Youth-Driven Social Media Design: Safe, Inclusive, and Publicly-Owned Social Media

The European Commission PPPA call PPPA-2026 funds one pilot project with a maximum EU contribution of €1,480,000 (up to 80% co-financing) to design, develop, test and initiate roll-out of at least one protocol-based (ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol) decentralised social media service focused on youth well‑being, safety, privacy and inclusivity. Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least four independent legal entities from at least three eligible countries and demonstrate capacities in youth engagement, software development and scaling; universities may only play supporting roles. Projects must implement youth co-creation with participants from at least eight Member States, deliver a functioning prototype or upgrades, conduct market and stakeholder analysis, test safety and mental‑health impacts, and provide an uptake and sustainability strategy; duration is typically 12–24 months. Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal by 06 October 2026, 17:00 CEST, following the Part A/Part B templates and annex requirements in the call documents.

What it funds

Scope and expected results

Pilot project to co-design, develop, test and carry out an initial roll-out of at least one protocol-based (ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol) social media service focused on young EU citizens, user well-being and inclusivity. Activities include youth co-creation across Member States, software development or upgrades, market research, stakeholder mapping, uptake strategy and dissemination. The project should deliver functioning prototype(s), testing results, an uptake/sustainability plan and at least one lessons-learnt report; code should be open-sourced where possible ¹.

Funding instrument:PPPA Project Grants (pilot projects and preparatory actions) under the DG CONNECT work programme ¹.

1. 1Maximum EU contribution available: €1,480,000 (expected 1 grant)
2. 2EU co-financing rate: up to 80% of eligible costs
3. 3Project duration: typically 12–24 months (extensions possible if justified)

Who can apply

Consortia of legal entities established in eligible countries (EU Member States and other eligible countries listed in the call). Minimum consortium composition: at least four independent entities from three different eligible countries, including at least one organisation with youth engagement capacity, one with software development capacity and one with capacity to support scaling (business or non-profit). Universities may participate but should not exceed 25% of applicants or act as coordinator.

Key eligibility and requirements

Proposals must demonstrate youth co-creation with participants from at least eight Member States (geographic balance North/East/West/South), include experts (e.g., mental health, cognitive science), propose a prototype or upgrades to at least two existing services, test safety/usability/mental-health impacts, explore responsible AI uses, implement initial uptake activities and publish results where possible.

Eligible activities (examples):Youth co-creation events, software development or upgrades on ActivityPub/ATProtocol, market research and stakeholder mapping, dissemination/promotions, pilots with creators or youth communities, and documentation/open-source publishing of results ¹.

1. 1At least one functioning prototype or upgrades to at least two existing services
2. 2Youth participation from minimum eight Member States with inclusive representation
3. 3Design of uptake and sustainability strategy and implementation of its first stage
4. 4Testing focused on safety, mental health, usability and responsible AI features

Applications must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Admissibility, eligibility, financial/operational capacity and award criteria apply; evaluation uses relevance, quality and impact thresholds. Full call documentation, templates and Model Grant Agreement are available on the topic page Topic details ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation and work programme: Call PPPA-2026; Commission work programme and call fiche available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and DG CONNECT pages (see topic page and call document links).

Opportunity summary and purpose

Call type:Call for Proposals under PPPA Project Grants (Pilot Projects and Preparatory Actions) managed by DG CONNECT. Topic identifier: PPPA-2026. Objective: through youth co-creation, design, develop, test and initiate a roll-out strategy for at least one protocol-based decentralised social media service targeted specifically at young EU citizens that prioritises user well-being, safety, inclusivity and data decentralisation. The technological orientation emphasises ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol compatibility, contributions to relevant open-source stacks, and responsible use of AI for safer content discovery, moderation, verification and novel user experiences. The action must also deliver market research, stakeholder mapping and an uptake and sustainability strategy. The project must involve youth from at least eight EU Member States and prioritise geographic balance and inclusion of persons with disabilities and neurodivergent participants.

Important dates and administrative facts

Call opening (planned):30 July 2026. Submission deadline: 06 October 2026, 17:00 CEST (Brussels). Expected evaluation period: October–December 2026. Grant Agreement signature and project start: January–March 2027 (indicative). Project duration: normally 12 to 24 months (longer only if duly justified). Submission method: single-stage, electronic submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Contact for non-IT questions: cnect-i4@ec.europa.eu. Info session planned: 30 July 2026 Info session.

Call reference and documents:Full call documentation and Model Grant Agreement are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and the call page Call page. See also the Call Document PDF and MGA for detailed rules and annexes Call document ¹.

