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A New Horizon for Europe: Navigating into the European Horizon for Research and Innovation

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The launch of the new Horizon Europe funding programme worth 95.5 billion EUR and its first round of calls have being sparking enthusiasm and interest among the multiple actors that were long awaiting for initiating and testing their innovative actions for the green and digital transition, as well as an inclusive economy. Yet, while the scope of the funding programme meets widespread societal demands, it may not be that easy to navigate within one of the world’s largest research and innovation programmes. What do you need to know? The article provides an overview of the main opportunities under this programme as well as the links to the recordings from the informative sessions held by the European Commission.

The new HORIZON EUROPE: Priorities and structure

As part of the new Multiannual Financial Framework, the European Union has established the Horizon Europe programme as successor of the well-known Horizon 2020. As its predecessor, #HorizonEU deploys a large-envelop of financial incentives to support research and innovation that will contribute to achieving the EU priorities across and beyond Europe.  

As defined in the First Strategic Plan 2021-24, in the first four years, the programme will focus its investments towards actions aimed at:

  • Promoting an open strategic autonomy by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains
  • Restoring Europe’s ecosystems and biodiversity, and managing sustainably natural resources
  • Making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy
  • Creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society  

PILLAR II: Clusters, ‘EU missions’, and calls

It is especially under the second pillar ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’ that the European Commission is providing the ground and support to different kind of stakeholders (universities, research institutions, public authorities, associations, NGOs, SMEs and large companies) for research addressing key societal, economic, and environmental challenges, and to reinforce and innovative the technological and industrial capacities in line with the EU policies and the Sustainable Development Goals.

A key novelty introduced with the Horizon Europe programme are the EU-Missions. Missions are commitments to address the most serious challenges that our world is facing and contribute to the goals of the European Green Deal, the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, and the Sustainable goals through a wide portfolio of actions – research projects, policy measures, or even legislative proposals.

Cluster 1 – Health

Actions supported under this cluster will be aimed at:

  • Improving and protecting the health and well-being of citizens through new knowledge, innovative solutions and the integration of a gender perspective to the preventions, monitoring, and curing of diseases
  • developing health technologies, mitigating health risks, protecting populations and promoting good health and well-being
  • making public health systems more cost-effective, equitable and sustainable

The Cluster is divided in 6 destinations under which the first calls are already open for submission:

The deadline for all the open calls under the Health Cluster is 21st September 2021. Forthcoming calls under the same destinations will open on 6th October and will close on 21st April 2022 (1st February for 2-stages submissions).

EU-Mission: Preparing UNCAN.eu, a European initiative to understand cancer (deadline 20th October 2021)

Detailed information concerning the Cluster and its calls can be found in the Cluster 1 Working Programme.

Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society

Actions within this cluster will contribute to strengthening the EU democratic values, safeguarding our cultural heritage, and foster inclusion and growth through socio-economic transformations.

The Cluster is divided in 3 destinations under which the first calls are already open for submission:

  • 5 Calls under Destination 01 – Innovative research on democracy and governance (link to the recording of the info session on Destination 01)
    • Activities launched within this destination will contribute to reinvigorating and modernising democratic governance through the development of evidence-based innovations, policies, policy recommendations, and institutional frameworks that expand political participation, social dialogue, civic engagement, gender equality and inclusiveness. Additionally, they will support enhancing transparency, effectiveness, accountability and legitimacy of public policy-making.
  • 6 Calls under Destination 02 – Innovative research on the European cultural heritage and the cultural and creative industries ((link to the recording of the info session on Destination 02)
    • Activities launched under this destination will aim at protecting and promoting historical sites and monuments, artefacts, heritage sites, landscapes, museums and other cultural institutions, languages, customs, traditions, and values through new or existing conservation and restoration technologies and methods employing green and digital paths. Innovative management actions and models for cultural institutions will seek to expend the industry triggering inclusive growth, jobs, social cohesion and diversity,
  • 7 Calls under Destination 03 – Innovative research on social and economic transformations ((link to the recording of the info session on Destination 03)
    • Actions launched under this destination will contribute to foster social and economic resilience and sustainability through an improved knowledge of the social, ethical, political and economic impacts of drivers of change – as digitalisation, demographic trends, globalisation, and migration. The implementation of research activities in the field will strengthen inclusive growth ensuring that no one is left behind especially in light of old and new societal and economic challenges.

The deadline for all the open calls under the Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society Cluster is 07th October 2021. Forthcoming calls under the same destinations will open on 20th January 2022 and will close on 20th April 2022.

