Open Calls fellowship programme

In StandICT.eu 2029, supporting and promoting the involvement of ICT standardisation experts in SDOs at a global level is pivotal. 
For this reason, standICT will recruit and enroll experts through 6 different Open Calls, aiming to achieve the following targets:

 

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Assigned to European Standardisation Experts

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Funding cycles

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Funded women

Open Calls timeline

In standICT 2029, the fellowship programme will be composed of 6 different Open Calls, 
each one running for 60 days.

Open Call 1

Nov 2025 - Jan 2026

Open Call 2

Feb 2026 - Apr 2026

Open Call 3

Jun 2026 - Aug 2026

Open Call 4

Oct 2026 - Dec 2026

Open Call 5

Feb 2027 - Apr 2027

Open Call 6

Jun 2027 - Aug 2027
 

How? Process and timing

 At the end of the sixty-day period all proposal received through the StandICT.eu grants platform will be screened for eligibility, evaluated by an external pool of evaluators (EPE) scored, and ranked for funding. This process usually lasts for approximately 35 days at the end of which all applicants shall be notified whether their proposal has been retained for funding or not and provided with access to a Consensus Report compiled by the EPE.  

Who? Eligibility rules

Potential applicants are standardisation specialists who:

  • Have profound knowledge in one of the priority areas supported by the open calls;
  • Have experience regarding developments of standards, e.g., in SDOs, in reputable organisations and Standardisation communities, or when creating harmonised standards in open source developments;
  • Are individuals or natural persons residing in European Member States and Associated Countries. The most recent information listing participating countries in Horizon Europe issued by the Commission at the time of writing (20/12/2024) can be consulted here EU Grants: List of participating countries (HE): V3.3 – 20.12.2024. Please refer to this document if you have any doubts as to your eligibility for funding.
 
 

What? Type of open calls

 StandICT.eu 2029 offers three types of open calls to support expert engagement and strengthen Europe’s role in ICT standardisation:

The first two categories – Long-Term (LT) and Short-Term (ST) contributions – continue the successful model of StandICT.eu 2026, with refined durations and funding ranges. LT calls support sustained participation in standardisation activities, such as chairing or convening working groups, for up to nine months and a maximum of €10,000. ST calls target shorter contributions of up to three months and €5,000, focusing on specific deliverables such as comments on drafts or liaison activities. An individual may be selected for multiple awards, up to a cumulative maximum of €50,000 across the 3-year lifetime of the project.

A third, pilot category – Standardisation Meetings (SM) – supports the organisation of international standardisation meetings in Europe, endorsed by recognised SDOs or global fora. This scheme aims to reinforce Europe’s visibility and leadership in global standardisation arenas. Funding of up to €50,000 is available per application.

The first open call will open in November 2025

Which ones? Topics priorities

Applications should focus on the topics taken from the Multi-Stakeholder Platform Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation, namely:

 

FOUNDATIONAL DRIVERS

  • Data economy
  • Cybersecurity / network and information security
  • ePrivacy

 

KEY ENABLERS

  • 5G and beyond
  • Cloud and edge computing
  • Data interoperability
  • Internet of Things
  • Electronic identification and trust services including e-signatures
  • e-Infrastructures for data and computing intensive science and the European Open Science Cloud
  • Broadband infrastructure mapping
  • Accessibility of ICT products and services
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • European Global Navigation Satellite System (EGNSS)
  • Quantum Technologies

 

SOCIETAL CHALLENGES

  • Digital health, healthy living and ageing
  • Digital skills
  • Digital learning
  • eGovernment
  • eCall
  • Pandemic preparedness
  • Safety, transparency and due process online
  • Emergency communications and public warning systems

 

INNOVATION FOR THE DIGITAL SINGLE MARKET

  • e-Procurement – pre- and post award
  • e-Invoicing
  • Retail Payments
  • Preservation of digital cinema
  • Fintech and Regtech Standardisation
  • Blockchain and Distributed Digital Ledger Technologies
  • Web 4.0 and virtual worlds
  • Media

 

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

  • Smart grids and smart metering
  • Smart and sustainable cities and communities
  • ICT Environmental impact
  • European Electronic Toll Service (EETS)
  • Intelligent Transport Systems - Cooperative, Connected and Automated Mobility (ITS-CCAM) and Electromobility
  • Digitisation of European Industry
  • Robotics and autonomous systems
  • Construction - building information modelling
  • Water Management Digitalisation
  • Single European Sky
  • U-space
  • Circular economy and sustainability