European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Advisory support and network to counter disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)
Innovative Research on Democracy and Governance
Funding Amount
€3.0M - €3.5M
Deadline
16/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Advisory support and network to counter disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) Call?
Grant Description
This Coordination and Support Action funds activities to consolidate and exploit results from previous EU-funded research on disinformation and foreign information manipulation and interference. It supports the development, adaptation and wider uptake of toolkits, methodologies, policy recommendations and science-based frameworks (e.g. D-RAIL, DISARM, EDMO Hubs) to prevent and counter FIMI across multiple sectors. Activities include capacity building, tailor-made advisory support networks for pr...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
Projects will contribute to all of the following outcomes:
• EU institutions, national decision-makers, practitioners across sectors, civil society organisations and other societal actors will have an increased understanding of the validity of theoretical models and the feasibility of implementing recommendations, toolkits, methodologies and other solutions to prevent and counter FIMI and related disinformation actions.
• Practitioners, civil society organisations and other societal actors involved in designing and implementing FIMI/disinformation counter-measures will gain access to a dedicated network and receive tailor-made advisory support.
• EU institutions and national decision-makers will be equipped with science-based tools and evidence-based policy recommendations to proactively conceive, implement and innovate measures to prevent and counter FIMI and related disinformation actions instigated by third countries.
In addition, projects will contribute to at least one of the following outcomes:
• Enhanced, improved or complemented frameworks and approaches (e.g. D-RAIL, DISARM) that advance common understanding and facilitate collaboration on disinformation and FIMI, fostering wider professional adoption.
• Increased knowledge and awareness among practitioners (education, security, defence, transport, foreign relations, ICT, media), civil society organisations and societal actors of the challenges and pervasiveness of disinformation and FIMI in their sectors.
• Provision of evidence on the impact and mechanisms of new technologies (AI, Big Data) in creating and disseminating disinformation and FIMI, along with new tools and methods to design and implement appropriate counter-initiatives.
• Strengthened capacities of citizens, civil society organisations and other societal actors to identify and counter disinformation content and FIMI actions.
• EU institutions, national decision-makers, practitioners across sectors, civil society organisations and other societal actors will have an increased understanding of the validity of theoretical models and the feasibility of implementing recommendations, toolkits, methodologies and other solutions to prevent and counter FIMI and related disinformation actions.
• Practitioners, civil society organisations and other societal actors involved in designing and implementing FIMI/disinformation counter-measures will gain access to a dedicated network and receive tailor-made advisory support.
• EU institutions and national decision-makers will be equipped with science-based tools and evidence-based policy recommendations to proactively conceive, implement and innovate measures to prevent and counter FIMI and related disinformation actions instigated by third countries.
In addition, projects will contribute to at least one of the following outcomes:
• Enhanced, improved or complemented frameworks and approaches (e.g. D-RAIL, DISARM) that advance common understanding and facilitate collaboration on disinformation and FIMI, fostering wider professional adoption.
• Increased knowledge and awareness among practitioners (education, security, defence, transport, foreign relations, ICT, media), civil society organisations and societal actors of the challenges and pervasiveness of disinformation and FIMI in their sectors.
• Provision of evidence on the impact and mechanisms of new technologies (AI, Big Data) in creating and disseminating disinformation and FIMI, along with new tools and methods to design and implement appropriate counter-initiatives.
• Strengthened capacities of citizens, civil society organisations and other societal actors to identify and counter disinformation content and FIMI actions.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Build directly on outputs (recommendations, toolkits, methods, materials) from Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and other relevant programmes (CERV, Digital Europe, Global Europe) addressing disinformation and FIMI in democracy and governance.
• Explicitly identify which past H2020 and HE projects (including HORIZON-CL 2-2023 DEMOCRACY-01-01, DEMOCRACY-01-02, HORIZON-CL 3-2021 FCT-01-03, etc.) and EU-led initiatives will serve as sources of research results, and seek formal collaboration with those teams.
• Further develop and enhance practitioner frameworks (DISARM, D-RAIL); integrate and disseminate EDMO Hub results.
