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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of this grant is to establish a federated, sustainable data exchange platform for Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility (CCAM). This platform will facilitate data sharing for research and innovation, large-scale demonstrations, and deployment within the CCAM industry. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, focusing exclusively on Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility. Target recipients include a broad range of public and private organizations such as companies (Original Equipment Manufacturers, Tier X suppliers), research institutes, traffic managers, infrastructure providers, national authorities, and social partners. Geographically, the grant focuses on European entities (EU Member States and Associated Countries), while also encouraging international cooperation with Japan, the US, and other third countries. Key filtering criteria for potential applicants include a strong focus on CCAM data exchange, experience in platform development, and a willingness to align with existing EU data space initiatives. This specific grant call is part of Horizon Europe's multi-annual work programme for 2026.

Financial Structure

Funding Amount: The grant offers a fixed funding amount of 4,000,000 EUR per grant for this specific topic.
Funding Type: The grant takes the form of a lump sum contribution. This means payments are based on the proper implementation and completion of specific work packages, rather than detailed reporting of actual costs incurred. This significantly simplifies financial management for beneficiaries.
Co-financing Requirements: While no specific percentage is provided, co-financing is required. The total estimated costs of the action must be greater than the estimated Union contribution. The reimbursement rates set out in Article 34 of the Horizon Europe Rules for Participation will be factored into the lump sum calculation.
Eligible Costs: The lump sum covers estimated direct costs and indirect costs. Eligible direct costs can include:
- Personnel costs (employees, natural persons under direct contract, seconded persons, SME owners, natural person beneficiaries).
- Subcontracting costs.
- Purchase costs (travel and subsistence, equipment, other goods, works, and services).
- Other cost categories (e.g., financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods/services, transnational/virtual access to research infrastructure, PCP/PPI procurement costs).
Indirect Cost Policy: Indirect costs are calculated by applying a 25% flat rate to the direct cost categories that qualify for indirect cost calculation under Horizon Europe rules.
Ineligible Costs: The lump sum must exclude costs that would be ineligible under standard Horizon Europe rules, though specific examples are not provided.
Payment Schedule: Pre-financing will follow standard Horizon Europe rules. Subsequent payments are made when the corresponding work packages are properly implemented and their conditions met. If conditions for a work package are not met, that portion of the lump sum will not be paid.
Financial Guarantees: Between 5% and 8% of the total lump sum is retained as a contribution to the Mutual Insurance Mechanism.
Financial Reporting: There is no obligation to report actual costs to the granting authority. Financial checks, reviews, or audits will focus on the technical implementation of the action and the fulfillment of work package conditions, rather than detailed financial expenditure.

Eligibility Requirements

Formal Criteria: Proposals must adhere to page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Eligible Countries: Eligible countries are defined in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. This typically includes all EU Member States and Associated Countries. Restrictions for the protection of European communication networks apply. While international cooperation with Japan, the US, and other third countries is encouraged, direct funding eligibility for these countries must be confirmed via Annex B.
Financial and Operational Capacity: Applicants must meet the financial and operational capacity requirements and exclusion criteria detailed in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Organizational Type and Structure: This grant is an 'Innovation Action' and expects a collaborative approach. While not explicitly stated as mandatory, the scope of work strongly implies that applications should come from consortia. These consortia should bring together diverse expertise from public and private sectors, including companies (e.g., Tier X suppliers, OEMs), research institutes, public authorities, and social partners.
Experience and Track Record: Projects are expected to build on and align with outcomes from previous relevant initiatives and projects, such as the FAME project, PrepDSpace4Mobility, the EMDS study, and the deployEMDS project. This implies that applicants should demonstrate relevant expertise and experience in the field of CCAM and data spaces.
Organizational Size: Not explicitly limited by employee count in the provided materials. However, the nature of the project (complex, multi-stakeholder platform) suggests that organizations with sufficient capacity and resources to contribute effectively to a large-scale consortium would be favored.

