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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEAA-s0s8ociated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
DIGITAL MGA — Multi & Mono: v1.0
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
CNECT.A – Artificial Intelligence Office
A.4 – Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination
GRANT AGREEMENT
Project 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0
PREAMBLE
This Agreement (‘the Agreement’) is between the following parties:
on the one part,
the European Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or
‘granting authority’),
and
on the other part,
1. ‘the coordinator’:
ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR), PIC 999813145,
established in U JEZU 525/4, LIBEREC IV-PERSTYN 460 01, Czechia,
and the following other beneficiaries, if they sign their ‘accession form’ (see Annex 3 and Article 40):
2. VUTS AS (VUTS), PIC 998726551, established in SVAROVSKA 619, LIBEREC RUZODOL
460 01, Czechia,
3. NARODNI KLASTROVA ASOCIACE (NCA), PIC 939904490, established in 28. října
1142/168, Ostrava - Mariánské Hory, OSTRAVA 709 00, Czechia,
4. CENTRUM INVESTIC ROZVOJE A INOVACI (CIRI), PIC 883107207, established in
SOUKENICKA 54 8, HRADEC KRALOVE 500 03, Czechia,
5. TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V LIBERCI (TUL), PIC 999856213, established in
STUDENTSKA 1402/2, LIBEREC 46117, Czechia,
6. UNIVERZITA HRADEC KRALOVE (UHK), PIC 999865719, established in
ROKITANSKEHO 62, HRADEC KRALOVE 500 03, Czechia,
Unless otherwise specified, references to ‘beneficiary’ or ‘beneficiaries’ include the coordinator and
affiliated entities (if any).
If only one beneficiary signs the grant agreement (‘mono-beneficiary grant’), all provisions referring
to the ‘coordinator’ or the ‘beneficiaries’ will be considered — mutatis mutandis — as referring to
the beneficiary.
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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEAA-s0s8ociated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
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The parties referred to above have agreed to enter into the Agreement.
By signing the Agreement and the accession forms, the beneficiaries accept the grant and agree to
implement the action under their own responsibility and in accordance with the Agreement, with all
the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
The Agreement is composed of:
Preamble
Terms and Conditions (including Data Sheet)
Annex 1 Description of the action1
Annex 2 Estimated budget for the action
Annex 2a Additional information on unit costs and contributions (if applicable)
Annex 3 Accession forms (if applicable)2
Annex 3a Declaration on joint and several liability of affiliated entities (if applicable)3
Annex 4 Model for the financial statements
Annex 5 Specific rules (if applicable)
1 Template published on Portal Reference Documents.
2 Template published on Portal Reference Documents.
3 Template published on Portal Reference Documents.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GRANT AGREEMENT.................................................................................................................................................... 1
PREAMBLE........................................................................................................................................................................1
TERMS AND CONDITIONS...........................................................................................................................................3
DATASHEET...................................................................................................................................................................... 8
CHAPTER 1 GENERAL..............................................................................................................................................13
ARTICLE 1 — SUBJECT OF THE AGREEMENT ..................................................................................... 13
ARTICLE 2 — DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................................13
CHAPTER 2 ACTION................................................................................................................................................. 14
ARTICLE 3 — ACTION................................................................................................................................. 14
ARTICLE 4 — DURATION AND STARTING DATE...................................................................................14
CHAPTER 3 GRANT...................................................................................................................................................14
ARTICLE 5 — GRANT...................................................................................................................................14
5.1 Form of grant......................................................................................................................................14
5.2 Maximum grant amount..................................................................................................................... 15
5.3 Funding rate........................................................................................................................................15
5.4 Estimated budget, budget categories and forms of funding.............................................................. 15
5.5 Budget flexibility................................................................................................................................15
ARTICLE 6 — ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS......................................16
6.1 General eligibility conditions............................................................................................................. 16
6.2 Specific eligibility conditions for each budget category................................................................... 17
6.3 Ineligible costs and contributions...................................................................................................... 21
6.4 Consequences of non-compliance...................................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER 4 GRANT IMPLEMENTATION............................................................................................................ 22
SECTION 1 CONSORTIUM: BENEFICIARIES, AFFILIATED ENTITIES AND OTHER
PARTICIPANTS........................................................................................................................................ 22
ARTICLE 7 — BENEFICIARIES................................................................................................................... 22
ARTICLE 8 — AFFILIATED ENTITIES....................................................................................................... 24
ARTICLE 9 — OTHER PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE ACTION................................................... 24
9.1 Associated partners.............................................................................................................................24
9.2 Third parties giving in-kind contributions to the action.................................................................... 24
9.3 Subcontractors.....................................................................................................................................25
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9.4 Recipients of financial support to third parties..................................................................................25
ARTICLE 10 — PARTICIPANTS WITH SPECIAL STATUS....................................................................... 25
10.1 Non-EU participants......................................................................................................................... 25
10.2 Participants which are international organisations...........................................................................26
10.3 Pillar-assessed participants............................................................................................................... 26
SECTION 2 RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION...........................................................................28
ARTICLE 11 — PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION............................................................ 28
11.1 Obligation to properly implement the action................................................................................... 28
11.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 28
ARTICLE 12 — CONFLICT OF INTERESTS.............................................................................................. 28
12.1 Conflict of interests.......................................................................................................................... 28
12.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 28
ARTICLE 13 — CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY............................................................................ 29
13.1 Sensitive information........................................................................................................................29
13.2 Classified information...................................................................................................................... 29
13.3 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 30
ARTICLE 14 — ETHICS AND VALUES...................................................................................................... 30
14.1 Ethics.................................................................................................................................................30
14.2 Values................................................................................................................................................ 30
14.3 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 30
ARTICLE 15 — DATA PROTECTION.......................................................................................................... 30
15.1 Data processing by the granting authority....................................................................................... 30
15.2 Data processing by the beneficiaries............................................................................................... 31
15.3 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 31
ARTICLE 16 — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) — BACKGROUND AND RESULTS —
ACCESS RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF USE................................................................................ 31
16.1 Background and access rights to background..................................................................................31
16.2 Ownership of results.........................................................................................................................32
16.3 Rights of use of the granting authority on materials, documents and information received for
policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes...................................32
16.4 Specific rules on IPR, results and background................................................................................ 33
16.5 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 33
ARTICLE 17 — COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND VISIBILITY............................................ 33
17.1 Communication — Dissemination — Promoting the action........................................................... 33
17.2 Visibility — European flag and funding statement......................................................................... 33
17.3 Quality of information — Disclaimer..............................................................................................34
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17.4 Specific communication, dissemination and visibility rules............................................................34
17.5 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 34
ARTICLE 18 — SPECIFIC RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION............................................... 35
18.1 Specific rules for carrying out the action........................................................................................ 35
18.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 35
SECTION 3 GRANT ADMINISTRATION......................................................................................................... 35
ARTICLE 19 — GENERAL INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS.................................................................... 35
19.1 Information requests......................................................................................................................... 35
19.2 Participant Register data updates..................................................................................................... 35
19.3 Information about events and circumstances which impact the action............................................35
19.4 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 36
ARTICLE 20 — RECORD-KEEPING............................................................................................................ 36
20.1 Keeping records and supporting documents.................................................................................... 36
20.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 37
ARTICLE 21 — REPORTING........................................................................................................................ 37
21.1 Continuous reporting........................................................................................................................ 37
21.2 Periodic reporting: Technical reports and financial statements....................................................... 37
21.3 Currency for financial statements and conversion into euros..........................................................38
21.4 Reporting language...........................................................................................................................39
21.5 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 39
ARTICLE 22 — PAYMENTS AND RECOVERIES — CALCULATION OF AMOUNTS DUE................. 39
22.1 Payments and payment arrangements.............................................................................................. 39
22.2 Recoveries......................................................................................................................................... 39
22.3 Amounts due.....................................................................................................................................40
22.4 Enforced recovery.............................................................................................................................44
22.5 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 45
ARTICLE 23 — GUARANTEES....................................................................................................................46
23.1 Prefinancing guarantee..................................................................................................................... 46
23.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 46
ARTICLE 24 — CERTIFICATES................................................................................................................... 46
24.1 Operational verification report (OVR).............................................................................................46
24.2 Certificate on the financial statements (CFS).................................................................................. 46
24.3 Certificate on the compliance of usual cost accounting practices (CoMUC).................................. 47
24.4 Systems and process audit (SPA).....................................................................................................47
24.5 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 48
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ARTICLE 25 — CHECKS, REVIEWS, AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS — EXTENSION OF
FINDINGS..................................................................................................................................... 48
25.1 Granting authority checks, reviews and audits................................................................................ 48
25.2 European Commission checks, reviews and audits in grants of other granting authorities..............49
25.3 Access to records for assessing simplified forms of funding.......................................................... 49
25.4 OLAF, EPPO and ECA audits and investigations........................................................................... 49
25.5 Consequences of checks, reviews, audits and investigations — Extension of results of reviews,
audits or investigations.................................................................................................................... 50
25.6 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 51
ARTICLE 26 — IMPACT EVALUATIONS................................................................................................... 51
26.1 Impact evaluation............................................................................................................................. 51
26.2 Consequences of non-compliance.................................................................................................... 52
CHAPTER 5 CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE.................................................................................. 52
SECTION 1 REJECTIONS AND GRANT REDUCTION.................................................................................52
ARTICLE 27 — REJECTION OF COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS...........................................................52
27.1 Conditions......................................................................................................................................... 52
27.2 Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 52
27.3 Effects............................................................................................................................................... 52
ARTICLE 28 — GRANT REDUCTION........................................................................................................ 52
28.1 Conditions......................................................................................................................................... 53
28.2 Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 53
28.3 Effects............................................................................................................................................... 53
SECTION 2 SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION............................................................................................53
ARTICLE 29 — PAYMENT DEADLINE SUSPENSION............................................................................. 53
29.1 Conditions......................................................................................................................................... 53
29.2 Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 54
ARTICLE 30 — PAYMENT SUSPENSION...................................................................................................54
30.1 Conditions......................................................................................................................................... 54
30.2 Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 54
ARTICLE 31 — GRANT AGREEMENT SUSPENSION..............................................................................55
31.1 Consortium-requested GA suspension............................................................................................. 55
31.2 EU-initiated GA suspension.............................................................................................................56
ARTICLE 32 — GRANT AGREEMENT OR BENEFICIARY TERMINATION......................................... 57
32.1 Consortium-requested GA termination............................................................................................ 57
32.2 Consortium-requested beneficiary termination................................................................................ 58
32.3 EU-initiated GA or beneficiary termination.................................................................................... 59
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SECTION 3 OTHER CONSEQUENCES: DAMAGES AND ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS............... 62
ARTICLE 33 — DAMAGES...........................................................................................................................62
33.1 Liability of the granting authority....................................................................................................62
33.2 Liability of the beneficiaries............................................................................................................ 62
ARTICLE 34 — ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES....................................... 63
SECTION 4 FORCE MAJEURE.......................................................................................................................... 63
ARTICLE 35 — FORCE MAJEURE.............................................................................................................. 63
CHAPTER 6 FINAL PROVISIONS...........................................................................................................................63
ARTICLE 36 — COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES...............................................................63
36.1 Forms and means of communication — Electronic management................................................... 63
36.2 Date of communication.................................................................................................................... 64
36.3 Addresses for communication.......................................................................................................... 64
ARTICLE 37 — INTERPRETATION OF THE AGREEMENT.....................................................................64
ARTICLE 38 — CALCULATION OF PERIODS AND DEADLINES..........................................................64
ARTICLE 39 — AMENDMENTS.................................................................................................................. 65
39.1 Conditions......................................................................................................................................... 65
39.2 Procedure.......................................................................................................................................... 65
ARTICLE 40 — ACCESSION AND ADDITION OF NEW BENEFICIARIES........................................... 65
40.1 Accession of the beneficiaries mentioned in the Preamble............................................................. 66
40.2 Addition of new beneficiaries.......................................................................................................... 66
ARTICLE 41 — TRANSFER OF THE AGREEMENT................................................................................. 66
ARTICLE 42 — ASSIGNMENTS OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AGAINST THE GRANTING
AUTHORITY.................................................................................................................................66
ARTICLE 43 — APPLICABLE LAW AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES.............................................. 67
43.1 Applicable law..................................................................................................................................67
43.2 Dispute settlement............................................................................................................................ 67
ARTICLE 44 — ENTRY INTO FORCE.........................................................................................................67
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DATA SHEET
1. General data
Project summary:
Project summary
The main objective of EDIH NEB 2.0 remains to support the digital transformation of SMEs, start-ups, mid-caps, and public entities
by providing high-quality services focused on advanced digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). The aim is to
enhance their competitiveness, operational capacity, and resilience by facilitating testing, deployment, and uptake of AI and other
digital solutions such as IoT, robotics and machine learning. A particular emphasis is placed on assisting public sector organisations,
including municipalities, regional authorities, social care providers, educational institutions, and other public bodies in adopting AI-
driven innovations that improve their efficiency. EDIH NEB 2.0 also acts as a first-line AI help desk, offering guidance on compliance
with the AI Act and referrals to relevant European AI infrastructures such as AI Factories, the AI-on-Demand Platform, and AI TEFs.
