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Horizon Europe
1 phase
Strategic Analysis
This Coordination and Support Action (CSA) is pivotal for refining the European Commission's Societal Readiness (SR) approach. The winning proposal will demonstrate a robust methodology for monitoring and evaluating SR integration in pilot projects, providing actionable insights and practical recommendations to the EC, while also establishing a sustainable public platform for knowledge transfer to future R&I consortia.
Make a consolidated analysis: on the way Societal Readiness is considered and integrated in the Descriptions of the Actions [4] of selected pilot-projects in terms of content (e.g., the type of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) guiding questions chosen and related methodology), implementation (e.g., SR related work distribution and partners) and methodology. Assess the level, timing, and quality of interactions between SSH and STEM partners during the proposal preparation.
of all First reports on Societal Readiness to be delivered by the selected pilot-projects. Assess the way SR consideration unfolds from the Description of the Actions ’ methodology, observe how guiding questions are addressed and plan to respond to the concerns identified. Compare the various ‘SR visions’ put forward by each consortium.
of all Final reports on Societal Readiness to be delivered by the selected pilot-projects. Assess the various projects’ experiences, challenges and lessons learned during the actual implementation of the Societal Readiness activities, looking at the participation and type of external actors in co-design methods, responses to SR guiding questions, possible adjustment of R&I activities.
Analyse the various interdisciplinarity mechanisms (SSH vs. STEM, collaboration with societal stakeholders) across pilot-projects as well as their effectiveness in practice. Identify successful interdisciplinary approaches and less successful ones. Possible evolutions in partners behaviours, or changes in interdisciplinary strategies should be identified. The degree of involvement from partners in SR activities, as well as the way they perceive them (in a positive or negative way) should also be scrutinised. This analysis should result in a publication with concrete tips helping future project partners integrating implementable, efficient, and well-accepted interdisciplinary practices both within consortia and towards external actors.
Organise annual workshops in physical format to allow all pilot project representatives to meet, interact and exchange experiences periodically. Travel costs for all participants are to be covered by this action.
Set up a public web platform during the action duration, to provide a direct source of support to future SR users, including examples of SR pathways, do’s and don’ts, tips and tricks specifically tailored to facilitate the use and understanding of the European Commission’s approach on Societal Readiness. A survey submitted beforehand to pilot-projects partners could be envisaged to help in defining those needs. The platform should be updated and completed on a regular basis.
Eventually provide a set of recommendations to the European Commission taking stock of the work achieved as well as of the recommendations elaborated by pilot-projects in their Final reports on Societal Readiness. Practical improvements of the current Societal Readiness approach should be proposed to overcome identified shortcomings, while at the same time, acknowledging the successful aspects of the current approach. The overall Societal Readiness vision [5] should be kept in mind when providing those recommendations, while aiming at keeping a lowest level of implementation complexity, a highest degree of understandability (including for non-SSH experts) and replicability to various technology maturities and fields of applications, as well as a strong interdisciplinary component.
Mid-project recommendations based on the two first points are expected in order to give a preliminary sense of directionality for future Societal Readiness projects.
An analysis of the added value of SR pilot topics compared to SSH-flagged-only-topics within Cluster 5 as well as of other relevant Societal Readiness routes (e.g. at national level) applied to R&I projects in the area of Climate, Energy and/or Mobility should be performed. Successful practices identified may complement recommendations to be provided to the Commission.
Information on e.g. on perceptions, feelings, concerns, past experiences on ways of working that is not translated into projects’ documents should be collected via direct interactions (bilateral discussions with respective project partners).
The action should also initiate similar monitoring activities on Societal Readiness pilot projects funded under future Horizon Europe work programmes, whenever operational phases of this action and new pilot projects overlap.
