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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

To develop and implement innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly phytosanitary measures using a systems approach for pest risk management to protect plant health, biodiversity, and food security. The grant targets consortia involving research organizations, plant health services, farming/forestry sectors, advisory services, and other agri-value chain actors. SMEs are particularly promoted. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant focused on agriculture and environment. The geographic scope includes the European Union, with strong encouragement for international cooperation, especially with African partners, widening countries, and Central and Eastern European countries. The primary filtering criteria are the focus on plant health, pest risk management, the requirement for a multi-actor approach, and innovation within agri-food systems. This opportunity is part of the recurring Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025.

Financial Structure

Total estimated budget for this topic: 12,000,000 EUR.
Expected number of grants: 2.
Minimum grant amount per project: 6,000,000 EUR.
Maximum grant amount per project: 6,000,000 EUR.
Currency: EUR.
Funding type: Lump sum contribution. Payments are based on the proper implementation and completion of corresponding work packages, as defined in Annex 1 of the grant agreement.
Eligible costs for lump sum calculation: Based on estimated direct and indirect project costs. Direct cost categories include personnel costs (employees, seconded persons, SME owners/natural persons), subcontracting costs, purchase costs (travel, subsistence, equipment, other goods/services), and other cost categories (e.g., financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods/services, transnational/virtual access to research infrastructure, PCP/PPI procurement costs, Euratom Cofund staff mobility costs).
Indirect costs: Calculated by applying a flat rate of 25% to the direct cost categories that qualify for indirect costs under Horizon Europe rules.
Co-financing: The co-financing principle is ensured by verifying that the total estimated costs of the action are greater than the estimated Union contributions.
Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP): Allowed. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants.
- Maximum amount to be granted to each third party: EUR 60,000.
- Maximum percentage of the EU funding allocated to FSTP: 10% of the EU funding for the project.
- Consortia need to define the selection process of organizations for which financial support may be granted.
Pre-financing: Follows standard Horizon Europe rules.
Mutual Insurance Mechanism: Between 5% and 8% of the total lump sum is retained as a contribution to this mechanism.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organization Types

Proposals must apply the 'multi-actor approach', ensuring participation from diverse stakeholders.
Consortium required for application.
Potential participants include: research organizations, plant health services, farming/forestry sectors, advisory services, technology providers, primary producers, food/drink/hospitality industry, retailers, social economy actors, SMEs, local authorities, communities, NGOs, civil society.
SMEs participation is particularly promoted.
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a consortium member.

Geographic Location

Organizations from EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe are eligible for funding.
Non-EU/non-associated countries not automatically eligible for funding may participate if specific provisions are made, as per the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
International cooperation is strongly encouraged, especially with partners from Africa (under the EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture - FNSSA), widening countries, and countries in Central and Eastern Europe.

Project Scope

Projects must focus on plant pests as defined by Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 (any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products).
Proposals should target one or more plant pests, providing a clear explanation and justification for the selection.
Proposals must be Research and Innovation Actions (RIA), balancing high and low Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs).

Formal Requirements

Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Process

Application Timeline

Opening date for submission: 2025-05-06.
Submission deadline: 2025-09-16 00:00:00+00:00 (Brussels time).
Evaluation timeline: An indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Submission Process

Procedure: Single-stage submission.
Submission platform: Applications must be submitted electronically via the Electronic Submission Service available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Required documentation and materials:
- Application Form (Part B), which is specific to this call and available in the Submission System.
- Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout requirements as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
- A detailed budget table (HE LS) must be prepared using the relevant templates published by the granting authority, providing a breakdown of the lump sum contribution per work package and per beneficiary/affiliated entity.
- Applicants must declare that they have followed their own accounting practices for the preparation of the estimated budget.

Support and Guidance

Various resources are available to support applicants, including:
- Online Manual: Guides on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
- Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Detailed guidance on the program's structure, budget, and political priorities.
- Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions.
- Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research.
- National Contact Points (NCPs): Provide guidance, practical information, and assistance within participating countries.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Offers advice to businesses, with a special focus on SMEs.
- IT Helpdesk: For technical support related to the Funding & Tenders Portal.
- European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
- CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advise on standardisation in project proposals.
- Partner Search: A tool to help find partner organizations for proposals.