Available budget and funding model

Total call budget:€1,480,000. Expected number of projects to fund: 1. Maximum requested grant amount per project: €1,480,000. Funding modality: budget-based action grant (PPPA Project Grant) with mixed actual cost reimbursement including unit costs and flat rates where applicable. Maximum EU co-financing rate: up to 80% of eligible costs. Grant form: budget-based mixed actual cost grant with specific budget categories and detailed eligibility rules per the PPPA MGA.

Scope, expected impact and technical focus

Scope:design, creation or upgrade of at least one decentralised protocol-based social media service that is youth-centred, privacy-preserving, supportive of mental well-being and inclusive. Youth participation and co-creation are core: processes must include participants from at least eight Member States with geographic balance across North, East, West and South; gender balance; diverse social backgrounds; different digital/media literacy levels; and emphasis on inclusion of disabled and neurodivergent young people. Technical orientation: projects may build new services or upgrade at least two existing decentralised offerings. Acceptable protocols: ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol. Projects should aim to contribute to ActivityPub and ATProtocol software stacks where possible and to publish developed software under appropriate open-source licenses. Projects must address responsible uses of AI for content discovery, moderation, verification and new user experiences while ensuring alignment with European values and fundamental rights.

Expected impact:demonstration of a first roll-out stage during project lifetime, an uptake and sustainability strategy, ecosystem-level lessons and at least one public-facing report documenting opportunities and challenges for European decentralised social media and recommendations for public funding and further support. Outcomes should inform EU debates on youth social media use and contribute to the wider Fediverse, ActivityPub and ATProtocol communities.

Eligibility and consortium requirements

Legal status and countries:applicants must be legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries. Eligible countries: EU Member States (including OCTs) are explicitly eligible. Natural persons are not eligible except for self-employed persons where the company has no separate legal personality. International organisations are not eligible. Entities without legal personality may exceptionally participate if their representatives can undertake legal obligations. EU bodies (except JRC) cannot be part of the consortium. Specific exclusions apply for entities subject to EU restrictive or conditionality measures per the call document. All participants must register in the Participant Register and pass Legal Entity Validation (PIC).

1. 1Consortium mandatory: a consortium of at least four independent beneficiaries from at least three different eligible countries is required.
2. 2Minimum capacity requirements within consortium: at least one entity with demonstrated capacity in youth engagement, at least one with software development capacity, and at least one with capacity to support scaling of businesses or non-profits.
3. 3Role restrictions: universities can participate but should not exceed a quarter of the applicants and should not act as coordinator. Where a 'sole beneficiary' (entity composed of several legal entities) is used, members implementing the action must be identified to count for eligibility.
4. 4Affiliated entities and associated partners: may participate under specific conditions. Affiliated entities do not count towards minimum beneficiary number. Associated partners do not receive funds and do not count either.
5. 5Subcontracting: permitted under usual procurement practice rules; subcontracting may not cover the core tasks of the action and subcontracting above 30% of total eligible costs must be justified.

Eligible applicant types (detailed)

Eligible applicant types permitted by the call and commonly successful in such actions include: startups and SMEs (software and platform developers), large enterprises (where relevant), universities and research institutes (in supportive or research roles), nonprofits and civil society organisations (youth organisations, mental health NGOs, digital rights groups), public bodies and local/regional authorities (where relevant), public-private partnerships or consortiums combining the above, and individual self-employed natural persons as beneficiaries only if they have legal personality as a company without separation from the individual. International organisations are not eligible. Associated partners and subcontractors can participate but do not sign the Grant Agreement as beneficiaries.

Funding type and nature of support

Funding type:grant. Nature of support: monetary funding (direct grant payments) covering eligible project costs. Non-monetary support expected: access to EU policy contacts, visibility and dissemination channels, engagement opportunities with stakeholder networks, and encouragement to publish outputs open-source. Financial support to third parties is not allowed under this call.

Project stage and targeted sectors

Target project maturity:development, validation and demonstration stages are expected. Proposals should deliver a functioning prototype or upgrades (development/demonstration) and run initial roll-out/testing phases during the project. Projects may also include research and market analysis (research/validation) and design work (early development).

Target sectors and themes:digital social media, online platforms, ICT/ software services, AI for content moderation and discovery, digital rights and privacy, youth engagement, mental health and wellbeing, media and democratic discourse, safer online environments, and open-source community development. Tags include AI, EU digital sovereignty, Safe Inclusive Publicly-Owned Social Media, child safety online, democratic discourse, fact-checking services, social media, young citizens.

