The DRG4Food #2 call for applications welcomes multidisciplinary consortia of 2 to 3 entities, including start-ups, SMEs, research organisations, universities, technology adopters and users from the food sector, in particular NGOs and consumer associations.

The main objective of DRG4Food's #2 call for applications is to enable the development and testing of responsible data-based solutions in key areas of the sector food These include food monitoring, targeted nutrition and improving consumers' dietary decisions.

The calls for applications echo the fundamental objectives of DRG4Food:

• Objective 1: To create a roadmap for a new A data-driven food system based on the principles of openness, sovereignty, equity and trust.
• Objective 2: To pave the way for a new paradigm for successful data-driven food applications, anchored in principles of openness, user orientation, sovereignty and trust, from ideation to exploitation.
• Objective 3: Develop catalysts of human-centred, decentralised and trustworthy electronic food systems based on basic technologies.
• Objective 4: Demonstrate innovative services and applications within a virtual food system.

DRG4Food Open Call #2 Challenge areas

These areas are described to clarify the expectations for DRG4Food Open Call #2, together with illustrative examples. It is important to note that these examples serve as clarifications rather than limitations, offering guidance to better understand the expectations without limiting the scope to these aspects or technologies alone.

• Food tracking
  • This area focuses on digital solutions linked to food traceability, encompassing the entire food system from farm to fork. Technological proposals in this context must take into account both environmental aspects such as CO2 emissions, waste production and water and land use, as well as societal considerations such as a fair income for farmers.
• Targeted nutrition
  • This challenge area focuses on certain catalysts aimed at developing and providing dietary recommendations and nutritional targeted through a personalised approach towards healthier diets. This approach takes into account a range of personal variables, including behavioural and emotional factors associated with food consumption, individual food preferences and limits, lifestyle choices, and so on.
• Consumer food choices
  • This challenge area focuses on the basic drivers that can improve consumers' literacy and knowledge about the consequences of their food choices. The aim is to enable consumers make healthier and more sustainable food choices, while ensuring that these options remain affordable and delicious.

Information on funding

• The total funding pool for the DRG4Food open calls is €1,900,000, provided on a non-equity basis.
• The budget allocated to the #2 open call is €973,134.50.
• The minimum budget that applicants can request is €150,000, with a maximum limit of €300,000, at a financing rate of 100%.

Eligible Countries

Eligibility is limited to candidates legally established in the following countries, collectively referred to as "Eligible Countries":

• The Member States (MS) of the European Union (EU), including their outermost regions.
• Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to Member States ;
• Countries associated with Horizon Europe at the time DRG4Food signed the grant agreement with the European Research Executive Agency (REA) (December 2022): Albania, Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye.
• Participants (other third countries) from low- and middle-income countries are automatically eligible for funding, according to the list of countries participating in Horizon Europe, from January 2023.

Types of candidates

• DRG4Food's open call #2 invites consortia of 2 to 3 partners, each led by a designated coordinator. Consortium partners must be legally established in at least two different countries, with at least one partner from an EU Member State and others from all eligible countries.
• The following types of entity may apply together within a consortium:
  • Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups.
  • Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and Universities, and other not-for-profit research organisations: Open to public and private entities that focus on research and technology advancement, while addressing significant challenges related to openness, user orientation, sovereignty and trust.
  • Adopters/users of technologies in the food sector: Includes civil society institutions such as NGOs and consumer associations interested in testing and validating innovative solutions that meet their needs and digital responsibility objectives.
• Consortium requirements
  • To be eligible, consortia must be made up of 2 to 3 legally established entities. Consortium partners must be legally established in at least two different countries, with at least one partner from an EU Member State and others from all eligible countries.
  • Together, they must demonstrate their ability to engage users and contribute to the mission of advancing digital transformation and data-driven innovation, with a focus on data rights and digital responsibility objectives. Where there are 3 partners, the third partner may be an SME (or startup), an NGO or a consumer association (but three SMEs are not eligible).
  • Natural or legal persons applying alone are not eligible.

For further information, go to DRG4FOOD.