technological adoption and impact across diverse demographic groups.

The call implements the co-programmed European partnerships Processes4Planet and Clean Steel.

General conditions for participation include:

Admissibility conditions related to proposal page limits and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligibility of countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific provisions exist for non-EU/non-Associated Countries.

Other eligible conditions as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial setup of the grants, with eligible costs taking the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of July 7, 2021. This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme and Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and evaluation forms, model grant agreement (MGA), and additional documents:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE CSA).

Evaluation form templates, including the Standard evaluation form (HE CSA), will be used with necessary adaptations.

Guidance documents include the HE Programme Guide, Lump Sum MGA, Detailed budget table (HE LS), and guidance on lump sums.

Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2025, HE Programme Guide, HE Framework Programme 2021/695, EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents and legal frameworks.

The budget overview includes several topics:

Partner search announcements can be viewed and edited on the portal. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests.

To start the submission process, applicants should select the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement in the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The EU's Horizon Europe program is offering funding to projects that align with the Industry 5.0 vision. This vision aims to make European industries more resilient, sustainable, and human-centric by integrating digital and green technologies. The funding supports a range of activities, from research and innovation to coordination and support, across various industrial sectors. The goal is to improve workplace innovation, reduce negative impacts on workers' health, and promote environmentally and socially responsible production processes. The program also emphasizes the importance of considering gender, age, and disability in the development and implementation of new technologies. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, the EU aims to enhance the competitiveness of its industries while ensuring the well-being of its workforce and the protection of the planet.