The PoliRuralPlus project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant Agreement No. 101136910), invites innovative proposals for our Outreach Call. This call aims to enhance rural-urban interactions across the EU, fostering grassroots innovations and leveraging technological advancements for sustainable rural development.
Objectives of the Outreach Call
- Promote innovative ideas that redefine rural-urban interactions
- Support grassroots initiatives that demonstrate regional intricacies and innovations
- Award a lump sum of up to 5,000 EUR to selected initiatives fostering regional innovation and leveraging local insights to strengthen rural-urban synergies
Specific Objectives per Pilot Area
Proposals must align with the specific objectives identified in one of the nine designated pilot regions of the PoliRuralPlus project:
- Ireland (Monaghan County): Enterprise development in the green economy, social enterprise support
- Slovakia (entire country): Rural revitalization, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building
- Greece (Region of Central Greece): Sustainable agritech training, agritourism promotion, digital skills enhancement
- Italy (Apulia): Short food supply chains, healthy diets, rural-urban linkages
- Finland (Mallusjoki rural district): Rural Event Industry Ecosystem, community engagement, economic opportunities
- Czech-Bavarian border region: Rural innovation network, connectivity, business opportunities
- Spain (Segobriga and region of Sierra y Mancha Conquense): Rural-urban synergies, cultural heritage, economic development
- Latvia (Vidzeme): Regional development monitoring, inclusive governance, innovation support
- Malta (Malta and Gozo): Digital transformation, entrepreneurial capacity building, youth empowerment
Please note that detailed descriptions of the specific objectives and the spatial extent of the pilot regions are described in the Guidelines for Applicants.
Eligibility Criteria
- Type of organisation: Open to all types with operational and financial capacity.
- Single applicants only: No consortia or joint submissions.
- Eligible countries: Legally established in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
- Pilot specific proposals: The proposal must address specific challenges and opportunities identified within one of the nine designated pilot regions of the PoliRuralPlus project.
- Language: English.
Submission Process
- Online submission: Via the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub.
- Parts of proposal:
- Part A: Administrative Form
- Part B: Technical Description (PDF format)
- Early submission is highly recommended: Errors in submissions can be corrected and resubmitted before the deadline; only the latest version will be considered.
Financial Support
- Funding: Up to 5,000 EUR lump sum for successful proposals.
- Total allocation: 45,000 EUR, expected to fund 9 sub-projects.
- Subcontracting or transferring funds to third parties is not permitted.
Key Dates
- Call opening: 3 June 2024
- Proposal submission opening: 24 June 2024
- Submission Deadline: 31 July 2024, 17:00 CEST
- Expected notification of results: 6 September 2024
- Signature of Sub-Grant Agreement: September 2024
- Expected implementation period: October – December 2024
Contact and Assistance
For additional support, including consultancy on proposal preparation, applicants are encouraged to contact the designated contact points for each pilot region, whose details can be found on the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub. For any other questions, please use opencalls@poliruralplus.eu.
Disclaimer: Applicants are advised to regularly check the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub for the latest information and updates regarding the open call. PoliRuralPlus reserves the right to make any updates to the open call at any time without prior notice.
Open Call Documents
Additional requirements, terms, and conditions are part of the open call documents, including:
- Guidelines for Applicants (PDF)
- Template for Part B – Technical Description (MS Word document)
- Model Sub-Grant Agreement (PDF, to be published by 23 June 2024)
Applicants are advised to carefully review all accompanying documents available on the PoliRuralPlus Knowledge Hub to ensure full compliance and understanding of the submission process and requirements.