Post-Award Requirements

Grant agreement: The grant will take the form of a lump sum agreement (Lump Sum MGA).
Payment conditions: Lump sum contributions are paid per work package upon proper implementation of the work in accordance with Annex 1 of the grant agreement and compliance with all other obligations.
Monitoring and evaluation: Checks, reviews, and audits will focus on the technical implementation of the action, particularly the fulfillment of conditions for releasing lump sum contributions per work package, and other aspects like ethics, research integrity, dissemination and exploitation of results, intellectual property management, and gender equality.
Collaboration: Proposals should include a dedicated task in the work plan and allocate appropriate resources to collaborate with other projects funded under this specific topic.

Evaluation Criteria

Scoring Factors

Excellence: Quality of the proposed research and innovation, including soundness of the scientific/technical approach and methodology.
Expected Impact: Contribution to the objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), the European Green Deal, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and support for Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants. Proposals should deliver cost-effective measures, strengthen the capacity of farmers and agri-value chain actors in pest risk management, and provide scientific support and policy advice to enhance plant health.
Quality and Efficiency of Implementation: Soundness of the proposed work plan, resource allocation, and management structure, including the multi-actor approach and the effectiveness of collaboration.

Specific Criteria

Technical Innovation: Demonstrated development and testing of innovative climate and environmental-friendly measures for highly efficacious pest risk management, implemented across the value chain. This includes designing and validating protocols for systems approaches and assessing combined effects.
Scalability and Sustainability: Evaluation of risk reduction, cost-effectiveness, scalability, and overall sustainability (economic, social, and environmental aspects) of each proposed innovative measure.
Capacity Building: The extent to which the project supports capacity building and training of actors within the value chain, enabling the large-scale adoption of safe, innovative, and cost-effective measures.
Multi-actor Approach Integration: Effective inclusion and engagement of diverse actors (researchers, policy makers, technology providers, primary producers, industry, retailers, social economy actors, SMEs, local authorities, communities, NGOs, civil society) to ensure knowledge and needs from various sectors are integrated.
Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) Contribution: Evidence of effective contribution from SSH disciplines to apply a human-centred approach to Research and Innovation, and to support social innovation at regional and local levels.
International Cooperation: Strong encouragement for international cooperation, particularly with Africa (EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture - FNSSA), widening countries, and Central and Eastern European countries.
Synergies: Coherence and complementarities with ongoing relevant Horizon Europe projects, EU Missions ('A Soil Deal for Europe', 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030'), and European Partnerships (e.g., Agroecology, Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Blue Economy, Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture of Data, PRIMA, EIP-AGRI).
Inclusive Impact: Consideration of gender and other socio-demographic groups and their intersections, promoting inclusive approaches.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must contribute to and support Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 on protective measures against pests of plants.
Adherence to the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 is required.
General conditions and eligible countries are governed by Annexes B and C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.

Ethical and Social Standards

Proposals are expected to involve the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines to ensure a human-centred approach in Research and Innovation.
Projects should support social innovation at regional and local levels to address specific challenges and co-create solutions.
Consideration of gender and other socio-demographic groups and their intersections is important within the multi-actor approach.
The 'One Health approach' is encouraged where relevant, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Research integrity and ethical standards, consistent with Horizon Europe principles, must be upheld throughout the project.

Innovation and Project Type

This specific call is for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA).
Proposals should demonstrate a balanced approach across Technological Readiness Levels (TRLs), including both high and low TRLs.

Unique Aspects / Strategic Alignment

Multi-Actor Approach (Mandatory): Projects must implement a multi-actor approach, bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders such as researchers, policy makers, technology providers, primary producers, the food, drink and hospitality industry, retailers, social economy actors, SMEs, local authorities, communities, and civil society. This ensures that knowledge and needs from various sectors are integrated.
International Cooperation: Strongly encouraged to foster a global transition to sustainable agri-food systems. Specific emphasis is placed on collaborations under the EU-Africa Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA), as well as engagement with widening countries and Central and Eastern European countries.
Synergies: Applicants are encouraged to seek complementarities and synergies with relevant EU Missions (e.g., 'A Soil Deal for Europe', 'Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030') and European Partnerships (e.g., Agroecology, Animal Health and Welfare, Sustainable Blue Economy, Sustainable Food Systems, Agriculture of Data, PRIMA, EIP-AGRI).
Knowledge Sharing: Projects are required to include a dedicated task and allocate appropriate resources in their work plan to collaborate with other projects funded under this same topic, facilitating knowledge exchange and maximizing impact.
Lump Sum Funding Model: The grant operates on a lump sum basis, which means payments are tied to the successful completion of defined work packages rather than detailed cost reporting. This simplifies financial management and shifts the focus towards scientific/technical performance and output.
Involvement of JRC: The possible participation of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) in the project is mentioned, potentially supporting analysis related to the acceptance and adoption of innovative measures.

Grant Details