The HEDGE-IoT Open Call is an initiative designed to empower Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and startups by providing financial support and resources. The program aims to foster the development of innovative, IoT-enabled, data-driven energy services that can be integrated within the HEDGE-IoT framework. Selected third parties will have the opportunity to contribute to the platform's technological advancements and validate their solutions in practical, real-world environments.
Program Focus and Objectives
• Key Focus Areas: The program targets the optimization of energy demand and response, enhancement of grid flexibility and real-time predictive management, and the security of IoT-driven energy data and transactions.
• Technological Contributions: Participants will support the development of distributed digital solutions, promote interoperability and scalability, and advance energy consumer services.
• Open Call Topics: Proposals should focus on advancing smart energy solutions through grid optimization, AI-driven forecasting and pricing, IoT and data-sharing technologies, DER integration, flexibility management, load monitoring, data interoperability, and scalable energy AI services.
• Overall Goal: The initiative supports the broader objectives of the EU’s energy transition by fostering innovation in the energy sector.
Funding and Financial Support
• Funding Amount: Selected applicants can receive up to €60,000 to cover eligible project costs. This amount represents the maximum requested funding, not the total project budget.
• Number of Projects: Up to 18 projects will be funded through the second Open Call, contingent on the available budget and the total funding requested by successful applicants.
• Eligible Costs: Funding can cover personnel, travel and subsistence, consumables and equipment (up to 20% of the total budget), and subcontracting (up to 20% with proper justification). A 25% overhead cost is applied to all other costs except subcontracting.
Eligibility Criteria
• Eligible Entities: The call is open to for-profit SMEs and startups that are legally established in Horizon Europe participating countries.
• Business Focus: Applicants must be developing IoT-enabled and data-driven energy services.
• Registration Requirements: Applicants must possess a valid VAT number, be registered in the European Commission’s Participant Register with a valid Participant Identification Code (PIC), and submit the required SME declaration.
Application Guidelines
• Submission Language: All proposals must be submitted in English.
• Proposal Format: Applications must use the official Proposal Template and must not exceed 10 pages or a file size of 10MB.
• Applicant Status: Only single legal entities are eligible to apply.
• Submission Limit: Each applicant is permitted to submit only one proposal.
• Topic Selection: Applicants must select and address only one of the Open Call 2 topics, as multi-topic proposals will not be considered.
Key Dates
• Application Deadline: August 25, 2026
Interested parties seeking to contribute to the advancement of smart energy solutions are encouraged to review the complete program details and application requirements. For more information, please visit the official HEDGE-IoT website.