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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

- This grant aims to support the implementation of significant parts or entire existing research infrastructure technology roadmaps. - Its core objective is to enhance the scientific and technological competitiveness of European research infrastructures and strengthen their innovation ecosystems through co-creation with industrial partners. - Target recipients are primarily Research Infrastructures (such as ESFRI Landmarks, ERICs, or international European research organisations) and industrial partners, including SMEs. - This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, focused on the research infrastructure, technology development, and manufacturing sectors. - The geographic scope covers EU Member States and potentially associated countries as defined by the Horizon Europe program. - This grant is part of the recurring Horizon Europe program, specifically the Research Infrastructures 2025 call, suggesting regular funding opportunities in this area.

Financial Structure

The total budget available for this topic in 2025 is EUR 45,000,000.0.
The expected grant amount per project is between EUR 10,000,000.0 and EUR 10,000,000.0.
Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants.
The maximum amount that can be granted to each third party may exceed the standard limit of EUR 60,000 if duly justified in the proposal.
Proposals may also include Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) subcontracting activities.
Financial and operational capacity requirements are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).
The currency for funding is EUR.
The funding rate for this Research and Innovation Action (RIA) is not explicitly stated in the provided text for this specific grant.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Structure

Proposals must include at least two different research infrastructures as beneficiaries.
Each research infrastructure must be:
An ESFRI Landmark (as listed in the 2021 ESFRI Roadmap).
A European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).
Another research infrastructure that is an international European research organisation.
The participation of two nodes of the same ESFRI infrastructure or ERIC does not count as two different research infrastructures.
Such research infrastructures, and where applicable the beneficiaries that own/operate them, must be explicitly identified in the proposals.
Industrial partners, including SMEs, or other technological partners are expected to be involved.
Evidence of commitment from industrial/technological partners (e.g., engagement letters, endorsement) must be shown, even if they are not consortium members.

Geographic and Legal Requirements

Eligible countries are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document). Typically this includes EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
Financial and operational capacity requirements are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).
Exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).

Technical and Project Requirements

Projects must implement parts of, or entire existing research infrastructure technology roadmaps.
The technology roadmaps should be the result of a community or cross-community effort already undertaken, not an isolated effort of a single research infrastructure.
Technological solutions developed should respond to the needs of several research infrastructures, and in some cases, different types of research infrastructures.

Application Formalities

Proposal page limit and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and in Part B of the Application Form.

Application Process

Application Procedure

This is a single-stage submission procedure.
The submission session is available from 2025-05-14.
Applications must be submitted through the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service.

Application Deadlines and Timelines

The submission deadline for proposals is 2025-09-18 00:00:00+0000.
An indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).

Required Documentation and Materials

Standard application form (HE RIA) is available in the Submission System.
The application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System.
Proposal page limits and layout are described in Part B of the Application Form.
Evidence of commitment from industrial/technological partners (e.g., engagement letters, endorsement) is required.

Evaluation Process

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document).
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA) will be used with necessary adaptations.

Support and Guidance

Applicants can access support through the Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, and European IPR Helpdesk.
Guidance on standardisation is available from CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment provide general principles for researchers, employers, and funders.
Partner Search is available to help find partner organizations.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes (not provided in this document). However, based on the expected outcomes and scope, proposals will likely be assessed on their contribution to: Scientific and Technological Excellence

Enhanced scientific and technological competitiveness of European research infrastructures.
Increased technological level of European industries through co-development of advanced technologies for research infrastructures.
Development of identified fundamental technologies or techniques underpinning and arising from the efficient and joint use of the involved research infrastructures.
Prototyping of high-performance methodologies, protocols, and instrumentation, including testing components, subsystems, materials, and dedicated software.

Impact

Enhanced research infrastructure capacities to address research challenges and EU policy priorities.
Increased availability of research infrastructure component manufacturing capabilities in Europe, addressing strategic dependencies.
Long-term integration of research infrastructures into local, regional, and global research and innovation ecosystems.
Strengthened foundations for the development of innovative companies in Europe.
Contribution to accelerated digitalisation of research infrastructures.
Greening of research infrastructures, including reduction of environmental footprint, resource efficiency (raw material and energy consumption), and climate-related impacts.

Quality and Efficiency of Implementation

Robust research infrastructure innovation ecosystems, building on past activities.
Effective co-creation activities with industrial partners from the earliest possible stage.
Promotion of innovation and knowledge sharing through reinforcement of partnerships with industry (e.g., knowledge transfer, dissemination).
Efficient project planning and management, considering resource efficiency and environmental impacts.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Legal Compliance

Regulatory compliance is governed by the conditions described in Annex B (Eligible Countries), Annex C (Financial and Operational Capacity and Exclusion), and Annex G (Legal and financial set-up of the grants) of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 is required.

Ethical and Technical Standards

Projects should consider resource efficiency (e.g., raw material and energy consumption) and environmental (including climate-related) impacts.
Accelerated digitalisation of research infrastructures throughout their entire life cycle is an expected impact.

Intellectual Property and Data

Intellectual property policies are not explicitly detailed in the provided text but fall under the general Horizon Europe framework and Annotated Model Grant Agreement (AGA).

Risk Management and Security

Reinforcing EU resilience with respect to the availability of critical technical research infrastructure components is an expected impact.

Special Considerations

The grant encourages the fostering of innovation potential of research infrastructures by reinforcing partnerships with industry, through knowledge transfer and other dissemination activities.
Proposals should build on results from past/ongoing projects funded under Horizon 2020 topics INFRAINNOV-03-2020, INFRAINNOV-04-2020, and Horizon Europe topics HORIZON-INFRA-2022-TECH-01-01, HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01-01, and avoid overlap with them.
Pre-Commercial Procurement (PCP) subcontracting activities are allowed, encouraging the use of public procurements for competitive development of new solutions.
Given the specific nature of the topic, the participation of at least two different research infrastructures (ESFRI Landmark, ERIC, or international European research organisation) is a mandatory eligibility criterion.

Grant Details