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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · Bridging actions

Large-Scale piloting of next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and sustainable European energy system (IA) - Apply AI

HORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01-12 — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingIADeadline 16 February 2027around EUR 15 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01-12
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-BRIDGING-2027-01 — Bridging actions 2027
Type of actionInnovation Actions
Opening20 October 2026
Deadline16 February 2027
Budgetaround EUR 15 million per project · 1 project expected · EUR 15 million in total
TRL at the endTRL 7–8
Part B page limit40 pages (standard application form; check your call)
TemplateWork Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

The topic does not say whether all outcomes must be addressed; treat them all as relevant. The topic says: “Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:”

  1. EO1 Strengthened Europe’s technological leadership and sovereignty in the energy sector.
  2. EO2 Market-ready AI-driven digital platforms and solutions with quantifiable minimal environmental impact, that enhance grid operation, renewable energy integration and utilisation rates, energy storage integration, grid integration of data centres and other energy intensive critical infrastructures, non-fossil, balancing solutions, electrification and energy efficiency, derived from existing and ongoing AI and IoT research.
  3. EO3 Successfully integrate applied research results in real-world pilot programmes involving energy operators, technology providers, public authorities, and end users.
  4. EO4 Secure, interoperable, and cross-border data exchange mechanisms and digital services reducing fragmentation.
  5. EO5 Accelerated scaling of digital solutions leveraging European data spaces, AI factories, digital twins, and cloud-to-edge infrastructures.
  6. EO6 Credible pathway from innovation to large-scale piloting, ensuring long-term sustainability and scale up.
  7. EO7 Quantifiable improvements in terms of reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, energy savings, electricity cost reduction and grid flexibility.

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

  • The topic does not say whether all outcomes must be addressed; treat them all as relevant.
  • For each outcome (EO1 to EO7), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
  • Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

  • “The project should implement and validate these capabilities through operational pilots in at least six Member States or Associated Countries (ensuring geographic variability and coverage), involving real infrastructure, energy operators and users.”
  • “The pilot should run for a sufficient duration to demonstrate operational performance under real system conditions (e.g. seasonal variability, renewable generation variability and EV charging patterns).”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 40 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • TRL: the topic expects TRL 7–8 by the end of the project. State where you start and the evidence for it.
  • Innovation action: evaluators expect a plausible path to commercialisation and named first users or customers.
  • Other Eligibility Conditions: “In order to achieve the expected outcomes, and safeguard the Union’s strategic assets, interests, autonomy, or security, it is important to avoid a situation of technological dependency on a non-EU source, in a global context that requires the EU to take action to build on its strengths, and to carefully assess and…”

Impact pathway and traps

  • Users or citizens are part of the scope. Show how they take part in the design and testing, not only that they are informed.
  • The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
  • Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
  • Link your outcomes to the destination's expected impacts in the Work Programme. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
  • Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
  • Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.
The scope, as published

This topic will support one large-scale cross-border pilot project demonstrating the operational use of next-generation AI-driven Digital Platforms (DPs) for the European energy system, to optimize electricity system operation and flexibility management cross multiple European energy systems. This pilot forms a core implementation layer of the AI-enabled digital backbone flagship identified in the Apply AI Strategy and contributes to the Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy. The project should implement and validate these capabilities through operational pilots in at least six Member States or Associated Countries (ensuring geographic variability and coverage), involving real infrastructure, energy operators and users. The pilot should run for a sufficient duration to demonstrate operational performance under real system conditions (e.g. seasonal variability, renewable generation variability and EV charging patterns). The objective of the pilot is to demonstrate that AI-enabled digital platforms can enable real-time coordination of distributed energy resources and cross-border flexibility services improving grid utilisation, increasing renewable energy integration and reducing system costs and emissions. Proposals should: Develop and pilot at scale next-generation AI-driven digital platforms, critical digital infrastructures to support seamless data exchange across the European energy system, while considering the cross-sector dimension where relevant (e.g. the mobility sector, buildings, etc.). Execute pilot activities in at least 6 member states or associated countries, involving a t least 6 energy actors (TSOs, DSOs, retailers, aggregators), at least 8 digital technology providers from AI, cloud, edge, IoT, at least 4 mobility actors (from EV manufacturers, EV fleet operators and charging operators), at least 20 energy communities, as well as research organisations, and public authorities. Build up on previous and ongoing related projects and initiatives such as the MetaOS for the edge and the swarm project clusters, the Edge-IoT large scale pilots in energy, the Operational Digital Platforms in CEF and the AI-powered digital spine of the EU energy system. Leverage advanced AI approaches and architectures where relevant, including generative, agentic, and embedded, AI to deliver secure and resilient cross-border flexibility, smart-charging, smart grid services and other emerging digital services. Implement a transversal approach involving integration of energy systems, AI, digital infrastructures, and user uptake. Combine existing solutions from Horizon Europe clusters 4 and 5 and connect technological development with market adoption. Ensure the use of open APIs, open interoperability standards and open-source-based components to foster technological sovereignty and avoid vendor lock-in. Actively participate in the work of the BRIDGE collaborative initiative. Include preparatory and structuring activities to prepare large-scale deployments. It is expected that one project will be funded and that it will take approximately 36 months to complete.

Technology readiness, as published

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 7-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. About this site | Bridge

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Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.