The European Commission has a comprehensive overview on the way Societal Readiness is addressed and integrated in piloted projects, and main challenges and concerns are identified;
A proven strategy to intensify collaboration between STEM [1] and SSH [2] partners led to in-depth interdisciplinary work in R&I projects. All involved project constituencies and relevant parts of society are accounted for in an integrated way to ensure broad and sustainable support for R&I solutions;
The next generation of Societal Readiness projects benefits from current pilot projects’ experiences, success stories and do’s and don’ts thanks to a public web platform, acting as a one-stop-shop for Societal Readiness for future EU projects;
The European Commission is equipped with a sound, clear, and replicable procedure – both at implementation and content level – presented as an improvement of the current approach, to address Societal Readiness effectively in future EU funded R&I projects.
Increased competitiveness and strategic autonomy of EU Battery sector while maximising sustainability.
Enhanced local and circular supply chains by reducing dependency on critical raw materials and upscaling processing capacity, also for recycled materials.
An integrated European battery sector for high performance batteries, from design to manufacturing and all the way to end of life, reducing environmental impact.
Improved resilience of EU energy system and facilitated integration of renewable energy sources through application of energy storage.
Affordable and reliable batteries to boost the market penetration of Electric Vehicles and storage systems.
Strengthen EU as a role model for R&I and cooperation with international cities to align strategies and support the role of DUT as co-lead of the Urban Transitions Mission (UTM) under Mission Innovation (MI);
Innovative urban governance, policy, and decision-making engaging citizens in the city making process;
Integration of mobility and transport services, and their alignment with citizens’ needs;
Climate-neutral, safe, inclusive and liveable neighbourhoods, towns, cities and urban services for the citizens’ well-being;
Empowerment of all actors such as local authorities, business, civil society, knowledge institutions and citizens, being engaged in climate-neutrality transitions;
Evidence-based implementation of the European Green Deal, the Urban Agenda for the EU and other urban-relevant policies and strategies.
European Green Deal
mediumThe European Green Deal is the EU's overarching growth strategy to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. It encompasses a wide range of policy initiatives across various sectors, including energy, industry, transport, and agriculture, aiming for a just and inclusive transition. It sets ambitious targets for emissions reduction, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
Proposals must clearly articulate how they contribute to the overarching goals of the European Green Deal, such as achieving climate neutrality, enhancing energy efficiency, promoting sustainable industrial practices, or fostering the deployment of clean energy technologies. Demonstrating a positive environmental impact and alignment with the 'do no significant harm' principle is crucial.
Urban Agenda for the EU
lowThe Urban Agenda for the EU is an initiative designed to promote sustainable urban development by involving cities in the design and implementation of EU policies. It addresses key urban challenges through a multi-level governance approach, fostering partnerships between cities, Member States, the European Commission, and other stakeholders to develop and implement Action Plans across various priority themes like housing, air quality, and circular economy.
Proposals should demonstrate how they contribute to addressing urban challenges, align with the priority themes of the Urban Agenda, or support the implementation of its Action Plans. Evaluators will look for evidence of engagement with urban stakeholders, innovative solutions for sustainable urban development, or contributions to improved urban governance and quality of life in cities.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The evaluation committee will be composed partially by representatives of EU institutions.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 14. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will prioritize the clarity and comprehensiveness of the proposed methodology for monitoring and analyzing Societal Readiness across pilot projects (@SC1, @SC2, @SC3, @SC10). Strong emphasis will be placed on the quality of the analysis of interdisciplinary mechanisms (SSH-STEM and societal stakeholders) and the identification of successful practices (@SC4). The proposal must clearly outline how concrete, practical recommendations will be formulated for the European Commission (@SC7, @SC8, @SC9) and how the public web platform (@SC6) will effectively support future R&I project partners, ensuring high impact and replicability (@EO3, @EO4).
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
The call explicitly states the evaluation committee will be composed partially by representatives of EU institutions. This means your proposal will be judged primarily on its direct utility to the Commission. Frame your analysis and recommendations not as academic exercises, but as concrete, practical improvements to the EC's Societal Readiness approach that are clear, replicable, and easy to implement.
Source: Eligibility / 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
This project is funded as a lump sum, meaning payments are tied to the formal completion of work packages. Your proposal's structure must be built around clear, verifiable milestones. Evaluators will scrutinize the link between your activities and the evidence you will provide to trigger payments, so a work plan without concrete, demonstrable completion criteria will be scored poorly.
