The RURBANIVE Open Call offers up to €100,000 for projects enhancing rural-urban synergies in Europe. Consortia of 2-4 partners, including technology/service providers and end-users, can apply for a share of the €600,000 budget.
About the RURBANIVE Open Call
The RURBANIVE project aims to establish an innovative framework that enhances rural-urban territorial governance and policy tools. By integrating technical and social innovations, the project develops a Community Store of Rural-Urban Enablers (RUEs) and a Community of Practice Suite (CoPS) to promote collaborative innovation. Seven Rural-Urban Co-Creation Labs (RUCLs) serve as experimental hubs to facilitate interdisciplinary cooperation among academia, civil society, local and regional administrations, and industry.
Applicants of the RURBANIVE Open Call are expected to propose RUEs, meaning digital solutions or other types of advanced technologies, based on the six identified domains of RURBANIVE, and other than the RUEs already developed within the project. Each consortium must propose a RUE selecting only one of the pre-defined domains:
- Improving logistics, and shortening value chains
- Ecosystem and biodiversity restoration
- Regional circular bioeconomy development
- User engagement, empowerment, society and territorial awareness
- Culture, landscape and heritage access and promotion
- Enhanced mobility
Why Apply to RURBANIVE Open Call?
- Funding Support: Selected projects will receive up to €100,000.
- Collaborative Development: Work within a multidisciplinary consortium (2-4 partners).
- Access to Resources: Benefit from the RURBANIVE Community Store for digitised solutions and services.
- Market Expansion: Test and implement solutions across diverse European regions beyond the existing RUCLs.
Who Can Apply?
The RURBANIVE call is open to consortia of 2 to 4 partners, including at least 1 technology & service provider and at least 1 end-user (i.e., actors from the rural-urban environments, such as Local & Regional Administrations, Civil Society, Cooperatives, Associations, NGOs, Local Action Groups, Chambers and other Trade representative organizations, etc.).
Solutions must be applied in rural areas different from those covered by the 7 existing RUCLs areas: Prague (Czech Republic), Milos (Greece), Lower Austria (Austria), Kedainiai (Lithuania), Burgos (Spain), Lemgo (Germany), Trikala (Greece). And should be addressing one of the 6 pre-defined domains, but offering a different solution from the six RUEs being developed within the RURBANIVE project (as described in section 1, chapter 1.3 of the Applicants Guide). RUEs are expected to start at minimum TRL5 and reach a maximum TRL8.
How to Apply to RURBANIVE Open Call
Registration & Proposal Submission:
- Applicants must register on the fund platform.
- Proposals must be submitted online via the RURBANIVE Open Call webpage before the deadline (March 31, 2025, 17:00 CET).
- Only the Lead Partner of the consortium submits the application on behalf of all partners.
- Required documents must be uploaded in PDF format:
- Detailed Project Proposal (up to 15 pages).
- Budget Plan (using the provided template).
- Consortium Declaration (signed by all partners).
- Declaration of Honour (confirming compliance with rules).
- Declaration of Conducting Business (for SMEs).
Important Dates
- Open Call Launch: January 13, 2025
- Submission Deadline: March 31, 2025 (17:00 CET)
- Eligibility & Proposal Evaluation: April – June 2025
- Sub-Grant Agreements Finalisation: July – August 2025
- Project Implementation Period: 12-month (September 2025 – August 2026) divided into 3 phases:
- Phase 1 – Design: Sept – Dec 2025
- Phase 2 – Development: Jan – May 2026
- Phase 3 – Validation: June – Aug 2026
Proposal Requirements for RURBANIVE Open Call
- Solutions must be at least TRL 5 (Technology Readiness Level) at the start and aim for TRL 8 by the project’s end.
- Consortia of 2 to 4 partners, including at least 1 technology & service provider and at least 1 end-user (i.e., actors from the rural-urban environments, such as Local & Regional Administrations, Civil Society, Cooperatives, Associations, NGOs, Local Action Groups, Chambers and other Trade representative organizations, etc.).
- Solutions must be applied in rural areas different from those covered by the 7 existing RUCLs areas: Prague (Czech Republic), Milos (Greece), Lower Austria (Austria), Kedainiai (Lithuania), Burgos (Spain), Lemgo (Germany), Trikala (Greece).
- Proposals should focus on one of the 6 pre-defined domains, but provide solutions that are different from the six RUEs being developed within the RURBANIVE project.
- Proposals must include a business model tailored to rural-urban sustainability, and should demonstrate scalability, feasibility, and societal impact.
- Budget up to 100K€ per project, with budget per partner between 20K€ and 60K€.
Evaluation and Selection Process for RURBANIVE Open Call
Proposals will be scored on a 1-5 scale based on:
- Concept & Feasibility (alignment with RURBANIVE goals, clarity, and methodology).
- Technology Readiness & Innovation (maturity, uniqueness, market alignment).
- Impact & Exploitation Plan (benefits to rural-urban communities, scalability).
- Team & Organisational Capacity (skills, experience, work plan, financial feasibility).
Additional Support Beyond Funding
Selected participants will receive:
- Access to mentorship and expert guidance
- Participation in networking and capacity-building events
- Promotion through RURBANIVE communication channels
Final Thoughts on RURBANIVE Open Call
The RURBANIVE Open Call presents a unique opportunity for technology and service providers, research institutions, SMEs, and rural-urban stakeholders to drive sustainable innovation by developing Rural-Urban Enablers (RUEs). Participants can contribute to enhancing territorial governance, economic resilience, and social connectivity in diverse rural-urban environments, thanks to up to €100,000 per project and access to mentorship, networking, and business development support. This call enables innovators to scale impactful solutions that address key challenges in logistics, biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, mobility, culture, and community engagement. If you are eager to co-create practical solutions that foster rural-urban synergy, this is a key chance to make a difference while gaining visibility and funding.
More Information
For further details on RURBANIVE and the Open Call, visit:
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