EDIH NEB 2.0 is a key component of the innovation infrastructure in the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions (CZ05 Northeast), where
it leverages strong institutional, industrial, and research capacities. In addition to its primary regional focus, EDIH NEB 2.0 extends its
services across the Czech Republic and maintains active cross-border cooperation especially within Euroregion Nisa and, to a lesser
extent, Euroregion Glacensis, fostering collaboration with partners in neighbouring regions of Germany and Poland. It also engages
in broader international cooperation within the EDIH network. By strengthening digital capacities and AI integration, EDIH NEB2.0
contributes not only to innovation and growth, but also to the long-term resilience of local economies and public services, enhancing their
ability to adapt to future challenges, disruptions, and strategic technological shifts. It acts as a regional engine for the broader European
AI innovation ecosystem and a trusted partner for the digital transformation of both businesses and the public sector.
Keywords:
– Artificial Intelligence & Decision support
– Digitization, SME, mid-caps, public service organisation, Education, Ecosystem buidling, Testbed, IoT, Smart,
Nanotechnology, Big Data, Robotics, e-government, Machine learning, Digital twins
Project number: 101256745
Project name: EDIH Northern and Eastern Bohemia 2.0
Project acronym: EDIH NEB 2.0
Call: DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08
Topic: DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08-CONSOLIDATION-STEP
Type of action: DIGITAL Simple Grants
Granting authority: European Commission-EU
Grant managed through EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Yes (eGrants)
Project starting date: fixed date: 1 May 2026
Project end date: 30 April 2029
Project duration: 36 months
Consortium agreement: Yes
2. Participants
List of participants:
N° Role Short name Legal name Ctry PIC Total Max grant
eligible costs amount
1 COO ARR ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL CZ 999813145 (BEN and AE)
2 BEN VUTS SRO CZ 998726551 490 646.36
981 292.72
VUTS AS
166 188.12 83 094.06
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N° Role Short name Legal name Ctry PIC Total Max grant
eligible costs amount
3 BEN NCA NARODNI KLASTROVA ASOCIACE CZ 939904490 (BEN and AE)
4 BEN CIRI CENTRUM INVESTIC ROZVOJE A INOVACI CZ 883107207 227 070.05
5 BEN TUL TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V LIBERCI CZ 999856213 454 140.10 101 519.46
6 BEN UHK UNIVERZITA HRADEC KRALOVE CZ 999865719 216 427.30
203 038.92 123 035.02
Total 1 241 792.25
432 854.59
246 070.04
2 483 584.49
Coordinator:
– ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR)
3. Grant
Maximum grant amount, total estimated eligible costs and contributions and funding rate:
Total eligible costs Funding rate Maximum grant amount Maximum grant amount
(BEN and AE) (%) (Annex 2) (award decision)
2 483 584.49 50 1 241 792.25 1 241 792.25
Grant form: Budget-based
Grant mode: Action grant
Budget categories/activity types:
- A. Personnel costs
- A.1 Employees, A.2 Natural persons under direct contract, A.3 Seconded persons
- A.4 SME owners and natural person beneficiaries
- B. Subcontracting costs
- C. Purchase costs
- C.1 Travel and subsistence
- C.2 Equipment
- C.3 Other goods, works and services
- D. Other cost categories
- D.2 Internally invoiced goods and services
- E. Indirect costs
Cost eligibility options:
- Standard supplementary payments
- Average personnel costs (unit cost according to usual cost accounting practices)
- Limitation for subcontracting
- Travel and subsistence:
- Travel: Actual costs
- Accommodation: Actual costs
- Subsistence: Actual costs
- Equipment: depreciation and full costs for listed equipment
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- Indirect cost flat-rate: 7% of the eligible direct costs (categories A-D, except volunteers costs and exempted
specific cost categories, if any)
- VAT: Yes
- Other ineligible costs
Budget flexibility: Yes (no flexibility cap)
4. Reporting, payments and recoveries
4.1 Continuous reporting (art 21)
Deliverables: see Funding & Tenders Portal Continuous Reporting tool
4.2 Periodic reporting and payments
Reporting and payment schedule (art 21, 22):
Reporting Payments
Month to
Reporting periods Type Deadline Type Deadline
Month from (time to pay)
RP No
Initial prefinancing 30 days from entry
into force/10 days
before starting date/
financial guarantee
(if required)
– whichever
is the latest
1 1 18 Periodic report 60 days after end Interim payment 90 days from
of reporting period receiving
periodic report
2 19 36 Periodic report 60 days after end Final payment 90 days from
of reporting period receiving
periodic report
Prefinancing payments and guarantees:
Prefinancing payment Prefinancing guarantee
Type Amount Guarantee Division per participant
amount
Prefinancing 1 (initial) 807 164.96 n/a 1 - ARR n/a
2 - VUTS n/a
3 - NCA n/a
4 - CIRI n/a
5 - TUL n/a
6 - UHK n/a
Reporting and payment modalities (art 21, 22):
Mutual Insurance Mechanism (MIM): No
Restrictions on distribution of initial prefinancing: The prefinancing may be distributed only if the minimum number of
beneficiaries set out in the call condititions (if any) have acceded to the Agreement and only to beneficiaries that have
acceded.
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Interim payment ceiling (if any): 90% of the maximum grant amount
No-profit rule: Yes
Late payment interest: ECB + 3.5%
Bank account for payments:
CZ3601000001313468950267 KOMBCZPPXXX
Conversion into euros: Double conversion
Reporting language: Language of the Agreement
4.3 Certificates (art 24):
Certificates on the financial statements (CFS):
Conditions:
Schedule: only at final payment, if threshold is reached
Standard threshold (beneficiary-level):
- financial statement: requested EU contribution to costs ≥ EUR 325 000.00
4.4 Recoveries (art 22)
First-line liability for recoveries:
Beneficiary termination: Beneficiary concerned
Final payment: Coordinator
After final payment: Beneficiary concerned
Joint and several liability for enforced recoveries (in case of non-payment):
Limited joint and several liability of other beneficiaries — up to the maximum grant amount of the beneficiary
Joint and several liability of affiliated entities — n/a
5. Consequences of non-compliance, applicable law & dispute settlement forum
Applicable law (art 43):
Standard applicable law regime: EU law + law of Belgium
Dispute settlement forum (art 43):
Standard dispute settlement forum:
EU beneficiaries: EU General Court + EU Court of Justice (on appeal)
Non-EU beneficiaries: Courts of Brussels, Belgium (unless an international agreement provides for the
enforceability of EU court judgements)
6. Other
Specific rules (Annex 5): Yes
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Standard time-limits after project end:
Confidentiality (for X years after final payment): 5
Record-keeping (for X years after final payment): 5 (or 3 for grants of not more than EUR 60 000)
Reviews (up to X years after final payment): 5 (or 3 for grants of not more than EUR 60 000)
Audits (up to X years after final payment): 5 (or 3 for grants of not more than EUR 60 000)
Extension of findings from other grants to this grant (no later than X years after final payment): 5 (or 3 for grants of
not more than EUR 60 000)
Impact evaluation (up to X years after final payment): 5 (or 3 for grants of not more than EUR 60 000)
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CHAPTER 1 GENERAL
ARTICLE 1 — SUBJECT OF THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement sets out the rights and obligations and terms and conditions applicable to the grant
awarded for the implementation of the action set out in Chapter 2.
ARTICLE 2 — DEFINITIONS
For the purpose of this Agreement, the following definitions apply:
Actions — The project which is being funded in the context of this Agreement.
Grant — The grant awarded in the context of this Agreement.
EU grants — Grants awarded by EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies (including EU executive
agencies, EU regulatory agencies, EDA, joint undertakings, etc.).
Participants — Entities participating in the action as beneficiaries, affiliated entities, associated
partners, third parties giving in-kind contributions, subcontractors or recipients of
financial support to third parties.
Beneficiaries (BEN) — The signatories of this Agreement (either directly or through an accession
form).
Affiliated entities (AE) — Entities affiliated to a beneficiary within the meaning of Article 190 of
EU Financial Regulation 2024/25094 which participate in the action with similar rights
and obligations as the beneficiaries (obligation to implement action tasks and right to
charge costs and claim contributions).
Associated partners (AP) — Entities which participate in the action, but without the right to charge
costs or claim contributions.
Purchases — Contracts for goods, works or services needed to carry out the action (e.g. equipment,
consumables and supplies) but which are not part of the action tasks (see Annex 1).
Subcontracting — Contracts for goods, works or services that are part of the action tasks (see Annex 1).
In-kind contributions — In-kind contributions within the meaning of Article 2(38) of EU Financial
Regulation 2024/2509, i.e. non-financial resources made available free of charge by
third parties.
4 For the definition, see Article 190 Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 of the European Parliament and of the Council
of 23 September 2024 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast) (‘EU Financial
Regulation’) (OJ L, 2024/2509, 26.9.2024): “affiliated entities [are]:
(a) entities that form a sole beneficiary [(i.e. where an entity is formed of several entities that satisfy the criteria for
being awarded a grant, including where the entity is specifically established for the purpose of implementing an
action to be financed by a grant)];
(b) entities that satisfy the eligibility criteria and that do not fall within one of the situations referred to in Article 138(1)
and 143(1) and that have a link with the beneficiary, in particular a legal or capital link, which is neither limited to
the action nor established for the sole purpose of its implementation”.
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Fraud — Fraud within the meaning of Article 3 of EU Directive 2017/13715 and Article 1 of the
Convention on the protection of the European Communities’ financial interests, drawn
up by the Council Act of 26 July 19956, as well as any other wrongful or criminal
deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
Irregularities — Any type of breach (regulatory or contractual) which could impact the EU
financial interests, including irregularities within the meaning of Article 1(2) of EU
Regulation 2988/957.
Grave professional misconduct — Any type of unacceptable or improper behaviour in exercising one’s
profession, especially by employees, including grave professional misconduct within
the meaning of Article 138(1)(c) of EU Financial Regulation 2024/25098.
Applicable EU, international and national law — Any legal acts or other (binding or non-binding)
rules and guidance in the area concerned.
Portal — EU Funding & Tenders Portal; electronic portal and exchange system managed by the
European Commission and used by itself and other EU institutions, bodies, offices
or agencies for the management of their funding programmes (grants, procurements,
prizes, etc.).