Detailed information concerning the Cluster and its calls can be found in the Cluster 2 Working Programme.

Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space

Activities under this cluster will support digital, space, and key enabling technologies that are strategically important for Europe’s industrial future and especially for achieving a global industrial leadership in clean and climate-neutral industries, as well as autonomy in digital technologies and a secure data-agile economy.

The Cluster is divided in 6 destinations under which the first calls are already open for submission:

The deadline for all the open calls under the Digital, Industry and Space Cluster is 21st October 2021. Forthcoming calls under the same destinations will open on 23rd November 2022 and will close on 05th April 2022.

EU-Mission: Better prepared regional and local authorities to adapt to climate change (deadline 14th September 2021)

Detailed information concerning the Cluster and its calls can be found in the Cluster 4 Working Programme.

Cluster 5 – Climate, Energy and Mobility

Actions under this cluster will contribute to the fight against climate change by increasing the understanding of its causes, evolution, risks, impacts and opportunities, as well as by facilitating the development and implementation of more climate and environment-friendly solutions to the transport and energy sectors.

The Cluster is divided in 6 destinations under which the first calls are already open for submission:

The deadline for all the open calls under the Climate, Energy and Mobility Cluster is 19th October 2021. Forthcoming calls under the same destinations will open on 14th October 2021 and will close on 12th January 2022.

EU-Missions (deadline 14th September 2021):

Detailed information concerning the Cluster and its calls can be found in the Cluster 5 Working Programme.

Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Actions financed through this cluster will support the reduction of environmental degradation, reversing the decline of biodiversity and better managing natural resources through transformative changes of the economy and society. They will contribute to the objectives of the EU Green Deal in relation to the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, the Farm to Fork strategy, the European Climate Pact, initiatives under sustainable industry and eliminating pollution, the long-term vision for rural areas, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Cluster is divided in 7 destinations under which the first calls are already open for submission:

The deadline for all the open calls under the Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Cluster is 6th October 2021. Forthcoming calls under the same destinations will open on 28th October 2021 and will close on 15th February 2022.

EU-Mission: Preparing the ground for healthy soils: building capacities for engagement outreach and knowledge(deadline 14th September 2021)

Detailed information concerning the Cluster and its calls can be found in the Cluster 6 Working Programme.

Are you seeking to develop or join a proposal under the calls above?

All the above topics are key priorities for the AER and its members, hence we are looking forward to support members and their stakeholders in the development of a proposal, as well as in the establishment or search of a consortium. To know more about how we can support you, have a look at this article on the services of the project unit and get in touch with our European Projects Manager! Additionally, the AER is glad to assess the possibility to join consortium working on the calls in light of the strong relevance of the topics for the AER.

SAVE THE DATE! the AER will offer the possibility to further explore the novelties and opportunities introduced by the Horizon Europe programme during the next MFF info session that will be held on September 24th! The session will look at several funding programmes: Horizon Europe, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe, Digital Europe, and Life.

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First calls under the Creative Europe 2021-27 have been launched!

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The new Creative Europe Programme for 2021-27 was launched with the adoption of its first Annual Work Programme and the opening of the first calls under the ‘Culture’ strand! The programme will finance actions in the cultural and creative sectors with a total budget of EUR 2.4 billion for the next 7 years (63% higher than the previous programme).

About the new Creative Europe Programme

Creative Europe is the programme through which the European Commission provides support to the culture and audiovisual sectors across and beyond Europe. The programme will promote the competitiveness of these sectors, while supporting them in becoming greener, more digital, and more inclusive. Moreover, special attention will be addressed to reinforce the resilience and recovery of the cultural and creative sectors following the impact of the COVID-19.

The main objectives of the programme are:

  • Safeguard, develop and promote European cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage
  • increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the culture and creative sectors, in particular the audiovisual sector.

The new 2021-27 programme replicates the three strands’ structure of the previous programme:

  • Culture: Covering actions in the cultural and creative sectors (except the audiovisual sector)
  • Media: Covering activities in the audiovisual sector
  • Cross-sectoral: Covering actions across all cultural and creative sectors.

First Calls launched under the ‘Culture’ Strand

The first calls under the Creative Europe programme 2021-27 culture strand have been published on the Funding and Tender Portal of the European Commission.

