European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Hop-on facility
Horizon Europe Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
Funding Amount
€200K - €600K
Deadline
04/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the Hop-on facility Call?
Grant Description
The call enables legal entities from low research and innovation performing countries to join ongoing Horizon Europe Pillar II ‘main’ Work Programme or EIC Pathfinder collaborative projects through an amendment to the existing grant. It aims to improve inclusiveness by integrating a new beneficiary who contributes a visible task or work package. Expected impacts include mobilising excellence in widening countries, increasing visibility and knowledge circulation, opening networks to new partnersh...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
At system level:
• Mobilisation of research excellence in Widening countries.
• Increased visibility and knowledge circulation of beneficiaries from these countries.
• Reduced thematic participation gaps.
At consortium level:
• Opening of established networks to new connections and partnerships.
• Enhanced research excellence of Widening-country institutions in specific fields.
• Enlarged outreach and access to new talent pools for all participants.
At the level of the Widening beneficiary:
• Acquisition of new competencies and skills in transnational project management, research management, dissemination, and exploitation.
• Strengthened institutional capabilities and international collaboration experience.
• Mobilisation of research excellence in Widening countries.
• Increased visibility and knowledge circulation of beneficiaries from these countries.
• Reduced thematic participation gaps.
At consortium level:
• Opening of established networks to new connections and partnerships.
• Enhanced research excellence of Widening-country institutions in specific fields.
• Enlarged outreach and access to new talent pools for all participants.
At the level of the Widening beneficiary:
• Acquisition of new competencies and skills in transnational project management, research management, dissemination, and exploitation.
• Strengthened institutional capabilities and international collaboration experience.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
1. Participants:
• One legal entity established in a Widening country (as defined by the Horizon Europe regulation: specified Member States, Associated Countries under an association agreement, and designated outermost regions).
• One legal entity acting as coordinator of an existing eligible Horizon Pillar II ‘main’ or EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I action.
2. Eligible Action:
• Must be a Horizon Europe grant agreement awarded under Pillar II ‘main’ Work Programme or EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I.
• No Widening-country entity may already participate as beneficiary, associated partner, or affiliated entity in that action.
• The grant agreement’s first reporting period must be ongoing at the submission deadline, and its project start date must be between 1 and 12 months prior to that deadline.
3. Proposal Content:
• Use the dedicated Hop-on Facility proposal template (Part B of the Application Form).
• Include a clear description of the new beneficiary’s R&I role, complementarity, and the work package/task to be integrated.
• Attach the full original DoA of the ongoing action as an annex.
4. Budget:
• Total requested per amendment: between EUR 200,000 and EUR 600,000.
• Maximum 10% of the additional grant may cover the coordinator’s integration/coordination fee.
• Minimum 90% must be allocated to the widening beneficiary.
• One legal entity established in a Widening country (as defined by the Horizon Europe regulation: specified Member States, Associated Countries under an association agreement, and designated outermost regions).
• One legal entity acting as coordinator of an existing eligible Horizon Pillar II ‘main’ or EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I action.
2. Eligible Action:
• Must be a Horizon Europe grant agreement awarded under Pillar II ‘main’ Work Programme or EIC Pathfinder collaborative R&I.
• No Widening-country entity may already participate as beneficiary, associated partner, or affiliated entity in that action.
• The grant agreement’s first reporting period must be ongoing at the submission deadline, and its project start date must be between 1 and 12 months prior to that deadline.
3. Proposal Content:
• Use the dedicated Hop-on Facility proposal template (Part B of the Application Form).
• Include a clear description of the new beneficiary’s R&I role, complementarity, and the work package/task to be integrated.
• Attach the full original DoA of the ongoing action as an annex.
4. Budget:
• Total requested per amendment: between EUR 200,000 and EUR 600,000.
• Maximum 10% of the additional grant may cover the coordinator’s integration/coordination fee.
• Minimum 90% must be allocated to the widening beneficiary.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Submission and admissibility:
– Proposals must respect page limits and formatting (General Annexes A and E).
– Only the coordinator of the eligible action may submit the Hop-on Facility proposal.
• Eligibility:
– Participants must be located in eligible countries (General Annex B) and comply with financial/operational capacity and exclusion criteria (General Annex C).
• Award and Evaluation:
– Standard RIA award criteria apply, with thresholds defined in General Annex D.
– In case of tied scores, priority is given to proposals with widening beneficiaries from under-represented Widening countries to maximize geographical diversity (General Annex F, points 1–3 and 5).
– Successful proposals enter grant agreement amendment preparations; upon a positive award decision, the coordinator submits the amendment on behalf of all beneficiaries.
• Templates and Guidance:
– Applicants must use the application form, evaluation form, and model grant agreement (MGA) specific to Horizon RIA (HE RIA, HE-AG).
– Refer to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Online Manual, and relevant Work Programme sections, including “Improved Access to Excellence” in the Widening participation chapter.
• Documentation:
– The list of funded Pillar II and EIC Pathfinder projects is indicative; eligibility decisions rest solely with the Commission.
– Applicants should monitor Updates on the association of third countries to Horizon Europe for the current list of widening Associated countries.
– Proposals must respect page limits and formatting (General Annexes A and E).
– Only the coordinator of the eligible action may submit the Hop-on Facility proposal.
• Eligibility:
– Participants must be located in eligible countries (General Annex B) and comply with financial/operational capacity and exclusion criteria (General Annex C).
• Award and Evaluation:
– Standard RIA award criteria apply, with thresholds defined in General Annex D.
– In case of tied scores, priority is given to proposals with widening beneficiaries from under-represented Widening countries to maximize geographical diversity (General Annex F, points 1–3 and 5).
– Successful proposals enter grant agreement amendment preparations; upon a positive award decision, the coordinator submits the amendment on behalf of all beneficiaries.
• Templates and Guidance:
– Applicants must use the application form, evaluation form, and model grant agreement (MGA) specific to Horizon RIA (HE RIA, HE-AG).
– Refer to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Online Manual, and relevant Work Programme sections, including “Improved Access to Excellence” in the Widening participation chapter.
• Documentation:
– The list of funded Pillar II and EIC Pathfinder projects is indicative; eligibility decisions rest solely with the Commission.
– Applicants should monitor Updates on the association of third countries to Horizon Europe for the current list of widening Associated countries.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:04/09/2025
Application period has ended
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