CHAPTER 2 ACTION
ARTICLE 3 — ACTION
The grant is awarded for the action 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘action’), as described in Annex 1.
ARTICLE 4 — DURATION AND STARTING DATE
The duration and the starting date of the action are set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 1).
CHAPTER 3 GRANT
ARTICLE 5 — GRANT
5.1 Form of grant
5 Directive (EU) 2017/1371 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2017 on the fight against fraud to
the Union’s financial interests by means of criminal law (OJ L 198, 28.7.2017, p. 29).
6 OJ C 316, 27.11.1995, p. 48.
7 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities
financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1).
8 ‘Professional misconduct’ includes, in particular, the following: violation of ethical standards of the profession;
wrongful conduct with impact on professional credibility; breach of generally accepted professional ethical standards;
false declarations/misrepresentation of information; participation in a cartel or other agreement distorting competition;
violation of IPR; attempting to influence decision-making processes by taking advantage, through misrepresentation,
of a conflict of interests, or to obtain confidential information from public authorities to gain an advantage; incitement
to discrimination, hatred or violence or similar activities contrary to the EU values where negatively affecting or risking
to affect the performance of a legal commitment.
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The grant is an action grant9 which takes the form of a budget-based mixed actual cost grant (i.e. a
grant based on actual costs incurred, but which may also include other forms of funding, such as unit
costs or contributions, flat-rate costs or contributions, lump sum costs or contributions or financing
not linked to costs).
5.2 Maximum grant amount
The maximum grant amount is set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 3) and in the estimated budget
(Annex 2).
5.3 Funding rate
The funding rate for costs is 50% of the action’s eligible costs.
Contributions are not subject to any funding rate.
5.4 Estimated budget, budget categories and forms of funding
The estimated budget for the action is set out in Annex 2.
It contains the estimated eligible costs and contributions for the action, broken down by participant
and budget category.
Annex 2 also shows the types of costs and contributions (forms of funding)10 to be used for each
budget category.
If unit costs or contributions are used, the details on the calculation will be explained in Annex 2a.
5.5 Budget flexibility
The budget breakdown may be adjusted — without an amendment (see Article 39) — by transfers
(between participants and budget categories), as long as this does not imply any substantive or
important change to the description of the action in Annex 1.
However:
- changes to the budget category for volunteers (if used) always require an amendment
- changes to budget categories with lump sums costs or contributions (if used; including
financing not linked to costs) always require an amendment
- changes to budget categories with higher funding rates or budget ceilings (if used) always
require an amendment
- addition of amounts for subcontracts not provided for in Annex 1 either require an amendment
or simplified approval in accordance with Article 6.2
9 For the definition, see Article 183(2)(a) EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509: ‘action grant’ means an EU grant to
finance “an action intended to help achieve a Union policy objective”.
10 See Article 125 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
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- other changes require an amendment or simplified approval, if specifically provided for in
Article 6.2
- flexibility caps: not applicable.
ARTICLE 6 — ELIGIBLE AND INELIGIBLE COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
In order to be eligible, costs and contributions must meet the eligibility conditions set out in this
Article.
6.1 General eligibility conditions
The general eligibility conditions are the following:
(a) for actual costs:
(i) they must be actually incurred by the beneficiary
(ii) they must be incurred in the period set out in Article 4 (with the exception of costs relating
to the submission of the final periodic report, which may be incurred afterwards; see
Article 21)
(iii) they must be declared under one of the budget categories set out in Article 6.2 and
Annex 2
(iv) they must be incurred in connection with the action as described in Annex 1 and necessary
for its implementation
(v) they must be identifiable and verifiable, in particular recorded in the beneficiary’s
accounts in accordance with the accounting standards applicable in the country where
the beneficiary is established and with the beneficiary’s usual cost accounting practices
(vi) they must comply with the applicable national law on taxes, labour and social security
and
(vii) they must be reasonable, justified and must comply with the principle of sound financial
management, in particular regarding economy and efficiency
(b) for unit costs or contributions (if any):
(i) they must be declared under one of the budget categories set out in Article 6.2 and
Annex 2
(ii) the units must:
- be actually used or produced by the beneficiary in the period set out in Article 4
(with the exception of units relating to the submission of the final periodic report,
which may be used or produced afterwards; see Article 21)
- be necessary for the implementation of the action and
(iii) the number of units must be identifiable and verifiable, in particular supported by records
and documentation (see Article 20)
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(c) for flat-rate costs or contributions (if any):
(i) they must be declared under one of the budget categories set out in Article 6.2 and
Annex 2
(ii) the costs or contributions to which the flat-rate is applied must:
- be eligible
- relate to the period set out in Article 4 (with the exception of costs or contributions
relating to the submission of the final periodic report, which may be incurred
afterwards; see Article 21)
(d) for lump sum costs or contributions (if any):
(i) they must be declared under one of the budget categories set out in Article 6.2 and
Annex 2
(ii) the work must be properly implemented by the beneficiary in accordance with Annex 1
(iii) the deliverables/outputs must be achieved in the period set out in Article 4 (with the
exception of deliverables/outputs relating to the submission of the final periodic report,
which may be achieved afterwards; see Article 21)
(e) for unit, flat-rate or lump sum costs or contributions according to usual cost accounting
practices (if any):
(i) they must fulfil the general eligibility conditions for the type of cost concerned
(ii) the cost accounting practices must be applied in a consistent manner, based on objective
criteria, regardless of the source of funding
(f) for financing not linked to costs (if any): the results must be achieved or the conditions must
be fulfilled as described in Annex 1.
In addition, for direct cost categories (e.g. personnel, travel & subsistence, subcontracting and other
direct costs) only costs that are directly linked to the action implementation and can therefore be
attributed to it directly are eligible. They must not include any indirect costs (i.e. costs that are only
indirectly linked to the action, e.g. via cost drivers).
6.2 Specific eligibility conditions for each budget category
For each budget category, the specific eligibility conditions are as follows:
Direct costs
A. Personnel costs
A.1 Costs for employees (or equivalent) are eligible as personnel costs, if they fulfil the general
eligibility conditions and are related to personnel working for the beneficiary under an employment
contract (or equivalent appointing act) and assigned to the action.
They must be limited to salaries, social security contributions, taxes and other costs linked to the
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remuneration, if they arise from national law or the employment contract (or equivalent appointing
act) and be calculated on the basis of the costs actually incurred, in accordance with the following
method:
{daily rate for the person
multiplied by
number of day-equivalents worked on the action (rounded up or down to the nearest half-day)}.
The daily rate must be calculated as:
{annual personnel costs for the person
divided by
215}.
The number of day-equivalents declared for a person must be identifiable and verifiable (see
Article 20).
The total number of day-equivalents declared in EU grants, for a person for a year, cannot be higher
than 215.
The personnel costs may also include supplementary payments for personnel assigned to the action
(including payments on the basis of supplementary contracts regardless of their nature), if:
- it is part of the beneficiary’s usual remuneration practices and is paid in a consistent manner
whenever the same kind of work or expertise is required
- the criteria used to calculate the supplementary payments are objective and generally applied
by the beneficiary, regardless of the source of funding used.
If the beneficiary uses average personnel costs (unit cost according to usual cost accounting practices),
the personnel costs must fulfil the general eligibility conditions for such unit costs and the daily rate
must be calculated:
- using the actual personnel costs recorded in the beneficiary’s accounts and excluding any
costs which are ineligible or already included in other budget categories; the actual personnel
costs may be adjusted on the basis of budgeted or estimated elements, if they are relevant
for calculating the personnel costs, reasonable and correspond to objective and verifiable
information
and
- according to usual cost accounting practices which are applied in a consistent manner, based
on objective criteria, regardless of the source of funding.
A.2 and A.3 Costs for natural persons working under a direct contract other than an employment
contract and costs for seconded persons by a third party against payment are also eligible as
personnel costs, if they are assigned to the action, fulfil the general eligibility conditions and:
(a) work under conditions similar to those of an employee (in particular regarding the way the
work is organised, the tasks that are performed and the premises where they are performed) and
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(b) the result of the work belongs to the beneficiary (unless agreed otherwise).
They must be calculated on the basis of a rate which corresponds to the costs actually incurred for
the direct contract or secondment and must not be significantly different from those for personnel
performing similar tasks under an employment contract with the beneficiary.
A.4 The work of SME owners for the action (i.e. owners of beneficiaries that are small and medium-
sized enterprises11 not receiving a salary) or natural person beneficiaries (i.e. beneficiaries that are
natural persons not receiving a salary) may be declared as personnel costs, if they fulfil the general
eligibility conditions and are calculated as unit costs in accordance with the method set out in Annex
2a.
B. Subcontracting costs
Subcontracting costs for the action (including related duties, taxes and charges, such as non-
deductible or non-refundable value added tax (VAT)) are eligible, if they are calculated on the basis
of the costs actually incurred, fulfil the general eligibility conditions and are awarded using the
beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices — provided these ensure subcontracts with best value for
money (or if appropriate the lowest price) and that there is no conflict of interests (see Article 12).
Beneficiaries that are ‘contracting authorities/entities’ within the meaning of the EU Directives on
public procurement must also comply with the applicable national law on public procurement.
Subcontracting may cover only a limited part of the action.
The tasks to be subcontracted and the estimated cost for each subcontract must be set out in Annex 1
and the total estimated costs of subcontracting per beneficiary must be set out in Annex 2 (or may
be approved ex post in the periodic report, if the use of subcontracting does not entail changes to the
Agreement which would call into question the decision awarding the grant or breach the principle of
equal treatment of applicants; ‘simplified approval procedure’).
C. Purchase costs
Purchase costs for the action (including related duties, taxes and charges, such as non-deductible or
non-refundable value added tax (VAT)) are eligible if they fulfil the general eligibility conditions and
are bought using the beneficiary’s usual purchasing practices — provided these ensure purchases with
best value for money (or if appropriate the lowest price) and that there is no conflict of interests (see
Article 12).
Beneficiaries that are ‘contracting authorities/entities’ within the meaning of the EU Directives on
public procurement must also comply with the applicable national law on public procurement.
11 For the definition, see Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC: micro, small or medium-sized enterprise (SME)
are enterprises
- engaged in an economic activity, irrespective of their legal form (including, in particular, self- employed persons
and family businesses engaged in craft or other activities, and partnerships or associations regularly engaged
in an economic activity) and
- employing fewer than 250 persons (expressed in ‘annual working units’ as defined in Article 5 of the
Recommendation) and which have an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, and/or an annual balance
sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.
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C.1 Travel and subsistence
Purchases for travel, accommodation and subsistence must be calculated as follows:
- travel: on the basis of the costs actually incurred and in line with the beneficiary’s usual
practices on travel
- accommodation: on the basis of the costs actually incurred and in line with the beneficiary’s
usual practices on travel
- subsistence: on the basis of the costs actually incurred and in line with the beneficiary’s usual
practices on travel .
C.2 Equipment
Purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets used for the action must be declared as
depreciation costs, calculated on the basis of the costs actually incurred and written off in accordance
with international accounting standards and the beneficiary’s usual accounting practices.
Only the portion of the costs that corresponds to the rate of actual use for the action during the action
duration can be taken into account.
Costs for renting or leasing equipment, infrastructure or other assets are also eligible, if they do not
exceed the depreciation costs of similar equipment, infrastructure or assets and do not include any
financing fees.
C.3 Other goods, works and services
Purchases of other goods, works and services must be calculated on the basis of the costs actually
incurred.
Such goods, works and services include, for instance, consumables and supplies, promotion,
dissemination, protection of results, translations, publications, certificates and financial guarantees,
if required under the Agreement.