Call for European Cooperation Projects (small, medium, large – depending on the size of the consortium)
  • Focus: European artistic cooperation and innovation on topics as audience engagement, social cohesion, digitisation, contribution to the European Green Deal and sector-specific challenges in the book, music, architecture and cultural heritage sectors.
  • Objectives of the supported actions: 1) Transnational creation and circulation of European works and artists; 2) Innovation – enhance the capacity of European cultural and creative sectors to nature talents, to innovate, to prosper, and generate jobs and growth.
  • Eligible applicants: Legal entities (public and private bodies) established in the EU Member States and Non-EU countries – EEA countries and countries associated to the Creative Europe Programme (or in the process of finalising the agreement).
  • Budget: Max EUR 200 000 per small scale project (lump sum grant, funding rate of max 80%); max EUR 1 000 000 per medium scale project (lump sum grant, funding rate of max 70%); max 2 000 000 per large scale project (lump sum grant, funding rate of max 60%)
  • Deadline: 7 September 2021
  • More information: Call for proposals CREA-CULT-2021-COOP
Call for European Networks of Cultural and Creative Organisations
  • Focus: Capacity-building projects implemented by representative, multi-country, membership-based networks of European cultural organisations.
  • Objectives of the supported actions: 1) Promote fair, inclusive, and diverse frameworks supporting artists and cultural and creative professionals (tackling the gender gap and related divides, and fighting discrimination); 2) contribute to the European Green Deal, particularly encouraging these sectors to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices.
  • Eligible applicants: Legal entities (public and private bodies) established in the EU Member States and Non-EU countries – EEA countries and countries associated to the Creative Europe Programme (or in the process of finalising the agreement).
  • Budget: Max EUR 825 000 per project (lump sum grant, funding rate of 80%)
  • Deadline: 26 August 2021
  • More information: Call for proposals CREA-CULT-2021-NET
Call for Pan-European Cultural Entities
  • Focus: Support cultural entities – in this call, orchestras – who aim to offer training, professionalisation and performance opportunities for young highly-talented artists.
  • Objectives of the supported actions: Supporting the capacity building and professionalisation of young highly-talented musicians, providing them with standards career’s development paths through recruitment, training and performance opportunities; address the cross-cutting issues covered by the Creative Europe programme.
  • Eligible applicants: Legal entities (public and private bodies) established in the EU Member States and Non-EU countries – EEA countries and countries associated to the Creative Europe Programme (or in the process of finalising the agreement).
  • Budget: Max EUR 1 800 000 per project (lump sum grant, funding rate of 40%)
  • Deadline: 26 August 2021
  • More information: Call for proposals CREA-CULT-2021-PECE

The AER Project Unit is willing to support potential applicants and co-applicants interested in one of the calls above. If you would like our support, contact the European Projects Manager Birgit Sandu!

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The best guide to the EU’s Funding & Tenders opportunities portal

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The European Commission is offering a detailed explanation on how to access information on funding and use the Funding & tenders Portal on 27 May 2021 10:00-12:30 CEST (Brussels time), via its “Webinar session: The Funding & tenders Portal for beginners“

As from 2021, all Commission Services shall be using the Funding & Tenders opportunities portal. It will replace individual systems that were used by the DGs (i.e. SWIM for DG EMPL).

In order to facilitate the transition, the European Commission is organising a webinar for (potential) new users of the Portal. It will explain and demonstrate:

  • the search for funding opportunities and partners
  • registration of your organisation
  • submission of proposals
  • managing your profile
  • exploring funded projects and statistics
  • and many more features.

The participation does not require pre-registration; access will be via YouTube web stream. All details and the agenda are available on the European Commission’s website. 

We strongly encourage AER members and any organisations aiming to apply in the future to EU calls for proposals or tenders, to follow this webinar.

Draft agenda

Draft agenda:

  1. Introduction
  2. What does this portal offer?
    2.1. Basic navigation
    2.2. I look for EU funding – is there anything in for me?
    2.3. I want to register my organisation
    2.4. I want to submit a proposal for a grant or procurement contract
    2.5. I want to see the EU projects funded (in my area of interest, my country or region…)
    2.6. I want to exploit the results of EU funded projects
    2.7. I want to become an expert evaluator/monitor
    2.8. Should I create my personal profile on this portal?
    2.9. How can I acquire access rights to proposals, projects, organisation data…?
    2.10. How do I manage notifications and tasks?
    2.11. How can I manage my user account?
    2.12. I need help
  3. Q&As

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Partner Search: Develop innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies with the team from Umbria

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Are you currently developing a project proposal within the Horizon 2020 European Green Deal Call or do you wish to do so? Then, Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and company Green Power, based in Umbria (Italy), AER member region, are eager to either join an established consortium or to find partners willing to co-create an effective project application.

