Programme Category
Programme Name
Programme Description
Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
This R&I agenda focuses on integrating Artificial Intelligence and advanced data techniques to enhance Earth observation capabilities, especially within the Copernicus programme. Key priorities include developing AI-based retrieval algorithms for satellite sensing, improving cloud and shadow detection, and enabling multi-source segmentation. There’s emphasis on data fusion, mining, and compression methods to manage large datasets efficiently, as well as on hybrid and ensemble data assimilation to improve forecasts and analyses. The agenda also supports observation-driven forecasting and Earth system deep learning models for better prediction accuracy. Additionally, it explores the use of large pre-trained models, super-resolution applications, adaptive workflows, enhanced user interfaces, and AI-powered chatbots for improved user interaction with Copernicus services.
Detailed Call Description
The areas of R&I to address the above expected outcomes include:
- AI-supported retrieval algorithms on both passive and active sensing for existing and upcoming Copernicus missions;
- Fast, reliable, consistent, and as much as possible sensor agnostic identification of clouds and shadows in optical sensing;
- Multi-source multi-target AI models for automatic segmentation;
- Physics parameterisation and parameter optimisation to emulate poorly understood processes and increase the fidelity of numerical models;
- Fault and outlier detection in production and delivery workflows to ensure more robust services;
- Support to automated pre-processing and QA/QC of observations and data to reduce the risk of man-made errors and product deficiencies;
- Data fusion techniques towards added-value products;
- Data compression and mining methods to navigate big data efficiently, as the amount of data is becoming a limiting factor;
- Hybrid observation operator, ensemble data assimilation techniques, error calibration and uncertainty quantification towards improved (re-)analysis and forecast skill;
- Analysis-driven Earth system deep learning models to boost prediction skill and timeliness, including with Digital Twin Earth models. These methods have shown great promises when applied to reanalyses for example;
- Experimenting observation(-only)-driven forecasting to support time-critical service elements, circumventing analysis steps. These approaches could be particularly suited for observation-dense areas from which processes can be inferred from observations alone;
- Exploring the potential of large pre-trained foundation models and transfer learning at scale for Earth system modelling, including with publicly available training datasets from Copernicus;
- Downscaling and super resolution applications building on Copernicus data to refine products in space and time;
- Adaptive workflow optimisations;
- Enhanced interactive interfaces enabling on-demand product and service generation;
- Chatbots that can guide the user across a wide range of information sources within and across Copernicus services for enhanced user support and experience.
Proposals are expected to address as many of the above areas as possible.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
100%
Expected EU contribution per project: €12.00 million.
Thematic Categories
- Environment and Climate Change
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
- Space
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Semi-governmental organisations
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
- State-owned Enterprises
Eligibility For Participation Notes
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.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply: Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
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).
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as member of the consortium selected for funding.
Call Opening Date
Call Closing Date
National Contact Point(s)
Research and Innovation Foundation
29a Andrea Michalakopoulou, 1075 Nicosia,
P.B. 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Telephone: +357 22205000
Fax: +357 22205001
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/en/
Persons to Contact:
Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Email: antantos@research.org.cy
Mr. George Christou
Scientific Officer
Email: gchristou@research.org.cy