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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

Core objective: To reinforce the talent pool needed for virtual worlds technologies by developing and delivering comprehensive academic and vocational training programs across Europe.
Target recipient type and size: Organizations capable of developing and delivering education and training, including academic institutions, industry (specifically including SMEs), and research institutions.
MUST state if grant is 'SECTOR-SPECIFIC' or 'SECTOR-AGNOSTIC': SECTOR-SPECIFIC (Virtual Worlds and related advanced digital technologies).
Geographic scope and any location requirements: European level, with expected European-wide roll-out.
Key filtering criteria for initial grant screening: Focus on developing digital skills in virtual worlds, capability to design and implement educational curricula, and willingness/ability to establish multi-stakeholder partnerships.
Grant frequency and program context: Part of the 'Sectoral digital skills academies' initiative under the Digital Europe Programme, indicating it's an ongoing program with specific calls.

Financial Structure

Funding Type: Lump Sum Grant (DIGITAL Lump Sum Grants).
Total Budget for this topic: 10000000.0 EUR.
Minimum grant amount per project: 10000000.0 EUR (this topic is expected to fund one grant).
Maximum grant amount per project: 10000000.0 EUR (this topic is expected to fund one grant).
Currency: EUR.
Funding Rate: 100.0% of the agreed lump sum.
Eligible Costs: Covered by the lump sum. For lump sum grants, eligible costs are typically not itemized in the same way as actual cost grants, as the focus is on achieving agreed deliverables for a fixed price.
Financial Reporting: Financial reporting is simplified for lump sum grants, generally focused on the achievement of milestones and deliverables rather than detailed expenditure tracking. Audit requirements typically ensure that deliverables are met.

Eligibility Requirements

Organization Type & Structure

Eligible organization types: Academic institutions, industry (including SMEs), and research institutions are specifically mentioned as expected partners.
Partnership or consortium requirements: Establishment of 'partnerships and collaboration frameworks' between academia, industry, and research institutions is a key expected outcome, strongly implying a consortium approach is required or highly preferred.

Geographic Requirements

Geographic location requirements: Activities must be implemented at a 'European level' with a 'European-wide roll-out' focus. This implies eligibility for entities from EU Member States and associated countries.

Technical Expertise & Capacity

Technical expertise requirements: Proven expertise in various virtual worlds technologies (e.g., extended reality, blockchain, AI, data, edge computing, high-performance computing, 3D graphics, interactive media, content creation, computer vision, modelling and industrial applications like digital twins, digital identity, data privacy, big data) is essential for curriculum development.
Team composition and qualification requirements: Teams must be capable of developing comprehensive academic curricula and modular short-term training programs for different target groups.
Organizational capacity: Ability to implement large-scale academic programs and short-term trainings, and to facilitate joint educational initiatives.

Legal & Financial Requirements

Admissibility Conditions: Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout described in section 5 of the call document (not provided in this data).
Eligible Countries: Applicants must be from eligible countries as described in section 6 of the call document (not provided).
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: Applicants must meet criteria described in section 7 of the call document (not provided).

Application Process

Application Deadlines and Timeline

Application Deadline: 2025-10-02 00:00:00+00.
Submission Window: Opened on 2025-04-15.
Evaluation and Grant Agreement Timeline: Indicative timeline is described in section 4 of the call document (not provided in this dataset).

Application Procedure and Documentation

Submission Format: Electronic submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal's Electronic Submission Service.
Application Procedure: Single-stage submission process.
Required Documentation: Applicants must use the standard application form (DEP) and the detailed budget table (DEP LSII).
Supporting Materials: All relevant annexes and detailed instructions are found in the call document (not provided), including rules for legal entity validation, LEAR appointment, and financial capacity assessment.

Support and Resources

Application Assistance: Support for the call is available via a dedicated online form, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual for portal processes.

Evaluation Criteria

Project Quality and Scope

Comprehensive Academic Curricula: Proposals must demonstrate the design of curricula across different levels and for different target groups, suitable for European-level implementation.
Modular Short-Term Training: Development and piloting of modular short-term training curricula for sector specialists, including targeted training for SMEs and the public sector.
Technology Coverage: Curricula must encompass all necessary technological blocks of virtual worlds (e.g., extended reality, blockchain, AI, data, edge computing, HPC, 3D graphics, interactive media, content creation, computer vision, modelling and industrial applications like digital twins, digital identity, data privacy, big data) and related creative/disciplinary fields (law, ethics, design).

Impact and Sustainability

Partnerships and Collaboration: Emphasis on establishing robust partnerships and collaboration frameworks between academia, industry (including SMEs), and research institutions.
Educational Initiatives: Facilitation of joint practical educational initiatives and events with industry and research, such as on-the-job experiences, mentorship schemes, internship programs, summer schools, bootcamps, and career days.
Inclusivity and Diversity: Implementation of support, integration, and visibility schemes, with particular attention to female students/professionals, talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and people with disabilities.
Teaching Staff Training: Inclusion of training initiatives for teaching staff, such as 'Teach-the-teacher' modules.
Communication and Awareness: Execution of communication and awareness-raising activities, including career orientation and 'technology deep dive sessions'.
Digital Platform Integration: Commitment to integrate a dedicated landing page into the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform.
Measurable Impact: Proposals should outline KPI assessment schemes to report on the impact of activities and provide recommendations for policy and investments.

Innovation and Strategic Alignment

Interdisciplinary Approach: Project design should reflect a highly interdisciplinary approach, integrating various technologies and disciplines relevant to virtual worlds.
Sectoral Relevance: Demonstrated ability to offer training for sector specialists (e.g., automotive, healthcare, education, cultural and creative sectors) to deploy virtual worlds in their respective fields.
Citizen Empowerment: Plans to develop training for basic understanding of virtual worlds technologies to empower citizens and raise awareness of opportunities and risks.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory and Legal Compliance

Financial Regulations: Compliance with DEP Regulation 2021/964 and EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
Legal Entity Validation: Adherence to Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment, and Financial Capacity Assessment.

Ethical and Social Standards

Data Protection and Privacy: Projects must address data privacy considerations related to virtual worlds technologies.
Ethical Standards: Adherence to ethical guidelines relevant to the development and deployment of virtual worlds.
Accessibility and Inclusion: Projects must implement support and visibility schemes with particular attention to female participation, disadvantaged backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

Technical and Operational Requirements

Interdisciplinary Approach: Project design must reflect a highly interdisciplinary approach, integrating various technologies and creative/disciplinary fields.
Digital Platform Integration: A dedicated landing page integrated into the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform is an expected deliverable.

Unique Aspects and Strategic Considerations

Strategic Alignment: This grant is part of the broader 'EU initiative on Web 4.0 and virtual worlds', aiming to pioneer development in this area.
Dual Focus: The academy must not only generate high-level technical expertise but also offer training for sector specialists to deploy virtual worlds in their fields and raise general citizen awareness.
Context: This specific academy ('Virtual Worlds Skills Academy') is one of several 'Sectoral digital skills academies' under the DIGITAL-2025-SKILLS-08 call.

Grant Details