About the European Green Deal Call

Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call launched on the 18th of September, offers €1 billion investment to boost the green and digital transition. It provides the opportunity and resources to achieve the primary objective of a sustainable Europe and planet. Project proposals have to be submitted by 26 January 2020.

The structure of the call is mirroring the European Green Deal. One of the ten thematic areas is Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system – LC-GD-2-1-2020 within which proposals should focus on decarbonising Europe by making land-based and offshore renewables the main energy source while keeping the stability and resilience of the European Energy System.

About the “Renewable energy-based systems for District heating and cooling (DHC)” idea

Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and the company Green Power are looking for an established consortium to join as partner for an effective project application to be submitted in order to create a District heating and cooling (DHC) or for cogeneration of heat and power (CHP), possibly within the Horizon 2020 Green Deal calls – Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system (LC-GD-2-1-2020).

Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and company Green Power aim to create a Self-Sustainable District in region Umbria, Italy. The protection and safeguard of the environment in this area, including springs with mineral water (Sangemini, Fabia, Amerino, etc.) will represent the basis for an eco-system that promotes the well-being of the citizens and other users of the mineral waters produced there. This will be achieved through an environmental recovery, including preparations for the production of green energy in former industrial areas and recovery of land connecting urban centres with major communication routes.

Therefore the team from Umbria is ready to contribute – in a potential project proposal that is already ongoing – by sharing their experience and know-how for designing a qualified project as well as its administrative capabilities for a pilot implementation/validation.

If you are interested in having the team from Umbria on board or have innovative ideas for projects in line with these project ideas, do not hesitate to get back to us by 15 December 2020!

For more information contact:

Agnese Pantaloni, European Projects Coordinator

Email: [email protected]

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Horizon 2020-funded European Green Deal Calls for Proposals

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The Green Deal Call worth €1 billion has been launched on the 18th of September. The call is the last within the H2020 Programme and just ahead of the launch of Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation programme kicking-off in 2021. Send your proposals by 26th January 2021!

With 10 different areas of intervention, the H2020 Green Deal Call offers the opportunity and resources to achieve the primary objective of a sustainable Europe and planet by tackling the current major environmental, climate, and societal challenges. To this aim, the call attaches pivotal importance to:

  • The impact of the action, with the Commission looking for projects that will deliver fast and visible results. The short term approach is the main difference in comparison to previous calls. This call is yielding tangible results that will bring changes by 2030. 
  • The capacity to build on previous/other projects’ results. Projects under this call should represent the final step of the broader H2020 programme, and make use of the developments of H2020 integrating them into the way of living.

The promotion and achievement of sustainable development and the ensure of a liveable future for citizens are key priorities for the Assembly of European Regions. In accordance with the priorities identified by our members, AER is looking forward to joining its members and external partners in the development of relevant projects’ proposal within the topics ‘circular economy’, ‘smart mobility’, ‘farm to fork’, ‘renewable energy’, and ’empowering citizens’!

If you are currently working on the preparation of a project proposal under one of the above topics, contact AER Project Unit to assess how we can contribute to your project!

Topics of the Green Deal Call

The structure of the call is mirroring the European Green Deal. There are eight thematic areas reflecting the key workstreams of the Green Deal and two horizontal areas which offer a longer-term perspective in achieving the transformations set out in the European Green Deal.

Thematic areas

  1. Increasing climate ambition

1.1 Preventing and fighting extreme wildfires with the integration and demonstration of innovative means (LC-GD-1-1-2020)

1.2 Towards Climate-Neutral and Socially Innovative Cities (LC-GD-1-2-2020)

1.3 Climate-resilient Innovation Packages for EU regions (LC-GD-1-3-2020)

  1. Clean, affordable and secure energy

2.1 Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system (LC-GD-2-1-2020)

2.2 Develop and demonstrate a 100 MW electrolyser upscaling the link between renewables and commercial/industrial applications (LC-GD-2-2-2020)

2.3 Accelerating the green transition and energy access Partnership with Africa (LC-GD-2-3-2020)

  1. Industry for a clean and circular economy

3.1 Closing the industrial carbon cycle to combat climate change – Industrial feasibility of catalytic routes for sustainable alternatives to fossil resources (LC-GD-3-1-2020)

3.2 Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy (LC-GD-3-2-2020)

