Fighting against disinformation while ensuring the right to freedom of expression

The main goal of this opportunity is to support research and innovation projects that help combat disinformation while protecting fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and academic freedom. The focus is on equipping EU institutions, national decision-makers, practitioners, and civil society organizations to prevent and address mis- and disinformation. Projects should explore the drivers behind conflicting narratives and examine how digital media regulation can shape public opinion without infringing on citizens' rights. Key areas include strengthening democratic governance, promoting EU values, increasing the resilience of democracies, and tackling issues like extremism and hate speech. The opportunity is open to EU countries, associated countries, and some non-EU/non-associated countries with specific provisions for participation.

• Projects must follow the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes rules.
• Proposals must not exceed 50 pages for Part B of the Research and Innovation (RIA) application.
• A detailed budget table using the official template must be included.
• Projects should involve a broad range of stakeholders, such as public bodies, policymakers, media organizations, civil society, and entities affected by digital media regulations.
• Proposals must apply FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles and utilize European Research Infrastructures.

Examples of admissible projects:

• A project involving universities, media outlets, and civil society groups to develop tools that detect and counter online disinformation campaigns.
• An initiative led by public authorities and research institutes to study the impact of digital media regulation on freedom of expression and public debate.
• A collaboration between policymakers, journalists, and technology providers to design educational materials that promote media literacy and democratic values.

• Personnel costs for researchers, project managers, and staff.
• Costs for equipment, tools, and software needed for project activities.
• Travel and accommodation expenses for project meetings, workshops, and conferences.
• Subcontracting of specific tasks that cannot be performed by project partners.
• Costs for dissemination, communication, and publication of results.
• Expenses related to stakeholder engagement and outreach activities.
• Data management and storage costs in line with FAIR principles.
• Training and capacity-building activities for project participants.
• Administrative and overhead costs as specified in the lump sum contribution.

Restrictions: All expenses must be directly linked to the project objectives and comply with the lump sum funding rules specified by Horizon Europe.

• Budget for this Call: 10.500.000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 3
• Budget per project: 3.500.000€
• Minimum value per project: 3.000.000€

• Applicants must be based in an EU country, an associated country, or a non-EU/non-associated country with special provisions for participation.
• Applications must be submitted in line with the requirements of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
• Proposals should involve a diverse consortium, including relevant stakeholders such as public bodies, media organizations, and civil society.
• A detailed project plan and budget must be provided using the official templates.
• Applicants must demonstrate how they will apply FAIR data principles and use European Research Infrastructures.
• Eligibility may depend on forming networks or partnerships with other organizations.
• Further eligibility details can be found in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and Annex B of the Work Programme.