Application Process

Application Opening Date: The submission system is planned to open on September 16, 2025.
Application Deadline: The final deadline for submitting proposals is January 20, 2026.
Submission Procedure: The application process is a single-stage submission.
Required Documentation: Applicants must submit their proposals using the specific application form template available in the Submission System (for 'HORIZON Innovation Actions'). This includes adhering to page limits and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. A detailed budget table for Lump Sum contributions ('HE LS') must also be provided.
Submission Format and Platform: Applications must be submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal Submission System.
Types of Support Offered: The primary support offered is monetary funding in the form of a lump sum. Additionally, extensive guidance and assistance are available, including:
- The Online Manual (for submission, evaluation, and grant management procedures).
- The Horizon Europe Programme Guide (for detailed structure, budget, and political priorities).
- Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ.
- Research Enquiry Service.
- National Contact Points (NCPs) for practical guidance and assistance.
- Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) for business advice, especially for SMEs.
- IT Helpdesk for technical issues with the portal.
- European IPR Helpdesk for intellectual property concerns.
- CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk for standardisation advice.
- The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment.
- A Partner Search service to help find suitable collaborators.
Project Implementation Timeline: The grant duration is not specified in the provided documents, but Innovation Actions typically have a multi-year implementation period.
Reporting Obligations: Projects are required to report on their results to the European Partnership on 'Connected, Cooperative and Automated Mobility' (CCAM) to support the monitoring of its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Payments are released upon the proper implementation of defined work packages.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria: The primary award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. These typically include:
- Excellence: The quality of the proposed research and innovation activities, including the sound methodology and the ambition of the objectives.
- Expected Impact: The potential for the project to contribute to the specified outcomes, including scientific, societal, and economic impacts.
- Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation: The clarity of the work plan, the effectiveness of the proposed management structure, and the appropriateness of the resources allocated.
Innovation Requirements: The grant specifically targets an 'Innovation Action' and expects the development of a novel 'Federated CCAM Data Exchange Platform' and its associated tools, which should push the state-of-the-art in CCAM data exchange.
Social Impact Expectations: Projects are expected to facilitate safe and efficient CCAM deployment, contribute to the digital and green transformation of the mobility sector (e.g., reducing transport emissions), and support national and EU-level statistics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to the impacts of CCAM solutions on safety, economy, and society.
Competitive Advantage Factors: Strong competitive advantages will likely stem from:
- Demonstrating robust alignment and interoperability with existing and developing European data spaces, such as the common European mobility data space, the Data Spaces Support Centre, and the Simpl platform.
- Presenting a clear and viable business model and sustainability plan for the proposed CCAM Data Exchange Platform, ensuring its long-term durability.
- Proposing international cooperation with strategically important partners in third countries (e.g., Japan, US) that can enhance the project's reach and impact.
Quality Thresholds: The project must ensure interoperability standards for data sharing within and across data ecosystems, through the implementation of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles and leveraging adopted practices in relevant European common data spaces.
Cross-cutting Themes: The evaluation will implicitly consider the project's approach to cross-cutting themes such as compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ethical considerations regarding AI (aligned with the AI Act), and contributions to sustainability and green objectives.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Regulatory Compliance: Projects must ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including:
- The EU General Data Protection Legislation (GDPR): Applicants must identify the effects of GDPR on AI learning workflows and propose mitigation measures.
- Automated Driving Systems and General Safety regulations.
- The AI Act: Including considerations for trustworthy AI integration and adaptation of type approval processes.
Data Protection and Privacy: Explicit attention to GDPR compliance and measures for data protection and privacy within the developed platform is critical.
Environmental Standards: Although not explicitly detailed as a separate compliance point, the project's alignment with the common European mobility data space and its aims to accelerate digital and green transformation implies a contribution to reducing transport emissions.
Ethical Standards: While not explicitly listed beyond GDPR and AI Act, all Horizon Europe projects are expected to adhere to high ethical standards and research integrity.
Intellectual Property Policies: The management of intellectual property will be governed by the grant agreement, with a focus on dissemination and exploitation of results.
Technology Specifications and Interoperability: The platform should be aligned with the general 'data space blueprint' and use common building blocks. It is expected to leverage existing technologies like the smart cloud-to-edge middleware platform Simpl where possible. A strong emphasis is placed on establishing interoperability standards for data sharing within and across data ecosystems, adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.
Risk Management: While not explicitly detailed, the requirement for a 'viable business model' and 'sustainability plan' for the platform implies a need for robust risk assessment and mitigation strategies to ensure the platform's long-term viability.
Unique Aspects (Lump Sum Funding): A key unique aspect is the lump sum funding model. This means that financial checks and audits will primarily focus on the technical implementation and completion of work packages, rather than scrutinizing detailed cost expenditures. This reduces the administrative burden for beneficiaries related to financial reporting.
Strategic Opportunities: This grant offers significant strategic opportunities to contribute to the co-programmed European Partnership on CCAM and to align with broader EU initiatives to establish common European data spaces, positioning beneficiaries at the forefront of future mobility innovation.

Grant Details