  1. Energy and resource-efficient buildings

4.1 Building and renovating in an energy and resource-efficient way  (LC-GD-4-1-2020)

  1. Sustainable and smart mobility

5.1  Green airports and ports as multimodal hubs for sustainable and smart mobility  (LC-GD-5-1-2020)

  1. Farm to Fork

6.1 Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy (LC-GD-6-1-2020)

  1. Biodiversity and ecosystem services

7.1 Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services (LC-GD-7-1-2020)

  1. Zero-pollution, toxic-free environments

8.1  Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals (LC-GD-8-1-2020)

8.2 Fostering regulatory science to address combined exposures to industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals: from science to evidence-based policies (LC-GD-8-2-2020)

Horizontal areas

  1. Strengthening our knowledge in support of the European Green Deal

9.1  European Research Infrastructures capacities and services to address European Green Deal challenges (LC-GD-9-1-2020)

9.2   Developing end-user products and services for all stakeholders and citizens supporting climate adaptation and mitigation (LC-GD-9-2-2020)

9.3   Transparent & Accessible Seas and Oceans: Towards a Digital Twin of the Ocean (LC-GD-9-3-2020)

  1. Empowering citizens for the transition towards a climate-neutral, sustainable Europe

10.1 European capacities for citizen deliberation and participation for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-1-2020)

10.2 Behavioural, social and cultural change for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-2-2020)

10.3 Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement (LC-GD-10-3-2020)

Timeline

Launch of the Call18th September 2020
Deadline for Submitting Projects’ Proposals26th January 2021
Information are sent to ApplicantsMid May 2021
Grant Agreements are signedEnd of September 2021

Who can apply?

The application is open to all legal entities established in the following countries:

  • EU member states (including their outermost regions and the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) linked to the Member States)
  • The 16 associated countries to Horizon 2020 (Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Moldova, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine)
  • All non-EU countries listed in the General Annexe A of the Working Programme

The application is also open to International European interest organizations whose main objective is to promote scientific and technical cooperation in the EU.

The call includes opportunities for international cooperation in addressing the needs of less-developed nations, particularly in Africa, in the context of the Paris Agreement as well as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

For detailed information about all eligible entities, consult the General Annex A of the Working Programme.

Support in preparing your application

Following links can be helpful in preparing project application:

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Have you been inspired by Together4Cohesion? A new call for projects is open to communicate cohesion policy

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Why do we need to communicate about cohesion policy?

Cohesion policy provides investments that represent the most tangible and concrete proof of the EU’s impact on the everyday life of millions of citizens. Those investments aim to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens’ quality of life.

Despite the local character of the cohesion policy and its major impact on citizens’ life, lack of knowledge about the policy is still widespread. To enable an informed debate about the EU’s future priorities and secure better transparency on the spending of the EU funds, citizens should be more aware of the investments in their countries, regions, and cities.

The experience of Together4Cohesion

Cohesion Policy is a key topic within AER and the member regions part of our network. Following the Task Force on Cohesion Policy developed within the AER Bureau as well as the active participation of AER within the Cohesion Alliance, AER implemented a dedicated EU funded project aimed to raise the awareness of the EU citizens and stakeholders on the European Union’s cohesion policy and turn them into active players in the regional and national dialogue on the policy.

The project “Together for Cohesion: Let’s rEUnite”, co-financed by DG-REGIO within the 2018 call for proposals “Support for the information measures relating to the EU Cohesion Policy”, is a wide-reaching communication campaign that ran from April 2019 to July 2020. The campaign was led by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in cooperation with the Media Consulta International Holding (mc Group) and the strong involvement of six AER flagship regions: Alba and Timis (RO), Catalonia (ES), Csongrad-Csanàd (HU), Trentino (IT), Varazdin (HR). 

The experience within the campaign has been very valuable for the flagship regions and inspired also other European regions within AER and beyond. During the campaign, more than 70 projects were showcased reflecting the wide variety of actions supported by cohesion policy. Around 1.8 million people were reached and a solid network was built to continue cooperating in the promotion of cohesion policy. 

New call by DG Regio on “Support for information measures relating to the EU Cohesion policy”

With the current call for proposals, the European Commission seeks to provide support for the production and dissemination of information and content linked to the EU Cohesion policy.

The specific objectives of this call for proposals are: 

• To promote and foster a better understanding of the role of cohesion policy in supporting EU’s regions;

 • To increase the awareness of projects funded by the EU – through cohesion policy in particular – and of their impact on people’s lives; 

• To disseminate information and encourage an open dialogue on cohesion policy, its results, its role in delivering on the EU’s political priorities and on its future; 

• To encourage civic participation in matters related to cohesion policy and to foster citizens’ participation to setting priorities for the future of this policy. 