Mentioned countries and geographic scope

Explicitly mentioned geographic eligibility:EU Member States (applicants must be established in eligible countries; the call requires youth participants from at least eight Member States). The overall beneficiary scope is EU-wide. No specific non-EU countries were designated in the call text.

Funding amount and cost rules

Maximum grant:€1,480,000. EU co-financing up to 80% of eligible costs. Funding form: budget-based mixed actual costs with unit costs and flat rates permitted where applicable (for example travel unit costs per Commission Decision C(2021)35; SME owner unit cost rules may apply). Indirect costs are reimbursed at a flat rate of 7% of eligible direct costs (categories A–D except volunteers and any exempted categories). Non-deductible VAT may be eligible where applicable (subject to rules). Financial support to third parties is explicitly not allowed. The grant must not produce a profit; if revenues arise, they must be declared and may reduce the final grant.

Application process and templates

Application submission:exclusively electronic via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System. Two main parts: Part A (administrative data and summary budget) to be filled online, and Part B (technical description) using the mandatory template downloaded from the Submission System and re-uploaded as PDF. Required annexes include detailed budget calculator/table, standard CVs for core team, list of previous projects (last 4 years), and any supporting documents needed for legal entity validation. Proposals are limited to a maximum of 70 pages for Part B. The specific application form templates and the Part B template are available in the Submission System. The call includes an Application Form Part B template and mandatory annex templates in the Submission System; applicants must use those forms and upload them into the correct slots.

Submission procedure and page limits:Single-stage submission. Part B page limit: 70 pages. Paper submissions not accepted. All applicants must register in the Participant Register and have a valid PIC. See Portal Online Manual and Part B template in the Submission System for exact layout and page formatting requirements.

Application stages, evaluation and award criteria

Application stages:single-stage submission followed by one-step evaluation and then grant preparation if selected. Grant preparation includes legal entity validation, financial capacity checks, and possible negotiation/amendments to the proposal. The evaluation process is performed by independent experts with an evaluation committee and follows admissibility and eligibility checks before scoring against award criteria. Successful proposals are invited to grant preparation but invitation does not constitute formal commitment of funding until all checks and the Grant Agreement are completed.

1. 1Number of application stages: 1 main submission stage; after evaluation there is a grant preparation stage (administrative/legal checks and agreement preparation).
2. 2Evaluation timing: October–December 2026 (indicative).
3. 3Information to applicants: evaluation result letter and possibility to submit complaints if procedure considered flawed.

Award criteria and scoring:Relevance (40 points), Quality (40 points), Impact (20 points). Minimum threshold per criterion: Relevance 21/40, Quality 21/40, Impact 11/20. Overall pass score: 60/100. Ranking of ex aequo proposals will first consider Relevance score, then Impact, then Quality. Final award depends on available budget and ranking.

Success rates and number of awards

Expected projects to be funded:1. Given the single award expected and the total budget, competition is likely to be strong. The call expects to fund one proposal with a maximum requested grant of €1,480,000. The explicit success rate cannot be determined from the call text and will depend on the number and quality of proposals submitted. Applicants should assume competitive selection.

Co-funding and financial capacity requirements

Co-funding:the EU will co-finance up to 80% of eligible costs; the remaining 20% must be financed from other sources (applicant own funds, revenues or third-party contributions). Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources to implement the project, including if participating in multiple projects. Financial capacity checks will be performed during grant preparation for beneficiaries above threshold or when required; public bodies and beneficiaries requesting less than €60,000 may be exempted from some checks. Applicants may be asked to provide further financial documentation or guarantees if capacity is considered insufficient.

Application templates and structure guidance

The submission system provides the mandatory Part B template and annex templates. Applicants must use the templates available in the Submission System (not the copies on the topic page which are for information only). Part A is filled online. Part B must include the technical description, methodology, work plan, deliverables, milestones, risk management, co-creation plan with youth outreach details, market analysis approach, uptake strategy, exploitation and sustainability plan, dissemination and communication activities, data management and ethics considerations, and a budget breakdown aligned with Annex 2. Mandatory annexes: detailed budget table/calculator, CVs of core team members (standard format), list of key projects in last 4 years (template in Part B), legal entity validation documents to be submitted during grant preparation, and any prefinancing guarantee if required.

