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Home Funding Calls for proposals Advanced and Innovative hardware components for Virtual Worlds (RIA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership) Advanced and Innovative hardware components for Virtual Worlds (RIA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership) HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-01 Topic Call for proposal Internal navigation General information Topic description Destination Conditions and documents Budget overview Partner search announcements Start submission Topic Q&As Get support General information Programme Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Call DIGITAL (HORIZON-CL4-2027-04) Type of action HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Type of MGA HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Forthcoming Deadline model single-stage Planned opening date 17 November 2026 Deadline date 18 March 2027 17:00:00 Brussels time Topic description Expected Outcome: Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes: Innovative and advanced XR hardware, advanced headsets, screens, wearables and haptic components, sensors and actuators, advanced chips for a deeper and closer-to-reality immersion, stimulating all human senses. Scope: In the recent years, hardware for Virtual Worlds made major breakthroughs, democratising headsets, sensors, actuators or haptic equipment. To keep this momentum and advancing further, new generation of XR equipment, wearable solutions and haptic components, as well as non-invasive brain computer interfaces for handsfree interaction, hardware or technologies will put the users at the very centre of virtual experiences, for even greater and realistic immersion, aiming at blurring the lines between the real and digital environments. To ensure this next generation of engaging and lifelike immersion, all senses must be stimulated (sight, hearing, feel, touch, smell), for a fully immersive close-to-reality experience. Users will be submerged with realistic sensations making the experience as immersive as possible. Proposals should investigate novel scientific approaches or push the limit of existing ones to improve the synchronization and integration of the different modalities. Proposals will integrate various components in fully tested devices, demonstrating the usefulness and efficiency of their system in illustrative scenarios in the industrial and societal contexts. Proposals should focus on performant, reliable, miniaturised, interoperable advanced and innovative technologies, with inclusivity, energy consumption and energy efficiency at the centre of concerns. This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. The Consortium should pay attention to developing solutions that are reliable, robust and interoperable. Proposals should leverage existing open standards and technologies in the domain of Virtual Worlds, while contributing to ongoing standardisation work. Beneficiaries that intend to transfer ownership or grant an exclusive licence must formally notify the granting authority (i.e. DG-CNECT and HaDEA) before the intended transfer or licensing takes place and the granting authority may up to four years after the end of the action object to a transfer of ownership or the exclusive licensing of results. We consider that proposals with an overall duration of typically 36 months would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other durations. This topic implements the co-programmed European Partnership on Virtual Worlds. null Activities are expected to start at TRL 3 and achieve TRL 5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Show more Topic destination Digital and industrial technologies driving human-centric innovation (2026-27) Through the European Partnership on Virtual Worlds, Europe will drive investment in advanced hardware, immersive interaction, and seamless integration across the Telco-Cloud-to-Edge continuum, enabling lifelike multisensory experiences and fully interoperable platforms. These efforts will enhance Europe’s capacity to innovate, deploy, and scale trustworthy virtual worlds, thereby strengthening competitiveness, resilience, and alignment with EU values.At the same time, a robust Web 4.0 architectural framework — underpinned by open-source solutions and shared standards — will be essential to ensure interoperability, decentralisation, and trust. By deepening Europe’s engagement in international digital standardisation, the Union will help shape global norms in line with its strategic interests, technological sovereignty, and core values. Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in both Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) falling under this destination. For additional information please see “Restrictions on the participation of legal entities established in China” found in General Annex B of the General Annexes. Show more Topic conditions and documents General conditions 1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System. 2. Eligible Countries described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. 3. Other Eligible Conditions Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks. Described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes. 4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes. 5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual. 5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes. 6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants The granting authority may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5. Described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme] Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA): Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System Standard application form (HE RIA, IA) Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA) Guidance HE Programme Guide Model Grant Agreements (MGA) HE MGA Call-specific instructions Additional documents: HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes HE Programme Guide HE Framework Programme 2021/695 HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement Show more Budget overview Topic Budget year : 2027 Stages Opening date Deadline Contributions Indicative number of grants HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA-03 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 35 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 17 500 000,00 € 2 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA-08 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 38 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 19 000 000,00 € 2 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DATA-09 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 39 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 10 000 000,00 € 3 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-04 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 42 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 14 000 000,00 € 3 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-05 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 18 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 18 000 000,00 € 1 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-06 - HORIZON-IA HORIZON Innovation Actions 3 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 1 500 000,00 € 2 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-10 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions 4 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 4 000 000,00 € 1 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-11 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 44 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 44 000 000,00 € 1 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-01 - HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions 39 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 4 800 000,00 € to 5 600 000,00 € 8 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-02 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions 3 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 3 000 000,00 € 1 HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-HUMAN-07 - HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions 7 000 000,00 € Single-stage 17 November 2026 18 March 2027 around 7 000 000,00 € 1 Items per page: 10 50 100 Showing 1–11 of 11 Partner search announcements 69 Searches of partners to collaborate on this topic View / Edit LEARs, Account Administrators or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into this Portal, as well as any user having an active public Person profile. Start submission The submission system is planned to be opened on the date stated on the topic header. Topic Q&As0 item(s) found General FAQ Get support Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application. Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant. Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe. Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management. Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular. National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’). 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