D. Other cost categories
D.2 Internally invoiced goods and services
Costs for internally invoiced goods and services directly used for the action may be declared as unit
cost according to usual cost accounting practices, if and as declared eligible in the call conditions, if
they fulfil the general eligibility conditions for such unit costs and the amount per unit is calculated:
- using the actual costs for the good or service recorded in the beneficiary’s accounts, attributed
either by direct measurement or on the basis of cost drivers, and excluding any cost which
are ineligible or already included in other budget categories; the actual costs may be adjusted
on the basis of budgeted or estimated elements, if they are relevant for calculating the costs,
reasonable and correspond to objective and verifiable information
and
- according to usual cost accounting practices which are applied in a consistent manner, based
on objective criteria, regardless of the source of funding.
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‘Internally invoiced goods and services’ means goods or services which are provided within the
beneficiary’s organisation directly for the action and which the beneficiary values on the basis of its
usual cost accounting practices.
Indirect costs
E. Indirect costs
Indirect costs will be reimbursed at the flat-rate of 7% of the eligible direct costs (categories A-D,
except volunteers costs and exempted specific cost categories, if any).
Contributions
Not applicable
6.3 Ineligible costs and contributions
The following costs or contributions are ineligible:
(a) costs or contributions that do not comply with the conditions set out above (Article 6.1 and
6.2), in particular:
(i) costs related to return on capital and dividends paid by a beneficiary
(ii) debt and debt service charges
(iii) provisions for future losses or debts
(iv) interest owed
(v) currency exchange losses
(vi) bank costs charged by the beneficiary’s bank for transfers from the granting authority
(vii) excessive or reckless expenditure
(viii) deductible or refundable VAT (including VAT paid by public bodies acting as public
authority)
(ix) costs incurred or contributions for activities implemented during grant agreement
suspension (see Article 31)
(x) in-kind contributions by third parties
(b) costs or contributions declared under other EU grants (or grants awarded by an EU Member
State, non-EU country or other body implementing the EU budget), except for the following
cases:
(i) Synergy actions: not applicable
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(ii) if the action grant is combined with an operating grant12 running during the same period
and the beneficiary can demonstrate that the operating grant does not cover any (direct
or indirect) costs of the action grant
(c) costs or contributions for staff of a national (or regional/local) administration, for activities that
are part of the administration’s normal activities (i.e. not undertaken only because of the grant)
(d) costs or contributions (especially travel and subsistence) for staff or representatives of EU
institutions, bodies or agencies
(e) other :
(i) country restrictions for eligible costs: not applicable
(ii) costs or contributions declared specifically ineligible in the call conditions.
6.4 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary declares costs or contributions that are ineligible, they will be rejected (see Article 27).
This may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
CHAPTER 4 GRANT IMPLEMENTATION
SECTION 1 CONSORTIUM: BENEFICIARIES, AFFILIATED ENTITIES AND OTHER
PARTICIPANTS
ARTICLE 7 — BENEFICIARIES
The beneficiaries, as signatories of the Agreement, are fully responsible towards the granting authority
for implementing it and for complying with all its obligations.
They must implement the Agreement to their best abilities, in good faith and in accordance with all
the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
They must have the appropriate resources to implement the action and implement the action under
their own responsibility and in accordance with Article 11. If they rely on affiliated entities or other
participants (see Articles 8 and 9), they retain sole responsibility towards the granting authority and
the other beneficiaries.
They are jointly responsible for the technical implementation of the action. If one of the beneficiaries
fails to implement their part of the action, the other beneficiaries must ensure that this part is
implemented by someone else (without being entitled to an increase of the maximum grant amount
and subject to an amendment; see Article 39). The financial responsibility of each beneficiary in case
of recoveries is governed by Article 22.
12 For the definition, see Article 183(2)(b) EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509: ‘operating grant’ means an EU grant to
finance “the functioning of a body which has an objective forming part of and supporting an EU policy”.
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The beneficiaries (and their action) must remain eligible under the EU programme funding the grant
for the entire duration of the action. Costs and contributions will be eligible only as long as the
beneficiary and the action are eligible.
The internal roles and responsibilities of the beneficiaries are divided as follows:
(a) Each beneficiary must:
(i) keep information stored in the Portal Participant Register up to date (see Article 19)
(ii) inform the granting authority (and the other beneficiaries) immediately of any events or
circumstances likely to affect significantly or delay the implementation of the action (see
Article 19)
(iii) submit to the coordinator in good time:
- the prefinancing guarantees (if required; see Article 23)
- the financial statements and certificates on the financial statements (CFS) (if
required; see Articles 21 and 24.2 and Data Sheet, Point 4.3)
- the contribution to the deliverables and technical reports (see Article 21)
- any other documents or information required by the granting authority under the
Agreement
(iv) submit via the Portal data and information related to the participation of their affiliated
entities.
(b) The coordinator must:
(i) monitor that the action is implemented properly (see Article 11)
(ii) act as the intermediary for all communications between the consortium and the granting
authority, unless the Agreement or granting authority specifies otherwise, and in
particular:
- submit the prefinancing guarantees to the granting authority (if any)
- request and review any documents or information required and verify their quality
and completeness before passing them on to the granting authority
- submit the deliverables and reports to the granting authority
- inform the granting authority about the payments made to the other beneficiaries
(report on the distribution of payments; if required, see Articles 22 and 32)
(iii) distribute the payments received from the granting authority to the other beneficiaries
without unjustified delay (see Article 22).
The coordinator may not delegate or subcontract the above-mentioned tasks to any other beneficiary
or third party (including affiliated entities).
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However, coordinators which are public bodies may delegate the tasks set out in Point (b)(ii) last
indent and (iii) above to entities with ‘authorisation to administer’ which they have created or which
are controlled by or affiliated to them. In this case, the coordinator retains sole responsibility for the
payments and for compliance with the obligations under the Agreement.
Moreover, coordinators which are ‘sole beneficiaries’13 (or similar, such as European research
infrastructure consortia (ERICs)) may delegate the tasks set out in Point (b)(i) to (iii) above to one of
their members. The coordinator retains sole responsibility for compliance with the obligations under
the Agreement.
The beneficiaries must have internal arrangements regarding their operation and co-ordination, to
ensure that the action is implemented properly.
If required by the granting authority (see Data Sheet, Point 1), these arrangements must be set out in
a written consortium agreement between the beneficiaries, covering for instance:
- the internal organisation of the consortium
- the management of access to the Portal
- different distribution keys for the payments and financial responsibilities in case of recoveries
(if any)
- additional rules on rights and obligations related to background and results (see Article 16)
- settlement of internal disputes
- liability, indemnification and confidentiality arrangements between the beneficiaries.
The internal arrangements must not contain any provision contrary to this Agreement.
ARTICLE 8 — AFFILIATED ENTITIES
Not applicable
ARTICLE 9 — OTHER PARTICIPANTS INVOLVED IN THE ACTION
9.1 Associated partners
Not applicable
9.2 Third parties giving in-kind contributions to the action
Other third parties may give in-kind contributions to the action (i.e. personnel, equipment, other goods,
works and services, etc. which are free-of-charge), if necessary for the implementation.
Third parties giving in-kind contributions do not implement any action tasks. They may not charge
costs or contributions to the action and the costs for the in-kind contributions are not eligible.
13 For the definition, see Article 190(2) EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509: “Where several entities satisfy the criteria
for being awarded a grant and together form one entity, that entity may be treated as the sole beneficiary, including
where it is specifically established for the purpose of implementing the action financed by the grant.”
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The third parties and their in-kind contributions should be set out in Annex 1.
9.3 Subcontractors
Subcontractors may participate in the action, if necessary for the implementation.
Subcontractors must implement their action tasks in accordance with Article 11. The costs for the
subcontracted tasks (invoiced price from the subcontractor) are eligible and may be charged by the
beneficiaries, under the conditions set out in Article 6. The costs will be included in Annex 2 as part
of the beneficiaries’ costs.
The beneficiaries must ensure that their contractual obligations under Articles 11 (proper
implementation), 12 (conflict of interest), 13 (confidentiality and security), 14 (ethics), 17.2
(visibility), 18 (specific rules for carrying out action), 19 (information) and 20 (record-keeping) also
apply to the subcontractors.
The beneficiaries must ensure that the bodies mentioned in Article 25 (e.g. granting authority, OLAF,
Court of Auditors (ECA), etc.) can exercise their rights also towards the subcontractors.
9.4 Recipients of financial support to third parties
If the action includes providing financial support to third parties (e.g. grants, prizes or similar forms of
support), the beneficiaries must ensure that their contractual obligations under Articles 12 (conflict of
interest), 13 (confidentiality and security), 14 (ethics), 17.2 (visibility), 18 (specific rules for carrying
out action), 19 (information) and 20 (record-keeping)also apply to the third parties receiving the
support (recipients).
The beneficiaries must also ensure that the bodies mentioned in Article 25 (e.g. granting authority,
OLAF, Court of Auditors (ECA), etc.) can exercise their rights also towards the recipients.
ARTICLE 10 — PARTICIPANTS WITH SPECIAL STATUS
10.1 Non-EU participants
Participants which are established in a non-EU country (if any) undertake to comply with their
obligations under the Agreement and:
- to respect general principles (including fundamental rights, values and ethical principles,
environmental and labour standards, rules on classified information, intellectual property
rights, visibility of funding and protection of personal data)
- for the submission of certificates under Article 24: to use qualified external auditors which
are independent and comply with comparable standards as those set out in EU Directive
2006/43/EC14
- for the controls under Article 25: to allow for checks, reviews, audits and investigations
(including on-the-spot checks, visits and inspections) by the bodies mentioned in that Article
(e.g. granting authority, OLAF, Court of Auditors (ECA), etc.).
14 Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual
accounts and consolidated accounts (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).
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Special rules on dispute settlement apply (see Data Sheet, Point 5).
10.2 Participants which are international organisations
Participants which are international organisations (IOs; if any) undertake to comply with their
obligations under the Agreement and:
- to respect general principles (including fundamental rights, values and ethical principles,
environmental and labour standards, rules on classified information, intellectual property
rights, visibility of funding and protection of personal data)
- for the submission of certificates under Article 24: to use either independent public officers or
external auditors which comply with comparable standards as those set out in EU Directive
2006/43/EC15
- for the controls under Article 25: to allow for the checks, reviews, audits and investigations
by the bodies mentioned in that Article, taking into account the specific agreements concluded
by them and the EU (if any).
For such participants, nothing in the Agreement will be interpreted as a waiver of their privileges or
immunities, as accorded by their constituent documents or international law.
Special rules on applicable law and dispute settlement apply (see Article 43 and Data Sheet, Point 5).
10.3 Pillar-assessed participants
Pillar-assessed participants (if any) may rely on their own systems, rules and procedures, in so far as
they have been positively assessed and do not call into question the decision awarding the grant or
breach the principle of equal treatment of applicants or beneficiaries.
‘Pillar-assessment’ means a review by the European Commission on the systems, rules and procedures
which participants use for managing EU grants (in particular internal control system, accounting
system, external audits, financing of third parties, rules on recovery and exclusion, information on
recipients and protection of personal data; see Article 157 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509).
Participants with a positive pillar assessment may rely on their own systems, rules and procedures,
in particular for:
- record-keeping (Article 20): may be done in accordance with internal standards, rules and
procedures
- currency conversion for financial statements (Article 21): may be done in accordance with
usual accounting practices
- guarantees (Article 23): for public law bodies, prefinancing guarantees are not needed
- certificates (Article 24):
- certificates on the financial statements (CFS): may be provided by their regular internal
15 Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual
accounts and consolidated accounts (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).
