International cooperation in AI (IA)
Horizon Europe · Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space · HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-06
Funding to adapt and deploy AI solutions with local innovation hubs in African low- and middle-income countries.
This call is announced but not open yet. Dates and conditions can still change.
What is this call about?
The topic funds innovation actions that adapt and deploy AI solutions with local innovation hubs in African low- and middle-income countries, using local data and living labs.
What does this call fund?
Scope
The innovation action supports prototyping, testing, validation and demonstration of AI solutions in operational environments to strengthen local AI ecosystems in African countries. It aims to adapt solutions and capabilities developed in Europe to low- and middle-income countries and to speed up their uptake by local innovation hubs, in line with EU initiatives such as the International Digital Strategy, the AI Continent Action Plan and the Global Gateway.
What proposals must support
- Gathering of and access to local data for training and optimising existing AI algorithms, such as those from AI for Public Good and GenAI for Africa.
- Living labs within local innovation hubs where communities, researchers, entrepreneurs and policymakers co-create and test AI solutions.
- Bottom-up AI solutions shaped by the needs of low-income communities and trained on local data.
- Contributions, where possible, to global challenges such as climate, agriculture, biodiversity, health, humanitarian needs and education.
- Talent pipelines and transfer of AI solutions to local hubs, full real-life validation, and initial support for large-scale deployment.
Expected outcomes
Faster uptake of AI solutions at innovation hubs in low- and middle-income countries, easier large-scale deployment, and stronger local innovation ecosystems.
Technology readiness
Activities start at TRL 5 and reach TRL 7.
What are the key facts?
- Topic budget
- €3,000,000
- Funding per project
- €1,500,000
- Call code
- HORIZON-CL4-2027-04-DIGITAL-EMERGING-06
- Programme
- Horizon Europe
- Expected number of projects
- 2
Who can apply for this call?
- Proposals must support digital partnerships and international digital cooperation through the activities listed in the topic.
- Beneficiaries that intend to transfer ownership of results or grant an exclusive licence must notify the granting authority beforehand; it may object for up to four years after the action ends.
Check your eligibility and how your project fits
In your free account, we check the eligibility conditions against the call documents for your organisation and assess how well your project fits this call.
When is the deadline?
18 March 2027 (132 days)
18 March 2027 (single-stage submission).
Interested in this call? Summary written with AI from the official call documents. Details can differ, so check the official call page before you apply. Read the official call documents before you decide. The official text is always binding.
Source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the official call documents. Official call page Last updated 6 October 2026.