Loading…
Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal must position Destination Earth (DestinE) core capabilities and AI Factory Data Labs at the heart of operational decision-making across at least three Member States or Associated Countries. Success requires demonstrating cross-sectoral multi-model coupling (e.g., climate-health, agri-food, energy) through scalable, interactive digital twins validated directly with public sector authorities and deep-tech AI SMEs.
TRL 2 → 5
Planning, designing, and overseeing large-scale experimental pilots and demonstrators by using Destination Earth capabilities in critical impact sectors linked to public policy areas, tackling real-world challenges in relation to climate change adaptation and risk mitigation, and foster solutions that address clearly specified needs at European, national, regional and local scale.
The pilots and demonstrators should improve the models and enable the coupling of models used in different sectors to combine cross-sectoral research and practice. They should consider the complex interrelationships emerging from the challenges caused and/or exacerbated by climate change, like for example climate-induced health effects or changes in the energy, agri-food or mobility sectors, and propose, test and analyse adaptation and risk mitigation measures in real-life scenarios to be able to respond effectively to these complex challenges in the future.
The pilots should contribute to the data infrastructure around Destination Earth for new AI-enabled digital twins by using the Data Labs of the AI Factories and integrating them in the DestinE system. Involvement of SMEs and/or startups, active in AI and/or deep tech and working in close collaboration with scientific research community is strongly encouraged.
The pilots and demonstrators should be co-designed and experimented in at least three Member States and/or Associated Countries in close collaboration between research scientists, AI developers, public sector policy experts and decision-makers.
The solutions need to demonstrate sustainable set-ups, including through interactivity with digital twins, adapting to changing data and on-demand visualisation capabilities and answering to existing and emerging socio-environmental and socio-economic challenges and the use of AI in solving them.
Actionable and widely tested research-to-action pilot solutions in addressing complex cross-sectoral problems caused and/or exacerbated by climate change in key socio-environmental and socio-economic sectors.
Innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by further development of the data lab infrastructure around Destination Earth in line with the AI continent Action Plan [1] .
Multi-country approach with real end user engagement to ensure solutions that are accessible, and effectively integrated into real policy, preparedness and response efforts.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
AI Continent Action Plan COM(2025)165
highThe AI Continent Action Plan (COM(2025)165) sets out the European Commission's strategic roadmap to position Europe as a global leader in trustworthy and cutting-edge artificial intelligence. It emphasizes scaling up industrial AI adoption, deploying AI factories, strengthening supercomputing access, and fostering data-driven innovation across strategic domains including climate, green transition, and Earth system modeling.
Evaluators expect proposals to explain clearly how their AI pipelines, digital twins, and machine learning components build upon European AI infrastructures and standards. Proposals should demonstrate trustworthy, explainable, and resource-efficient AI methodologies that directly support high-impact demonstrators such as Destination Earth, while addressing governance, data interoperability, and scalability within European digital ecosystems.
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).
">
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.
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
Beneficiaries must make use of the European Commission’s Destination Earth system[[https://platform.destine.eu/]].
If projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS (other data and services may additionally be used).
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
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.
described in the specific topic of the Work Programme
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2025 – 3. Research Infrastructures
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. 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 rigorously examine:
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 | |||
| SC1Planning, designing, and overseeing large-scale experimental pilots and demonstrators by using Destination Earth capabilities in critical impact sectors linked to public policy areas, tackling real-world challenges in relation to climate change adaptation and risk mitigation, and foster solutions that address clearly specified needs at European, national, regional and local scale. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2The pilots and demonstrators should improve the models and enable the coupling of models used in different sectors to combine cross-sectoral research and practice. They should consider the complex interrelationships emerging from the challenges caused and/or exacerbated by climate change, like for example climate-induced health effects or changes in the energy, agri-food or mobility sectors, and propose, test and analyse adaptation and risk mitigation measures in real-life scenarios to be able to respond effectively to these complex challenges in the future. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3The pilots should contribute to the data infrastructure around Destination Earth for new AI-enabled digital twins by using the Data Labs of the AI Factories and integrating them in the DestinE system. Involvement of SMEs and/or startups, active in AI and/or deep tech and working in close collaboration with scientific research community is strongly encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4The pilots and demonstrators should be co-designed and experimented in at least three Member States and/or Associated Countries in close collaboration between research scientists, AI developers, public sector policy experts and decision-makers. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5The solutions need to demonstrate sustainable set-ups, including through interactivity with digital twins, adapting to changing data and on-demand visualisation capabilities and answering to existing and emerging socio-environmental and socio-economic challenges and the use of AI in solving them. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Actionable and widely tested research-to-action pilot solutions in addressing complex cross-sectoral problems caused and/or exacerbated by climate change in key socio-environmental and socio-economic sectors. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Innovative use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by further development of the data lab infrastructure around Destination Earth in line with the AI continent Action Plan [1] . | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Multi-country approach with real end user engagement to ensure solutions that are accessible, and effectively integrated into real policy, preparedness and response efforts. