Briefly
Program description
The grant program is implemented within the ODEON project and supports activities aligned with its scope.
ODEON aims to enable the digital transformation of the energy sector by establishing an inclusive ecosystem based on a federated technological framework. A key component is the ODEON Cloud-Edge Data and Intelligence Service Platform, which orchestrates data, intelligence, and services.
Key features of the program include:
- integration of secure data management and intelligent services for energy value chain actors;
- support for renewable energy integration and distributed energy flexibility;
- development of innovative data-driven services in the energy domain.
The project outcomes are validated across five large-scale demonstration sites in Greece, Spain, France, Denmark, and Ireland, ensuring adaptability across different grid contexts.
Main Information
Eligibility
Within the ODEON grant program, eligibility requirements are clearly defined:
- only single legal entities (no consortia) are eligible to apply;
- applicants may include SMEs and must be legally registered before the call deadline;
- entities must be established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries;
- the team cannot include entities linked by capital.
Additional restrictions:
- applicants subject to EU restrictive measures are not eligible;
- ODEON partners and their affiliated entities cannot participate;
- individuals linked to the project consortium (employees, contractors, board members) are also excluded if involved in project implementation.
Financing
Within the grant program, funding conditions, scope, and payment structure are clearly defined:
- the maximum grant amount is up to EUR 60,000 per project;
- funding covers 100% of the proposed budget;
- the total call budget is EUR 1,200,000, supporting up to 20 projects.
The grant is provided as a lump sum, but payments are disbursed in stages based on performance:
- stage 1 (planning and design) — 15% (up to EUR 9,000);
- stage 2 (service development) — 50% (up to EUR 30,000);
- stage 3 (validation and impact assessment) — 35% (up to EUR 21,000).
The total funding period is 10 months, and payments depend on the timely and successful completion of each stage.
Supported Activities
Within the ODEON grant program, supported activities focus on developing data-driven energy solutions:
- activities include design, development, validation, and deployment of innovative energy services and applications;
- solutions must be built on the ODEON Cloud-Edge Data and Intelligence Service Platform;
- projects must address defined challenges and respond to the needs of end-users such as network operators, energy communities, and consumers.
Key areas of support include:
- monitoring, governance, and lifecycle management of energy systems;
- development of edge technologies and data processing solutions;
- tools for load forecasting and grid optimization;
- use of AI for energy data analytics;
- development of smart grids and V2G technologies;
- support for local energy communities (LECs);
- improving reliability and performance of distributed energy resources;
- ensuring data interoperability and advancing energy AI services.
Roadmap
The roadmap of the grant program defines key submission timelines and the duration of support:
- submission opens on 8 April 2026 at 09:00 (Brussels time);
- the submission deadline is 9 July 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time);
- the support programme duration is up to 10 months.
The grant is delivered together with the ODEON Support Programme, providing guidance throughout the project implementation period.
How to Apply
The application process for the ODEON grant program is conducted through an online form and includes several evaluation stages:
- applications are accepted only via the online form before the official deadline;
- applicants receive an email confirmation once the submission is completed successfully.
The evaluation process includes:
- admissibility and eligibility check;
- in/out scope screening;
- independent expert evaluation;
- consensus group and consensus meeting;
- final selection and project pitching (Jury Day);
- formal checks and grant agreement signature;
- ongoing monitoring through milestone reviews.
The evaluation process is transparent and ensures that applicants are informed about results as they become available.
Evaluation Criteria
The evaluation of applications under the ODEON program follows a multi-stage process with defined criteria and a scoring system.
Evaluation stages include:
- initial check — verification of compliance with formal requirements (non-compliant applications are rejected);
- in/out scope screening — assessment of alignment with project scope and European dimension;
- independent evaluation — each application is reviewed by two independent experts;
- consensus phase — alignment of scores or involvement of an additional evaluator;
- final stage — project pitching (Jury Day) and final decision.
Evaluation criteria include:
- Excellence — innovation, ambition, technological relevance, and soundness of methodology;
- Impact — market potential, scalability, and contribution to energy and sustainability goals;
- Implementation — team capacity, management, and execution capability.
Scoring system:
- each criterion is scored from 0 to 5;
- minimum threshold per criterion is 3 points;
- overall threshold is 10 points (sum of all criteria).
Additional considerations:
- a third evaluator may be involved in case of scoring discrepancies;
- in case of ties, priority is given to higher Impact scores and gender balance in the team;
- the final decision is made by the Selection Committee, which may reject proposals based on justified reasons.
Reporting and Compliance
Within the ODEON grant program, reporting and progress evaluation requirements are clearly defined:
- payments are made based on achieved results, not on submitted financial receipts;
- project progress is regularly assessed by the Selection Committee.
At the initial stage:
- within the first month, an Individual Mentoring Plan (IMP) must be prepared, including budget, KPIs, and deliverables;
- the IMP is evaluated based on deliverables quality (90%) and deadline compliance (10%).
Before each payment, milestone reviews are conducted:
- evaluation is based on deliverables (30%), technical and business KPIs (60%), and deadline compliance (10%);
- each criterion is scored from 0 to 10;
- a minimum score of 7 points is required to continue in the program.
The evaluation involves technical and, where applicable, ethics experts.
Legal Terms
Within the ODEON grant program, several legal conditions govern data management, intellectual property, and participant obligations:
- issues not covered by the call are governed by Polish law, Horizon Europe rules, and EU grant regulations;
- applicants are responsible for identifying confidential information, while applications may be shared with external evaluators and consortium partners;
- applicants retain intellectual property rights (IPR) over their results;
- in cases of joint results with ODEON partners, a separate joint ownership agreement must be concluded.
Additional conditions include:
- project results should, where possible, be made available as open source and integrated into the ODEON ecosystem;
- signing the sub-grant agreement establishes obligations related to confidentiality, EU funding visibility, and potential audits;
- eligibility criteria are checked throughout the process, including final review stages;
- in case of inconsistencies, the main guide prevails over annexes;
- the ODEON Consortium reserves the right to modify or cancel the call at any time.