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or external auditors and in accordance with their internal financial regulations and
procedures
- certificates on usual accounting practices (CoMUC): are not needed if those practices
are covered by an ex-ante assessment
and use the following specific rules, for:
- recoveries (Article 22): in case of financial support to third parties, there will be no recovery if
the participant has done everything possible to retrieve the undue amounts from the third party
receiving the support (including legal proceedings) and non-recovery is not due to an error or
negligence on its part
- checks, reviews, audits and investigations by the EU (Article 25): will be conducted taking
into account the rules and procedures specifically agreed between them and the framework
agreement (if any)
- impact evaluation (Article 26): will be conducted in accordance with the participant’s internal
rules and procedures and the framework agreement (if any)
- grant agreement termination (Article 32): the final grant amount and final payment will be
calculated taking into account also costs relating to contracts due for execution only after
termination takes effect, if the contract was entered into before the pre-information letter was
received and could not reasonably be terminated on legal grounds
- liability for damages (Article 33.2): the granting authority must be compensated for damage
it sustains as a result of the implementation of the action or because the action was not
implemented in full compliance with the Agreement only if the damage is due to an
infringement of the participant’s internal rules and procedures or due to a violation of third
parties’ rights by the participant or one of its employees or individual for whom the employees
are responsible.
Participants whose pillar assessment covers procurement and granting procedures may also do
purchases, subcontracting and financial support to third parties (Article 6.2) in accordance with their
internal rules and procedures for purchases, subcontracting and financial support.
Participants whose pillar assessment covers data protection rules may rely on their internal standards,
rules and procedures for data protection (Article 15).
The participants may however not rely on provisions which would breach the principle of equal
treatment of applicants or beneficiaries or call into question the decision awarding the grant, such as
in particular:
- eligibility (Article 6)
- consortium roles and set-up (Articles 7-9)
- security and ethics (Articles 13, 14)
- IPR (including background and results, access rights and rights of use), communication,
dissemination and visibility (Articles 16 and 17)
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- information obligation (Article 19)
- payment, reporting and amendments (Articles 21, 22 and 39)
- rejections, reductions, suspensions and terminations (Articles 27, 28, 29-32)
If the pillar assessment was subject to remedial measures, reliance on the internal systems, rules and
procedures is subject to compliance with those remedial measures.
Participants must inform the coordinator without delay of any changes to the systems, rules and
procedures that were part of the pillar assessment. The coordinator must immediately inform the
granting authority.
Pillar-assessed participants that have also concluded a framework agreement with the EU, may
moreover — under the same conditions as those above (i.e. not call into question the decision awarding
the grant or breach the principle of equal treatment of applicants or beneficiaries) — rely on the
provisions set out in that framework agreement.
SECTION 2 RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION
ARTICLE 11 — PROPER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ACTION
11.1 Obligation to properly implement the action
The beneficiaries must implement the action as described in Annex 1 and in compliance with the
provisions of the Agreement, the call conditions and all legal obligations under applicable EU,
international and national law.
11.2 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 12 — CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
12.1 Conflict of interests
The beneficiaries must take all measures to prevent any situation where the impartial and objective
implementation of the Agreement could be compromised for reasons involving family, emotional life,
political or national affinity, economic interest or any other direct or indirect interest (‘conflict of
interests’).
They must formally notify the granting authority without delay of any situation constituting or likely
to lead to a conflict of interests and immediately take all the necessary steps to rectify this situation.
The granting authority may verify that the measures taken are appropriate and may require additional
measures to be taken by a specified deadline.
12.2 Consequences of non-compliance
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If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28) and the grant or the beneficiary may be terminated (see Article 32).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 13 — CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY
13.1 Sensitive information
The parties must keep confidential any data, documents or other material (in any form) that is identified
as sensitive in writing (‘sensitive information’) — during the implementation of the action and for at
least until the time-limit set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 6).
If a beneficiary requests, the granting authority may agree to keep such information confidential for
a longer period.
Unless otherwise agreed between the parties, they may use sensitive information only to implement
the Agreement.
The beneficiaries may disclose sensitive information to their personnel or other participants involved
in the action only if they:
(a) need to know it in order to implement the Agreement and
(b) are bound by an obligation of confidentiality.
The granting authority may disclose sensitive information to its staff and to other EU institutions and
bodies.
It may moreover disclose sensitive information to third parties, if:
(a) this is necessary to implement the Agreement or safeguard the EU financial interests and
(b) the recipients of the information are bound by an obligation of confidentiality.
The confidentiality obligations no longer apply if:
(a) the disclosing party agrees to release the other party
(b) the information becomes publicly available, without breaching any confidentiality obligation
(c) the disclosure of the sensitive information is required by EU, international or national law.
Specific confidentiality rules (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
13.2 Classified information
The parties must handle classified information in accordance with the applicable EU, international or
national law on classified information (in particular, Decision 2015/44416 and its implementing rules).
16 Commission Decision 2015/444/EC, Euratom of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU classified
information (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53).
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Deliverables which contain classified information must be submitted according to special procedures
agreed with the granting authority.
Action tasks involving classified information may be subcontracted only after explicit approval (in
writing) from the granting authority.
Classified information may not be disclosed to any third party (including participants involved in the
action implementation) without prior explicit written approval from the granting authority.
Specific security rules (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
13.3 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 14 — ETHICS AND VALUES
14.1 Ethics
The action must be carried out in line with the highest ethical standards and the applicable EU,
international and national law on ethical principles.
Specific ethics rules (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
14.2 Values
The beneficiaries must commit to and ensure the respect of basic EU values (such as respect for
human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, including the rights
of minorities).
Specific rules on values (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
14.3 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 15 — DATA PROTECTION
15.1 Data processing by the granting authority
Any personal data under the Agreement will be processed under the responsibility of the data
controller of the granting authority in accordance with and for the purposes set out in the Portal Privacy
Statement.
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For grants where the granting authority is the European Commission, an EU regulatory or executive
agency, joint undertaking or other EU body, the processing will be subject to Regulation 2018/172517.
15.2 Data processing by the beneficiaries
The beneficiaries must process personal data under the Agreement in compliance with the applicable
EU, international and national law on data protection (in particular, Regulation 2016/67918).
They must ensure that personal data is:
- processed lawfully, fairly and in a transparent manner in relation to the data subjects
- collected for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further processed in a manner
that is incompatible with those purposes
- adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they
are processed
- accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date
- kept in a form which permits identification of data subjects for no longer than is necessary for
the purposes for which the data is processed and
- processed in a manner that ensures appropriate security of the data.
The beneficiaries may grant their personnel access to personal data only if it is strictly necessary
for implementing, managing and monitoring the Agreement. The beneficiaries must ensure that the
personnel is under a confidentiality obligation.
The beneficiaries must inform the persons whose data are transferred to the granting authority and
provide them with the Portal Privacy Statement.
15.3 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 16 — INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) — BACKGROUND AND
RESULTS —ACCESS RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF USE
16.1 Background and access rights to background
17 Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of
natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies
and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC
(OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39).
18 Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural
persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive
95/46/EC (‘GDPR’) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).
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The beneficiaries must give each other and the other participants access to the background identified
as needed for implementing the action, subject to any specific rules in Annex 5.
‘Background’ means any data, know-how or information — whatever its form or nature (tangible or
intangible), including any rights such as intellectual property rights — that is:
(a) held by the beneficiaries before they acceded to the Agreement and
(b) needed to implement the action or exploit the results.
If background is subject to rights of a third party, the beneficiary concerned must ensure that it is able
to comply with its obligations under the Agreement.
16.2 Ownership of results
The granting authority does not obtain ownership of the results produced under the action.
‘Results’ means any tangible or intangible effect of the action, such as data, know-how or information,
whatever its form or nature, whether or not it can be protected, as well as any rights attached to it,
including intellectual property rights.
16.3 Rights of use of the granting authority on materials, documents and information
received for policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes
The granting authority has the right to use non-sensitive information relating to the action and
materials and documents received from the beneficiaries (notably summaries for publication,
deliverables, as well as any other material, such as pictures or audio-visual material, in paper or
electronic form) for policy, information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes —
during the action or afterwards.
The right to use the beneficiaries’ materials, documents and information is granted in the form of a
royalty-free, non-exclusive and irrevocable licence, which includes the following rights:
(a) use for its own purposes (in particular, making them available to persons working for the
granting authority or any other EU service (including institutions, bodies, offices, agencies,
etc.) or EU Member State institution or body; copying or reproducing them in whole or in part,
in unlimited numbers; and communication through press information services)
(b) distribution to the public (in particular, publication as hard copies and in electronic or digital
format, publication on the internet, as a downloadable or non-downloadable file, broadcasting
by any channel, public display or presentation, communicating through press information
services, or inclusion in widely accessible databases or indexes)
(c) editing or redrafting (including shortening, summarising, inserting other elements (e.g.
meta-data, legends, other graphic, visual, audio or text elements), extracting parts (e.g. audio
or video files), dividing into parts, use in a compilation)
(d) translation
(e) storage in paper, electronic or other form
(f) archiving, in line with applicable document-management rules
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(g) the right to authorise third parties to act on its behalf or sub-license to third parties the modes
of use set out in Points (b), (c), (d) and (f), if needed for the information, communication and
publicity activity of the granting authority
(h) processing, analysing, aggregating the materials, documents and information received and
producing derivative works.
The rights of use are granted for the whole duration of the industrial or intellectual property rights
concerned.
If materials or documents are subject to moral rights or third party rights (including intellectual
property rights or rights of natural persons on their image and voice), the beneficiaries must ensure
that they comply with their obligations under this Agreement (in particular, by obtaining the necessary
licences and authorisations from the rights holders concerned).
Where applicable, the granting authority will insert the following information:
“© – [year] – [name of the copyright owner]. All rights reserved. Licensed to the [name of granting authority]
under conditions.”
16.4 Specific rules on IPR, results and background
Specific rules regarding intellectual property rights, results and background (if any) are set out in
Annex 5.
16.5 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such a breach may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 17 — COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND VISIBILITY
17.1 Communication — Dissemination — Promoting the action
Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, the beneficiaries must promote the action and its
results by providing targeted information to multiple audiences (including the media and the public),
in accordance with Annex 1 and in a strategic, coherent and effective manner.
Before engaging in a communication or dissemination activity expected to have a major media impact,
the beneficiaries must inform the granting authority.
17.2 Visibility — European flag and funding statement
Unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority, communication activities of the beneficiaries
related to the action (including media relations, conferences, seminars, information material, such as
brochures, leaflets, posters, presentations, etc., in electronic form, via traditional or social media, etc.),
dissemination activities and any infrastructure, equipment, vehicles, supplies or major result funded
by the grant must acknowledge EU support and display the European flag (emblem) and funding
statement (translated into local languages, where appropriate):
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The emblem must remain distinct and separate and cannot be modified by adding other visual
marks, brands or text.
Apart from the emblem, no other visual identity or logo may be used to highlight the EU support.
When displayed in association with other logos (e.g. of beneficiaries or sponsors), the emblem must
be displayed at least as prominently and visibly as the other logos.
For the purposes of their obligations under this Article, the beneficiaries may use the emblem without
first obtaining approval from the granting authority. This does not, however, give them the right to
exclusive use. Moreover, they may not appropriate the emblem or any similar trademark or logo, either
by registration or by any other means.
17.3 Quality of information — Disclaimer
Any communication or dissemination activity related to the action must use factually accurate
information.
Moreover, it must indicate the following disclaimer (translated into local languages where
appropriate):
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only
and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or [name of the granting authority]. Neither
the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
17.4 Specific communication, dissemination and visibility rules
Specific communication, dissemination and visibility rules (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
17.5 Consequences of non-compliance
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If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 18 — SPECIFIC RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION
18.1 Specific rules for carrying out the action
Specific rules for implementing the action (if any) are set out in Annex 5.
