Call for Proposals: European Data Space for Smart Communities – Call for Pilots (submission round 4)
Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The European data space for smart communities (DS4SSCC-DEP) action has previously launched three rounds of Calls for Pilots (CfP) to validate an EU-wide cross-sectorial data space in practice and to advance its development and implementation to support policy priorities of cities and communities within the European Union, including the green-digital transformation based on secure and sovereign data infrastructure. These calls launched 11 pilots to establish cross-border and cross-domain data space initiatives. This is the fourth and last call will seek to onboard approximately 10 additional pilots, validating even further the vision for a European data space for smart communities.
Detailed Call Description
The pilots are set to build on and evolve the governance and technical blueprint established by the preparatory action for the European data space for smart communities, and evolved during the deployment action. This initiative aims to foster innovation towards a more resilient Europe, supporting local businesses and ecosystems, and emphasising ethical considerations and AI-enabled local solutions, thereby enhancing the conditions for citizens and communities across Europe.
The aim of the DS4SSCC-DEP project’s piloting activities is to validate in practice an EU-wide cross-sectoral data space, and to advance its development and implementation to support policy priorities of cities and communities within the European Union, including the green-digital transformation based on secure and sovereign data infrastructure. In particular, the CfP aims to attract local communities to apply with their specific cross-sectoral use cases of data sharing that they intend to implement by using the blueprint developed by the preparatory action for Data Space for Sustainable and Smart Cities and Communities (DS4SSC).
The pilot consortia must create new data services from the data sharing across at least 2 areas specified below, but can also include other European Green Deal domains:
- Predictive traffic management/ sustainable mobility planning;
- Data-services related to weather, climate and extreme weather events;
- Management of energy flows in a city/community specific context and in conjunction with other sectors;
- Zero pollution actions (e.g., air, water, soil pollution or waste);
- Any other domain falling under the New European Bauhaus initiative (urban design, building management, public services, nature-based solutions, amongst others).
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
The total EU contribution for the DS4SSCC-DEP pilots is €15.300.000, which is distributed among the chosen pilot consortiums respecting the limits for maximum grant available per pilot (i.e., max €1.500.000 for pilots from the first three rounds, and max €500.000 for pilots from this fourth open call).
Each pilot is planned to be funded with €250.000 – €500.000 by EU contribution to share amongst the consortium members of the pilot. The funding should be balanced proportionally amongst the pilot sites.
The consortia must be able to co-finance at least 50% of the pilot activity.
Further details and eligibility requirements are described in chapter 2.3 (pages 12 -16) at call for pilots manual.
The expected duration of participation is 3 months (from 1st of August 2026 until 31 October 2026).
Thematic Categories
- Education and training
- Environment and Climate Change
- Information Technology
- New Entrepreneurship
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Small-Medium Enterprises and Competitiveness
Eligibility for Participation
- Associations
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Legal Entities
- Local Authorities
- NGOs
- Non Profit Organisations
- Other Beneficiaries
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
The pilot call is specifically designed for local public administrations in the EU and Digital Europe Programme (DEP) Associated countries and partners working with them (e.g., companies, civil society organisations, academia).
The consortia must be capable of executing a cross-sectorial and cross-border pilot activity, and co-finance at least 50% of the pilot activity.
Consortia Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible consortia must consist of at least 2 local or regional public administrations from different EU member states and/or DEP Associated countries, promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and dealing with the European Green Deal objectives.
- The local administrations can also involve other eligible parties working with them (e.g., companies, academia, civil society organisations and others).