EU Digital Funding Opportunities

PCP operates as a two-level funding program:

1. EU Funds to Consortiums:
   • The European Commission provides grants to consortiums, which typically include public sector procurers and other partners.
   • These consortiums manage the overall PCP process and ensure the coordination and implementation of the project.
2. Cascade Funding to Other Beneficiaries:
   • The consortiums, in turn, distribute funds (cascade funding) to selected suppliers and innovators (other beneficiaries) who participate in the different phases of the PCP.
   • This structure allows the consortium to fund multiple suppliers at various stages of solution development and testing.

1. Solution Exploration (Phase 1):
   • Objective: Assess feasibility of proposed solutions.
   • Activities: Feasibility studies and initial designs by multiple suppliers.
   • Funding: €10,000 - €50,000 per supplier.
   • Funded by: The consortiums (main beneficiaries of the grants) distribute the funds provided by the European Commission to public sector procurers.
   • Beneficiaries: Suppliers and innovators conducting feasibility studies.
   • Targeted Suppliers: Startups, SMEs, research institutions, and innovative tech firms.
2. Prototyping (Phase 2):
   • Objective: Develop and test prototypes.
   • Activities: Prototype development and initial testing.
   • Funding: €50,000 - €200,000 per supplier.
   • Funded by: The consortiums distribute the funds provided by the European Commission to selected suppliers from Phase 1.
   • Beneficiaries: Selected suppliers developing prototypes.
   • Targeted Suppliers: SMEs, research institutions, and specialized tech firms with proven feasibility studies.
3. Original Development and Testing (Phase 3):
   • Objective: Refine and test prototypes in real-world conditions.
   • Activities: Extensive development and field testing.
   • Funding: €200,000 - €2,000,000 per supplier.
   • Funded by: The consortiums distribute the funds provided by the European Commission to the most promising prototypes.
   • Beneficiaries: Suppliers conducting development and real-world testing of prototypes.
   • Targeted Suppliers: Established tech firms, consortiums of SMEs and research institutions, and innovators with successful prototypes.

The primary beneficiaries of PCP grants are public sector organizations, often referred to as "contracting authorities." These include:

• Government Departments: National, regional, or local government bodies seeking innovative solutions for public services.
• Healthcare Providers: Hospitals and health authorities aiming to improve medical technologies and healthcare services.
• Public Utilities: Organizations managing public infrastructure like water, energy, and transportation networks.
• Research Institutions and Universities: Often involved as partners or sub-contractors to provide expertise and support in the R&D process.

PCP drives innovation, enhances public services, and fosters collaboration between the public sector and innovative suppliers, ultimately benefiting citizens and the economy.

For more information, visit the European Commission's PCP page.

FSTP operates as a two-level funding program:

1. EU Funds to Intermediaries:
   • The European Commission provides grants to intermediaries, such as consortiums, projects, or larger organizations.
   • These intermediaries manage the overall process and ensure the coordination and implementation of the funding program.
2. Cascade Funding to Third Parties:
   • The intermediaries distribute funds (cascade funding) to selected third parties (beneficiaries) who carry out specific projects or activities.
   • This structure allows intermediaries to fund multiple third parties, enabling targeted support for innovation and project development.

1. Call for Proposals:
   1. Objective: Identify and select third parties for funding.
   2. Activities: Intermediaries issue calls for proposals to attract innovative projects and solutions.
   3. Funding: Variable amounts based on the scope and objectives of the call.
   4. Beneficiaries: Third parties carrying out the funded projects.
   5. Funded by: The intermediaries distribute the funds provided by the European Commission.
   6. Beneficiaries: Selected third parties (SMEs, startups, research institutions) submitting proposals.
   7. Targeted Suppliers: Startups, SMEs, research institutions, and innovative tech firms.
2. Benefits of FSTP
   1. Simplified Process: Reduced administrative burden for smaller entities compared to traditional EU funding.
   2. Targeted Support: Focus on specific innovation and development goals, aligning with broader EU strategic objectives.
   3. Flexibility: Funding can take various forms, including grants, vouchers for services, and access to testing facilities.

The primary beneficiaries of FSTP funds are third parties that participate in the program. These include:

• Startups: Early-stage companies developing innovative solutions.
• SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises working on projects that address specific challenges.
• Research Institutions and Universities: Often involved as partners or sub-contractors to provide expertise and support in the development and implementation of projects.
• Innovative Tech Firms: Companies with the capability to develop and implement cutting-edge technologies.

