Advancing Earth System Models to increase understanding of Earth system change
Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2025 Cluster 5 Destination 1: Improving the next generation of Earth System Models
Funding Amount
Amount not specified
Deadline
24/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Advancing Earth System Models to increase understanding of Earth system change Call?
Grant Description
This call supports research and innovation actions to improve Earth System Models (ESMs) by advancing representations of key climate feedbacks and interactions, integrating new observational and digital technologies, and promoting open science. It addresses limitations in predicting climate variability and extremes at global to regional scales, aiming to deliver more accurate climate projections and strengthen the scientific basis for European and international policy.
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Advanced understanding and capability to predict the future evolution of the Earth system, from global to local scales and from weather to climate timescales, including socio-economic and environmental impacts
• Enhanced capability to predict regional climate variability, including extreme events and regional water cycle dynamics, with a focus on precipitation
• Strengthened collaboration and cross-fertilisation across modelling approaches, contributing jointly to next-generation ESMs
• An improved long-term science, modelling and evidence base to support European and international policies
• Enhanced capability to predict regional climate variability, including extreme events and regional water cycle dynamics, with a focus on precipitation
• Strengthened collaboration and cross-fertilisation across modelling approaches, contributing jointly to next-generation ESMs
• An improved long-term science, modelling and evidence base to support European and international policies
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must address all of the following:
• Improved representation of key Earth system and climate feedbacks and processes, including one or more of:
– Interplay between global change, regional climate variability and extremes
– Terrestrial–ocean–climate interactions
– Coupled climate–carbon–water cycle feedbacks
– Coupled climate–ocean–ice interactions
– Aerosol–cloud–climate forcing and feedback
– Climate–vegetation–fire interactions
– Climate–air quality interactions
– Land-use scenario impacts (e.g., carbon dioxide removal, water/carbon cycles, albedo, aerosols) on regional climate
• Enhanced collaboration across different model development approaches (varied resolutions and realism)
• Integration and improvement of observational and reanalysis datasets, models, emulators and tools for bias detection, calibration, validation and understanding of simulations
• Use of machine learning, big data analytics or AI to advance model development, calibration or evaluation
• Full transparency and openness: all assumptions, protocols, code and data must comply with FAIR principles
• Publication of results data in open access repositories and/or as annexes to publications; open-sourcing of any new or substantially improved modules, models or tools
• Incorporation of software quality assurance and relevant activities to improve scientific code throughout the project lifetime
• Allocation of dedicated resources to networking, intercomparison and clustering activities with other relevant projects (inside and outside Horizon Europe)
• Consideration of results and feedback from past and ongoing ESM projects, with explicit coordination with HORIZON-CL 5-2025-06-D 1-01 and HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-SERV-02
• Promotion of international cooperation, particularly with Global South countries as per Horizon Europe country list, including capacity building and training of early career researchers
• Improved representation of key Earth system and climate feedbacks and processes, including one or more of:
– Interplay between global change, regional climate variability and extremes
– Terrestrial–ocean–climate interactions
– Coupled climate–carbon–water cycle feedbacks
– Coupled climate–ocean–ice interactions
– Aerosol–cloud–climate forcing and feedback
– Climate–vegetation–fire interactions
– Climate–air quality interactions
– Land-use scenario impacts (e.g., carbon dioxide removal, water/carbon cycles, albedo, aerosols) on regional climate
• Enhanced collaboration across different model development approaches (varied resolutions and realism)
• Integration and improvement of observational and reanalysis datasets, models, emulators and tools for bias detection, calibration, validation and understanding of simulations
• Use of machine learning, big data analytics or AI to advance model development, calibration or evaluation
• Full transparency and openness: all assumptions, protocols, code and data must comply with FAIR principles
• Publication of results data in open access repositories and/or as annexes to publications; open-sourcing of any new or substantially improved modules, models or tools
• Incorporation of software quality assurance and relevant activities to improve scientific code throughout the project lifetime
• Allocation of dedicated resources to networking, intercomparison and clustering activities with other relevant projects (inside and outside Horizon Europe)
• Consideration of results and feedback from past and ongoing ESM projects, with explicit coordination with HORIZON-CL 5-2025-06-D 1-01 and HORIZON-INFRA-2025-01-SERV-02
• Promotion of international cooperation, particularly with Global South countries as per Horizon Europe country list, including capacity building and training of early career researchers
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Type of Grant: Lump sum (HORIZON-AG-LS) under Horizon Europe RIA MGA; eligible costs are fixed lump sums per deliverable/milestone
• Admissibility: Must comply with page limits and layout specified in Annex A & E of the General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form
• Eligibility: Participating entities must be from eligible EU Member States, associated countries, or non-associated third countries with specific provisions; see Annex B of General Annexes and Programme Guide
• Financial & Operational Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate capacity as per Annex C of General Annexes; exclusion criteria apply
• Evaluation: Standard Horizon Europe award criteria, scoring and thresholds per Annex D; processes per Annex F and Online Manual; indicative timelines in Annex F
• Open Science Obligations: Mandatory open access to any new modules, models or tools (code, documentation, input data) as per Annex G
• Networking & Clustering: Proposals must earmark budget and staff time for joint activities, intercomparison exercises and coordination with specified Horizon Europe calls and projects
• International Cooperation: Encouraged with Global South partners for training and consensus building; list of eligible countries updated on EU portal
• Use of Standard Templates: Applicants must use the specific application and evaluation forms provided in the Submission System
• Compliance: Projects subject to Funding & Tenders Portal Terms, EU Financial Regulation, Model Grant Agreement and related Horizon Europe guidance documents
• Admissibility: Must comply with page limits and layout specified in Annex A & E of the General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form
• Eligibility: Participating entities must be from eligible EU Member States, associated countries, or non-associated third countries with specific provisions; see Annex B of General Annexes and Programme Guide
• Financial & Operational Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate capacity as per Annex C of General Annexes; exclusion criteria apply
• Evaluation: Standard Horizon Europe award criteria, scoring and thresholds per Annex D; processes per Annex F and Online Manual; indicative timelines in Annex F
• Open Science Obligations: Mandatory open access to any new modules, models or tools (code, documentation, input data) as per Annex G
• Networking & Clustering: Proposals must earmark budget and staff time for joint activities, intercomparison exercises and coordination with specified Horizon Europe calls and projects
• International Cooperation: Encouraged with Global South partners for training and consensus building; list of eligible countries updated on EU portal
• Use of Standard Templates: Applicants must use the specific application and evaluation forms provided in the Submission System
• Compliance: Projects subject to Funding & Tenders Portal Terms, EU Financial Regulation, Model Grant Agreement and related Horizon Europe guidance documents
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:24/09/2025
Application period has ended
Win your grant with Cogrant
How cogrant works
Smart Funding Fit Check
Instantly know if your project fits call criteria. Our system highlights strengths, gaps, and risks, so you only apply when your chances are real.
Intelligent Research Engine
Our research engine digs deeper than any founder could alone. It pulls data about your company, your market, and even your competitors - giving your proposal an edge backed by facts, not fluff.
Full Proposal Development
Our system builds your entire proposal from start to finish, ensuring every section is complete, coherent, and crafted to the highest quality. You focus on your vision — we deliver the winning document.
Expert Review
Our experts run a complete review before delivery, ensuring your draft proposal is accurate, well-structured, and polished. You’ll receive a high-quality draft that’s ready for your final touches before submission.
Our Numbers
Results that speak for themselves
70+
proposals prepared
€36.7M
total funding secured for clients
65%
win rate in highly competitive calls