Funding opportunities Horizon Europe 2024: €28 million to accelerate innovation in rural communities

Horizon Europe, the European Union’s foremost programme for nurturing research and innovation, will continue to offer significant opportunities for rural communities across Europe to expand their knowledge and innovate. This year, three calls for projects specifically aimed at rural communities have been released, with a total budget allocation of €28 million. These calls form part of the EU Rural action plan flagship “Research and innovation for rural communities”.
You are engaged in research or innovation on rurality or you are a stakeholder interested in multi-actor projects where researchers and rural organisations partner to create knowledge and solutions.

Where to find the calls?

The most relevant calls can be found under Cluster 6, which is designed to finance projects that focus on sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and rural development. Within Cluster 6, the most relevant calls for rural research and innovation projects can be found under “Destination: Resilient, inclusive, healthy and green rural, coastal and urban communities”.

Calls 2024 will explore a variety of subjects ranging from how rural areas are perceived to creating sustainable business models in rural areas or innovating for climate-neutrality. They refer explicitly to the need to contribute to the Long-term vision for the EU’s rural areas.

Interesting calls can also be found under other parts of Horizon Europe. Explore the funding and tenders portal with the key word “rural” to see more.

Spotlight on rural calls

HORIZON-CL6-2024-COMMUNITIES-01-2: Societal Perceptions and Benefits of Rural Life Post-COVID-19 (1 Grant - €6 million)

This call seeks to comprehend the shifts in societal perceptions towards rural communities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It aspires to influence policy-making by providing valuable insights into behavioural changes, thereby leading to enhanced policy responses tailored for rural areas. It is not necessary that proposals use the multi-actor approach.

HORIZON-CL6-2024-COMMUNITIES-02-1-two-stage: Innovating for Climate-Neutral Rural Communities by 2050 (2 grants of €5 million each)

The funded projects will be geared towards the creation and pilot testing of tangible innovations that can help rural communities achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050. It places a strong emphasis on the utilisation/use of digital technology and data analytics for more effective planning and implementation. Proposals should use the multi-actor approach.

HORIZON-CL6-2024-COMMUNITIES-02-2-two-stage: New Sustainable Business and Production Models for Farmers and Rural Communities (2 grants of €6 million each)

The focus of the projects to be funded should be to explore and apply novel business and production frameworks in agricultural (area A) or rural community settings (Area B). The second area aims to pilot innovative sustainable business and cooperation models to foster wealth and well-being of rural communities through the deployment of demonstrators. Proposals should use the multi-actor approach.

There are many more calls on agriculture, forestry, bioeconomy and other areas of interest to rural areas. Consult the EIP-AGRI brochure on funding opportunities 2024 for more information.

How to Get Started?

Plan Ahead: The initial deadline is on February 22, 2024, followed by a second one on September 17, 2024. Finding partners and developing a good proposal take time, start right away.

Research: All the information you need is available on the EU's Funding Portal.

Consult: Seek advice from your local advisor or take a look at the Horizon Europe Helpdesk for tips and guidance.

Stay Informed: Keep an eye on Horizon Europe events focusing on Cluster 6 funding for networking and learning opportunities.

Get inspired by looking at other rural research projects funded under the Horizon programme: factsheet-agriresearch-rural-areas-communities_en.pdf (europa.eu)