Source: Eligibility / 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
A winning proposal must go beyond desk research. The scope requires collecting information on perceptions and concerns not translated into projects’ documents through direct interactions with pilot project partners. Your methodology must detail a robust plan for qualitative data gathering, such as interviews or structured dialogues, to capture these crucial unwritten insights.
Source: Scope / Scope activities
The project must organize annual workshops, and the call specifies that travel costs for all participants are to be covered by this action. Your budget must explicitly and realistically provision for the travel and accommodation of representatives from an estimated eighteen pilot projects. Underestimating this mandatory cost will signal poor financial planning to evaluators.
Source: Scope / Scope activities
The AI has drafted potential core elements based on the call analysis. To start building your project proposal structure, select the elements that resonate with your consortium's concept. You can refine and rewrite them fully once your project workspace is created.
Many R&I projects struggle with effectively integrating Societal Readiness (SR) principles, leading to inconsistent approaches, unclear methodologies, and suboptimal engagement with societal concerns, as highlighted in @SC1, @SC2, @SC3.
Challenges exist in fostering meaningful and effective collaboration between Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) partners, as well as with external societal actors, hindering the holistic impact of R&I (@SC4).
There is currently no centralized, easily accessible resource providing practical guidance, examples, and lessons learned for R&I project partners on how to effectively apply the European Commission's Societal Readiness approach (@SC6).
The European Commission requires a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation of the current SR pilot to identify shortcomings, acknowledge successes, and propose practical improvements to ensure the SR approach is effective, understandable, and replicable for future R&I funding calls (@SC7, @SC8, @SC9).
The consortia of the selected Societal Readiness pilot projects, who will be directly involved in data collection, workshops, and providing feedback on their SR implementation experiences.
The European Commission services responsible for R&I policy, who will receive comprehensive analyses, mid-project recommendations, and final proposals for improving the Societal Readiness approach.
Prospective participants in EU-funded R&I projects, who will benefit from the public web platform, best practices, and practical guidance on integrating Societal Readiness effectively.
Academics, researchers, and R&I practitioners interested in responsible research and innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the societal impact of science and technology.
Citizens, civil society organizations, local authorities, and businesses who are involved in co-design methods or are end-users of R&I solutions, benefiting from improved SR integration.
To conduct a detailed, consolidated analysis of how Societal Readiness (SR) is considered, integrated, and unfolds in selected pilot projects, from proposal preparation to actual implementation, identifying key methodologies, RRI guiding questions, and SSH-STEM interactions.
To analyze various interdisciplinarity mechanisms (SSH vs. STEM, collaboration with societal stakeholders) across pilot projects, identify successful and less successful approaches, and facilitate experience exchange through annual workshops, leading to a publication with concrete tips.
To set up and regularly update a public web platform providing direct support, examples of SR pathways, do’s and don’ts, and tips specifically tailored to facilitate the use and understanding of the European Commission’s Societal Readiness approach for future EU projects.
To formulate a set of practical, clear, and replicable recommendations for the European Commission, based on the monitoring work, pilot project experiences, and an analysis of the added value of SR pilots, aiming to improve the current SR approach while maintaining simplicity, understandability, and strong interdisciplinarity.
The comprehensive analysis and recommendations provided by this action will directly inform the European Commission, leading to a more robust, clear, and replicable Societal Readiness approach for future R&I projects.
By identifying successful interdisciplinary approaches (SSH-STEM, societal stakeholders) and disseminating best practices, this action will foster deeper and more effective collaboration in R&I projects, ensuring broader societal support for solutions.
The public web platform, workshops, and practical tips will serve as a central resource, significantly increasing the understanding and capacity of future R&I project partners to effectively integrate Societal Readiness.
By systematically evaluating and improving its Societal Readiness approach, the EU will reinforce its position as a leader in responsible and impactful research and innovation, attracting international cooperation and investment.