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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To provide policymakers with an analysis of past and present industrial transformations and their lessons for ensuring a fair green transition.
Explicit identification of target recipient type and size: Open to various organizations including universities, research centers, social partners (trade unions, business organizations), civil society organizations, practitioners, VET providers, and SMEs.
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC (primarily social sciences, humanities, economics, and environmental/industrial policy)
Geographic scope and any location requirements: Focus on European industrial transitions, with research on mechanisms impacting EU citizens and third country nationals. Proposals should consider the geographic variation in the impact of the European Green Deal.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Projects must be research-focused (Research and Innovation Actions - RIA) on historical/regional industrial transitions, address the socio-economic implications of the green transition, and provide policy-relevant recommendations.
Grant frequency and program context: This is a recurring grant opportunity as part of the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2025, specifically under Cluster 2 'Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society', Destination 'Innovative Research on Social and Economic Transformations'.

Financial Structure

Funding is provided in the form of a lump sum contribution, based on estimated direct and indirect costs.
Budget range per project: EUR 3,400,000.
Total budget allocated for this specific topic: EUR 10,200,000 (for 3 expected grants).
Eligible costs are those typically eligible under Horizon Europe rules, including:
- Personnel costs (employees, direct contractors, seconded staff, SME owners, natural person beneficiaries).
- Subcontracting costs.
- Purchase costs (travel, subsistence, equipment, other goods, works, and services).
- Other cost categories (financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods and services, transnational/virtual access to research infrastructure).
Indirect costs are calculated at a 25% flat rate of eligible direct costs.
Ineligible costs: Any costs deemed ineligible under general Horizon Europe rules.
Matching fund/co-financing: The methodology adheres to co-financing principles, ensuring that the total estimated costs of the action are adequately covered, typically 100% of eligible costs for Research and Innovation Actions.
Payment schedule: Lump sum contributions are paid upon the proper implementation and completion of corresponding work packages, as defined in the grant agreement. Payments are not tied to actual incurred costs.
Financial reporting: Beneficiaries are not required to report actual costs, simplifying administrative burden.
Audit requirements: Financial ex-post audits are minimized; checks will focus on the technical implementation and fulfillment of work package conditions rather than detailed cost reporting.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type & Legal Status

Eligible organization types include universities, research centers, social partners (trade unions and business organizations), civil society organizations, practitioners, VET (Vocational Education and Training) providers, and SMEs.
Legal entities must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Consortium required: Typically requires a consortium of multiple independent legal entities from different eligible countries for Research and Innovation Actions.

Financial & Operational Capacity

Applicants must demonstrate sufficient financial and operational capacity, as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Subject to exclusion criteria outlined in Annex C.

Technical & Expertise Requirements

Projects should adopt a 'whole ecosystem approach' and draw from various Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines, including history, sociology, economics, and geography.
Expertise is needed to analyze historical and regional industrial transitions, particularly their socio-economic impacts and policy implications for a fair green transition.
Must contribute to understanding regional responses, firm adaptation, and collaborative/participatory approaches to transition management.

Application Process

Application Process & Submission

Application deadline: 2025-09-16 00:00:00+00.
Submission procedure: Single-stage.
Required documentation: Standard application form (HE RIA) and a mandatory detailed budget table (HE LS), both available in the Submission System.
Submission format: Electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service.
Page limit for Part B of the application: 50 pages.

Grant Agreement & Post-Award

Grant type: Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with a Lump Sum Model Grant Agreement (MGA).
Payment mechanism: Lump sum contributions for work packages are disbursed once their conditions are met during a reporting period. Unmet conditions in one period may be paid in subsequent periods if fulfilled.
Compliance checks: During implementation and post-award, checks will focus on technical implementation, adherence to work package conditions, ethics, research integrity, dissemination, exploitation of results, intellectual property management, and gender equality.

Support & Resources

Comprehensive guidance: Provided through the HE Programme Guide, Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, and the Research Enquiry Service.
National Contact Points (NCPs): Available for practical information and assistance in EU and non-EU countries.
Business support: The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice, particularly for SMEs.
Technical assistance: IT Helpdesk for portal-related issues and European IPR Helpdesk for intellectual property concerns.
Partner search: A partner search tool is available on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Evaluation Criteria

Excellence

Quality and pertinence of the research and innovation objectives.
Soundness of the proposed methodology, including its interdisciplinary nature (drawing from SSH disciplines like history, sociology, economics, and geography).
Extent to which the proposed work is ambitious, innovative, and advances the state-of-the-art knowledge.

Impact

Potential to strengthen social and economic resilience and sustainability.
Contribution to boosting inclusive growth and effectively reducing vulnerabilities, poverty, and inequalities.
Relevance for policymakers: providing analyses of past and present industrial transformations and recommendations for effective policies and regional responses (e.g., labor mobility, firm adaptation).
Alignment with and contribution to EU priorities and policies such as the European Pillar of Social Rights, European Education Area, Union of Equality strategies (e.g., disability, gender, anti-racism, Roma, LGBTIQ+), and Just Transition frameworks.
Effectiveness of dissemination and exploitation plans for research results, including leveraging European Research Infrastructures and adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable) data principles.

Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation

Clarity and effectiveness of the work plan, including the appropriate allocation of resources and the proposed lump sum budget.
Appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including risk management strategies.
Complementarity of the participants within the consortium, ensuring the 'right mix of actors' (universities, research centers, social partners, civil society organizations, practitioners, VET providers, SMEs) to achieve the project's objectives.
Competence and experience of both individual participants and the overall consortium.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance

Admissibility conditions: Proposals must adhere to the page limits and layout specifications detailed in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Legal framework: Compliance with rules for legal entity validation, LEAR (Legal Entity Appointed Representative) appointment, and financial capacity assessment is mandatory.

Data & IP Management

Data requirements: Proposals should leverage data and services from European Research Infrastructures, including those federated under the European Open Science Cloud.
Data principles: All data produced in the context of the project must be FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable).
Intellectual Property (IP): General Horizon Europe IP policies apply, with specific checks focusing on IP management.

Ethical & Cross-Cutting Considerations

Ethical standards: Strict adherence to ethical standards and research integrity is required.
Gender perspective: Proposals should incorporate a gender perspective to understand how labor mobility patterns differ and influence workforce dynamics, particularly considering gender occupational segregation.
Social impact alignment: Projects must align with EU priorities for inclusive growth, resilience, and a fair transition towards climate neutrality, supporting objectives like the European Pillar of Social Rights, Union of Equality policies, and Just Transition frameworks.
International collaboration: Encouraged when relevant to maximize research impact.

Risk Management

While financial audits are minimized due to lump sum funding, the focus shifts to robust technical implementation and fulfillment of work package conditions, implying strong internal project planning and risk management.

Unique Aspects

Emphasis on a 'whole ecosystem approach' in research, requiring interdisciplinary collaboration across SSH fields.
Uniquely leverages historical and regional analyses to inform contemporary challenges of industrial and green transitions.
Utilizes lump sum funding to simplify financial management and increase focus on scientific and technical performance and outputs.

Grant Details