Funding programme

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation.

Read more about the Horizon Europe programme here.

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Call overview

This call aims to replicate and enhance existing, demonstrably successful product, services, business model, organizational, governance, and other social innovations capable of addressing objectives at European scale.

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Expected outcome

The Project is expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Leveraging social innovation to achieve the objectives of the five EU Missions, namely, “Adaptation to Climate Change: Support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030”, “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, “Cancer: Improving the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer including their families, to live longer and better”, “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”, and “A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030”.
• Empowering citizens, local communities, and social innovators and entrepreneurs by offering them the possibility to become champions of the transition
• Securing significant impact with a high probability of success by replicating existing, demonstrably successful social innovations.
• Capitalizing on the underutilized stock of existing, demonstrably successful social innovations and helping local or regional projects achieve impact at continental scale.
• Increasing the impact of EU funding by attracting additional public and private contributions by setting up a European Social Innovation Catalyst Fund for the replication of existing, demonstrably successful social innovations.
• Combining quantitative and qualitative support to the Missions and to social innovation, respectively through funding and mentoring.

Scope

This coordination and support action serves the Missions, namely, “Adaptation to Climate Change: Support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030”, “Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030”, “Cancer: Improving the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and for those affected by cancer including their families, to live longer and better”, “100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030”, and “A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030”, by replicating and enhancing existing, demonstrably successful product, services, business model, organizational, governance, and other social innovations capable of addressing objectives appropriate for the Missions at European scale.

Social innovation concerns the development of new products, methods, and services for and with society involving not only citizens, but also public authorities, business and industry, and academia—i.e., the four constituencies of the “Quadruple Helix”—in their design, development, and execution. Social innovation engages and empowers citizens, enhances the resilience of communities, increases the relevance, acceptance and uptake of innovation, and helps foster lasting changes in social practices, therefore acting as a system changer. It thus helps answering societal and environmental challenges, connecting society with innovation.

Read more in the Work Programme - Missions, page 337.

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Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.:

• the Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions;
• the Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States;
• eligible non-EU countries including countries associated to Horizon Europe and low- and middle-income countries.

Any legal entity, regardless of its place of establishment, including legal entities from non-associated third countries or international organisations (including international European research organisations 1) is eligible to participate (whether it is eligible for funding or not), provided that the conditions laid down in the Horizon Europe Regulation have been met, along with any other conditions laid down in the specific call topic.

A ‘legal entity’ means any natural or legal person created and recognised as such undernational law, EU law or international law, which has legal personality and which may, acting in its own name, exercise rights and be subject to obligations, or an entity without legal personality.

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Consortium composition

Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions provided that the consortium includes:

• at least one independent legal entity established in a Member State; and
• at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.

Legal entities established in non-associated third countries mayexceptionally participate in this Coordination and support action.

In addition, consortia must include at least three foundations 646 with proven experience insocial innovation ventures

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Budget

EUR 30,000,000.