Evaluation expectations and recommended content per award criterion

Relevance (40 points):demonstrate clarity of objectives, alignment with call themes and EU strategic context, strong EU/transnational dimension, clear plan to involve youth from at least eight Member States and to include persons with disabilities/neurodivergence, and how outputs will be relevant across countries. Quality (40 points): provide a coherent methodology and work plan, strong consortium with complementary skills (youth engagement, software development, scaling expertise), clear co-creation processes and inclusion measures, realistic risk mitigation and project management, demonstrated operational capacity, and cost-effectiveness. Impact (20 points): show ambition for long-term uptake and sustainability, realistic and resourced dissemination and uptake strategy with stakeholder engagement plan (creators, media, educators), metrics and KPIs for user well-being and safety, an initial roll-out plan and evidence of potential to impact the decentralised social media ecosystem and contribute open-source outputs.

Nature of required activities (eligible and non-eligible)

Eligible activities explicitly listed in the call:youth co-creation and consultation processes (workshops, living labs, focus groups, hackathons), software development (new protocol-based service or upgrades to existing decentralised services based on ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol), market research and economic analysis, stakeholder mapping and engagement, awareness and dissemination actions across EU countries, pilots to attract usage and user engagement through content partnerships or creator pilots, and documentation and open sourcing of results. Non-eligible activities include financial support to third parties, advocacy directed toward EU institutions as a primary activity, and activities not complying with the call objectives or EU policies.

Monitoring, reporting and deliverables

Deliverables:the Grant Agreement will list milestones and deliverables and incorporate the project workplan. Projects must provide continuous reporting via the Portal Continuous Reporting tool and periodic reports (technical and financial) per the Data Sheet. The coordinator is responsible for submitting reports and distributing payments. Standard obligations include record-keeping, submission of financial statements, and certificates where thresholds apply. The project must implement at least the first stage of its uptake strategy during the grant period and produce at least one comprehensive report on lessons learnt, opportunities and remaining challenges for European decentralised social media and recommendations for future public funding. Wherever possible technical outputs should be published and open-sourced.

Risk, ethics, security and IP

Ethics and security:projects must comply with highest ethical standards and applicable EU, international and national law. Security obligations in the MGA apply where relevant. Special attention should be given to youth participation ethics, protection of minors, data protection (GDPR compliance), consent and safeguarding. Intellectual property: results remain with beneficiaries but the granting authority obtains a royalty-free right to use materials for policy, communication and dissemination. Projects are encouraged to make code and non-sensitive outputs available open-source and provide clear licensing and access rules to maximise reuse and ecosystem benefit.

Success rates, stages and likelihood guidance

Number of successful applicants expected:1. Success rate: cannot be predicted precisely but is likely to be low given one award and broad interest; proposals must therefore be high quality, strongly composed consortia with demonstrable youth engagement capacity, software engineering capability and a credible sustainability and scaling plan.

How to prepare a competitive application — practical checklist

1. 1Assemble a consortium meeting minimum requirements: ≥4 independent legal entities, from ≥3 eligible countries, and including required capacities (youth engagement, software development, scaling support).
2. 2Prepare a detailed youth outreach and co-creation plan showing geographic balance across North, East, West and South Member States and inclusion measures for disabled and neurodivergent youth.
3. 3Define technical approach: choice of protocol (ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol), justification, architecture, planned contributions to open-source stacks, and AI use cases for safety and discovery with risk mitigation.
4. 4Include market research methodology and stakeholder mapping plan with concrete names or types of partners to engage (content creators, media organisations, funding partners, educational institutions).
5. 5Design initial roll-out/pilot plan to demonstrate uptake during project lifetime, with measurable KPIs for safety, usability and mental health outcomes.
6. 6Build a resourcing and budget plan aligned to Annex 2 categories, demonstrating co-funding sources for the non-EU share and cost-effectiveness.
7. 7Prepare standard CVs, list of relevant past projects, evidence of operational and financial capacity, and registration in Participant Register with validated PICs for all beneficiaries.
8. 8Address ethics, data protection (GDPR), security, and IP plans explicitly, including envisioned open-source licensing and safeguarding minors in co-creation.
9. 9Draft a concise dissemination and sustainability plan focused on concrete first-step uptake activities to be executed within the project.

Support, help and resources

Portal resources:Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Portal Helpdesk and FAQs, the Application Form templates in the Submission System, the PPPA Call Document and the PPPA Model Grant Agreement. For submission system technical issues contact the IT Helpdesk via the Portal. For call-specific enquiries contact cnect-i4@ec.europa.eu. Applicants should monitor the topic page for updates and Q&A. An info session is scheduled on 30 July 2026 for potential applicants and will be hosted by DG CONNECT Info session.

