Horizon Europe CL2 DEMOCRACY-04: sustainable pathways to media viability
Verified by the editorial team 29 September 2026
Updated Added action type (Innovation Action), the mandatory news media partner, topic budget, 17:00 deadline time and proposal count; call is closed.
Summary
EUR 3.5-4 million per consortium project (topic budget EUR 12 million, 3 projects expected) for new business models and digital tools that keep news media viable. This is an Innovation Action and the consortium must include at least one news media organisation. The call closed on 23 September 2026.
About the call
This Horizon Europe Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) topic targets the digital transformation of news media and sustainable financing for independent journalism. Projects should help citizens recognise content produced to journalistic standards, build AI services and new revenue streams for newsrooms, and engage influencers and other online creators in more transparent handling of information.
Areas include trust indicators and browser plugins, recommender systems that show multiple views, dynamic paywalls, advertising and metadata tools, joint industry standards and pan-European platforms. The consortium must include at least one news media organisation; participation of media researchers, tech companies and social sciences and humanities is strongly encouraged.
It is an Innovation Action funded as a lump sum. Submission ran from 12 May to 23 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time; the portal reports 35 proposals for this topic. Ukrainian organisations take part on equal terms with EU partners, as Ukraine is associated to the programme.
Who can apply
- A consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU or associated countries, at least one in the EU
- Ukrainian NGOs, charities, universities and institutions (Ukraine is associated to Horizon Europe)
- Research centres, public bodies and other organisations within the consortium
Who cannot apply
- Consortia without a news media organisation
- Single organisations outside a consortium
What the funds are for
- Trust indicators and tools to recognise quality journalism
- Recommender systems that prioritise trusted sources
- AI services and new revenue models for media
- Advertising systems, paywalls and metadata tools
- Pan-European platforms and shared standards
- Research on audience behaviour and trust in news
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
How to apply
- 1Create an EU Login and register the organisation (get a PIC)
- 2Join a consortium with partners from EU and associated countries
- 3Prepare Part A, Part B and the detailed lump sum budget table for topic DEMOCRACY-04
- 4Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 23.09.2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Questions and answers
- Could Ukrainian organisations take part in the DEMOCRACY-04 topic?
- Yes. Ukraine is associated to the programme, so Ukrainian organisations take part on equal terms with EU partners.
- Is a media organisation required in a DEMOCRACY-04 consortium?
- Yes. The consortium must include at least one news media organisation; consortia without one cannot apply.
Change history
- Updated: Added action type (Innovation Action), the mandatory news media partner, topic budget, 17:00 deadline time and proposal count; call is closed.
Donor contacts
Website: rea.ec.europa.eu
