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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant aims to provide digital solutions, including AI-driven tools, specifically tailored for small and medium-sized farms. The core objective is to help these farms monitor and sustainably manage agricultural inputs and natural resources, thereby preventing and reducing pollution in water, air, and soil, and enhancing resource efficiency. - Single, clear statement of grant's core objective: To empower small and medium-sized farms with innovative digital and data-driven solutions for sustainable management of agricultural inputs and natural resources, and pollution reduction. - Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: Small and medium-sized farms; consortia involving scientists, private companies (including SMEs), innovators, advisors, and farmers. - MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC - Geographic scope and any location requirements: Primarily EU and Associated Countries, with potential for transferability to other regions with similar characteristics. - Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Focus on digital technologies, agriculture, environmental sustainability, and support for small/medium-sized farms. - Grant frequency and program context: Part of the recurring Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, specifically under Cluster 6 'Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment', Destination 'Clean environment and zero pollution'.

Financial Structure

Funding amount per grant: The grant expects to fund 1 project with a contribution of EUR 8,000,000.
Minimum grant amount: EUR 8,000,000
Maximum grant amount: EUR 8,000,000
Currency: EUR
Financial support to third parties: Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties in the form of grants.
Maximum amount to third party: The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60,000, though a higher amount may be justified if necessary for the action's objectives.
Co-financing / Allocation for third parties: Minimum 50% and maximum 65% of the EU funding received by the main consortium should be allocated for financial support to third parties (industrial partners developing innovative products).
Indirect cost policies: Not specified in the topic details, typically covered by general Horizon Europe rules (e.g., 25% flat rate on direct eligible costs).

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type and Structure

Eligible organization types: 'STARTUP', 'SME', 'OTHER' (specifically: private companies, innovators, advisors, farmers, scientists, research organizations).
Consortium requirement: Projects must implement the multi-actor approach, involving at least scientists, private companies, innovators, advisors, and farmers.

Geographic and Legal Requirements

Eligible countries: As described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. This typically includes all EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
Financial and operational capacity: As described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Technical and Specific Qualifications

Satellite-based earth observation: If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).

Exclusion Criteria

No specific exclusion criteria are detailed in the provided grant information beyond general Horizon Europe regulations (Annex C).

Application Process

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Submission deadline: 2025-09-17 00:00:00+0000 (UTC).
Submission session available from: 2025-05-06.
Submission model: Single-stage.

Application Procedure and Materials

Application form templates: Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) available in the Submission System.
Proposal page limit and layout: Described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, and Part B of the Application Form.
Submission platform: Electronic Submission Service via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Review and Selection Process

Evaluation and award criteria: Described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes: Described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: Described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application Assistance and Support

General Guidance: HE Programme Guide, HE Main Work Programme 2025 – General Introduction, Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, and General Annexes.
Online Support: Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, IT Helpdesk.
Expert Assistance: Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC/ETSI Research Helpdesk.
Partner Search: Availability of a partner search tool on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

Overall Quality and Impact

Award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Contribution to expected outcomes: Proposals should credibly contribute to empowering small and medium-sized farmers with innovative digital solutions, reducing the digital divide, preventing/reducing pollution in water, air, and soil, increasing resource efficiency, and reducing climate change impact.
Relevance and alignment: Solutions should be tailored to the specific needs of small and medium-sized farms and align with the Common Agricultural Policy objectives, European Green Deal, Zero Pollution Action Plan, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Climate Law, and Climate Adaptation Strategy.

Project Design and Implementation

Analysis of R&I results: Critical analysis of past and ongoing relevant R&I results, including a cost-benefit analysis, leading to a structured catalogue of applicable technologies.
Identification of barriers and enablers: Analysis of factors affecting the translation of R&I results into practical commercial tools and their uptake by end-users.
Data accessibility: Design and setup of an accessible, searchable web-based database of results following FAIR principles.
Brokerage and support service: Establishment of a central service point matching innovation ideas from industrial partners with farmers' needs, free of charge for industrial partners.
Network establishment: Creation of a network of research and innovation providers and intermediaries to support solution development.
Innovation development: Provision of innovations based on digital and data-based solutions (e.g., IoT, remote sensing, sensors, (generative) AI, data visualization) tailored to small and medium-sized farms.
Prototyping and testing: Development and testing of prototypes in an operational environment.
Community of practice: Establishment of a community to facilitate science-business exchanges and share experiences.
Dissemination and exploitation: A clear strategy to disseminate and exploit results, innovations, and best practices.
Multi-actor approach: Effective implementation of the multi-actor approach, involving scientists, private companies, innovators, advisors, and farmers.
Financial support to third parties: Defined selection process for industrial partners receiving financial support, with training and support services to farmers and advisors considered as a criterion.

Cross-Cutting Themes

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) contribution: Effective contribution from SSH disciplines, especially behavioral sciences, focusing on technology adoption.
Contextual considerations: Careful consideration of specific barriers and enablers for adoption (e.g., skills, access to digital tools, local data, investment needs, connectivity, gender roles, diverse pedo-climatic and socio-economic conditions).

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Policy alignment: Must align with Common Agricultural Policy objectives, European Green Deal, Zero Pollution Action Plan for air, water and soil, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, Climate Law, and Climate Adaptation Strategy.
EU Financial Regulations: Compliance with EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.

Technical and Data Standards

Earth Observation Data: If satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation, and/or related timing data/services are used, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS.
Data Principles: Accessible and searchable web-based databases should follow FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).

Project Implementation Requirements

Multi-actor approach: Mandatory involvement of diverse stakeholders (scientists, private companies, innovators, advisors, farmers).
Financial support to third parties: Required component of the project, with a significant portion of the EU funding (50-65%) to be channeled to industrial partners for product development.
Intellectual Property: Governed by the HE Model Grant Agreement (MGA) and general EU policies.

Special Considerations

Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): Effective contribution of SSH disciplines is required, especially in behavioral sciences and technology adoption.
Digital Divide: Proposals should aim to reduce the digital divide between farms with differing capacities and characteristics.
Innovation Focus: Development of prototypes and testing in operational environments, focusing on digital and data-based solutions.
Contextual Adaptation: Innovations should carefully consider specific barriers and enablers for adoption (e.g., skills, connectivity, gender roles, socio-economic conditions) across diverse EU/Associated Countries.

Grant Details