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Large-Scale piloting of next-generation AI-driven digital platforms for a more affordable, secure and…

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

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The EU's Horizon Europe programme expects to make 1 award of €15 million, from a total budget of €15 million. Applications close on 16 Feb 2027 (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time). Organisations in EU member states and Horizon Europe associated countries such as Türkiye can usually take part; the topic conditions control.

Expected outcome

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Strengthened Europe’s technological leadership and sovereignty in the energy sector.

• 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.

• Successfully integrate applied research results in real-world pilot programmes involving energy operators, technology providers, public authorities, and end users.

• Secure, interoperable, and cross-border data exchange mechanisms and digital services reducing fragmentation.

• Accelerated scaling of digital solutions leveraging European data spaces, AI factories [1] , digital twins, and cloud-to-edge infrastructures.

Scope

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).

Who can apply

Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries, at least one in a Member State (Horizon Europe standard rule). Country restriction: participation is limited to legal entities established in Member States, Iceland and Norway and associated countries.

Applicant categories are a starting point. The official call decides eligibility.

Topics

Artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, multi agent systems Cyber-physical systems Energy end-use efficiency and energy services Energy management Energy systems (production, distribution, application) Energy systems, smart energy, smart grids, wireless energy transfer Internet of Things Machine learning, statistical data processing and applications using signal processing (e.g. speech, image, video) Monitoring and control systems Networks (communication networks, sensor networks, networks of robots, etc.) Ontologies, neural networks, genetic programming, fuzzy logic Piloting Renewable electricity Sustainable energy communities Systems engineering, sensorics, actorics, automation

Timing

Single-stage call. Next deadline 2027-02-16. The portal states the exact cut-off time (EU calls usually close at 17:00 Brussels time).

How to apply

1. Read the full topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal: expected outcome, scope, type of action and the topic conditions, including any country restrictions.
2. Register each participating organisation in the Funding & Tenders Portal to get a PIC.
3. Consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU Member States or associated countries (Horizon Europe standard rule; Türkiye is associated). Confirm in the topic conditions.
4. Prepare Part A (administrative forms and budget, completed in the portal) and Part B (the technical description on the official template for this type of action).
5. Submit in the portal before the cut-off time on the deadline day. Late submissions are not accepted.

From the call text

Who can apply

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Company stage

Not stated in the call text we hold — check the official page

Single applicant or consortium

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where applicants must be based

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Where to apply

Read the topic conditions on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for eligible countries, consortium requirements, budget and the application route.

Read the EU application guide

Where these facts come from

Official sources

Official call page

Facts on this page come from the funder’s official data, taken on 14 Nov 2026. The funder's own documents, including later amendments, always take precedence.

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