💰 Funding Details

Funding Description

Call Overview

* Call Identifier: HORIZON-CL4-2025-05-TWIN-TRANSITION-21-two-stage

* Action Type: *Innovation Action (IA) – Lump Sum*

* Maximum EU Contribution per Grant: €48 000 000 (lump-sum)

* Submission Model: Two-stage, blind evaluation for Stage 1

* Opening Date: 22 May 2025

* Deadlines:

* *Stage 1:* 23 September 2025, 17:00 (Brussels)

* *Stage 2:* 14 April 2026, 17:00 (Brussels)

Strategic Aim

The topic finances large-scale demonstrators for clusters of Social Circular Enterprises (SCEs) that jointly design, test and deploy technology solutions boosting circularity for *textiles, WEEE or construction materials*. Projects must:

1. Pool SCEs, research/tech centres, for-profit circular firms and public stakeholders into transnational “Social Circular Tech Clusters” active in ≥2 Member or Associated States.

2. Deliver replicable, tech-oriented demonstrators proving triple impact: economic viability, resource efficiency and social inclusion of vulnerable workers.

3. Operate under a lump-sum MGA (HORIZON-AG-LS)—all cost categories are pre-book-kept into one financed amount, easing reporting but raising the importance of accurate work-package budgeting.

Budget Logic

*Typical consortium size:* 15-30 partners / €15-25 M lump-sum.

*Co-funding:* 0 % (EU reimburses 100 % of the lump-sum).

*Sub-grants & procurements:* Allowed inside the lump-sum, but must be justified ex-ante in Part B.

Geographic & Policy Synergies

* Link with H4C (Clusters for Circularity), EIT Circular Economy KIC, and regional ERDF programmes in your country.

* Projects support Destination 1 & 2 of the Digital, Industry & Space WP 2025, contributing to EU strategic autonomy in raw materials.

📊 Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation Criteria Explained

| Criterion | Weight | What Evaluators Expect |

|-----------|--------|------------------------|

| Excellence | 1/3 | • Clear problem statement for chosen waste stream

• Sound, innovative tech approach (AI, digital twins, etc.)

• Credible transnational R&D methodology

• Interdisciplinarity (social sciences + engineering) |

| Impact | 1/3 | • Quantified contribution to Destination KPIs

• Market replication plan for SCE clusters

• Socio-economic spill-over in your country and EU-27

• Robust exploitation, IP & open-science measures |

| Quality & Efficiency of Implementation | 1/3 | • Balanced consortium with SCE leadership

• Realistic lump-sum budget & resources

• Risk management (tech, regulatory, social)

• Gender equality and inclusiveness |

Minimum score 4/5 per criterion and ≥15/25 overall to pass Stage 2.

📝 Application Strategy

Application Strategy

1. Craft a Strong Cluster Narrative

* Position SCEs at the core of the consortium—minimum 50 % of partners and 40 % of budget.

* Demonstrate transnational complementarity: e.g. a mature SCE network in your country pairs with an emerging cluster in another State to cross-transfer know-how.

2. Technology & Impact Alignment

* Select ONE main waste stream (textiles, WEEE *or* construction) and justify with market data.

* Detail TRL starting point (≥5) and target (≥7) for each technology (AI-based sorting, digital repair manuals, material passports, assistive robotics, etc.).

* Quantify triple KPIs:

* Environmental: tonnes of non-recyclable waste avoided.

* Economic: € revenue from secondary raw materials.

* Social: FTE jobs for people distant from labour market, productivity increase via assistive tech.

3. Two-Stage Submission Tactics

* Stage 1 (≈10 pp.) focuses on excellence & expected impact—no partner names (blind!). Use generic descriptors like “Leading SCE cluster from your country”.

* Stage 2 expands to full work plan, risk matrix, detailed lump-sum breakdown and freedom-to-operate analysis.

4. Lump-Sum Budgeting

* Build *bottom-up* granular cost sheets internally, then translate to work-package lump shares.

* Include output-based payment triggers: e.g. *Milestone 3 – pilot line operational & audited*.

5. National Leverage

* Stress how the project will align with your country’s Circular Economy Action Plan, vocational training schemes, and industrial clusters.

* Reference support letters from your country Regional Managing Authorities for ERDF or Just Transition Fund co-investments.

Demonstrators for clusters of social circular enterprises (IA)

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