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HORIZON-CL5-2027-02-D3-24

Large scale operational validation and upscaling of state-of-the-art (Generative) AI tools and models powering a next generation digital energy system -

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Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:

  • Advanced, secure frugal (energy-, resource-, data- and cost-efficient, sustainable) AI tools for real-time grid operations (including protection), market operations (if relevant) and consumer empowerment in distributed energy systems.
  • A demonstrated AI development environment integrated with the upgraded digital spine of the energy system and energy-saving consumer applications.
  • Scaled-up capabilities for learning at edge nodes and federated systems using agent-based architectures.
  • A governance framework and operating model for the Gen(AI)-powered digital spine.

Scope:

Building up on previous actions in Horizon Europe (e.g. the digital spine of the energy system in cluster 5 as well as cloud and edge continuum and AI data processing activities in cluster 4) and Digital Europe (Common Reference Framework for energy consumer applications across the EU, Common Energy Data Space), projects are expected to:

  • Validate (demo site and operational grid) and scale secure state-of-the-art specialised frugal (energy- and resource-efficient, data- and cost-efficient, locally deployed and sustainable) open-source (Generative-)AI tools and models for real-time grid (and market, if relevant) monitoring, balancing, forecasting and consumer empowerment in a distributed energy system.
  • Demonstrate an AI development environment within the enhanced digital spine of the energy system, including its digital twin, which should incorporate the functionality of the Common Reference Framework for energy saving applications.
  • Prototype and validate at scale machine learning at the edge node level and federated at swarm level in an agent-based architecture, leveraging new mechanisms for scaling down AI models as well as incremental and reinforcement learning.
  • The project's deliverables should be compatible with the principles of the Common European Energy Data Space and consistent with the EU's Apply AI and Competitiveness Compass, ensuring that they promote AI adoption and competitiveness in line with EU policies, as well as the EU Digitalisation of the energy sector initiatives.
  • Where relevant and possible, the selected projects are expected to make use of the European AI factories and AI gigafactories.
  • The selected projects are expected, where available, to make use of and further develop commonly agreed European standards and to actively collaborate and contribute to the work of established and de facto European standards developing organisations and open-source communities and platforms.

    • Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE[1] initiative and actively participate in its activities.

    Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects

    Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.

    [1] https://bridge-smart-grid-storage-systems-digital-projects.ec.europa.eu/

    News flashes

    call topic details
    Call status: Forthcoming
    Opening date: 2026-12-03 (1 month from now)
    Closing date: 2027-03-31 (5 months from now)
    Procedure: single-stage

    Budget: 20,000,000
    Expected grants: 2
    Contribution: 10,000,000 - 10,000,000
    News flashes

    This call topic has been appended 0 times by the EC with news.

    Call

    HORIZON-CL5-2027-02

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    • 2026-10-08_06-34-58
    • 2026-06-26_06-30-26
    • 2026-03-03_06-30-38
    • 2026-02-19_06-30-32
    • 2025-12-12_06-30-26

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    Work programme published · 03 Oct 2026 (6 days ago)

    Next: Call opens, 1 month from now (03 Dec 2026)

    Today

    Call published

    12 Dec 2025

    Work programme published

    03 Oct 2026 · est.

    Call opens

    03 Dec 2026

    Call closes

    31 Mar 2027

    Outcome expected

    31 Aug 2027 · est.

    Grant agreement signed

    01 Dec 2027 · est.

    Preparation Open for submission Evaluation Grant preparation Not yet reached

    1. Call published

      12 Dec 2025 · 9 months ago

      This topic was first published in TopicTree.

    2. Work programme published Estimated

      03 Oct 2026 · 6 days ago

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    3. Call opens

      03 Dec 2026 · 1 month from now

      Submissions can be made from this date.

    4. Call closes

      31 Mar 2027 · 5 months from now

      Deadline to submit a proposal.

    5. Outcome expected Estimated

      31 Aug 2027 · 10 months from now

      The maximum time to inform applicants of the evaluation outcome is five months after the call closes.

    6. Grant agreement signed Estimated

      01 Dec 2027 · 1 year from now

      The maximum time to sign the grant agreement is three months after applicants are informed of the outcome.

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