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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core Objective: Develop next generation aircraft autonomy technologies for cockpit/pilot assistance applications.
Target Recipient: Organizations and consortia involved in research and innovation within the aeronautics sector.
SECTOR-SPECIFIC: TRANSPORTATION (Aviation/Aerospace).
Geographic Scope: Organizations from EU Member States and countries associated with Horizon Europe (specific list not provided in these documents, refer to Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes). The focus is on European civil aircraft.
Key Filtering Criteria: Focus on aircraft autonomy, cockpit/pilot assistance, and the development of new technologies up to TRL 4.
Grant Frequency: Part of the recurring Horizon Europe Work Programme (2021-2027), specifically Cluster 5 Call 03-2025. It aligns with the broader Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking's goals for climate-neutral aviation.

Financial Structure

Total estimated budget for the topic is EUR 7,000,000.
Expected to fund 2 grants, with each grant having a minimum and maximum contribution of EUR 3,500,000.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum contribution.
The lump sum amount proposed by applicants must approximate their estimated direct and indirect project costs, and must only contain costs eligible under Horizon Europe rules.
Indirect costs are calculated by applying a flat rate of 25% to the qualifying direct cost categories.
Payments are linked to the proper implementation of corresponding work packages, not to actual costs incurred.
Pre-financing follows standard Horizon Europe rules and will be fixed in the grant agreement.
Between 5% and 8% of the total lump sum is retained as a contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism.
There is generally no requirement for beneficiaries to report actual costs or undergo financial ex-post audits.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Types

Not explicitly defined in provided documents for this grant. As a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA), eligible types typically include:
- Research organizations
- Universities
- Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
- Large enterprises
- Public bodies
Projects are expected to involve multi-beneficiary consortia.

Geographic Location

Organizations must be from countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. This commonly includes:
- All European Union Member States.
- Countries 'associated' with Horizon Europe.
- Certain non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have made specific provisions for funding participation.

Technical & Project Stage Requirements

Projects must focus on the development of new technologies up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4.
The primary focus is not on integration and demonstration (higher TRLs).

Financial & Operational Capacity

Applicants must meet the financial and operational capacity criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Compliance with Satellite Data Use

If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data and services may be used additionally.
Projects are subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.

Application Process

Submission Procedure: Two-stage process.
Application Forms: The specific application form for this call (HE RIA IA Stage 1) is available in the Submission System.
Submission Platform: Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service.
Confirm Selection: Applicants must confirm their choice of action type and model grant agreement in the submission system, as it cannot be changed later.

Application Deadlines

Stage 1 Deadline: 2025-09-04 00:00:00+0000
Stage 2 Deadline: 2026-04-14 00:00:00+0000

Required Documentation & Materials

Proposal Page Limit: Details are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and specifically in Part B of the Application Form.
Detailed Budget Table (HE LS): Not required for Stage 1 applications.
Standard Application Form (HE RIA IA Stage 1) must be used.

Evaluation & Review Process

Evaluation Timeline: The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes (details not provided in the documents).
Review Process: External independent experts will evaluate proposals.

Application Assistance & Guidance

Online Manual: Provides comprehensive guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide: Offers detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ: Answers frequently asked questions about submission, evaluation, and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service: For general questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes.
National Contact Points (NCPs): Provide guidance, practical information, and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe, including in many non-EU and non-associated countries.
Enterprise Europe Network (EEN): Offers advice to businesses, with a special focus on SMEs, including guidance on EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk: For technical support related to the Funding & Tenders Portal (e.g., passwords, access rights, submission technicalities).
European IPR Helpdesk: Assists with intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk: Advise on standardisation aspects in project proposals.
Partner Search Tool: Available on the portal to help find partner organizations.

Evaluation Criteria

General Evaluation & Award Criteria

Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes (details not provided in the submitted documents).
Evaluation will broadly assess proposals based on: excellence, expected impact, and quality and efficiency of the implementation.

Lump Sum Specific Evaluation Criteria

Experts with the necessary financial expertise will check the proposed budget estimates.
Budget will be assessed against relevant benchmarks such as market prices, statistical data, or historical data from previously funded, comparable actions.
Evaluation will verify that the proposed resources and the breakdown of lump sum shares are sufficient to achieve the defined activities and expected outputs.
Proposals must include a declaration that beneficiaries have followed their own accounting practices for preparing the estimated budget.

Project Specific Scoring Factors

Contribution to European civil aircraft cockpit technology roadmaps on crew assistance, automation, and autonomy.
Ability to increase safety in cockpits by providing new systems or functionalities, new capabilities for aircraft platforms, and new Human Machine Interface (HMI) concepts.
Contribution to the roadmap of cockpit digitalization and autonomy, by conceiving new cockpit capabilities that allow for enhanced Human-System Relation (new ways for crews to interact or collaborate with the cockpit).
Potential for increased efficiency of cockpit performances, including reduction of size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP) of systems and equipment, reduced total lifecycle costs, and improved integration levels.
Development of new technology bricks that align with the aircraft concepts proposed in the updated Horizon Europe Clean Aviation Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda.
Development should consider cyber-resilience and capabilities for control by a single pilot without the assistance of an on-board human co-pilot.
Inclusion of simulation tools, artificial intelligence (AI) models, human factors analysis, and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) of technical solutions.
Consideration of interfacing with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) on safety and new testing/certification processes, as well as alignment with the EASA AI roadmap.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Satellite Data: If projects utilize satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, or timing data/services, it is mandatory to use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other data and services can be used supplementarily.
Communication Networks: Projects are subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Aviation Safety: Projects should consider interfacing with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regarding safety, new testing, and certification processes, and ensure alignment with the EASA AI roadmap.

Financial & Legal Compliance

The legal and financial setup of the grants is governed by Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The use of lump sum contributions is authorized and governed by the Decision of 7 July 2021.
Beneficiaries must comply with the accounting rules applicable under their national law.

Data Protection & Privacy

Data protection and privacy regulations apply; beneficiaries are subject to checks/reviews focusing on compliance in these areas.

Intellectual Property (IP)

Checks, reviews, and audits (post-award) will focus on the management of intellectual property. Specific IP policies are not detailed in the provided documents.

Ethical Standards

Ethics and research integrity are key areas for compliance checks and reviews throughout the project lifecycle.

Cross-Cutting Priorities

Digital Agenda: Emphasizes the digitalization of cockpits, use of AI models, and simulation tools.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Explicitly mentioned for the use of AI models and alignment with the EASA AI roadmap.
Gender Equality: This is a consideration during post-award checks and reviews.

Project-Specific Requirements

Projects must align with the evolving needs and philosophies of European aircraft integrators for future aircraft generations, new operational requirements, and cockpit design.
Developed technologies should be cyber-resilient and facilitate operations by a single pilot without the need for an on-board human co-pilot.
The focus is on the development of new technologies up to TRL 4, distinguishing it from integration and demonstration activities.

Special Conditions

No specific conditions beyond those generally applicable to Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions are noted as 'Not applicable' in the grant documentation.

Grant Details