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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to advance the understanding and forecasting of extreme and slow-onset climate- and weather-related events and their impacts, specifically by attributing them to climate change. - Target recipient type: Any organization with advanced research capabilities in climate science, modeling, AI/ML, and social sciences, typically collaborating in consortia. - SECTOR-SPECIFIC: Focuses on climate, environment, and social science research. - Geographic scope: Global research relevance, with a focus on applications in the Global South. Funding is primarily for entities in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. - Key filtering criteria: Research excellence, focus on attribution science, interdisciplinary approach, collaborative capacity. - Grant frequency: This is part of the recurring Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025.

Financial Structure

Funding amount: Each successful project is expected to receive EUR 6,000,000.
Total budget for this topic: EUR 12,000,000, intending to fund 2 projects.
Funding type: Lump sum contribution. Payments are tied to the completion of specific work packages, not actual incurred costs.
Reimbursement rate: 100.0% of eligible costs, as typical for Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).
Co-financing requirements: Total estimated project costs must be greater than or equal to the Union contribution, implying that the grant covers the full estimated eligible costs.
Eligible costs: Categories include personnel (employees, natural persons under contract, SME owners), subcontracting, purchase costs (travel, equipment, other goods/services), and other categories (financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods/services, research infrastructure access).
Indirect costs: A 25% flat rate is applied to direct eligible costs.
Payment mechanism: Lump sum contributions per work package are paid upon their proper implementation. If conditions are not met, payments are withheld until compliance or the grant is reduced.
Financial retention: Between 5% and 8% of the total lump sum may be retained as a contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism.
Financial reporting: Beneficiaries are not required to report actual costs. Financial checks and audits will primarily focus on the technical completion of work packages.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Eligibility

Eligible organization types: Organizations involved in research and innovation, including universities, research institutions, businesses (SMEs, startups, larger enterprises), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public bodies.
Organizational size and capacity: No explicit size limits, but consortia are common and multi-beneficiary projects are expected.
Track record and experience: Expected to demonstrate relevant expertise in climate science, modeling, AI/ML, and/or social sciences and humanities (SSH).
Partnership or consortium requirements: Consortium is required for this Research and Innovation Action (RIA). International cooperation, particularly with the Global South, is encouraged.

Geographic Eligibility

Geographic location requirements: Entities established in EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe are eligible for funding. International partners, especially from the Global South, are encouraged to participate in projects (subject to specific funding provisions outlined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes).

Technical and Other Qualifications

Specific qualifications: Expertise in attribution science, numerical modeling, AI and Machine Learning, observation data collection, and integration of social sciences and humanities.
Financial and operational capacity: Must meet the requirements described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Exclusion criteria: As described in Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Process

Application Process Timeline

Application deadline: 2025-09-24 17:00:00+0200 (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission.
Submission window: Opens on 2025-05-06.

Submission Materials and Procedure

Application procedure: Proposals must be submitted online via the Horizon Europe Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission Service.
Required documentation: A standard application form (HE RIA, IA) must be completed. A detailed budget table (HE LS) is required, outlining the proposed lump sum breakdown per work package and per beneficiary/affiliated entity.
Content of proposal: Must include a detailed description of activities for each work package and associated resources. Applicants must declare that their budget estimates follow their own accounting practices.
Submission format: Electronic submission through the dedicated online platform.

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation criteria: Proposals are evaluated based on Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation (see 'Evaluation Criteria' section).
Review process: External independent experts will assess proposals. Experts with financial expertise will check the budget estimates.
Selection criteria: Based on the scores against the evaluation criteria.

Support and Guidance

Application assistance: 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 (EEN), IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, and European Standards Organisations (CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesk).
Partner search: The portal offers a partner search functionality.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation of proposals will follow the standard Horizon Europe criteria, assessing proposals against three main aspects: 1. Excellence

Soundness of the research methodology, including conceptual approach, methods, and interdisciplinary aspects (e.g., strong Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) integration).
Clarity and pertinence of the objectives.
Quality and innovativeness of the proposed research, including advancements in attribution science, forecasting, and data collection methodologies.

2. Impact

Expected contribution to all specific outcomes: advanced understanding of climate change causality, improved attribution methodologies and tools, enhanced global databases of extreme events, and operationalization of attribution science for policy making (preparedness, civil protection, humanitarian aid, adaptation).
Pathway to achieve expected impacts, including measures for dissemination, exploitation, and communication of results.
Expected impact on policy, societal challenges, and climate justice, considering vulnerable regions and socially differentiated vulnerability patterns.

3. Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation

Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of tasks, milestones, and deliverables.
Appropriateness of the resources allocated to work packages and overall project activities.
Quality and complementarity of the consortium as a whole, ensuring necessary expertise (including SSH) and management structures are in place.
Risk management: Identification of key risks and appropriateness of proposed mitigation measures.

Financial Evaluation

The detailed budget estimate will be checked by experts with financial knowledge against benchmarks, market prices, statistical data, and historical data to ensure appropriate resource allocation and a sound lump sum proposal. This assessment is crucial for the final lump sum amount.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

General Conditions: Adherence to general admissibility conditions, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion criteria as outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal and financial setup: Grants will be set up as lump sum contributions, governed by the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising their use under Horizon Europe.

Data, Ethics, and Intellectual Property

Open Science Practices: Mandatory open access for any new modules, models, or tools developed or significantly improved with EU funding. This includes documentation, model code, and input data. Data must be managed in compliance with FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
Ethical Standards: Adherence to ethics and research integrity principles, as per general grant agreement obligations.
Intellectual Property: Management of intellectual property must comply with the general grant agreement conditions.
Transparency: Promote highest standards of transparency for models, including assumptions, protocols, code, and data.

Cross-Cutting and Project-Specific Requirements

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts to enhance societal impact. Citizen science and other participatory research forms are encouraged.
Climate Justice: Results should serve as a basis to integrate climate justice into policies and actions derived from attribution studies.
Collaboration and Networking: Projects are strongly encouraged to connect, coordinate, and participate in joint activities. Collaboration with 'Destination Earth' is encouraged. Clustering with other relevant ongoing and past projects (e.g., XAIDA, CLINT) is expected.
International Cooperation: Encouraged, particularly with the Global South, focusing on scientific capacity building, disaster risk reduction, and strengthening climate resilience.

Special Considerations for Lump Sum Grants

Monitoring and Evaluation: Checks, reviews, and audits will focus on the technical implementation of the action and the fulfillment of conditions for releasing lump sum contributions per work package, rather than detailed financial auditing of costs incurred.
Risk Management: While no specific section for risk tolerance, the emphasis on work package completion implies robust project planning and progress tracking.

Grant Details