Horizon Europe CL2 DEMOCRACY-10: digital and media literacy for civic resilience
Verified by the editorial team 29 September 2026
Updated Added topic budget, action type, research scope, 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 research on digital and media literacy as a basis for democratic and civic resilience. The topic calls for a multi-actor approach involving civil society, schools and communities. The call closed on 23 September 2026.
About the call
A Horizon Europe Cluster 2 research and innovation topic on how digital and media literacy helps societies resist disinformation, foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) and hybrid threats. Projects should study how people seek and evaluate information online and offline, how algorithms amplify emotive content and polarisation, and develop strategies to counter manipulative narratives.
Research should critically assess existing media literacy initiatives and propose new approaches for educators and policymakers, including through social network analysis and natural language processing. Particular attention goes to vulnerable groups most affected by crises. The topic explicitly names civil society organisations, schools, youth initiatives and local communities as key actors.
It is a Research and Innovation Action funded as a lump sum; the JRC may join a selected consortium without funding. Submission ran from 12 May to 23 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time; the portal reports 157 proposals.
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
What the funds are for
- Research on user behaviour in the information space
- Analysis of algorithms in polarisation and disinformation
- Assessment of existing media literacy initiatives
- New digital and media literacy strategies
- Computational tools to track disinformation
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-10
- 4Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 23.09.2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Questions and answers
- Could a Ukrainian NGO apply to DEMOCRACY-10 on its own?
- A consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU or associated countries is required, at least one in the EU. Ukrainian NGOs can be part of it, as Ukraine is associated to Horizon Europe.
- What role does the DEMOCRACY-10 topic give to civil society organisations?
- The topic calls for a multi-actor approach and explicitly names civil society organisations, schools, youth initiatives and local communities as key actors.
Change history
- Updated: Added topic budget, action type, research scope, 17:00 deadline time and proposal count; call is closed.
Donor contacts
Website: rea.ec.europa.eu