The eligible partners are:

• media organizations/news agencies (television, radio, written press, online media, new media, a combination of different media);

• non-profit organizations; 

• universities and educational institutions; 

• research centres and think-tanks; 

• associations of European interest; 

• private entities; 

• public authorities (national, regional and local), with the exception of the authorities in charge of the implementation of Cohesion policy following Art 123. of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 December 2013;

• above mentioned legal entities established only in the EU Member States.

The total budget is estimated at EUR 5.000.000, the maximum grant per project is EUR 300 000.

Applications for project proposals have to be submitted by the 12th of January 2021. Before proceeding with the submission, it is essential to carefully read all documentation provided by DG Regio and in particular the call for proposals released by the European Commission.

If you are willing to embark on this opportunity released by DG Regio, don’t hesitate to contact the AER Project Unit.

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AAL Call: Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions

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Have you heard about the latest AAL Call for Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions? If not, read this article to learn more!

The call was launched by the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Programme. It aims to support better quality of life for older people and to strengthen industrial opportunities while ensuring the sustainability of our health systems.

The AAL Programme funds projects that work towards creating market-ready products and services for older people. Each project consists of SMEs, research bodies and end-user organisations.

The current AAL Call is titled “Healthy Ageing with the Support of Digital Solutions”. Applications must be submitted before 24th August 2020 at 17:00 CET. The call aims at supporting innovative, transnational and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects.

Project proposals should demonstrate a clear route to market and added-value for the different types of end-users. The wishes and aspirations of older adults in combination with the demands from the other stakeholders involved – e.g. providers and payers – will have a critical role in shaping useful and attractive AAL solutions with high market potential.

You can find national eligibility criteria here.

Two types are projects can be funded through this AAL Call: “Collaborative Projects” and “Small Collaborative Projects”.

Collaborative Projects must be carried out by consortia composed of at least three organisations from three different countries including an end-user organisation and a business partner. Projects must aim at developing and bringing to market ICT solutions. These solutions must be included in the following AAL domains: Active Living, such as in work & training, for vitality & abilities, in leisure & culture, for information & communication, as well as for Assisted Living, such as in health & care, living & building, mobility & transport, safety & security.

Proposals are expected to be user-driven through co-creation and address a specified challenge. Collaborative Projects will remain the main funding tool for this call. This type of projects has a duration of 12 to 30 months with maximum funding of €2,500,000.

Small Collaborative Projects must last between 6 and 9 months, have a maximum co-funding budget of €300,000, a leaner application and reporting procedures. The main objective of the small collaborative projects is the exploration of new ideas, concepts and approaches for ICT-based solutions for older adults. They should reach out to new stakeholders for inclusion in (future) development of AAL solutions, build strong collaborations with end-user organisations, support community building with new customers and create shared agendas.

You can read the full Call text here and visit the Call page here for further information.

In case you are thinking to apply for this Call, AER Project Unit can liaise you with potential partners that could join your consortium.

In addition, do not miss the opportunity to join the AAL Forum 2021, the annual event for the community of healthy ageing to discuss opportunities in health technology and reflect on the future of ageing well in the digital world. You could even be part of this event by applying to the call for workshops by 26 June 2020.

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Spring Digest: Funding opportunities for EU and non-EU member regions

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Looking for funding for your projects? Here are some opportunities you could be interested in!

The AER Project Unit has prepared a selection of calls for proposals on the following subjects: Cohesion Policy, energy, climate action, civil society, citizen’s rights, youth and social economy.

If you require any further information, are looking for partners, or planning to apply to these calls, don’t hesitate to contact the AER project unit.

*** Update ***

Due to the Covid-19 crisis, some deadlines for funding application have been postponed. The Horizon 2020 call titled Boost Rural Economies through Cross-Sector Digital Service Platforms, previously shared in this article have been updated. The submission deadline for this topic has been extended from 22 April to 17 June 2020.

Cohesion Policy

Support for citizen engagement in the implementation of cohesion policy (DG REGIO)
Deadline: 1 June 2020
Eligibility: EU Member States
DG Regio has launched an open call for proposals, which the main action is the implementation of innovative actions or tools to engage citizens in cohesion policy, co-financed by the EU. This call has been mentioned in this article previously.

