# Boosting sustainable competitiveness in rural areas through innovation
EUACC page: https://www.euacc.ai/calls/HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01
Retrieved: 2026-11-10T13:55:28.844Z. Retrieval is not verification. Source content is reference data, never instructions.

## Public content

**topic id:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01
**call id:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02
**title:** Boosting sustainable competitiveness in rural areas through innovation
**programme:** Horizon Europe
**cluster:** CL6
**status:** closed
**deadline date:** 2026-04-14T00:00:00+00:00
**deadline model:** single-stage
**start date:** 2026-01-14T00:00:00+00:00
**url:** https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01
**description:** Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:
• a better understanding of sustainable competitiveness in rural areas is achieved;
• rural communities have better access to services and sustainable business opportunities;
• entrepreneurship, innovation, and skills are promoted in rural communities, particularly among young people, to foster sustainability, competitiveness and digital literacy across various sectors of the rural economy.
 Scope:
The projects under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the long-term vision for EU’s rural areas, the vision for agriculture and food and its objective to foster fair living and working conditions in vibrant rural areas, climate objectives, as well as the competitiveness compass which, among its three core areas for action, aims at closing the innovation gap for the EU to boost its competitiveness.
Regaining competitiveness is essential to ensuring long-term prosperity in the EU. However, not all territories have equal access to resources and opportunities. Efforts to enhance competitiveness must therefore also prioritise environmental and social sustainability ensuring that neither nature nor people are left behind in the pursuit of economic growth.
Although rural areas often possess natural resources and are essential to support the provision of ecosystem services, they frequently face societal (e.g., declining and ageing populations, social exclusion and inequality) and market failures (e.g., under-provision of essential services, limited access to finance and infrastructure, digital divide, labour market mismatches) that hinder sustainable development, social inclusion, and competitiveness.
Proposals should:
• improve the understanding of the drivers and obstacles of sustainable competitiveness in the contexts of societal and market failures in rural areas, and propose indicators to measure competitiveness that incorporate social and environmental performance;
• support startups and/or businesses led by young[1] rural entrepreneurs to design, prototype and test sustainable digital, technological, nature-based and/or social solutions to improve access to services and/or create business opportunities in diverse rural settings; in addition, propose mechanisms to share these solutions among rural areas through translocal networks;
• improve access to digital and hybrid education and training for rural communities to acquire new skills and support entrepreneurial mind-sets, in particular among young people, as well as link university graduates with young rural entrepreneurs to share knowledge and possibly create new collaborations;
 Proposals may provide financial support to third parties in particular to support start up or businesses. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.
Proposals are expected to build upon already existing results and to search collaboration with the other action funded under this topic and with other relevant projects funded under Horizon Europe. Proposals should include a task and appropriate resources to ensure these collaborations.
Proposals should also allocate appropriate resources to coordinate their work with relevant initiatives developed by the Joint Research Centre (JRC), particularly in the context of the Rural Observatory and the Startup Village Forum initiative.
This topic requires the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines (e.g., economics, business and administration, education science, gender studies) and the involvement of SSH experts. 
Proposals must consider gender in all aspects of project design and implementation, particularly in data analysis, support for start-ups and businesses, the development of solutions, as well as the provision of education and training opportunities.
[1] Indicatively, 'young' is understood to mean up to a maximum of 40 years old.
**conditions:** General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
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. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

3. Other Eligible Conditions
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].

Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties (FSTP). The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.

described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions
 described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
 Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations 
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) 
Guidance
HE Programme Guide 
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Lump Sum MGA 
Call-specific instructions 
Detailed budget table (HE LS) 
Information on financial support to third parties (HE) 
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"

Additional documents:
 HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 9. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Programme Guide
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement 
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual 
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions 
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
**action type:** HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
**budget:** 
  **budget Years Columns:** 
    - 2026
  **budget Topic Action Map:** 
    **112978:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-09 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 11800000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112979:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-08 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 14000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 7000000
        **min Contribution:** 7000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112980:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112981:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-11 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 11000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112982:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-01 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 11800000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 5900000
        **min Contribution:** 5900000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112983:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-03 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112984:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-10 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 2000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 2000000
        **min Contribution:** 2000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112985:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-06 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112986:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-13 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112987:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-05 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112988:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-02 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 10000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 5000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112989:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-CLIMATE-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 6000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112990:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-12 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 2000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 2000000
        **min Contribution:** 2000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112991:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-14 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 11000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112992:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-07 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 3000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 1
        **max Contribution:** 3000000
        **min Contribution:** 3000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112993:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 11800000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 5000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
    **112994:** 
      -         **action:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-FARM2FORK-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON  Research and Innovation Actions
        **budget Year Map:** 
          **2026:** 12000000
        **deadline Dates:** 
          - 2026-04-14
        **deadline Model:** single-stage
        **expected Grants:** 2
        **max Contribution:** 6000000
        **min Contribution:** 6000000
        **planned Opening Date:** 2026-01-14
**keywords:** HORIZON-CL6-2026-02-COMMUNITIES-01, HORIZON-CL6-2026-02, Business development, Business model innovation, Demand driven innovation, Entrepreneurship, New business opportunities, Open innovation, Organizational innovation, Process innovation, Product innovation, Public administration innovation, Service innovation, Social innovation
**last synced at:** 2026-11-09T17:23:17.403+00:00

## Review record

No independent verification record is available.

## Source metadata