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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to comprehensively assess the Technology Infrastructure needs in Ukraine. This includes understanding the current landscape, evaluating war-related damage, identifying specific user needs (both public and private sector), and developing a strategic investment agenda for the post-war reconstruction and future technological development of Ukrainian industry. The grant also aims to identify and pilot integrated networks of Technology Centres within Ukraine to strengthen the connection between research and industry. This grant targets organizations involved in research and innovation ecosystems, such as Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), technical universities, research institutes, technology centres, and private sector entities capable of engaging in a collaborative, consortium-based approach. The grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC, focusing on 'Technology Infrastructure' and the broader 'industrial' and 'digital' sectors, particularly in the context of Ukraine's recovery and advancement. The geographic scope for the project's activities is primarily Ukraine. Eligible applicants for funding are entities from EU Member States and countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme, which includes Ukraine. This grant is part of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme and is offered as a single-stage call. Key filtering criteria for this opportunity include a strong focus on Ukraine's technological landscape, post-war reconstruction, and the development of robust technology infrastructure networks. Applicants should have expertise in R&I ecosystems and be prepared to act as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA).

Financial Structure

Budget Range: This specific grant topic, 'HORIZON-CL4-INDUSTRY-2025-01-HUMAN-66', is expected to award 1 grant. The 'minimum grant amount' for this project is 1,000,000 EUR, and the 'maximum grant amount' is 1,500,000 EUR.
Funding Type: The grant will be provided as a lump sum contribution. This means payments are not based on actual costs incurred but rather on the proper implementation and completion of predefined 'work packages'.
Eligible Costs: When proposing the lump sum amount, applicants should base their estimates on costs that would typically be considered eligible under an 'actual costs' grant. These can include: 'Personnel costs' (e.g., employees, contractors, seconded persons, SME owners), 'Subcontracting costs', 'Purchase costs' (e.g., travel, equipment, other goods/services), and 'Other cost categories' (e.g., financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods/services, access to research infrastructures).
Indirect Costs: A '25% flat rate for indirect costs' is automatically 'included in the calculation of the lump sum contribution'.
Co-financing Requirements: The 'co-financing principle' is applied, meaning the 'total estimated costs of the action' in the proposal must be greater than the 'estimated Union contributions'. This ensures that the EU contribution does not cover the entirety of the project's costs. The 'reimbursement rates' from the Horizon Europe rules are incorporated into the lump sum calculation.
Payment Schedule and Mechanisms: 'Lump sum contributions per work package' are paid once their 'conditions have been met' during a reporting period. If conditions are not met, payment may be deferred to a subsequent period or the grant amount may be reduced. 'Pre-financing' follows the standard Horizon Europe rules.
Financial Guarantees: 'Between 5 and 8 %' of the total lump sum is 'retained as contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism'.
Financial Reporting and Audit: Unlike traditional grants, there is typically 'no report of actual costs' and normally 'no financial checks, reviews, or audits'. Controls will primarily focus on the 'technical implementation' of the action and verification that the conditions for releasing lump sum contributions per work package have been fulfilled.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible Organization Types: The grant expects engagement from 'Ukrainian authorities', 'R&I ecosystems organisations' such as 'Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs)', 'technical universities', 'research institutes', 'technology centres', and the 'private sector'. As a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), it is generally open to a wide range of legal entities forming a consortium.
Geographic Location: While the project's focus and impact are specifically on Ukraine, eligible applicants for receiving funding are typically entities established in EU Member States or countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme. Ukraine is an Associated Country to Horizon Europe, thus entities from Ukraine are eligible to receive funding. Details on eligible countries are 'described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Admissibility Conditions: Proposals must adhere to the 'page limit and layout' requirements 'described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes', as well as 'Part B of the Application Form' available in the Submission System.
Financial and Operational Capacity: Applicants must meet the 'financial and operational capacity and exclusion' criteria 'described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Legal and Financial Set-up: The legal and financial setup of the grants, including how 'eligible costs' are handled, is 'described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes'. This specific grant will take the form of a 'lump sum' contribution.

Application Process

Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting proposals for this grant is September 23, 2025, at 00:00:00 UTC+0000.
Submission Window: The submission session opened on May 22, 2025.
Application Procedure: The application process is 'single-stage'. Proposals must be submitted electronically through the 'Funding & Tenders Portal'. To access the submission service, applicants should click the submission button next to the relevant 'type of action' (HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions) and 'model grant agreement' (HORIZON Lump Sum Grant).
Required Documentation: Applicants must use the 'Standard application form (HE CSA)', which is available in the Submission System. Specific 'page limits and layout' for the proposal are 'described in Part B of the Application Form'. Detailed budget estimations, broken down by work package and beneficiary, must be prepared using 'relevant templates' provided by the granting authority.
Support Availability: Comprehensive support is available to applicants, including: 'National Contact Points (NCPs)' for general guidance, the 'Enterprise Europe Network' (EEN) for business advice (especially for SMEs), the 'IT Helpdesk' for technical submission issues, the 'European IPR Helpdesk' for intellectual property matters, 'CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk' for standardisation advice, and a 'Partner Search' tool to find collaborators.

Evaluation Criteria

Primary Evaluation Areas: Proposals will be assessed based on their 'excellence', 'expected impact', and 'quality and efficiency of the implementation'. These criteria are 'described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes'.
Financial Assessment: Experts, including those with financial expertise, will thoroughly review the proposed budget estimate. This involves checking the budget against 'relevant benchmarks on costs and resources', such as 'market prices', 'statistical data', or 'historical data from previously funded actions'. The assessment ensures that the 'resources proposed' and the 'split of lump sum shares' are appropriate for achieving the planned activities and expected outputs. Applicants must declare that their budget estimations adhere to their 'own accounting practices'.
Cross-cutting Themes and Values: A strong emphasis is placed on projects that promote human-centric innovation, ensuring technologies are 'trustworthy', 'safe', 'reliable', and 'free from gender, racial, and other social biases by design'. Proposals should demonstrate how digital environments and virtual worlds foster 'inclusive', 'gender-equal', 'trustworthy', and 'human-centric' approaches. For Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, proposals should address challenges related to 'accuracy', 'robustness', 'transparency', and 'efficiency', while also working to 'eliminate biases' to ensure fairness across individual differences (e.g., gender, age). The 'involvement of social sciences and humanities' is valued for aligning with 'European values'.
Innovation and Strategic Alignment: Projects are expected to contribute to the 'future technology development capacity of the Ukrainian industry' and foster the 'innovation capacity of the Ukrainian economy'. This includes supporting the 'GenAI4EU initiative' and contributing to Europe's leadership in AI and digital technologies.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance: Applicants must adhere to various regulatory requirements as 'described in Annex B, C, D, F, and G of the Work Programme General Annexes'. This also includes compliance with the 'EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509'.
Ethical Standards: Projects are expected to promote 'human-centric innovation' and ensure technologies are 'trustworthy', 'safe', 'reliable', and 'free from gender, racial, and other social biases by design'. The grant encourages the development of an 'inclusive', 'gender-equal', 'trustworthy', and 'human-centric internet', and stresses the importance of eliminating biases in AI to ensure fairness.
Intellectual Property (IP) Policies: While lump sum grants simplify financial reporting, checks and reviews can still be conducted on aspects like the 'management of intellectual property'.
Technology Focus: The grant emphasizes the development and application of advanced digital and industrial technologies. This includes 'digital twins', 'collaborative AI', 'virtual and extended reality', 'Generative AI' (focusing on algorithms, data, and computational resources), 'foundational models', 'language technologies', 'blockchain', 'photonics', and 'robotics'. The initiative supports the 'GenAI4EU initiative' and the broader 'Apply AI Strategy'.
Unique Aspects: A highly distinctive feature of this grant is its specific focus on Ukraine's post-war reconstruction through the assessment and development of its 'Technology Infrastructures'. This involves analysing war damages, identifying user needs, and creating an investment agenda. The project is also tasked with identifying and piloting 'integrated networks of Technology Centres' in Ukraine.
Cross-cutting Considerations: The grant aligns with the 'Industry 5.0' concept, promoting human interaction with production technologies, open innovation, and the participation of new actors. It also highlights the importance of continuous learning, new job profiles, and digital competence. Emphasis is placed on leveraging social sciences and humanities to ensure project outcomes align with 'European values'.

Grant Details