Adapting to and mitigating demographic trends in rural areas through evidence-based planning and innovative solutions
Funds research and pilots that help rural communities plan for and adapt to demographic decline and ageing populations.
Adapting to and mitigating demographic trends in rural areas through evidence-based planning and innovative solutions is a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action from the European Commission that funds research and pilots helping rural communities plan for and adapt to demographic decline and ageing populations. It is evaluated in a single-stage round, with the Commission expecting to fund β¦
Proposals must study the causes and the social, economic and environmental effects of shrinking, ageing rural populations β including gender and intersectional differences and the impact of land abandonment β and build evidence-based strategies covering planning, monitoring of population swings, and concrete responses local communities can use. Work must test, develop and pilot innovative, co-created services that respond to a changing population, support strategic sectors and job creation, and pay particular attention to rural areas most exposed to climate change. Proposals must also build a digital, accessible tool that helps local and regional decision-makers assess demographic impact and plan ahead, and must build on the EU Rural Observatory's research and the Commission's demographic-change toolbox.
Sign up free to see the funding breakdown
Sign up free to see the industries in scope
Sign up free to see the full eligibility
Sign up free to see how to apply
Sign up free to see what you submit
Sign up free to see the timeline
Sign up free to see where teams trip up
Guides for this application
All guides βHorizon 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.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
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 βCoordination for Cross-Sector Nuclear Technologies
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union
Funds coordination of European nuclear research platforms across energy, medicine, space, maritime uses and radiation protection.
Euratom Radiation Protection Partnership (PIANOFORTE)
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union
Funds PIANOFORTEβs 2026-27 continuation, an EU radiation-safety research partnership β only for its current members and any partner who joins them.
European Stable Isotopes for Nuclear Medicine
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· 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
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union
Funds a β¬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
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union
Funds four β¬7.1M projects that make battery electrode materials cleaner to produce β via greener refining or plant-based sourcing instead of mined graphite.
Horizon Buildings: Whole Life Carbon Data Platforms
πͺπΊEuropean Commission Β· European Union
Funds three β¬5.25M projects that plug embodied and operational carbon data into building certificates, passports and BIM tools.
Similar grants
Browse the directory βFFG General Programme
π¦πΉFFG Β· Austria
Offers Austrian companies broad, cross-sector innovation support through flexible grants and loans.
Development Project (Ontwikkelingsproject)
π§πͺVLAIO Β· Belgium
Funds Flemish firms advancing development-stage prototypes, pilot demonstrations, and commercialization preparation.
Research Project (Onderzoeksproject)
π§πͺVLAIO Β· Belgium
Funds Flemish companies with industrial-research grants for project-driven innovation and applied commercial development.
POLNORIS
π΅π±NCBR Β· Poland
Funds Polish-led research consortia teamed with an Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway partner.
POLNORIS Call
π΅π±NCBR Β· Poland
Funds Polish-led research consortia teamed with an Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway partner.
FFG Frontrunner
π¦πΉFFG Β· Austria
Funds Austrian start-ups and scale-ups building transformative innovation with Frontrunner-style support.