Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)
The European Partnership "Virtual Worlds Partnership" promotes the strategic expansion of a thriving ecosystem for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0. The goal is to strengthen the community, standardization, dissemination, and integration of industry, science, and users in EU member states and associated countries. Submission deadline: 18.03.2027.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
The goal is to strengthen the Virtual Worlds Partnership and further develop the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). This includes building and coordinating an inclusive network of industry, academia, public stakeholders, and users, as well as promoting standardization measures, awareness programs, and technological adoption across all member states and associated countries.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses for research and coordination
- Material costs for workshops, outreach, and standardization activities
- Travel expenses for transnational meetings and conferences
- Subcontractor services for technological studies and development
- Costs for communication and dissemination measures
Non-eligible expenses
- Acquisition of finished products for market launch
- Investments in infrastructure outside the project scope
- Retroactive cost reimbursements prior to project start
Eligible to apply
- Educational Institutions
- Companies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Institutions
Funding requirements
- Consortium of at least three independent legal entities from different EU Member States or associated countries
- Project leader with proven experience in transnational research and innovation projects
- Registration of all participants in the EU Participant Register and validation of the Legal Entity Data
- Inclusion of expertise from Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH)
- Open science and data management practices
Documents required for application
- Fully completed Part A online form
- Part B project description (PDF)
- Budget and financing plan
- Ethics self-assessment
- LE AR and Legal Entity validation documents
- CVs of key personnel
Evaluation criteria
- Excellence: Degree of innovation and methodology
- Impact: Achievability of expected impacts and exploitation
- Implementation: Quality of the work plan and consortium structure
Description
The European Partnership “Virtual Worlds Partnership” aims with the initiative “Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA)” to establish a vibrant, Europe-wide ecosystem. Within a 36-month project, the partnership brings together industry, academia, public stakeholders, and users to further develop the “Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda” (SRIA) for virtual worlds. The focus is on standardization measures, awareness programs, and the dissemination of virtual worlds technologies across all EU member states and associated countries. Consortia eligible for funding must consist of at least three independent legal entities, including universities, research institutions, companies (especially SMEs and start-ups), non-profit organizations, as well as public administrations, led by an experienced project coordinator. Full disclosure and validation in the EU Participant Register, as well as the inclusion of social science expertise and open science and data management practices, are mandatory prerequisites.
The total budget amounts to EUR 3,000,000 with a funding rate of 100%. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, material costs for workshops and standardization activities, as well as travel expenses, subcontracting services, and communication measures. The objective is to strengthen the role of European companies and research institutions in technological adoption, promote cross-sector cooperation, and create a sustainable, open, and trustworthy foundation for virtual worlds. Interested consortia may submit their applications by March 18, 2027, and increase their chances of success through close coordination with other Horizon Europe activities, aiming to establish Europe as a leading location for virtual worlds innovation.
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