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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · Cluster 4 · Digital, Industry and Space

Create a thriving and competitive Virtual Worlds and Web 4.0 ecosystem (CSA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)

HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02 — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingCSADeadline 18 March 2027around EUR 3 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-CL4-2027-04 — DIGITAL
DestinationDigital and industrial technologies driving human-centric innovation (2026-27)
Type of actionCoordination and Support Actions
Opening17 November 2026
Deadline18 March 2027
Budgetaround EUR 3 million per project · 1 project expected · EUR 3 million in total
Part B page limit25 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: “The co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds will help to develop and promote a thriving industrial and end-user ecosystem in the EU, covering all the aspects of the virtual worlds value chain. It will also actively engage with industrial and societal sectors to provide access to a broad range of resources, including funding, expertise and technology. Project results are expected to…”

  1. EO1 The delivery of a revised and updated Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for Virtual Worlds in Europe, for useful, open, interoperable, inclusive, sustainable and trustworthy virtual worlds systems and applications, ensuring these reflect EU values and principles.
  2. EO2 Strengthening of the European Virtual Worlds Partnership by providing continuous support.
  3. EO3 Reinforcement of the competitive ecosystem, with European companies playing a leading role in the adoption and acceptance, and in the development and deployment of Virtual Worlds technologies.
  4. EO4 Reinforced links among initiatives in virtual worlds in Horizon Europe, Digital Europe Programme, and other programmes at EU, national and regional levels.
  5. EO5 Widespread awareness and outreach programmes.
  6. EO6 Increased adoption of virtual worlds that are open, accessible and inclusive, interdisciplinary, safe and respect ethical values and European legal framework, including regarding privacy, security in all Member States and Associated Countries.
  7. EO7 Strengthening and promotion of standardisation methods for virtual worlds technologies and in support of the EU regulatory framework.

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.

  • “Proposals should involve and be driven by representatives of the relevant actors of the field (e.g., academia, RTOs, industry including SMEs).”
  • “Proposals should involve the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and SSH experts, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.”
  • “This CSA should be prepared, managed and coordinated by key stakeholders in this field and directly support the Virtual Worlds Partnership.”
  • “This topic is implemented through the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks to cohesion activities with the Partnership on Virtual Worlds and funded actions related to this partnership, including the CSA: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 25 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • Coordination and support action: no research is funded. Evaluators look for coordination, networking, dissemination or policy support with a clear audience.
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.”

Impact pathway and traps

  • The topic asks for social sciences and humanities (SSH) expertise. Evaluators look for SSH partners with a real role in the methodology, not a token task.
  • Users or citizens are part of the scope. Show how they take part in the design and testing, not only that they are informed.
  • Standardisation is mentioned. Name the committees or bodies and the partner who engages with them.
  • Policy or regulation is in scope. Name the policy owners you will reach and what you will give them.
  • 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

The objective of the CSA is to further develop and reinforce the community by strengthening and supporting the Virtual Worlds Partnership and its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for Virtual Worlds (SRIA). The CSA will also lay the grounds for a strong and inclusive network bringing together academia, industry, public actors and end-users, including major industrial European sectors and all relevant stakeholders. The CSA will ensure close coordination at regional, national and European level. The CSA will also strongly continue to promote the adoption of Virtual Worlds technologies and solutions in all Member States and Associated Countries, with particular emphasis on geographical aspect and across the value chain. To this end, the CSA will develop and implement outreach programmes aiming at better understanding and raising awareness to create acceptance and trustworthiness of Virtual Worlds solutions. The CSA will also support standardisation efforts to support the uptake of interoperable, open, trustworthy and ethical Virtual Worlds solution, by mobilising and bringing stakeholders together and, when needed, organising European representation in existing or new standardisation working groups in support of the Commission regulatory framework. Proposals should involve and be driven by representatives of the relevant actors of the field (e.g., academia, RTOs, industry including SMEs). The Commission considers that proposals with an overall duration of typically 36 months would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other durations. Proposals should involve the effective contribution of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) disciplines and SSH experts, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. This CSA should be prepared, managed and coordinated by key stakeholders in this field and directly support the Virtual Worlds Partnership. This topic is implemented through the co-programmed European Partnership for Virtual Worlds and all proposals are expected to allocate tasks to cohesion activities with the Partnership on Virtual Worlds and funded actions related to this partnership, including the CSA: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03-HUMAN-17. This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Virtual Worlds.

Other topics in HORIZON-CL4-2027-04

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.