FSTP promotes innovation, supports the growth of SMEs and startups, and fosters collaboration between intermediaries and third parties. It helps bridge the gap between initial research and full-scale implementation, ultimately benefiting the broader economy and society.

For more information, visit the European Commission's FSTP page.

• Direct Funding: Non-repayable grants for specific digital projects.
• Targeted Objectives: Focus on AI, cybersecurity, digital skills, high-performance computing (HPC), and digital innovation hubs.
• Eligible Beneficiaries: Open to public and private entities, including SMEs, startups, research institutions, and public administrations.
• Application Process: Regular calls for proposals; applicants submit project plans with objectives, activities, and budgets.
• Evaluation and Selection: Proposals evaluated on relevance, innovation, impact, and feasibility.
• Co-Funding Levels: The European Commission typically co-funds up to 50% of the project costs, though this can vary depending on the specific call and project requirements.

• Promotes Innovation: Stimulates development and deployment of digital technologies.
• Enhances Competitiveness: Boosts the competitiveness of European businesses.
• Fosters Collaboration: Encourages partnerships across sectors and countries.
• Addresses Challenges: Tackles societal issues like digital inclusion and cybersecurity.

• Direct Funding: Non-repayable grants to support the procurement of digital solutions and services.
• Targeted Objectives: Focus on AI, cybersecurity, digital skills, high-performance computing (HPC), and digital innovation hubs.
• Eligible Beneficiaries: Open to public sector entities, including government departments, municipalities, healthcare providers, and public utilities.
• Application Process: Regular calls for proposals; public sector entities submit project plans detailing their procurement needs, expected outcomes, and budgets.
• Evaluation and Selection: Proposals evaluated based on relevance to the call objectives, innovation potential, impact, and implementation feasibility.
• Co-Funding Levels: The European Commission typically co-funds up to 50% of the procurement costs, though this can vary depending on the specific call and project requirements.

• Promotes Innovation: Encourages the adoption of cutting-edge digital solutions in the public sector.
• Enhances Public Services: Improves the efficiency and effectiveness of public services through advanced digital technologies.
• Fosters Collaboration: Supports partnerships between public sector entities and innovative suppliers.
• Addresses Challenges: Helps tackle key public sector challenges like digital inclusion, cybersecurity, and service modernization.

• The European Commission directly funds technical support projects.
• Funding covers the costs of technical assistance, including expertise, studies, training, and other capacity-building activities.

• Request Submission: EU Member States submit requests for technical support to the European Commission. These requests are typically aligned with national reform priorities and EU policy objectives.
• Proposal Evaluation: The European Commission evaluates the requests based on criteria such as relevance, impact, and feasibility. The selection process ensures that the support addresses key reform needs and has a high potential for successful implementation.
• Approval and Implementation: Once approved, the European Commission works with the Member State to implement the technical support project. This involves deploying experts, conducting studies, organizing training sessions, and other relevant activities.

• The TSI provides support in various policy areas, including public administration reform, financial management, healthcare, education, labor markets, and digital transformation.
• Projects are designed to align with both national reform agendas and broader EU priorities, such as the Green Deal, digitalisation, and economic resilience.

• Expertise and Consultancy: Provision of experts to offer technical advice and consultancy services to public administrations.
• Studies and Analysis: Conducting studies and analyses to inform policy decisions and reform strategies.
• Training and Capacity Building: Organizing training programs and workshops to enhance the skills and capabilities of public officials.
• Peer Learning and Exchange: Facilitating peer learning and exchange of best practices among Member States.

• No Direct Funding to Member States: The European Commission covers the full cost of the technical support provided under the TSI. Member States do not receive direct financial transfers or funding.
• Commission-Funded Projects: The technical support is funded directly by the European Commission and managed through projects implemented in collaboration with the Member States.

• Enhanced Capacity: Builds the administrative capacity of public administrations to implement reforms effectively.
• Expert Support: Provides access to high-quality technical expertise and best practices.
• Alignment with EU Priorities: Ensures that national reforms are aligned with EU policy objectives and contribute to overall EU goals.
• No Co-Financing Required: Full funding by the European Commission reduces the financial burden on Member States, as they do not need to provide co-financing or direct funds for the support projects.