18.2 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such a breach may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
SECTION 3 GRANT ADMINISTRATION
ARTICLE 19 — GENERAL INFORMATION OBLIGATIONS
19.1 Information requests
The beneficiaries must provide — during the action or afterwards and in accordance with Article 7 —
any information requested in order to verify eligibility of the costs or contributions declared, proper
implementation of the action and compliance with the other obligations under the Agreement.
The information provided must be accurate, precise and complete and in the format requested,
including electronic format.
19.2 Participant Register data updates
The beneficiaries must keep — at all times, during the action or afterwards — their information stored
in the Portal Participant Register up to date, in particular, their name, address, legal representatives,
legal form and organisation type.
19.3 Information about events and circumstances which impact the action
The beneficiaries must immediately inform the granting authority (and the other beneficiaries) of any
of the following:
(a) events which are likely to affect or delay the implementation of the action or affect the EU’s
financial interests, in particular:
(i) changes in their legal, financial, technical, organisational or ownership situation
(including changes linked to one of the exclusion grounds listed in the declaration of
honour signed before grant signature)
(ii) linked action information: not applicable
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(b) circumstances affecting:
(i) the decision to award the grant or
(ii) compliance with requirements under the Agreement.
19.4 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced (see
Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 20 — RECORD-KEEPING
20.1 Keeping records and supporting documents
The beneficiaries must — at least until the time-limit set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 6) — keep
records and other supporting documents to prove the proper implementation of the action in line with
the accepted standards in the respective field (if any).
In addition, the beneficiaries must — for the same period — keep the following to justify the amounts
declared:
(a) for actual costs: adequate records and supporting documents to prove the costs declared (such
as contracts, subcontracts, invoices and accounting records); in addition, the beneficiaries’
usual accounting and internal control procedures must enable direct reconciliation between
the amounts declared, the amounts recorded in their accounts and the amounts stated in the
supporting documents
(b) for flat-rate costs and contributions (if any): adequate records and supporting documents to
prove the eligibility of the costs or contributions to which the flat-rate is applied
(c) for the following simplified costs and contributions: the beneficiaries do not need to keep
specific records on the actual costs incurred, but must keep:
(i) for unit costs and contributions (if any): adequate records and supporting documents to
prove the number of units declared
(ii) for lump sum costs and contributions (if any): adequate records and supporting
documents to prove proper implementation of the work as described in Annex 1
(iii) for financing not linked to costs (if any): adequate records and supporting documents
to prove the achievement of the results or the fulfilment of the conditions as described
in Annex 1
(d) for unit, flat-rate and lump sum costs and contributions according to usual cost accounting
practices (if any): the beneficiaries must keep any adequate records and supporting documents
to prove that their cost accounting practices have been applied in a consistent manner, based on
objective criteria, regardless of the source of funding, and that they comply with the eligibility
conditions set out in Articles 6.1 and 6.2.
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Moreover, the following is needed for specific budget categories:
(e) for personnel costs: time worked for the beneficiary under the action must be supported
by declarations signed monthly by the person and their supervisor, unless another reliable
time-record system is in place; the granting authority may accept alternative evidence
supporting the time worked for the action declared, if it considers that it offers an adequate
level of assurance
(f) additional record-keeping rules: not applicable
The records and supporting documents must be made available upon request (see Article 19) or in the
context of checks, reviews, audits or investigations (see Article 25).
If there are on-going checks, reviews, audits, investigations, litigation or other pursuits of claims under
the Agreement (including the extension of findings; see Article 25), the beneficiaries must keep these
records and other supporting documentation until the end of these procedures.
The beneficiaries must keep the original documents. Digital and digitalised documents are considered
originals if they are authorised by the applicable national law. The granting authority may accept
non-original documents if they offer a comparable level of assurance.
20.2 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, costs or contributions insufficiently
substantiated will be ineligible (see Article 6) and will be rejected (see Article 27), and the grant may
be reduced (see Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 21 — REPORTING
21.1 Continuous reporting
The beneficiaries must report on the progress of the action (e.g. deliverables, milestones, outputs/
outcomes, critical risks, indicators, etc; if any), in the Portal Continuous Reporting tool and in
accordance with the timing and conditions it sets out (as agreed with the granting authority).
Standardised deliverables (e.g. progress reports not linked to payments, reports on cumulative
expenditure, special reports, etc; if any) must be submitted using the templates published on the Portal.
21.2 Periodic reporting: Technical reports and financial statements
In addition, the beneficiaries must provide reports to request payments, in accordance with the
schedule and modalities set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 4.2):
- for additional prefinancings (if any): an additional prefinancing report
- for interim payments (if any) and the final payment: a periodic report.
The prefinancing and periodic reports include a technical and financial part.
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The technical part includes an overview of the action implementation. It must be prepared using the
template available in the Portal Periodic Reporting tool.
The financial part of the additional prefinancing report includes a statement on the use of the previous
prefinancing payment.
The financial part of the periodic report includes:
- the financial statements (individual and consolidated; for all beneficiaries/affiliated entities)
- the explanation on the use of resources (or detailed cost reporting table, if required)
- the certificates on the financial statements (CFS) (if required; see Article 24.2 and Data Sheet,
Point 4.3).
The financial statements must detail the eligible costs and contributions for each budget category
and, for the final payment, also the revenues for the action (see Articles 6 and 22).
All eligible costs and contributions incurred should be declared, even if they exceed the amounts
indicated in the estimated budget (see Annex 2). Amounts that are not declared in the individual
financial statements will not be taken into account by the granting authority.
By signing the financial statements (directly in the Portal Periodic Reporting tool), the beneficiaries
confirm that:
- the information provided is complete, reliable and true
- the costs and contributions declared are eligible (see Article 6)
- the costs and contributions can be substantiated by adequate records and supporting documents
(see Article 20) that will be produced upon request (see Article 19) or in the context of checks,
reviews, audits and investigations (see Article 25)
- for the final periodic report: all the revenues have been declared (if required; see Article 22).
Beneficiaries will have to submit also the financial statements of their affiliated entities (if any). In case
of recoveries (see Article 22), beneficiaries will be held responsible also for the financial statements
of their affiliated entities.
21.3 Currency for financial statements and conversion into euros
The financial statements must be drafted in euro.
Beneficiaries with general accounts established in a currency other than the euro must convert the
costs recorded in their accounts into euro, at the average of the daily exchange rates published in the C
series of the Official Journal of the European Union (ECB website), calculated over the corresponding
reporting period.
If no daily euro exchange rate is published in the Official Journal for the currency in question, they
must be converted at the average of the monthly accounting exchange rates published on the European
Commission website (InforEuro), calculated over the corresponding reporting period.
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Beneficiaries with general accounts in euro must convert costs incurred in another currency into euro
according to their usual accounting practices.
21.4 Reporting language
The reporting must be in the language of the Agreement, unless otherwise agreed with the granting
authority (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2).
21.5 Consequences of non-compliance
If a report submitted does not comply with this Article, the granting authority may suspend the
payment deadline (see Article 29) and apply other measures described in Chapter 5.
If the coordinator breaches its reporting obligations, the granting authority may terminate the grant or
the coordinator’s participation (see Article 32) or apply other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 22 — PAYMENTS AND RECOVERIES — CALCULATION OF AMOUNTS
DUE
22.1 Payments and payment arrangements
Payments will be made in accordance with the schedule and modalities set out in the Data Sheet (see
Point 4.2).
They will be made in euro to the bank account indicated by the coordinator (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2)
and must be distributed without unjustified delay (restrictions may apply to distribution of the initial
prefinancing payment; see Data Sheet, Point 4.2).
Payments to this bank account will discharge the granting authority from its payment obligation.
The cost of payment transfers will be borne as follows:
- the granting authority bears the cost of transfers charged by its bank
- the beneficiary bears the cost of transfers charged by its bank
- the party causing a repetition of a transfer bears all costs of the repeated transfer.
Payments by the granting authority will be considered to have been carried out on the date when they
are debited to its account.
22.2 Recoveries
Recoveries will be made, if — at beneficiary termination, final payment or afterwards — it turns out
that the granting authority has paid too much and needs to recover the amounts undue.
The general liability regime for recoveries (first-line liability) is as follows: At final payment, the
coordinator will be fully liable for recoveries, even if it has not been the final recipient of the undue
amounts. At beneficiary termination or after final payment, recoveries will be made directly against
the beneficiaries concerned.
Beneficiaries will be fully liable for repaying the debts of their affiliated entities.
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In case of enforced recoveries (see Article 22.4):
- the beneficiaries will be jointly and severally liable for repaying debts of another beneficiary
under the Agreement (including late-payment interest), if required by the granting authority
(see Data Sheet, Point 4.4)
- affiliated entities will be held liable for repaying debts of their beneficiaries under the
Agreement (including late-payment interest), if required by the granting authority (see
Data Sheet, Point 4.4).
22.3 Amounts due
22.3.1 Prefinancing payments
The aim of the prefinancing is to provide the beneficiaries with a float.
It remains the property of the EU until the final payment.
For initial prefinancings (if any), the amount due, schedule and modalities are set out in the
Data Sheet (see Point 4.2).
For additional prefinancings (if any), the amount due, schedule and modalities are also set out in
the Data Sheet (see Point 4.2). However, if the statement on the use of the previous prefinancing
payment shows that less than 70% was used, the amount set out in the Data Sheet will be reduced by
the difference between the 70% threshold and the amount used.
Prefinancing payments (or parts of them) may be offset (without the beneficiaries’ consent) against
amounts owed by a beneficiary to the granting authority — up to the amount due to that beneficiary.
For grants where the granting authority is the European Commission or an EU executive agency,
offsetting may also be done against amounts owed to other Commission services or executive
agencies.
Payments will not be made if the payment deadline or payments are suspended (see Articles 29 and
30).
22.3.2 Amount due at beneficiary termination — Recovery
In case of beneficiary termination, the granting authority will determine the provisional amount due
for the beneficiary concerned. Payments (if any) will be made with the next interim or final payment.
The amount due will be calculated in the following step:
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
The granting authority will first calculate the ‘accepted EU contribution’ for the beneficiary for all
reporting periods, by calculating the ‘maximum EU contribution to costs’ (applying the funding rate
to the accepted costs of the beneficiary), taking into account requests for a lower contribution to costs
and CFS threshold cappings (if any; see Article 24.5) and adding the contributions (accepted unit,
flat-rate or lump sum contributions and financing not linked to costs, if any).
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After that, the granting authority will take into account grant reductions (if any). The resulting amount
is the ‘total accepted EU contribution’ for the beneficiary.
The balance is then calculated by deducting the payments received (if any; see report on the
distribution of payments in Article 32), from the total accepted EU contribution:
{total accepted EU contribution for the beneficiary
minus
{prefinancing and interim payments received (if any)}}.
If the balance is positive, the amount will be included in the next interim or final payment to the
consortium.
If the balance is negative, it will be recovered in accordance with the following procedure:
The granting authority will send a pre-information letter to the beneficiary concerned:
- formally notifying the intention to recover, the amount due, the amount to be recovered and
the reasons why and
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If no observations are submitted (or the granting authority decides to pursue recovery despite the
observations it has received), it will confirm the amount to be recovered and ask this amount to be
paid to the coordinator (confirmation letter).
The amounts will later on also be taken into account for the next interim or final payment.
22.3.3 Interim payments
Interim payments reimburse the eligible costs and contributions claimed for the implementation of
the action during the reporting periods (if any).
Interim payments (if any) will be made in accordance with the schedule and modalities set out the
Data Sheet (see Point 4.2).
Payment is subject to the approval of the periodic report. Its approval does not imply recognition of
compliance, authenticity, completeness or correctness of its content.
