Specific support for the Virtual Worlds Partnership and the Web 4.0 initiative (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)
HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17: European Partnership for Virtual Worlds
Funding Amount
€2.5M - €2.5M
Deadline
02/10/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Specific support for the Virtual Worlds Partnership and the Web 4.0 initiative (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership) Call?
Grant Description
The call supports coordination and support actions to establish and prepare the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds. It addresses the need to develop a unified industrial and end-user ecosystem for virtual worlds and Web 4.0 in Europe. Projects will deliver Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0, build inclusive stakeholder networks, promote adoption across Member States and Associated Countries, foster ethical, legal and societal guidance, org...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
• Launch and operationalisation of the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds, fostering a thriving industrial and end-user ecosystem across the full virtual worlds value chain.
• Active engagement of citizens, businesses and public authorities, and broader access to funding, expertise and technology resources.
• Delivery of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Virtual Worlds that ensures open, interoperable, inclusive, sustainable and trustworthy systems in line with EU values and principles.
• Delivery of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Web 4.0 that defines an inclusive, trustworthy, interoperable, human-centric Internet built on open-source commons and new social/sustainability models.
• Establishment and running of a European Virtual Worlds Partnership supporting the community for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.
• A robust, competitive European ecosystem with companies leading in adoption, development and deployment of Virtual Worlds technologies.
• Reinforced coordination and links among virtual worlds initiatives in Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and other EU, national and regional programmes.
• Widespread awareness and outreach programmes resulting in increased adoption of open, accessible, inclusive, interdisciplinary, safe and ethical virtual worlds respecting privacy, security and EU legal frameworks.
• Development of standardisation methods and processes for virtual worlds technologies supporting the EU regulatory framework.
• Active engagement of citizens, businesses and public authorities, and broader access to funding, expertise and technology resources.
• Delivery of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Virtual Worlds that ensures open, interoperable, inclusive, sustainable and trustworthy systems in line with EU values and principles.
• Delivery of a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Web 4.0 that defines an inclusive, trustworthy, interoperable, human-centric Internet built on open-source commons and new social/sustainability models.
• Establishment and running of a European Virtual Worlds Partnership supporting the community for Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.
• A robust, competitive European ecosystem with companies leading in adoption, development and deployment of Virtual Worlds technologies.
• Reinforced coordination and links among virtual worlds initiatives in Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and other EU, national and regional programmes.
• Widespread awareness and outreach programmes resulting in increased adoption of open, accessible, inclusive, interdisciplinary, safe and ethical virtual worlds respecting privacy, security and EU legal frameworks.
• Development of standardisation methods and processes for virtual worlds technologies supporting the EU regulatory framework.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
• Provide specific coordination and support to the forthcoming European Virtual Worlds Partnership.
• Strengthen and sustain an inclusive network among academia, industry, public authorities, end-users and national representatives to coordinate research, innovation and deployment of trustworthy, human-centric virtual worlds.
• Define, develop and implement the SRIA for Virtual Worlds and the SRIA for Web 4.0 (including architectural frameworks, standards, protocols, building blocks and implementation roadmaps).
• Identify technology areas for joint development, reuse and exchanges between Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.
• Support the creation of a vibrant European ecosystem for Web 4.0 and involve the community in framework and roadmap definition.
• Encourage and monitor adoption of virtual worlds geographically and across the value chain, targeting especially SMEs, public administrators, citizens and civil society.
• Design outreach programmes addressing acceptability, trustworthiness and realistic expectations of virtual worlds.
• Identify and address ethical, legal, societal and economic aspects, with particular focus on gender, racial and other biases and propose mitigation measures.
• Lead standardisation efforts: convene stakeholders, organise European representation in standardisation working groups, support the EU regulatory framework.
• Build synergies and complementarities with specific Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and other programmes and partnerships (detailed list provided).
• Involve SSH disciplines and experts to maximise societal impact.
• Strengthen and sustain an inclusive network among academia, industry, public authorities, end-users and national representatives to coordinate research, innovation and deployment of trustworthy, human-centric virtual worlds.
• Define, develop and implement the SRIA for Virtual Worlds and the SRIA for Web 4.0 (including architectural frameworks, standards, protocols, building blocks and implementation roadmaps).
• Identify technology areas for joint development, reuse and exchanges between Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0.
• Support the creation of a vibrant European ecosystem for Web 4.0 and involve the community in framework and roadmap definition.
• Encourage and monitor adoption of virtual worlds geographically and across the value chain, targeting especially SMEs, public administrators, citizens and civil society.
• Design outreach programmes addressing acceptability, trustworthiness and realistic expectations of virtual worlds.
• Identify and address ethical, legal, societal and economic aspects, with particular focus on gender, racial and other biases and propose mitigation measures.
• Lead standardisation efforts: convene stakeholders, organise European representation in standardisation working groups, support the EU regulatory framework.
• Build synergies and complementarities with specific Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and other programmes and partnerships (detailed list provided).
• Involve SSH disciplines and experts to maximise societal impact.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
Type of action: HORIZON Coordination and Support Action (HORIZON-CSA), Model Grant: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based (HORIZON-AG). Single-stage call. Opening: 10 June 2025. Deadline: 02 October 2025, 17:00 Brussels time. Indicative budget: EUR 2.5 million (grant size EUR 1.8–2.5 million). Typical project duration: 36 months (other durations allowed). Eligible participants: per Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex B), including provisions for selected non-Associated third countries; financial/operational capacity per Annex C; evaluation criteria per Annex D; legal/financial setup per Annex G. Proposal page limits and layout: per General Annexes A & E and Application Form Part B. Proposals must allocate tasks to cohesion activities with the Partnership on Virtual Worlds and related funded actions; involve Social Sciences and Humanities experts; and be prepared, managed and coordinated by key stakeholders in the field. Proposals are encouraged to build on or collaborate with existing projects and to establish efficient mechanisms (joint task forces, joint events). Subject to restrictions for protection of European communication networks and data privacy. Standard HE CSA templates and MGA apply.
Important dates
Open from: 10/06/2025
Deadline:02/10/2025
Application period has ended
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