Open Call 4 - Short Term and Long Term Funding to support ICT standardisation

The project running this call: StandICT.eu 2029

ICT Standardisation Observatory and Support Facility in Europe

StandICT.eu 2029 builds on the success of the previous three editions [2023-26, 2020-23, & 2018-19], delivered by the original partners who designed the previous editions, considered in Europe as the “go-to project” on ICT Standards in Europe. Its principal goal is to strengthen its global reach in the EU ICT Standardisation Ecosystem, by: a) managing a neutral and efficient facility supporting a Fellowship Programme with € 4.2M funding in 36 months & 6 Open Calls; b) delivering ICT standardisation landscape & gap analysis via Technical Working Groups, empowering contributions from ICT standardisation experts. Timely standards updated in the EUOS EU Observatory for ICT Standardisation; c) delivering a mentoring & coaching programme for the next generation of ICT standardisation experts, SMEs & researchers with SDOs, EU & national funded R&I projects & engage directly with a subcontract…

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

7 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

• Trust-It Services SRL · Italy · SMECoordinator
• Australo Interinnov Marketing Lab SL · Spain · SMEPartner
• Openforum Europe · Belgium · SMEPartner
• Commpla SRL · Italy · SMEPartner
• European Digital Sme Alliance · BelgiumPartner
• Dublin City University · IrelandPartner
• Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung eV · GermanyPartner

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Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.

Who can apply?

Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.

Do I need a consortium?

Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.

How large are the grants?

Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.

Can I combine it with other EU funding?

Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls