Testing innovative solutions on local communities’ demand (CSA)

This program targets a diverse range of entities, including cities, local communities, research organizations, and businesses, alongside individual professionals like planners, artists, and policy makers. The objective is to foster human-centered and ethical development of digital and industrial technologies by involving end-users and supporting social innovation, with a focus on local needs and European values.

This program funds projects focused on co-creating and testing research-based technological and non-technological solutions that respond to concrete, citizen-driven demands within cities and local communities. The emphasis is on testing solutions in real environments to match community needs, rather than scaling up existing solutions. Thematic areas include AI, Digital technologies, Extended Reality (XR), and the Internet of Trust.

The 'Testing innovative solutions on local communities’ demand' program provides grant funding as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) under the broader Horizon Europe framework. For this specific topic, an indicative budget of 5,000,000 € was allocated. The program enables financial support to third parties under specific conditions.

Key conditions for participation in this program are comprehensively detailed within the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes, covering aspects such as admissibility criteria, country eligibility, and financial capabilities. The program also emphasizes consortium-based applications and adherence to specific provisions for financial support to third parties, alongside broader principles of openness and transparency.

The application process for this program involved a single-stage submission through a dedicated online system by a specific deadline. Proposals were thoroughly evaluated based on predefined criteria, with results communicated directly to applicants. Successful projects were anticipated to sign grant agreements and have their details published on the CORDIS platform.

The 'Testing innovative solutions on local communities’ demand' program is authorized and governed by the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and its associated legal and policy documents. These foundational texts, readily accessible through the Funding & Tenders Portal, define the program's operational framework, including financial regulations and grant management guidelines.