Apply now for €60,000 and access training, expert support, and European recognition for your responsible innovation journey
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About Reinforcing
The REINFORCING project (Responsible tEerritories and Institutions eNable and Foster Open Research and inClusive Innovation for traNsitions Governance) is a Horizon Europe-funded initiative that supports institutions across Europe in adopting Open and Responsible Research and Innovation (ORRI) principles.
Through its cascading grants mechanism, it seeks to stimulate inclusive, sustainable R&I ecosystems and foster institutional change by supporting practical implementation activities.
The project runs from January 2023 to February 2027 with a total budget of € 5.000.082,50, of which € 2.400.000,00 is allocated to financial support for third parties. The programme provisions to deliver seven open calls — four ORRI Incubator (large grants) and three ORRI Booster (small grants).
About the 6th Open Call
The 6th REINFORCING Open Call is an Incubator call. It supports consortia involving at least two legal entities, including minimum one newcomer to the ORRI approach. Proposals should focus on initiating institutional change and the development of new ORRI tools. ORRI Incubator (large) grants are fixed at €60,000 per project, with a duration of 12 months. The funding is directed at collaborative initiatives with strong societal engagement, transparent innovation processes, and institutional commitment to ORRI principles.
Call launch
30 September 2025 (Incubator 4, I4 Open call)
Deadline
2 December 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels Time)
Throughout the REINFORCING Project lifecycle, two funding types will be available:
- 3 ORRI BOOSTER Calls – Administered in Open calls B1, B2 and B3, respectively in November 2023, November 2024 and December 2025: Up to €20,000 (3 projects expected to be awarded per call round, or 24 funded projects in total): aimed at applicants (at least one beneficiary), who are already experienced in ORRI that would like to strengthen and institutionalize their ORRI approach. Each ORRI Booster call will support proposals implementing an 8-month project (set duration that can’t be changed).
- 4 ORRI INCUBATOR Calls – Launched with Open calls I1, I2, I3 and I4, respectively in March 2024, July 2024, June 2025 and September 2025: Up to €60,000 (4 projects expected to be awarded per call round, 32 funded projects in total): aimed at applicants (at least two beneficiaries per consortium) that encompass minimum one newcomer in ORRI that would like to embark on an ORRI approach. The work carried out by newcomers on an ORRI approach should be the focus of the project, and, therefore, newcomers are expected to lead the project and have the majority of the budget. Each ORRI incubator call will support consortia implementing a 12-month Project (set duration that can’t be changed).
Estimated number of awarded projects
Maximum 8 projects, lead of consortiums.
Project duration
12 months for ORRI Incubator grants.
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Why Apply?
Here are the benefits the successful sub-grantees will receive upon approval and signing grant agreement with REINFORCING:
- €60,000 lump-sum funding for each selected project;
- Fixed 12-month implementation period;
- Tailored support in institutionalising ORRI practices;
- Participation in peer learning, training workshops (including in Brussels);
- High-level networking;
- Visibility through REINFORCING project communication channels and its consortium, consisting of 11 partners across 7 European countries;
- Access to Impact Awards for outstanding projects.
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Higher Education Institutions – Civil Society Organisations (CSOs);
- Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs);
- Research Centres – Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).
- Applicants must be based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country and must not be subject to EU sanctions.
IMPORTANT!
Each consortium must involve at least one newcomer to ORRI, who should lead the project and receive the majority of the budget. This call DOES NOT permit applications from individual applicants (single legal entities).
How to Apply?
- Download the open call guidelines document.
- Read carefully all the applicable rules and pre-requisites.
- Identify the best suited ORRI approach to launch in your consortium, in line with your expertise.
- Download the full set of document templates to be filled in by all applicants.
- Submit your application before Deadline – no later than 2 December 2025 at 17:00 Brussels Time.
Applications must be submitted via the REINFORCING website and include:
- Online form with general project data
- Administrative template (PDF upload)
- Technical proposal (PDF upload)
- Declaration of Honour (DoH), signed by legal representatives of all partners
All documents must be completed in English and submitted before the application deadline.
Important Dates
- 1st Webinar for the current 6th call for Incubators: 10 October 2025 (Watch the replay above)
- Submission Deadline: 2 December 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels Time)
- Evaluation process: December 2025
- Communication on evaluation results: December 2025 / January 2026
- Start of the funded projects: 15 January 2026
- End of funded projects: 14 January 2027
Proposal Requirements
- 10 pages for the technical proposal (template provided);
- Declaration of Honour signed by the legal representatives of all consortium partners;
- Detailed planning for developing an ORRI tool, with clear focus on initiating ORRI-related institutional change.
Evaluation & Selection Process
Each proposal is assessed by three external evaluators based on:
- Excellence: Clarity and relevance of objectives
- Impact: Expected changes for organisations and society
- Implementation: Quality and feasibility of planned activities
Thresholds
- Minimum score of 3/5 per criterion
- Total score of at least 9/15
Ranking will also consider diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Final Thoughts
The 6th REINFORCING Incubator Call presents a unique opportunity for European organisations to institutionalise responsible and open R&I practices. It offers not only financial support but also structured mentoring, visibility, and long-term strategic value. Interested applicants are encouraged to participate in the Info Days and prepare early on to meet the application deadline.
More Information
For any doubts or in need of clarification, please get in touch with REINFORCING support team:
- General inquiries: info@reinforcing.eu
- Grant-related questions: grants@reinforcing.eu
- Evaluation queries: evaluators@reinforcing.eu
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