The interim payment will be calculated by the granting authority in the following steps:
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
Step 2 — Limit to the interim payment ceiling
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
The granting authority will calculate the ‘accepted EU contribution’ for the action for the reporting
period, by first calculating the ‘maximum EU contribution to costs’ (applying the funding rate to the
accepted costs of each beneficiary), taking into account requests for a lower contribution to costs and
CFS threshold cappings (if any; see Article 24.5) and adding the contributions (accepted unit, flat-rate
or lump sum contributions and financing not linked to costs, if any).
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After that, the granting authority will take into account grant reductions from beneficiary termination
(if any). The resulting amount is the ‘total accepted EU contribution’.
Step 2 — Limit to the interim payment ceiling
The resulting amount is then capped to ensure that the total amount of prefinancing and interim
payments (if any) does not exceed the interim payment ceiling set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 4.2).
Interim payments (or parts of them) may be offset (without the beneficiaries’ consent) against amounts
owed by a beneficiary to the granting authority — up to the amount due to that beneficiary.
For grants where the granting authority is the European Commission or an EU executive agency,
offsetting may also be done against amounts owed to other Commission services or executive
agencies.
Payments will not be made if the payment deadline or payments are suspended (see Articles 29 and
30).
22.3.4 Final payment — Final grant amount — Revenues and Profit — Recovery
The final payment (payment of the balance) reimburses the remaining part of the eligible costs and
contributions claimed for the implementation of the action (if any).
The final payment will be made in accordance with the schedule and modalities set out in the
Data Sheet (see Point 4.2).
Payment is subject to the approval of the final periodic report. Its approval does not imply recognition
of compliance, authenticity, completeness or correctness of its content.
The final grant amount for the action will be calculated in the following steps:
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
Step 2 — Limit to the maximum grant amount
Step 3 — Reduction due to the no-profit rule
Step 1 — Calculation of the total accepted EU contribution
The granting authority will first calculate the ‘accepted EU contribution’ for the action for all reporting
periods, by calculating the ‘maximum EU contribution to costs’ (applying the funding rate to the total
accepted costs of each beneficiary), taking into account requests for a lower contribution to costs, CFS
threshold cappings (if any; see Article 24.5) and adding the contributions (accepted unit, flat-rate or
lump sum contributions and financing not linked to costs, if any).
After that, the granting authority will take into account grant reductions (if any). The resulting amount
is the ‘total accepted EU contribution’.
Step 2 — Limit to the maximum grant amount
If the resulting amount is higher than the maximum grant amount set out in Article 5.2, it will be
limited to the latter.
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Step 3 — Reduction due to the no-profit rule
If the no-profit rule is provided for in the Data Sheet (see Point 4.2), the grant must not produce a
profit (i.e. surplus of the amount obtained following Step 2 plus the action’s revenues, over the eligible
costs and contributions approved by the granting authority).
‘Revenue’ is all income generated by the action, during its duration (see Article 4), for beneficiaries
that are profit legal entities.
If there is a profit, it will be deducted in proportion to the final rate of reimbursement of the eligible
costs approved by the granting authority (as compared to the amount calculated following Steps 1 and
2 minus the contributions).
The balance (final payment) is then calculated by deducting the total amount of prefinancing and
interim payments already made (if any), from the final grant amount:
{final grant amount
minus
{prefinancing and interim payments made (if any)}}.
If the balance is positive, it will be paid to the coordinator.
The final payment (or part of it) may be offset (without the beneficiaries’ consent) against amounts
owed by a beneficiary to the granting authority — up to the amount due to that beneficiary.
For grants where the granting authority is the European Commission or an EU executive agency,
offsetting may also be done against amounts owed to other Commission services or executive
agencies.
Payments will not be made if the payment deadline or payments are suspended (see Articles 29 and
30).
If the balance is negative, it will be recovered in accordance with the following procedure:
The granting authority will send a pre-information letter to the coordinator:
- formally notifying the intention to recover, the final grant amount, the amount to be recovered
and the reasons why
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If no observations are submitted (or the granting authority decides to pursue recovery despite the
observations it has received), it will confirm the amount to be recovered (confirmation letter),
together with a debit note with the terms and date for payment.
If payment is not made by the date specified in the debit note, the granting authority will enforce
recovery in accordance with Article 22.4.
22.3.5 Audit implementation after final payment — Revised final grant amount — Recovery
If — after the final payment (in particular, after checks, reviews, audits or investigations; see
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Article 25) — the granting authority rejects costs or contributions (see Article 27) or reduces the grant
(see Article 28), it will calculate the revised final grant amount for the beneficiary concerned.
The beneficiary revised final grant amount will be calculated in the following step:
Step 1 — Calculation of the revised total accepted EU contribution
Step 1 — Calculation of the revised total accepted EU contribution
The granting authority will first calculate the ‘revised accepted EU contribution’ for the beneficiary,
by calculating the ‘revised accepted costs’ and ‘revised accepted contributions’.
After that, it will take into account grant reductions (if any). The resulting ‘revised total accepted EU
contribution’ is the beneficiary revised final grant amount.
If the revised final grant amount is lower than the beneficiary’s final grant amount (i.e. its share in the
final grant amount for the action), it will be recovered in accordance with the following procedure:
The beneficiary final grant amount (i.e. share in the final grant amount for the action) is calculated
as follows:
{{total accepted EU contribution for the beneficiary
divided by
total accepted EU contribution for the action}
multiplied by
final grant amount for the action}.
The granting authority will send a pre-information letter to the beneficiary concerned:
- formally notifying the intention to recover, the amount to be recovered and the reasons why and
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If no observations are submitted (or the granting authority decides to pursue recovery despite the
observations it has received), it will confirm the amount to be recovered (confirmation letter),
together with a debit note with the terms and the date for payment.
Recoveries against affiliated entities (if any) will be handled through their beneficiaries.
If payment is not made by the date specified in the debit note, the granting authority will enforce
recovery in accordance with Article 22.4.
22.4 Enforced recovery
If payment is not made by the date specified in the debit note, the amount due will be recovered:
(a) by offsetting the amount — without the coordinator or beneficiary’s consent — against any
amounts owed to the coordinator or beneficiary by the granting authority.
In exceptional circumstances, to safeguard the EU financial interests, the amount may be offset
before the payment date specified in the debit note.
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For grants where the granting authority is the European Commission or an EU executive
agency, debts may also be offset against amounts owed by other Commission services or
executive agencies.
(b) by drawing on the financial guarantee(s) (if any)
(c) by holding other beneficiaries jointly and severally liable (if any; see Data Sheet, Point 4.4)
(d) by holding affiliated entities jointly and severally liable (if any, see Data Sheet, Point 4.4)
(e) by taking legal action (see Article 43) or, provided that the granting authority is the European
Commission or an EU executive agency, by adopting an enforceable decision under Article 299
of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU) and Article 100(2) of EU Financial
Regulation 2024/2509.
The amount to be recovered will be increased by late-payment interest at the rate set out in
Article 22.5, from the day following the payment date in the debit note, up to and including the date
the full payment is received.
Partial payments will be first credited against expenses, charges and late-payment interest and then
against the principal.
Bank charges incurred in the recovery process will be borne by the beneficiary, unless
Directive 2015/236619 applies.
For grants where the granting authority is an EU executive agency, enforced recovery by offsetting or
enforceable decision will be done by the services of the European Commission (see also Article 43).
22.5 Consequences of non-compliance
22.5.1 If the granting authority does not pay within the payment deadlines (see above), the
beneficiaries are entitled to late-payment interest at the rate applied by the European Central Bank
(ECB) for its main refinancing operations in euros (‘reference rate’), plus the rate specified in the
Data Sheet (Point 4.2). The reference rate is the rate in force on the first day of the month in which the
payment deadline expires, as published in the C series of the Official Journal of the European Union.
If the late-payment interest is lower than or equal to EUR 200, it will be paid to the coordinator only
on request submitted within two months of receiving the late payment.
Late-payment interest is not due if all beneficiaries are EU Member States (including regional and
local government authorities or other public bodies acting on behalf of a Member State for the purpose
of this Agreement).
If payments or the payment deadline are suspended (see Articles 29 and 30), payment will not be
considered as late.
19 Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment
services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU)
No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (OJ L 337, 23.12.2015, p. 35).
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Late-payment interest covers the period running from the day following the due date for payment (see
above), up to and including the date of payment.
Late-payment interest is not considered for the purposes of calculating the final grant amount.
22.5.2 If the coordinator breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the grant may be reduced
(see Article 28) and the grant or the coordinator may be terminated (see Article 32).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 23 — GUARANTEES
23.1 Prefinancing guarantee
If required by the granting authority (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2), the beneficiaries must provide (one
or more) prefinancing guarantee(s) in accordance with the timing and the amounts set out in the
Data Sheet.
The coordinator must submit them to the granting authority in due time before the prefinancing they
are linked to.
The guarantees must be drawn up using the template published on the Portal and fulfil the following
conditions:
(a) be provided by a bank or approved financial institution established in the EU or — if requested
by the coordinator and accepted by the granting authority — by a third party or a bank or
financial institution established outside the EU offering equivalent security
(b) the guarantor stands as first-call guarantor and does not require the granting authority to first
have recourse against the principal debtor (i.e. the beneficiary concerned) and
(c) remain explicitly in force until the final payment and, if the final payment takes the form of a
recovery, until five months after the debit note is notified to a beneficiary.
They will be released within the following month.
23.2 Consequences of non-compliance
If the beneficiaries breach their obligation to provide the prefinancing guarantee, the prefinancing
will not be paid.
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 24 — CERTIFICATES
24.1 Operational verification report (OVR)
Not applicable
24.2 Certificate on the financial statements (CFS)
If required by the granting authority (see Data Sheet, Point 4.3), the beneficiaries must provide
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certificates on their financial statements (CFS), in accordance with the schedule, threshold and
conditions set out in the Data Sheet.
The coordinator must submit them as part of the periodic report (see Article 21).
The certificates must be drawn up using the template published on the Portal, cover the costs declared
on the basis of actual costs and costs according to usual cost accounting practices (if any), and fulfil
the following conditions:
(a) be provided by a qualified approved external auditor which is independent and complies with
Directive 2006/43/EC20 (or for public bodies: by a competent independent public officer)
(b) the verification must be carried out according to the highest professional standards to ensure
that the financial statements comply with the provisions under the Agreement and that the costs
declared are eligible.
The certificates will not affect the granting authority's right to carry out its own checks, reviews or
audits, nor preclude the European Court of Auditors (ECA), the European Public Prosecutor’s Office
(EPPO) or the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) from using their prerogatives for audits and
investigations under the Agreement (see Article 25).
If the costs (or a part of them) were already audited by the granting authority, these costs do not need
to be covered by the certificate and will not be counted for calculating the threshold (if any).
24.3 Certificate on the compliance of usual cost accounting practices (CoMUC)
Beneficiaries which use unit, flat rate or lump sum costs or contributions according to usual costs
accounting practices (if any) may submit to the granting authority, for approval, a certificate on the
methodology stating that their usual cost accounting practices comply with the eligibility conditions
under the Agreement.
The certificate must be drawn up using the template published on the Portal and fulfil the following
conditions:
(a) be provided by a qualified approved external auditor which is independent and complies with
Directive 2006/43/EC21 (or for public bodies: by a competent independent public officer)
(b) the verification must be carried out according to the highest professional standards to ensure
that the methodology for declaring costs according to usual accounting practices complies with
the provisions under the Agreement.
If the certificate is approved, amounts declared in line with this methodology will not be challenged
subsequently, unless the beneficiary concealed information for the purpose of the approval.
24.4 Systems and process audit (SPA)
Not applicable
20 Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual
accounts and consolidated accounts (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).
