FUTURAL project is excited to announce its Open Call with 1.2 million euros in funding. Submissions are now open from June 28, 2024, to September 30, 2024, at 17:00 CET (Brussels time).
FUTURAL is dedicated to empowering rural communities through the development and deployment of digital Smart Solutions. These solutions will be tested and demonstrated across six Multi-Actor Pilots (MAPs) in various geographical and socio-cultural contexts within the EU. The project focuses on five key domains:
- Circular Bioeconomy, Biodiversity, and Ecosystem Management
- Resilience to Shocks
- Citizen Engagement and Quality of Life
- Lifelong Education and Training
- Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
The goal is to tackle a wide range of challenges faced by rural communities, from environmental sustainability to improving quality of life and resilience.
The FUTURAL Open Call addresses small consortia consisting of two to four parties. Each consortium must include at least one technical party (such as SMEs, startups, or research organisations) and at least one rural community (such as municipalities, regional authorities, development agencies, or NGOs). The proposed solutions must align with one of the five FUTURAL domains.
We are seeking at least ten innovative projects, with each project receiving between €60,000 and €120,000. These projects will develop new Smart Solutions, different from the eight already being developed by FUTURAL partners, and will be applied in at least ten rural areas outside the existing MAPs. This initiative will provide Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), increasing the availability of Smart Solutions for rural communities and accelerating network expansion.
More information on existing MAPs and smart solutions being developed by FUTURAL partners can be found here
Applications must be submitted digitally through the Open Call Hub portal. Interested Applicants should visit FUTURAL website (https://futural-project.eu/futural-open-call/) to find all of the details for the Open Call. For any questions regarding the Open Call, applicants can refer to the FAQ section on the Open Call Hub portal or contact via email at . The deadline for inquiries is 48 hours before the application deadline.
Applications will be evaluated by independent experts based on several criteria:
- Concept and Feasibility
- Technology Readiness and Innovation Development
- Impact and Exploitation
- Organisational Capacity and Team Background
The complete evaluation criteria are available in the Open Call Kit documents.
The implementation of sub-projects will span three phases: Design, Development, and Validation, lasting a total of 12 months from June 2025 to May 2026.
The FUTURAL project represents a unique opportunity to drive innovation and create impactful solutions for rural communities across Europe. If you have an innovative idea that fits within the FUTURAL domains, don’t miss the chance to apply and contribute to a sustainable and prosperous future for rural areas.