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Collaboration with Destination Earth implementing entities and European Digital Twin OceanProposals should demonstrate a clear and credible pathway towards collaboration with Destination Earth implementing entities (ESA, ECMWF, EUMETSAT) and other key initiatives such as Mercator Ocean International (European Digital Twin Ocean). | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Synergies with Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures projectsProjects should leverage knowledge and solutions generated in relevant Horizon Europe projects, particularly those selected from HORIZON-INFRA-2021-TECH-01, HORIZON-INFRA-2024-TECH-01, and HORIZON-INFRA-2025-TECH-01. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Synergies with Horizon Europe Missions (Climate Adaptation Mission)Strong links with the aims, actors, and projects serving Horizon Europe missions, in particular the Climate Adaptation Mission, are encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Synergies with Common European Data Spaces and EOSCSynergies with the Common European Data Spaces and in particular with the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) are encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Interoperability with Destination Earth standards and platform useProposals must adhere to standards and best practices set by the Destination Earth initiative to enable interoperability, using the DestinE platform to facilitate deployment, scalability, and accessibility. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Mandatory use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS servicesIf projects use satellite-based earth observation, positioning, navigation and/or related timing data and services, beneficiaries must make use of Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ7Scalability plan co-developed with public authoritiesThe work plan should include a scalability plan developed in close collaboration with relevant public authorities to secure long-term commitments, governance, and policy frameworks beyond project duration. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ8Co-design and multi-stakeholder collaboration across at least three MS/ACPilots and demonstrators must be co-designed and experimented in at least three Member States and/or Associated Countries in close collaboration between research scientists, AI developers, public sector policy experts, and decision-makers. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ9Involvement of AI and deep tech SMEs/startupsInvolvement of SMEs and/or startups active in AI and/or deep tech working in close collaboration with the scientific research community is strongly encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ10Uptake into public sector and Copernicus service offersProposals should address the possible use of project outcomes in existing or new service offers by Member States, Associated Countries, or the European Union, such as relevant Copernicus services. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1ai continent action plan com(2025)165The AI Continent Action Plan (COM(2025)165) sets out the European Commission's strategic roadmap to position Europe as a global leader in trustworthy and cutting-edge artificial intelligence. It emphasizes scaling up industrial AI adoption, deploying AI factories, strengthening supercomputing access, and fostering data-driven innovation across strategic domains including climate, green transition, and Earth system modeling. | · | · | Sign up to track |
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).
5 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.
Proposals must explicitly build upon the Destination Earth (DestinE) system and, if using satellite data, Copernicus or Galileo/EGNOS. Evaluators will rigorously check for strict compliance with this infrastructure integration, meaning any architecture bypassing these core European assets will fail the primary evaluation gate.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
The consortium must secure the direct participation of public authorities and policy decision-makers across at least three Member States or Associated Countries. Evaluators demand genuine co-design and testing, meaning these entities must be active partners executing the pilots, not just passive members of an external advisory board.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Proposals are evaluated on the meaningful inclusion of specialized AI startups and deep-tech SMEs. A consortium that relies exclusively on academic or large research institutions for AI development will be penalized, as evaluators specifically look for SMEs to drive modularity and on-demand visualization.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
As a lump sum grant, the payment schedule is entirely dependent on deliverable completion. The work plan must structure its major payment milestones around the scientific validation of cross-sectoral model coupling reaching exactly TRL 5, ensuring the financial risk aligns with the core technical objective.
Source: Eligibility rules
The technical methodology must directly operationalize the AI Continent Action Plan COM(2025)165. Evaluators expect a clear demonstration of how the project's AI pipelines integrate with AI Factory Data Labs to ensure trustworthy, scalable data interoperability within European digital ecosystems.
Source: Underlying policies
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.
Climate projection models remain decoupled from sector-specific impact models (public health, energy infrastructure, food systems), preventing authorities from assessing cascading systemic risks.
Lack of standardized ingestion frameworks between AI Factory Data Labs and DestinE restricts rapid deployment of high-performance deep-tech innovations into public policy twins.
Complex climate simulations are often non-interactive and poorly calibrated to the operational needs and dynamic timelines required by civil protection and regional planning bodies.
Public sector decision-makers responsible for spatial planning, civil protection, and climate risk resilience across EU Member States.
Innovative enterprises delivering scalable machine learning models, on-demand visualization, and high-performance data processing pipelines.
Core implementing bodies governing the DestinE platform, data lake, and baseline digital twins.
Populations exposed to cascading climate-induced risks including extreme heatwaves, flood hazards, and agricultural disruption.
The long-term impacts your project should drive, and the policies they serve.
Strengthened capacity of sub-national and national governments to operationalize localized climate adaptation strategies via DestinE-enabled early warning and scenario simulations.
Catalyzed public and private investments into the Destination Earth ecosystem and EuroHPC/AI Factory facilities through proven multi-sectoral digital twin demonstrators.
Substantial reduction in urban and regional vulnerability to severe climate events, mitigating adverse health outcomes and safeguarding critical public infrastructure.