Structured answers to requested categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Detailed: legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries. Typical eligible types include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, nonprofits, civil society organisations, public bodies, public-private partnerships, and self-employed persons acting as sole traders only where the company has no separate legal personality. International organisations are not eligible. Associated partners and subcontractors may participate but do not become beneficiaries. Affiliated entities may participate under specific rules but do not count towards the minimum number of beneficiaries. The consortium must include at least one organisation with expertise in youth engagement, one with software development capability and one with scaling/business development support capacity.

Funding Type:Grant: PPPA Project Grant — budget-based mixed actual cost grant reimbursing eligible costs, with unit cost and flat-rate elements where applicable. EU co-financing up to 80%.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required: multi-beneficiary consortium with minimum four independent legal entities from at least three different eligible countries. Single-beneficiary proposals are not appropriate unless they meet the legal definition of a sole beneficiary composed of several legal entities and those members are identified to count toward the minimum.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic eligibility: EU Member States (the call explicitly requires youth participants from at least eight Member States). The program targets actions across EU countries and expects geographic balance in youth participation and promotion activities.

Target Sector:Primary sectors: ICT and digital social media platforms, software services, AI for content moderation and discovery, digital rights/privacy, media and democratic discourse, youth and mental health focused digital solutions, open-source software communities (Fediverse, ActivityPub, ATProtocol).

Mentioned Countries:Explicit countries: EU Member States. The call requires participation and focus across at least eight Member States with geographic balance (North, East, West, South). No specific individual Member States are singled out in the body of the topic description.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: development, validation and demonstration. Projects should produce at least one functioning prototype or upgrade at least two existing services and conduct testing, refinement and an initial roll-out stage within 12–24 months.

Funding Amount:Rough funding range: single award expected with maximum requested grant amount €1,480,000. EU contribution up to 80% of eligible costs.

Application Type:Single-stage open call submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (open electronic call). Submission is via the standard Portal Submission System: Part A online and Part B uploaded from the template.

Nature of Support:Monetary funding (grant payments) covering eligible costs, plus non-monetary benefits such as EU visibility, stakeholder engagement, and encouragement to open-source code. Financial support to third parties is not permitted.

Application Stages:Number of formal stages: 1 submission stage (single-stage) plus grant preparation phase for successful proposals involving legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and signature of the Grant Agreement. Operationally this constitutes two phases: evaluation and grant preparation.

Success Rates:Estimated success rate: low; the call expects to fund 1 project out of all submitted proposals. No historical success rate is available for this specific topic; competition expected to be high.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding: yes. The EU funds up to 80% of eligible costs; the consortium must provide at least 20% co-funding from other sources. Applicants must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources and may be asked for financial documentation during grant preparation. Public bodies and small grants under €60,000 may have reduced checks.

Templates and structure guidance for application forms

The Submission System provides mandatory Part B and annex templates. Applicants must use the templates supplied in the Submission System. Part B structure guidance (as required by the Portal template and the call document):

1. 1Administrative forms (Part A): coordinator and beneficiary identification, PICs, summary budget and legal declarations.
2. 2Part B — Technical Description template sections (typical required structure): Executive summary and project abstract; Relevance and objectives linked to call; Detailed methodology, technical approach and choice of protocol(s) (ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol) and justification; Youth co-creation plan including recruitment, diversity, accessibility and inclusion measures; Market analysis approach and stakeholder mapping plan; Prototype development plan, technical milestones and deliverables; AI approach and ethical safeguards for content discovery, moderation and verification; Testing, evaluation and KPIs focusing on safety, usability and mental health outcomes; Dissemination, outreach, promotion and uptake strategy including initial roll-out activities; Exploitation, sustainability and business/governance model options; Consortium description, roles and responsibilities, and capacity statements (youth engagement, software development, scaling support); Work plan with Gantt chart, detailed tasks, milestones and deliverables; Risk analysis and mitigation measures; Detailed budget and justification mapped to Annex 2 budget categories and cost eligibility rules; Ethical and data protection compliance plan; Data management plan and IP / open source licensing intentions.
3. 3Annexes to upload in dedicated slots: Detailed budget table/calculator, standard CVs (for core team), list of previous key projects (last 4 years), supporting legal documents for LEAR/LEGAL entity validation to be provided during grant preparation, any declarations needed for affiliated entities and joint and several liability if requested.