Energy

Mitigating household energy poverty (Horizon 2020)
Deadline: 10 September 2020
Eligibility: EU and non-EU Member States (check the list of eligible countries here)
This call focuses on alleviating energy poverty and developing a better understanding of the types and needs of energy-poor households and how to identify them. The proposed action should help to facilitate behavioural change and financial or non-financial support schemes and to disseminate innovative schemes for energy efficiency.
Supporting public authorities in driving the energy transition (Horizon 2020)
Deadline: 10 September 2020
Eligibility: EU and non-EU Member States (check the list of eligible countries here)
The focus of the call is on decentralisation of energy governance, with the main goal of enhancing political commitment at a local level through a shift of responsibility in implementation and monitoring of energy efficiency solutions. The proposed action should be a support to local and regional public authorities and respectively support into transposing the Energy Efficiency Directive.

Climate Action & Environment

National roundtables to implement the Smart Finance for Smart Buildings initiative (Horizon 2020)
Deadline: 10 September 2020
Eligibility: EU and non-EU Member States (check the list of eligible countries here)
This call aims to facilitate the creation/set-up of national roundtables focused on energy efficiency investment. The roundtables should gather the relevant stakeholders in permanent multilateral discussion forums. The focus must stress the exciting private and public buildings, industry and SME’s. The roundtables should analyse the possibility to upscale existing best practices from the national and European level, develop strategies, roadmaps and action plans, propose improvements in the national policy frameworks and measures, and follow their implementation, develop jointly template documents and contracts leading to better functioning of the market.
LIFE Calls for proposals
You can find several calls for proposals from the program LIFE under the Environment and Climate action sub-programs. Those calls are detailed in this article previously published.

Civil Society

Civil Society Projects (Europe for Citizens)
Deadline: 1 September 2020
Eligibility: EU Member States, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Kosovo
The project should consist of stimulating and organising reflection, debates or other activities related to the multiannual priority themes of the Programme. The proposed actions should also propose practical solutions that can be found through cooperation or coordination at the European level. Projects should actively involve many citizens in the implementation and aim at setting the basis or develop long-lasting networking between many organisations active in the field.

Citizen’s Rights

Call for proposals to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities (Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme)
Deadline: 02 June 2020
Eligibility: EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Serbia
The first objective of this call is to promote the collection, exchange and dissemination of innovative effective practice for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities. The proposed actions should also promote their active inclusion and participation in the society taking into account socio-economic trends such as the ageing of the population and digitalisation. The second objective is to fill in data gaps related to the situation of persons with disabilities.

Youth

European Youth Together 2020 (Erasmus +)
Deadline: 28 July 2020
Eligibility: EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, North Macedonia, Serbia and Turkey
This call aims to create networks promoting regional partnerships, to be run in close cooperation with young people from across Europe. The networks should organise exchanges, promote training and allow young people themselves to set up joint projects, all of which could be done through both physical and online activities. Projects should particularly address challenges related to inclusive participation for all young people, regardless of their background. This call was launched to give a needed immediate response to help mitigate the socio-economic impacts in the youth sector that emerged against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Social Economy

Social Economy Mission (COSME)
Deadline: 9 June 2020
Eligibility: EU Member States and countries participating in the COSME programme
The call for proposals will support consortia in developing inter-regional learning and collaboration, and creating opportunities and incentives for future inter-regional partnerships in the field of priorities of “Social economy missions”. Project proposals must aim to enhance interaction and improving collaboration and boost inter-regional learning between a social economy network and stakeholders. It must also aim to contribute to the gradual building of a Social Economy community. You can find more information about this call in this article.

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Call for Proposals: Research & Innovation Projects in response to COVID-19

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If you are an organisations interested in submitting research and innovation proposals in response to short to medium-term COVID-19 specific needs in Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Spain and Turkey, this call for proposals is for you. The Assembly of European Regions is happy to present this call launched by the Eureka Network. The Eureka Network is an intergovernmental organisation for market-driven industrial Research, Development and Innovation.

The call for project proposals may include but not limited to: 

  • Infection prevention and protection
  • Sanitation technology
  • Diagnostics and testing
  • Therapeutics, vaccines and medicines
  • Disease-tracking technology, analytical solutions for health systems
  • Smart technology for COVID-19 patients
  • Smart technologies and support systems for critical production and supply chains under lockdown
  • Safe mobility: migration data and trends, regional risk monitoring, protection of isolated and risk groups, safe use of public transports
  • Education technologies and digital workplace.

