Drive the evolution of the internet towards open and interoperable Web 4.0 and Virtual Worlds: building blocks in priority areas (RIA) (Virtual Worlds Partnership)
Funds up to nine projects, worth EUR 1–3 million each, to build open-source Web 4.0 building blocks in digital identity, software supply chain security, open hardware or decentralised platforms, with up to 15% of each budget re-granted to third-party developers.
Consortia submit a Research and Innovation Action proposal by the single-stage deadline; the Commission funds nine projects from this topic's EUR 14.5 million budget, with at least one winner per priority area. Winning consortiums may pass on up to 15% of their EU funding to third parties as grants of up to EUR 150,000 each, selected through their own open calls, and are expected to align with the…
The Commission wants early open-source demonstrations of Web 4.0 building blocks across five priority areas: EU Digital Identity Wallet tooling (such as Linux, cloud or laptop-based wallet implementations and eIDAS trust services for issuing and verifying electronic attestations), software supply-chain security (traceability, trust models and software bills of material, referencing the XZ Utils attack and the Cyber Resilience Act), open hardware chips (controllers, processors or network chips for immersive devices, industry or smart cities), decentralised alternatives to centralised platforms (such as instant messaging, app stores or productivity groupware), and Web 4.0 demonstrations for virtual worlds (interoperability, trust and token-based transactions across providers). Each proposal must pick and clearly identify one area, and at least one winner is guaranteed per area.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides →Horizon Europe Grants for Startups: A Founder Guide
A practical guide to Horizon Europe grants for startups, including EIC, consortia, eligibility, Funding & Tenders, TRL, budgets, and EU strategy.
DocumentsLetter of Support for Grant Applications: Template and Examples
Learn how to write and request a letter of support for a grant, with template structure, examples, reviewer logic, and common mistakes.
Find grantsGovernment Grants for Startups: What Deeptech Founders Should Know
A practical guide to government grants for startups, including Grants.gov, SBIR/STTR, state programs, eligibility, fit, timelines, and when to apply.
More from European Commission
All grants from this funder →Coordination for Cross-Sector Nuclear Technologies
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds coordination of European nuclear research platforms across energy, medicine, space, maritime uses and radiation protection.
Euratom Radiation Protection Partnership (PIANOFORTE)
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds PIANOFORTE’s 2026-27 continuation, an EU radiation-safety research partnership — only for its current members and any partner who joins them.
European Stable Isotopes for Nuclear Medicine
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds industrial production of stable isotopes needed for radionuclide therapies and a more resilient European medical supply chain.
Horizon Batteries: EV Recycling Pilot with India
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds a €9.4M lithium-ion battery recycling pilot line in India, matched to a separately funded Indian project on the same schedule.
Horizon Batteries: Sustainable Electrode Materials
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds four €7.1M projects that make battery electrode materials cleaner to produce — via greener refining or plant-based sourcing instead of mined graphite.
Horizon Buildings: Whole Life Carbon Data Platforms
🇪🇺European Commission · European Union
Funds three €5.25M projects that plug embodied and operational carbon data into building certificates, passports and BIM tools.
Similar grants
Browse the directory →
EIC Pathfinder Challenge: DeepRAP — Deep Reasoning, Abstraction and Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI
🇪🇺EIC · European Union
Supports cognitive AI development focused on trustworthy deep reasoning, abstraction, and planning capabilities.
Innovation Partnership Programme
🇮🇪Enterprise Ireland · Ireland
Supports Irish manufacturing and innovation projects through monthly Innovation Partnership windows.
RIVCircular Open Call — Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals
🇪🇸EISMEA · European Union
Offers RIVCircular Call Interregional Circular Economy Innovation Proposals for practical innovation and measurable results.
Enhancing resilience to wildfires in the wildland-urban interface
🇬🇧UKRI · United Kingdom
Collaborative research on wildfire resilience in the wildland-urban interface.
Accelerating adoption of quantum enabled sensing and PNT
🇬🇧Innovate UK · United Kingdom
Collaborative projects to address barriers to adopting quantum sensing and PNT.
DRIVE35 Supplier Readiness and Transformation Fund
🇬🇧WMCA · United Kingdom
Funds West Midlands businesses scaling EV supply-chain manufacturing capacity through capital grants.