• Address hybrid threats by focusing on FIMI and disinformation across multiple sectors (education, security, defence, transport, foreign relations, ICT, media).
• Engage a broad range of non-academic stakeholders (public bodies, NGOs, fact-checkers, civil society organisations, policymakers, educational bodies, law practitioners, media actors, EMFA and DSA entities) to test, implement and replicate research results.
• Provide capacity-building and tailor-made advisory support via a dedicated network and helpdesk; host pilot activities to assess readiness for scale-up.
• Identify and analyse research gaps and obstacles to data access; evaluate challenges and opportunities arising from generative AI and Big Data in disinformation generation, dissemination, detection and debunking; deliver concrete recommendations to address those gaps.
• Encourage proposals to address identity-based disinformation and FIMI targeting LGBTIQ people.
• Leverage data and services from European Research Infrastructures under EOSC and relevant Data Spaces; ensure compliance with FAIR data principles.
• Explicitly identify which past H2020 and HE projects (including HORIZON-CL 2-2023 DEMOCRACY-01-01, DEMOCRACY-01-02, HORIZON-CL 3-2021 FCT-01-03, etc.) and EU-led initiatives will serve as sources of research results, and seek formal collaboration with those teams.
• Further develop and enhance practitioner frameworks (DISARM, D-RAIL); integrate and disseminate EDMO Hub results.
• Address hybrid threats by focusing on FIMI and disinformation across multiple sectors (education, security, defence, transport, foreign relations, ICT, media).
• Engage a broad range of non-academic stakeholders (public bodies, NGOs, fact-checkers, civil society organisations, policymakers, educational bodies, law practitioners, media actors, EMFA and DSA entities) to test, implement and replicate research results.
• Provide capacity-building and tailor-made advisory support via a dedicated network and helpdesk; host pilot activities to assess readiness for scale-up.
• Identify and analyse research gaps and obstacles to data access; evaluate challenges and opportunities arising from generative AI and Big Data in disinformation generation, dissemination, detection and debunking; deliver concrete recommendations to address those gaps.
• Encourage proposals to address identity-based disinformation and FIMI targeting LGBTIQ people.
• Leverage data and services from European Research Infrastructures under EOSC and relevant Data Spaces; ensure compliance with FAIR data principles.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Lump sum funding under HORIZON-AG-LS; eligible costs reimbursed via lump sum decision of 7 July 2021.
• Coordination and Support Action: Part B limited to 33 pages; a detailed budget table must be submitted using the portal template.
• Single-stage submission; deadline 16 September 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time.
• A maximum of one project will be funded under this topic.
• Eligibility per Horizon Europe General Annexes: legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries; selected non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate subject to network protection restrictions.
• Evaluation and award: follow Annex D (award criteria, scoring, thresholds) and Annex F (submission, evaluation processes, timeline) of the Work Programme General Annexes.
• Applicants must use the HE CSA application form, Lump Sum MGA, budget table version 3.3, and comply with all relevant templates, instructions and guidance (HE Programme Guide, Online Manual, MGA).
• Data management must follow FAIR principles; ethical and legal considerations for AI and data usage must be respected.
• Coordination and Support Action: Part B limited to 33 pages; a detailed budget table must be submitted using the portal template.
• Single-stage submission; deadline 16 September 2025 at 17:00 Brussels time.
• A maximum of one project will be funded under this topic.
• Eligibility per Horizon Europe General Annexes: legal entities from EU Member States and Associated Countries; selected non-associated third countries may exceptionally participate subject to network protection restrictions.
• Evaluation and award: follow Annex D (award criteria, scoring, thresholds) and Annex F (submission, evaluation processes, timeline) of the Work Programme General Annexes.
• Applicants must use the HE CSA application form, Lump Sum MGA, budget table version 3.3, and comply with all relevant templates, instructions and guidance (HE Programme Guide, Online Manual, MGA).
• Data management must follow FAIR principles; ethical and legal considerations for AI and data usage must be respected.
Important dates
Open from: 15/05/2025
Deadline:16/09/2025
Application period has ended
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