💰 Funding Details

Funding Snapshot

Overview

- Call Identifier: HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-DEV-05

- Title: *Preparatory actions exploring future frameworks for research infrastructures investment plans and funding streams, for integrated and sustained scheme for access and for joint technology development*

- Type of Action: HORIZON-CSA – Lump Sum

- Maximum EU Contribution: €45 000 000 per project

- Single-stage Deadline: 18 September 2025 – 17:00 (Brussels time)

- TRL at Start/End: Not applicable (strategic, coordination-focused action)

Three Distinct Areas (choose one only)

| Area | Core Purpose | Mandatory Participation Elements |

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

| Area 1 – Investment Plans & Funding Streams | Map, analyse and diversify RI funding, covering all life-cycle phases | Cooperation with Area 2 projects on access-funding models |

| Area 2 – Integrated & Sustainable Access Scheme | Design a long-term cross-domain EU access scheme (“one-stop-shop”) | Representation of all ESFRI scientific domains; involvement of funders, RI managers & user communities, including Widening countries |

| Area 3 – Joint Technology Developments | Build a stable framework for shared RI technology roadmaps, interoperability & industry engagement | ≥2 ESFRI Landmarks/ERICs/International RIs as beneficiaries; cover ≥2 ESFRI domains |

Eligible Activities (non-exhaustive)

* Strategic road-mapping & gap analysis

* Stakeholder consultations, surveys, workshops

* Business-case modelling & cost-benefit analysis

* Governance scenarios & legal framework drafting

* Pilot concept definition (esp. Area 2)

* Standardisation, training & knowledge-exchange (esp. Area 3)

Budget Logic (Lump Sum)

1. Work-Package-based lump sum: define realistic cost estimates once; no later cost reporting.

2. Payment triggers: linked to *deliverable acceptance & milestone completion*, not to actual expenditure.

3. Internal cost audit: keep auditable records even though detailed cost statements are not submitted.

Who Should Apply?

- ESFRI Landmarks, ERICs, and other world-class RIs

- National or regional RI funding agencies in your country

- Industry & SME technology providers (esp. Area 3)

- User communities, scientific societies & umbrella organisations

- The European Commission’s JRC (optional partner with unique RI access expertise)

> Tip: Leverage your country’s Smart Specialisation priorities and Structural Funds to demonstrate future co-funding synergies.

📊 Evaluation Criteria

How Your Proposal Will Be Evaluated

1. Excellence (0-5 points, threshold 4)

- Clarity of objectives and pertinence to chosen Area.

- Soundness of methodology: evidence-based mapping, robust modelling tools, credible KPIs.

- Interdisciplinarity & cross-domain integration (especially Areas 2 & 3).

2. Impact (0-5 points, threshold 4)

- Credibility of pathways to new policies, standards or access schemes.

- Sustainability & scalability beyond EU funding lifecycle.

- Quality of measures to exploit, disseminate and communicate results, incl. single-entry-point portal concept.

- Contribution to widening participation and gender/inclusion objectives.

3. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (0-5 points, threshold 3)

- Coherence and effectiveness of work plan, resources and timeline.

- Complementarity, balance and commitment of consortium (incl. mandatory RI representation).

- Risk management, including political, financial and technological risks.

- Suitability of the lump-sum budget structure and internal control mechanisms.

> A proposal must pass all thresholds and rank highest within its chosen area to secure funding.

📝 Application Strategy

Step-by-Step Application Strategy

1. Select the Right Area

- Match organisational strengths to one of the three areas; do *not* attempt multi-area coverage.

- Check current or upcoming national initiatives in your country to avoid overlap and to showcase complementarity.

2. Build a Balanced Consortium

1. Core Beneficiaries – mandatory RI operators/funders per area criteria.

2. Strategic Partners – policy makers, EIB/EIF, regional authorities, industry.

3. Advisory Bodies – user committees, scientific boards, ethics & data experts.

3. Design High-Impact Work Packages

| WP | Focus | Key Outputs |

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

| WP1 | Project Coordination & KPI dashboard | Governance charter, data-management plan |

| WP2 | Evidence Gathering | Funding map, technology overlap matrix, stakeholder survey reports |

| WP3 | Scenario Modelling | Cost models, governance options, risk assessment |

| WP4 | Pilot & Validation | Proof-of-concept designs, interoperability tests |

| WP5 | Communication & Policy Uptake | Policy briefs, NCP webinars in your country, single-entry-point mock-ups |

4. Integrate Synergies & Sustainability

- Demonstrate alignment with *Pact for R&I in Europe*, Cohesion Policy and RRF.

- Show pathways to integrate Structural Funds or EIB loans post-project.

5. Embed Widening Dimension

- Include at least one RI node or funding body based in a Widening your country.

- Allocate budget for mobility grants & capacity-building workshops.

6. Quality Control Before Submission

- Perform red-team review against HEU CSA evaluation form.

- Validate lump-sum logic with each beneficiary’s finance office.

- Cross-check ethics & gender-equality plan compliance.

💡 Success Factors

Crystal-Clear Area Alignment

Open the proposal with a **one-sentence statement** of the selected Area and relate every objective, KPI and deliverable back to that Area.

Data-Driven Mapping & Benchmarking

Use *ESFRI funding survey data, CORDIS analytics, ERDF databases and EIB loan statistics* to build authoritative baselines that reviewers can trust.

Early Engagement of National Funders in your country

Invite ministries, research councils or structural-fund managing authorities to an **advisory board**. Their buy-in strengthens sustainability narratives.

Pilot-Ready Outputs

Design deliverables (e.g., *mock portal, governance charter template, technology standards catalogue*) that can be **immediately tested** in Horizon Europe follow-up calls.

Industrial & SME Participation

For Area 3, involve **SMEs in co-creation workshops** and plan joint IP management; reviewers value early market translation pathways.

Robust Risk & Contingency Matrix

Map political, financial, technical and human-resource risks with **quantified likelihood/impact** and actionable mitigation measures.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid

Addressing Multiple Areas in One Proposal

Applicants sometimes try to cover both funding streams **and** technology development to impress reviewers. The topic explicitly demands a *single-area focus*; multi-area scope is disqualified during eligibility checks.

Ignoring Lump-Sum Budget Logic

Treating the budget like a traditional cost-reimbursement grant leads to vague or inflated figures. Each work package must have a **clear lump-sum value linked to verifiable deliverables**; otherwise the financial plan is deemed unreliable.

Weak Representation of Widening Countries

Failing to include partners from Widening your country states contradicts the call’s inclusiveness goal, particularly in Area 2. Reviewers downgrade *Impact* scores when geographical balance is missing.

Superficial Stakeholder Consultation

Listing ‘workshops’ without a **methodological plan** (surveys, focus groups, Delphi, etc.) undermines the credibility of your evidence base and affects *Excellence* scoring.

Underestimating Governance Complexity

Drafting a generic governance model that ignores legal forms (e.g., ERIC vs. association) or data-protection obligations shows poor understanding of real-world constraints.

Late Consortium Finalisation

Adding key RIs days before submission hampers their ability to provide **letters of commitment and budget details**, triggering eligibility red flags.

Preparatory actions exploring future frameworks for research infrastructures investment plans and funding streams, for integrated and sustained scheme for access and for joint technology development.

Quick Facts for Spain Applicants

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