Horizon Europe is the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Commission and will run from 2021 until 2027. It’s different funding schemes are set out in work programmes containing competitive calls for proposals.
The Digital Europe programme promotes digitalisation in the EU by fostering the update of digital technologies by businesses, citizens and public administration and enhancing digital skills of the workforce. It focuses on the deployment of digital technologies.
Horizon Europe calls for proposals are open to any legal entity, private or public, profit or non-profit. The programme offers both mono-beneficiary and multi-beneficiary opportunities. In the latter case, calls for proposals mostly aim at consortia of at least 3 partners established in a different participating country. More details can be found in the Horizon Europe General Annexes to the work programme. There are exceptions to the rules. Always consult the specific conditions in the call topic.
Digital Europe offers mostly multi-beneficiary actions and is also open to a wide range of public & private stakeholders. Detailed information on who can participate is available in the work programmes and call documents.
Whereas Horizon Europe is a key instruments to implement Europe’s strategy for international cooperation, Digital Europe is more restricted in its possibilities for cooperation for reasons of security strategic autonomy of the EU. Find out more in the infosheet ‘Restrictions in partners that apply for Digital Europe projects’.
NCP Flanders organises information sessions on a regular basis about different aspects of the programmes. Consult the event calendar for upcoming events and/or browse past events for useful information materials.
The UNCHAIN project, ‘urban logistics and planning: anticipating urban freight generation and demand including digitalisation of urban freight’ obtained funding from the Horizon Europe’s Mobility Cluster. The project focuses on breaking down data silos and promoting public-private data exchange across a unified European mobility data space, enabling more informed decisions and greater efficiency. The City of Mechelen is a partner in the project and takes on the role of ‘follower city’: it will work alongside the primary demonstration sites (in Madrid, Berlin and Florence) to maximize the geographical coverage and replicability of solutions across Europe. Mechelen aims to test 2 concrete solutions in the UNCHAIN project, with the aim to help addressing its current and future challenges in urban freight distribution.