Develop Open Call (PoliRuralPlus)

Objectives of the Call

To fund applied, small-scale innovation projects that address specific rural-urban challenges in PoliRuralPlus pilot regions while contributing to the technical advancement of the project. Funded projects must:

• Develop and deploy practical, place-based digital applications aligned with PoliRuralPlus pilot-specific objectives (Section 2.4 of the Guidelines for Applicants).
• Translate promising concepts into action, moving from ideation to implementation by funding pilot activities that apply advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), geographic information systems (GIS), or data-driven decision tools.
• Be designed to be compatible with the PoliRuralPlus digital tools (Chapter 4 of the Guidelines for Applicants) and technical frameworks, allowing for smooth integration if required, including licensing and communication compatibility.
• Demonstrate replicability and scalability, showing how proposed solutions could be adapted and applied across other regions or contexts in the EU.
• Support the principles and values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) by promoting sustainability, inclusion, and aesthetics in the development of rural-urban solutions.
• Ensure that all data collected during implementation is incorporated into PoliRuralPlus tools, including the JackDaw platform and related AI components, to enhance decision-making capabilities and generate stronger project-wide results.

Projects funded under the Develop Call are expected to deliver the following results:

• Operational digital applications tailored to pilot-specific rural-urban challenges, deployed and tested in real or near-real conditions within one or more PoliRuralPlus pilot regions.
• Demonstrated integration of advanced technologies (e.g. AI, ML, GIS, IoT, or data analytics) that provide tangible added value to rural-urban development processes.
• Interoperability with PoliRuralPlus digital tools (as described in Chapter 4), including successful data integration with the Jackdaw GeoAI Chatbot.
• Transferable methodologies or documentation outlining how the application can be replicated or scaled in other contexts or regions, ideally in the form of user guides, APIs, or open standards.
• Structured contribution of collected data into the PoliRuralPlus data ecosystem, enhancing the AI components and decision-support functionalities of the project.
• Evidence of stakeholder engagement, showing how end users (e.g. local authorities, SMEs, NGOs) contributed to and benefited from the application’s development and deployment.
• Visible alignment with New European Bauhaus (NEB) values, illustrated through design, accessibility, and inclusive stakeholder involvement

Applicants to the Develop Call are strongly encouraged to incorporate one or more technologies developed within PoliRuralPlus into their proposed digital applications. These tools are designed to support data-driven decision-making, promote stakeholder engagement, and enable the practical deployment of innovative rural-urban solutions.

Who can apply?

1. Type of entities: Any type of entity can apply for the Develop call funding as long as they have the operational and financial capacity to carry out the tasks that they propose.
2. Individual or consortium applications: Single applicants or consortia of up to three entities are eligible to apply. In the case of consortia, one partner must act as the lead applicant (hereinafter referred to as the Coordinator). The contract for provisioning of financing will be concluded only with the Coordinator, who will be responsible for making internal arrangements within the consortium (e.g. a consortium agreement), distributing the funds, and coordinating reporting. All members of the consortium must be eligible under the same conditions listed here.
3. Eligible countries: Applicants must be legally established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country as outlined by the Horizon Europe rules.