This call for solutions for the COVID-19 Echo Period only concern organisations in the following countries (based on mutual consent between participating national funding bodies (NFB):

  • Austria (Forschungsförderungsgesellschaft – FFG)
  • Canada (National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program – NRC IRAP)
  • Denmark (Innovation Fund Denmark – IFD)
  • France (Bpifrance)
  • The Netherlands (Rijksdienst voor Ondernemend Nederland – RVO)
  • Spain (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnologico Industrial – CDTI)
  • Turkey (Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu – TÜBİTAK)

Application deadline: 15 May 2020.

You can apply here.The form must be completed in English.

Eligibility criteria  

In order to apply to the present call, the partners must meet the following qualifications:

  • The consortium should include at least two organisations independent of each other from at least two of the participating countries.
  • Funding assistance follows each national funding body’s (NFB) funding regulations.
  • The project partners must express their willingness to cooperate, on a win-win/fair basis in the development of a new product, industrial process or service.
  • The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.
  • The project must have a civilian purpose.
  • The project should benefit all involved partners in a well-balanced consortium.
  • The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technologic cooperation between the participants (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure, etc.).
  • The duration of the project may not exceed 12 months.
  • Projects are expected to start by August 3 2020. Participants must discuss with their NFB about the expected start date of their activities. NFB regulations may apply.
  • Product, service or process implementation or market launch should happen no later than 6 months after project completion.

 Important to note: Each participating NFB may apply additional eligibility criteria based on their national regulations. Applicants are strongly advised, prior to submitting the application, to contact their NFB to discuss their project idea, and verify their and their project’s eligibility.

Partners from other Eureka countries or countries outside of the Eureka network can also participate, but funding must be secured within the deadlines of the call.

 More information here.

 If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the AER Secretariat. 

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European Youth Foundation Open Calls!

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Youth engagement at European level is very high in the AER agenda. In this respect, AER takes action and regularly gets involved in different projects and initiatives dedicated to young people especially through its Youth Regional Network. The Summer Academy 2019 and the 20th University on Youth and Development which took place this year, are one of the latest successful initiatives that AER organised to benefit the youth.

In order to support young people’s projects, the Council of Europe (CoE) established in 1972 the financial instrument European Youth Foundation (EYF) within the Youth Department of the Directorate for Democracy. The projects must be developed by, with and for young people, responding to issues, needs and challenges that concern young people.

The EYF has its premises in the European Youth Centre in Strasbourg. Only youth NGOs from the Council of Europe member states, as well as the European Cultural Convention Signatories (Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Holy See) can apply to the Foundation.

EYF more than just a donor…a real partner

EYF is more than just a donor, it aims at developing sustainable partnerships with NGOs. Its support is given not only on a financial level but also at the educational level:

  • offers guidance during the application and reporting process;
  • provides extended evaluation of content and methodology through constructive feedback, raising questions and giving recommendations in order to create a reflection process;
  • transfers knowledge by sharing educational material developed by CoE and youth NGOs

Who can apply?

The EYF foresees the involvement of 5 types of organisations, which define which kind of grant they can apply for:

  • International youth NGO – Members/branches in minimum 7 ECC signatory states
  • International network of youth NGOs – Minimum 7 youth NGOs in 7 different countries (applicant organisation plus 6 other NGOs in different countries
  • Regional network of youth NGOs – Present in minimum 4 and not more than 6 countries (applicant NGO plus 3 to 5 NGOs in different ECC signatory states)
  • National youth NGO – Based in an ECC signatory state and working at national level
  • Local youth NGO – Based in an ECC signatory state and working at a local level

The EYF does NOT support individuals, students, informal groups, private businesses, sports clubs, etc.

In order to obtain the EYF’s support, it is essential that a project is thematically linked with the priorities of the Youth Sector of the CoE which are decided every 2 years.

3 Open Calls!

The European Youth Foundation has a diverse range of grants in accordance with the typology of beneficiaries and objectives. You have the opportunity to apply now for 3 grants out of 4 so don’t waste this chance!

  • Annual work plan (only open to international NGOs/networks, can include pilot activities) – Open Call
  • Pilot activities (not open to international NGOs/networks)

Deadline 1 October (midnight CET), with registration exclusively through EYF online system.

Important Notice! The first step is to register your NGO in the online system of EYF in order for your organisation to be evaluated. Once you get the approval you can have access to the project application and apply.

In case you are preparing your project application and wish to involve AER member regions, do not hesitate to contact the AER Secretariat.

Andres Munoz Rojo (AER Programmes Coordinator)

email: [email protected], phone: +32 24001054

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