Call for Pilots: European Data Space for Smart Communities

The pilots are set to build on and evolve the governance and technical blueprint established by the cross-sectorial data space preparatory action (DS4SSCC action), which comes out of the joint efforts of the Living-in.EU movement and which represents all local governments in the EU through relevant networks and EU institutions.

The scope of the Data Space for Smart Communities includes alignment with the overall “2030 Digital Decade” EU policy initiative and related specific legislative initiatives, such as the Interoperable Europe Act. It is one of the Common European Data Spaces envisioned by the EU Data Strategy and works closely with the Data Spaces Support Centre (DSSC), especially on cross-sectorial aspects such as minimal interoperability.

The pilots will provide feedback from practice as more firm guidance is put into regulatory instruments, such as requirements for procurement, operation, and reporting, starting from a baseline of high-value datasets to add value by using data from different domains and models. This initiative aims to foster innovation towards a more resilient Europe, supporting local businesses and ecosystems, and emphasising ethical considerations and AI-enabled local solutions, thereby enhancing the conditions for citizens and communities across Europe.

Scope

• The pilot consortia must create new data services from the data sharing across at least two areas specified below, but can also include other European Green Deal domains:
  • predictive traffic management/sustainable mobility planning, establishing also synergies with the mobility data space and making use of the Sustainable Urban Mobility Indicators, where appropriate;
  • data-services related to weather, climate and extreme weather events to facilitate risk prevention, disaster resilience as well as climate change adaptation;
  • management of energy flows in a city/community specific context and in conjunction with other sectors;
  • zero pollution actions (e.g., air, water, soil pollution or waste);
  • and any other domain falling under the New European Bauhaus initiative (urban design, building management, public services, nature-based solutions, amongst others.

Funding Information

• Each pilot is planned to be funded with 1 to 1½ million euros by EU contribution to share amongst the consortium members of the pilot. If justified, this can also be less than 1 million euro. The funding should be balanced proportionally amongst the pilot sites, and one partner can receive a maximum of 1 million euro as grant (this also applies when applying for more than one pilot or in following open call rounds). The total EU contribution for the DS4SSCC-DEP pilots is 15.3 million euros, which is planned to be distributed to around 12 chosen pilot consortiums.

Why Apply?

• Be placed at the forefront of innovative smart community development in Europe.
• Enter into an expansive network of European communities, experts and policymakers.
• Be recognised as leading examples of sustainable and smart urban development.
• Receive support and guidance in aligning with the DS4SSCC blueprint and federating with other data spaces in Europe.
• Directly contribute to the shaping of Europe’s green and digital future.

Who can Apply?

• The pilot call is specifically designed for local public administrations in the EU and Digital Europe Programme (DEP) Associated countries and partners working with them (e.g., companies, civil society organisations, academia). The consortia must be capable of executing a cross-sectorial and cross-border pilot activity, and co-finance at least 50% of the pilot activity.
• Consortia Eligibility Criteria:
  • Eligible consortia must consist of at least two local or regional public administrations from different EU member states and/or DEP Associated countries, promoting cross-sectoral collaboration and dealing with the European Green Deal objectives.
  • The local administrations can also involve other eligible parties working with them (e.g., companies, academia, civil society organisations and others).
  • The pilot consortium members are subject to restrictions due to security reasons. Entities must not be controlled by an ineligible country. If there is a risk for such case, entities will be offered an opportunity to provide a guarantee.
  • All entities (except entities that are validated as public bodies by the EU countries) have to fill in and submit an Ownership Control Declaration (OCD). OCD must be self-declared at proposal time, and if the pilot is awarded, the official OCD must be provided within 14 days from the notification date. If a chosen pilot consortium member is found, after assessment, to be controlled by a partner from a non-EU country, they will need to present a guarantee that will be assessed to allow or exclude participation in the pilot project. If a partner is found to be controlled by a DEP-associated country, they will also have to prepare a guarantee that will need to be assessed to allow or not allow their participation in the pilot.

For more information, visit EC.