This EU Grant is Closed
The deadline for this grant was 30 July 2025 and applications are no longer being accepted.Grant ID: HORIZON-CL6-2023-COMMUNITIES-01-2
Develop Open Call
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Develop Open Call – Funding Overview
What the Call Funds
* Small-scale, applied innovation projects (6-12 months) that deliver digital, place-based solutions to rural–urban challenges identified in the nine PoliRuralPlus pilot regions (Central Bohemia, Flanders, Häme, Mazovia, Mura, Overijssel, Peloponnese, Segóbriga, Utena).
* Solutions must advance the PoliRuralPlus technological ecosystem (JackDaw platform, MAAT, Knowledge Space) and feed new data back into its AI/foresight tools.
* Typical Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at start: 4-5 (validated lab prototype) with a target of TRL 6-7 (demonstrated in relevant environment).
* Eligible technology domains include, but are not limited to:
- Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
- Internet of Things (IoT) & smart sensing
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS) & geo-intelligence
- Data-driven decision-support dashboards
- Digital twins, XR, citizen-science apps
Funding Mechanics (Cascade/Lump-Sum)
* Maximum funding per project: Indicative ceiling of €60,000 (final amount confirmed in the Guidelines).
* Payment schedule: 70 % pre-financing at grant signature, 30 % after successful review of the final deliverables.
* Funding rate: 100 % of eligible lump-sum costs (no co-funding required).
* Number of projects expected: ±10 across all pilot regions (subject to budget availability).
Eligibility Snapshot
* Who can apply: Any legal entity (SME, start-up, research organisation, NGO, public authority, civil association) established in an EU Member State or Horizon-Europe Associated Country.
* Mandatory link to pilot region: At least one consortium member must be located in, or demonstrate a formal cooperation agreement with, one of the nine PoliRuralPlus pilot regions.
* Non-beneficiary clause: Current PoliRuralPlus beneficiaries and all their affiliated entities are ineligible.
* Single applicants or small consortia (max. 3 entities) allowed.
* Compliance with GDPR and EU ethics rules is obligatory.
Key Deliverables (Chapter 6, Guidelines)
1. Detailed Work Plan & Data Management Plan (M1)
2. Operational Prototype integrated with PoliRuralPlus APIs (M6-M9)
3. User Documentation (manuals, open APIs, training material)
4. Impact & Replicability Report, including NEB alignment assessment
5. Final Financial Statement (lump-sum justification)
Important Dates (indicative)
* Call opening: 15 Oct 2023
* Deadline for submissions: 15 Jan 2024 – 17:00 CET
* Evaluation results: March 2024
* Grant Agreement signature: April 2024
For full details consult the official documents: https://www.poliruralplus.eu/open-calls/develop-call/ and Annex 2 – Guidelines for Applicants.
🎯 Objectives
📊 At a Glance
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🇪🇺 Strategic Advantages
EU-Wide Advantages & Opportunities for “Develop Open Call” (HORIZON-CL6-2023-COMMUNITIES-01-2)
Overview
The "Develop Open Call" is a Horizon Europe cascade-funding action aimed at accelerating innovation and deployment of community-oriented solutions across the EU. By operating at Union level, beneficiaries unlock a range of strategic advantages that cannot be replicated by purely national initiatives.
1. Access to the EU Single Market
• 450+ million consumers: Successful solutions can be commercialised immediately in all 27 Member States without customs barriers or divergent product standards.
• Public-procurement potential: Alignment with the EU Procurement Directive allows awardees to bid for large cross-border public contracts.
• Free movement of data & services: The Digital Single Market removes data-localisation obstacles—critical for cloud-based and data-intensive community platforms.
2. Cross-Border Collaboration & Knowledge Exchange
• Multinational consortia: Cascade funding favours SME–research–municipality clusters from multiple countries, pooling complementary expertise.
• Living labs in diverse contexts: Pilot deployments in different regions help validate scalability across varied socio-economic conditions.
• Mobility of researchers: Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Erasmus+ synergies enable staff exchanges, enhancing skills transfer.
3. Alignment with Key EU Policies
• European Green Deal: Projects improving resource efficiency, circularity or biodiversity score higher during evaluation and can tap subsequent LIFE or Innovation Fund calls.
• Digital Europe Programme: Digital twins, AI or IoT components can piggyback on DEP infrastructures (e.g., EuroHPC supercomputers, common data spaces).
• New European Bauhaus: Community-centric design approaches benefit from additional branding and networking under the NEB initiative.
4. Regulatory Harmonisation Benefits
• Single set of rules: CE-marking and GDPR compliance recognised EU-wide, reducing legal complexity and time-to-market.
• Standardisation bodies: CEN/CENELEC Fast Track enables project outcomes to become reference standards, enhancing adoption.
5. Integration into the EU Innovation Ecosystem
• European Technology Platforms & KICs: Access to EIT Community (Climate-KIC, EIT Digital, etc.) for mentoring, acceleration and investment.
• Research infrastructures: Use pan-European facilities (ESFRI roadmap) for testing advanced materials, bio-resources or digital prototypes at reduced cost.
• Networking events: Participation in Horizon brokerage, European Innovation Council (EIC) summits and Cluster 6 thematic days to pitch results.
6. Funding Synergies & Leverage
• Cascade funding multiplier: Small grants (e.g., €50k-€150k) can de-risk concepts before applying for larger EIC Accelerator or Cohesion Policy funds.
• Structural Funds alignment: ERDF/Interreg can finance deployment in less-developed regions once proof-of-concept is achieved.
• Private capital crowd-in: Seal of Excellence & ESG alignment attract VC and impact investors focused on EU taxonomy-compliant projects.
7. EU-Wide Scale & Impact Potential
• Replication toolkits: Requirements to publish open-source assets/documentation facilitate replication by municipalities across the EU.
• Pan-EU impact metrics: Horizon KPIs (citizen engagement, GHG reduction, job creation) create a persuasive narrative for additional funding rounds.
• Policy uptake: Results feed directly into EU directives, ensuring long-term sustainability and influence on future regulations.
Strategic Takeaways
1. Speed to market & reduced compliance costs through harmonised EU regulations.
2. Broader user validation via multi-country pilots increases investor confidence.
3. Policy alignment with Green Deal & Digital Europe elevates project visibility and funding eligibility.
4. Synergistic funding pathways offer a continuum from prototype (this call) to full-scale EU deployment.
5. Access to premier research and innovation networks catalyses breakthrough solutions and cross-sector fertilisation.
Bottom line: Leveraging the “Develop Open Call” at EU level positions beneficiaries to fast-track innovation, amplify impact, and secure sustainable growth across the entire European market.
🏷️ Keywords
Ready to Apply?
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