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Strategic Analysis
This call targets the urgent need to address the harmful effects of digital technology use on the mental health of children and young adults. It seeks to generate neurobiological and cognitive/behavioural evidence, develop and test innovative digital interventions, and assess behavioural changes to foster resilience and healthy digital habits. The proposed actions should align with EU health policies and global frameworks like the WHO Global Action Plan for non-communicable diseases, aiming to reduce mental health burdens and promote well-being through evidence-based, scalable interventions.
TRL 2 → 6
Based on programme defaults
Generate the neuro-biological and cognitive/behavioural evidence base on the correlation and impact of digital technologies on mental health, including brain development (both positive and negative).
Develop and test innovative digital interventions aiming for example at: counteracting addictive design patterns (e.g. on social media and gaming platforms), gaining insights into risk patterns and enabling early risk detection (e.g. detecting early warning signs of mental disorders or digital addiction), redirecting users towards healthy use and positive engagement with digital technologies, and/or reducing exposure to harmful content.
Assess the changes in behaviour in children and young adults of the newly developed interventions, aiming at fostering their resilience and promoting responsible use and healthy digital habits.
Researchers and healthcare professionals have an improved understanding of the neuro-biological and cognitive/behavioural evidence base on the correlation and impact of digital technologies on mental health, including brain development.
Policymakers and digital technology and content developers are provided with a robust evidence base on the impact (positive or negative) of digital technologies on mental health in children and young adults.
Policymakers, digital technology developers, and educational institutions amongst others make use (e.g. developing guidelines) of the evidence base and widely implement the newly developed interventions aimed at promoting children and young adults’ mental health while mitigating any negative impacts of digital technology use.
Children, young adults, families, guardians, educators, and carers have access to the newly developed interventions designed to prevent harm and promote the positive use of digital technologies.
Children and young adults are empowered and develop resilience, including digital literacy, enabling them to engage in a healthy and positive way with digital technologies.
Disease burden in the EU and worldwide is reduced through effective disease management, including through the development and integration of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, digital and other people-centred solutions for healthcare.
Premature mortality from non-communicable diseases is reduced by one third (by 2030), mental health and wellbeing are promoted, and the targets of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of non-communicable diseases are attained, with an immediate impact on the related disease burden (Disability-Adjusted Life Years - DALYs).
Healthcare systems benefit from strengthened Research and Innovation expertise, human capacities and know-how for combatting communicable and non-communicable diseases, including through international cooperation.
Citizens benefit from reduced (cross-border) health threat of epidemics and AMR pathogens, in the EU and worldwide.
Patients and citizens are knowledgeable of disease threats, involved and empowered to make and shape decisions for their health, and better adhere to knowledge-based disease management strategies and policies (especially for controlling outbreaks and emergencies).
EU4Health Programme (2021-2027)
WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their Recruitment
Specific requirements
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Generate the neuro-biological and cognitive/behavioural evidence base on the correlation and impact of digital technologies on mental health, including brain development (both positive and negative). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Develop and test innovative digital interventions aiming for example at: counteracting addictive design patterns (e.g. on social media and gaming platforms), gaining insights into risk patterns and enabling early risk detection (e.g. detecting early warning signs of mental disorders or digital addiction), redirecting users towards healthy use and positive engagement with digital technologies, and/or reducing exposure to harmful content. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Assess the changes in behaviour in children and young adults of the newly developed interventions, aiming at fostering their resilience and promoting responsible use and healthy digital habits. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Researchers and healthcare professionals have an improved understanding of the neuro-biological and cognitive/behavioural evidence base on the correlation and impact of digital technologies on mental health, including brain development. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Policymakers and digital technology and content developers are provided with a robust evidence base on the impact (positive or negative) of digital technologies on mental health in children and young adults. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Policymakers, digital technology developers, and educational institutions amongst others make use (e.g. developing guidelines) of the evidence base and widely implement the newly developed interventions aimed at promoting children and young adults’ mental health while mitigating any negative impacts of digital technology use. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Children, young adults, families, guardians, educators, and carers have access to the newly developed interventions designed to prevent harm and promote the positive use of digital technologies. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO5Children and young adults are empowered and develop resilience, including digital literacy, enabling them to engage in a healthy and positive way with digital technologies. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Sex and gender identity-disaggregated data and intersectionalityWhen handling data and indicators, sex and gender identity-disaggregated data should be collected and analysed, incorporating intersectional factors where feasible. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Cohort sustainability plan and reuse of existing cohortsApplicants proposing longitudinal cohort studies are invited to indicate a sustainability plan for maintaining cohorts beyond the project, and should make use of existing cohort data when available. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3End-user co-design of interventionsProposals should consider the inclusion of end-users in the co-design of interventions, including families, carers, and educators for young age groups. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Access to European Research InfrastructuresApplicants should access and make best use of existing European Research Infrastructures relevant for brain research, such as EBRAINS and Euro-BioImaging. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Liaison with EU mental health projects and Brain Health PartnershipFunded projects should liaise with relevant European projects on mental health and the future co-funded European Partnership for Brain Health, as well as explore synergies with EU4Health Work Programme 2026 projects. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Participation of start-ups and SMEsThe participation of start-ups and/or micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is encouraged to strengthen their scientific and technological basis and advance commercial exploitation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7FAIR data principles and data sharing standardsProposals should adhere to FAIR data principles, adopting data standards and data sharing/access good practices wherever relevant. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ8Effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)The topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines, institutions, and expertise to produce meaningful societal impact, while considering the involvement of citizens and civil society. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ9Clinical studies template annexApplicants should provide details of their clinical studies in the dedicated annex using the template provided in the submission system. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1Disease burden in the EU and worldwide is reduced through effective disease management, including through the development and integration of innovative preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, digital and other people-centred solutions for healthcare. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Premature mortality from non-communicable diseases is reduced by one third (by 2030), mental health and wellbeing are promoted, and the targets of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of non-communicable diseases are attained, with an immediate impact on the related disease burden (Disability-Adjusted Life Years - DALYs). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Healthcare systems benefit from strengthened Research and Innovation expertise, human capacities and know-how for combatting communicable and non-communicable diseases, including through international cooperation. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4Citizens benefit from reduced (cross-border) health threat of epidemics and AMR pathogens, in the EU and worldwide. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5Patients and citizens are knowledgeable of disease threats, involved and empowered to make and shape decisions for their health, and better adhere to knowledge-based disease management strategies and policies (especially for controlling outbreaks and emergencies). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| No underlying policies in this call. | |||
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
EU space data infrastructures
If the project uses satellite-based Earth observation, positioning, navigation or timing data/services, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. Other sources may be added but not substitute EU infrastructures.
Civil applications only
Horizon Europe funds exclusively civil applications. Research with exclusive military or dual-use application is excluded.
Gender Equality Plan
Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is an eligibility criterion for public bodies, research organisations, and higher education institutions from Member States and Associated Countries.
Open Science
Mandatory open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications and responsible management of research data (FAIR principles, DMP required).
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