Part B is limited to 70 pages; evaluators will not consider additional pages. Ensure consistency between the online summary budget and the detailed budget calculator; the online summarised budget prevails in case of discrepancy. At submission applicants confirm mandate to act for all applicants and the accuracy of the information; a declaration of honour will be signed again at grant signature.

Concluding summary: What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

This PPPA call funds one pilot project to design, develop, test and begin the roll-out of a youth-centred decentralised social media service built on open protocols (ActivityPub and/or AT Protocol). The project must be co-created with young people across at least eight Member States, prioritise inclusivity (disabled and neurodivergent youth), integrate expert support (mental health, cognitive science, software development and civil society), and explicitly address mental-health and safety risk minimisation. Technically, the project must deliver at least one functioning prototype or upgrades to existing decentralised services, explore responsible AI use for safer and more trustworthy experiences, and contribute to ActivityPub/ATProtocol open-source stacks if applicable. Economically and strategically, the project must conduct market analysis, stakeholder mapping, and deliver an uptake and sustainability strategy with at least an initial implementation of that strategy during the project lifetime. The award is a competitive PPPA project grant with maximum EU funding of €1,480,000 at up to 80% co-financing. Applicants must form a consortium of at least four entities from at least three eligible countries, with capabilities in youth engagement, software development and scaling. Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal using the mandatory Part B template and annexes. Successful applicants will be evaluated on Relevance, Quality and Impact and will proceed to grant preparation where legal, financial and operational checks will be performed. This is a strategic EU pilot to support open, privacy-protecting, wellbeing-oriented alternatives to centralised social media, strengthen the European decentralised social media ecosystem and provide evidence-based insights into how youth can use social media in safer ways.

Footnotes

1. 1Call Document and full call details are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: PPPA-2026 Call Document and templates Call document PDF.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The European Commission has launched a €1.48 million pilot project call to create and test safer, more inclusive social media platforms specifically for young EU citizens, focusing on user safety, mental health, privacy, and ease of use [[1]]. This initiative aims to roll out at least one protocol-based service (Fediverse/ActivityPub or AT Protocol) that is centred on young user needs and aligns with European values of privacy and autonomy [[1]].

Key Dates and Deadlines

Who Should Apply

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least four independent legal entities from three different eligible countries (EU Member States) [[1]]. The consortium must include specific capacities: at least one entity with demonstrated experience in youth engagement, one in software development, and one in scaling businesses or non-profits [[1]]. Universities may participate but are limited to supportive roles and cannot exceed 25% of the consortium or act as coordinators [[1]].

Funding Amount:The total available budget is €1,480,000, with the EU expecting to fund exactly one project for a maximum grant of €1,480,000 [[1]]. The EU co-financing rate is limited to a maximum of 80% of total eligible costs [[1]].

Core Objectives and Scope

1. 1Co-creation with young citizens from at least eight Member States (geographically balanced across North, East, West, South), including those with disabilities or neurodevelopmental conditions [[1]].
2. 2Development or upgrading of at least one functioning prototype (or two existing services) based on ActivityPub or AT Protocol, incorporating insights on minimising mental health risks [[1]].
3. 3Market analysis and design of an ambitious uptake and sustainability strategy involving key stakeholders like content creators and media organisations [[1]].
4. 4Testing and refinement of the prototype focusing on safety, user-friendliness, and responsible AI use for moderation and content discovery [[1]].
5. 5Promotion of the prototype across EU countries and open-sourcing of developed software and results [[1]].

Eligibility and Requirements

Applicants must be legal entities established in EU Member States (including overseas territories) and registered in the Participant Register before submission [[1]]. Financial and operational capacity checks will be conducted, and entities subject to EU exclusion decisions (e.g., fraud, bankruptcy, tax breaches) are ineligible [[1]]. Proposals must not include financial support to third parties and must respect EU values and ethics [[1]].

Evaluation Criteria:Proposals are scored on Relevance (40 points), Quality (40 points), and Impact (20 points). To pass, a proposal must score at least 21/40 for Relevance, 21/40 for Quality, 11/20 for Impact, and a total of 60/100 points [[1]].

How to Submit

Applications must be submitted electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal [[1]]. The process involves filling out Part A (administrative data) online, downloading and uploading Part B (technical description, max 70 pages) as a PDF, and submitting mandatory annexes including a detailed budget table and CVs of the core team [[1]].

Footnotes

1. 1Official Call Document: PPPA-2026, available at EU Funding Portal.
2. 2Info Session Details: Info Session.