21 Directive 2006/43/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 May 2006 on statutory audits of annual
accounts and consolidated accounts (OJ L 157, 9.6.2006, p. 87).
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24.5 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary does not submit a certificate on the financial statements (CFS) or the certificate is
rejected, the accepted EU contribution to costs will be capped to reflect the CFS threshold.
If a beneficiary breaches any of its other obligations under this Article, the granting authority may
apply the measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 25 — CHECKS, REVIEWS, AUDITS AND INVESTIGATIONS — EXTENSION
OF FINDINGS
25.1 Granting authority checks, reviews and audits
25.1.1 Internal checks
The granting authority may — during the action or afterwards — check the proper implementation of
the action and compliance with the obligations under the Agreement, including assessing costs and
contributions, deliverables and reports.
25.1.2 Project reviews
The granting authority may carry out reviews on the proper implementation of the action and
compliance with the obligations under the Agreement (general project reviews or specific issues
reviews).
Such project reviews may be started during the implementation of the action and until the time-limit
set out in the Data Sheet (see Point 6). They will be formally notified to the coordinator or beneficiary
concerned and will be considered to start on the date of the notification.
If needed, the granting authority may be assisted by independent, outside experts. If it uses outside
experts, the coordinator or beneficiary concerned will be informed and have the right to object on
grounds of commercial confidentiality or conflict of interest.
The coordinator or beneficiary concerned must cooperate diligently and provide — within the deadline
requested — any information and data in addition to deliverables and reports already submitted
(including information on the use of resources). The granting authority may request beneficiaries
to provide such information to it directly. Sensitive information and documents will be treated in
accordance with Article 13.
The coordinator or beneficiary concerned may be requested to participate in meetings, including with
the outside experts.
For on-the-spot visits, the beneficiary concerned must allow access to sites and premises (including
to the outside experts) and must ensure that information requested is readily available.
Information provided must be accurate, precise and complete and in the format requested, including
electronic format.
On the basis of the review findings, a project review report will be drawn up.
The granting authority will formally notify the project review report to the coordinator or beneficiary
concerned, which has 30 days from receiving notification to make observations.
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Project reviews (including project review reports) will be in the language of the Agreement, unless
otherwise agreed with the granting authority (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2).
25.1.3 Audits
The granting authority may carry out audits on the proper implementation of the action and compliance
with the obligations under the Agreement.
Such audits may be started during the implementation of the action and until the time-limit set out in
the Data Sheet (see Point 6). They will be formally notified to the beneficiary concerned and will be
considered to start on the date of the notification.
The granting authority may use its own audit service, delegate audits to a centralised service or use
external audit firms. If it uses an external firm, the beneficiary concerned will be informed and have
the right to object on grounds of commercial confidentiality or conflict of interest.
The beneficiary concerned must cooperate diligently and provide — within the deadline requested —
any information (including complete accounts, individual salary statements or other personal data)
to verify compliance with the Agreement. Sensitive information and documents will be treated in
accordance with Article 13.
For on-the-spot visits, the beneficiary concerned must allow access to sites and premises (including
for the external audit firm) and must ensure that information requested is readily available.
Information provided must be accurate, precise and complete and in the format requested, including
electronic format.
On the basis of the audit findings, a draft audit report will be drawn up.
The auditors will formally notify the draft audit report to the beneficiary concerned, which has 30 days
from receiving notification to make observations (contradictory audit procedure).
The final audit report will take into account observations by the beneficiary concerned and will be
formally notified to them.
Audits (including audit reports) will be in the language of the Agreement, unless otherwise agreed
with the granting authority (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2).
25.2 European Commission checks, reviews and audits in grants of other granting
authorities
Where the granting authority is not the European Commission, the latter has the same rights of checks,
reviews and audits as the granting authority.
25.3 Access to records for assessing simplified forms of funding
The beneficiaries must give the European Commission access to their statutory records for the periodic
assessment of simplified forms of funding which are used in EU programmes.
25.4 OLAF, EPPO and ECA audits and investigations
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The following bodies may also carry out checks, reviews, audits and investigations — during the
action or afterwards:
- the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) under Regulations No 883/201322 and No 2185/9623
- the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) under Regulation 2017/1939
- the European Court of Auditors (ECA) under Article 287 of the Treaty on the Functioning of
the EU (TFEU) and Article 263 of EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509.
If requested by these bodies, the beneficiary concerned must provide full, accurate and complete
information in the format requested (including complete accounts, individual salary statements or
other personal data, including in electronic format) and allow access to sites and premises for
on-the-spot visits or inspections — as provided for under these Regulations.
To this end, the beneficiary concerned must keep all relevant information relating to the action, at
least until the time-limit set out in the Data Sheet (Point 6) and, in any case, until any ongoing checks,
reviews, audits, investigations, litigation or other pursuits of claims have been concluded.
25.5 Consequences of checks, reviews, audits and investigations — Extension of results of
reviews, audits or investigations
25.5.1 Consequences of checks, reviews, audits and investigations in this grant
Findings in checks, reviews, audits or investigations carried out in the context of this grant may lead to
rejections (see Article 27), grant reduction (see Article 28) or other measures described in Chapter 5.
Rejections or grant reductions after the final payment will lead to a revised final grant amount (see
Article 22).
Findings in checks, reviews, audits or investigations during the action implementation may lead to a
request for amendment (see Article 39), to change the description of the action set out in Annex 1.
Checks, reviews, audits or investigations that find systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud
or breach of obligations in any EU grant may also lead to consequences in other EU grants awarded
under similar conditions (‘extension to other grants’).
Moreover, findings arising from an OLAF or EPPO investigation may lead to criminal prosecution
under national law.
25.5.2 Extension from other grants
Results of checks, reviews, audits or investigations in other grants may be extended to this grant, if:
(a) the beneficiary concerned is found, in other EU grants awarded under similar conditions, to
22 Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 September 2013
concerning investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and repealing Regulation (EC)
No 1073/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1074/1999 (OJ
L 248, 18/09/2013, p. 1).
23 Council Regulation (Euratom, EC) No 2185/96 of 11 November 1996 concerning on-the-spot checks and inspections
carried out by the Commission in order to protect the European Communities' financial interests against fraud and other
irregularities (OJ L 292, 15/11/1996, p. 2).
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have committed systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or breach of obligations that
have a material impact on this grant and
(b) those findings are formally notified to the beneficiary concerned — together with the list of
grants affected by the findings — within the time-limit for audits set out in the Data Sheet (see
Point 6).
The granting authority will formally notify the beneficiary concerned of the intention to extend the
findings and the list of grants affected.
If the extension concerns rejections of costs or contributions: the notification will include:
(a) an invitation to submit observations on the list of grants affected by the findings
(b) the request to submit revised financial statements for all grants affected
(c) the correction rate for extrapolation, established on the basis of the systemic or recurrent errors,
to calculate the amounts to be rejected, if the beneficiary concerned:
(i) considers that the submission of revised financial statements is not possible or practicable
or
(ii) does not submit revised financial statements.
If the extension concerns grant reductions: the notification will include:
(a) an invitation to submit observations on the list of grants affected by the findings and
(b) the correction rate for extrapolation, established on the basis of the systemic or recurrent
errors and the principle of proportionality.
The beneficiary concerned has 60 days from receiving notification to submit observations, revised
financial statements or to propose a duly substantiated alternative correction method/rate.
On the basis of this, the granting authority will analyse the impact and decide on the implementation
(i.e. start rejection or grant reduction procedures, either on the basis of the revised financial statements
or the announced/alternative method/rate or a mix of those; see Articles 27 and 28).
25.6 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, costs or contributions insufficiently
substantiated will be ineligible (see Article 6) and will be rejected (see Article 27), and the grant may
be reduced (see Article 28).
Such breaches may also lead to other measures described in Chapter 5.
ARTICLE 26 — IMPACT EVALUATIONS
26.1 Impact evaluation
The granting authority may carry out impact evaluations of the action, measured against the objectives
and indicators of the EU programme funding the grant.
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Such evaluations may be started during implementation of the action and until the time-limit set out
in the Data Sheet (see Point 6). They will be formally notified to the coordinator or beneficiaries and
will be considered to start on the date of the notification.
If needed, the granting authority may be assisted by independent outside experts.
The coordinator or beneficiaries must provide any information relevant to evaluate the impact of the
action, including information in electronic format.
26.2 Consequences of non-compliance
If a beneficiary breaches any of its obligations under this Article, the granting authority may apply
the measures described in Chapter 5.
CHAPTER 5 CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLIANCE
SECTION 1 REJECTIONS AND GRANT REDUCTION
ARTICLE 27 — REJECTION OF COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
27.1 Conditions
The granting authority will — at beneficiary termination, interim payment, final payment or
afterwards — reject any costs or contributions which are ineligible (see Article 6), in particular
following checks, reviews, audits or investigations (see Article 25).
The rejection may also be based on the extension of findings from other grants to this grant (see
Article 25).
Ineligible costs or contributions will be rejected.
27.2 Procedure
If the rejection does not lead to a recovery, the granting authority will formally notify the coordinator
or beneficiary concerned of the rejection, the amounts and the reasons why. The coordinator or
beneficiary concerned may — within 30 days of receiving notification — submit observations if it
disagrees with the rejection (payment review procedure).
If the rejection leads to a recovery, the granting authority will follow the contradictory procedure with
pre-information letter set out in Article 22.
27.3 Effects
If the granting authority rejects costs or contributions, it will deduct them from the costs or
contributions declared and then calculate the amount due (and, if needed, make a recovery; see
Article 22).
ARTICLE 28 — GRANT REDUCTION
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28.1 Conditions
The granting authority may — at beneficiary termination, final payment or afterwards — reduce the
grant for a beneficiary, if:
(a) the beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed:
(i) substantial errors, irregularities or fraud or
(ii) serious breach of obligations under this Agreement or during its award (including
improper implementation of the action, non-compliance with the call conditions,
submission of false information, failure to provide required information, breach of ethics
or security rules (if applicable), failure to cooperate with checks, reviews, audits and
investigations, etc.), or
(b) the beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed — in other EU grants
awarded to it under similar conditions — systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or
serious breach of obligations that have a material impact on this grant (see Article 25).
The amount of the reduction will be calculated for each beneficiary concerned and proportionate to the
seriousness and the duration of the errors, irregularities or fraud or breach of obligations, by applying
an individual reduction rate to their accepted EU contribution.
28.2 Procedure
If the grant reduction does not lead to a recovery, the granting authority will formally notify the
coordinator or beneficiary concerned of the reduction, the amount to be reduced and the reasons why.
The coordinator or beneficiary concerned may — within 30 days of receiving notification — submit
observations if it disagrees with the reduction (payment review procedure).
If the grant reduction leads to a recovery, the granting authority will follow the contradictory procedure
with pre-information letter set out in Article 22.
28.3 Effects
If the granting authority reduces the grant, it will deduct the reduction and then calculate the amount
due (and, if needed, make a recovery; see Article 22).
SECTION 2 SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION
ARTICLE 29 — PAYMENT DEADLINE SUSPENSION
29.1 Conditions
The granting authority may — at any moment — suspend the payment deadline if a payment cannot
be processed because:
(a) the required report (see Article 21) has not been submitted or is not complete or additional
information is needed
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(b) there are doubts about the amount to be paid (e.g. ongoing audit extension procedure, queries
about eligibility, need for a grant reduction, etc.) and additional checks, reviews, audits or
investigations are necessary, or
(c) there are other issues affecting the EU financial interests.
29.2 Procedure
The granting authority will formally notify the coordinator of the suspension and the reasons why.
The suspension will take effect the day the notification is sent.
If the conditions for suspending the payment deadline are no longer met, the suspension will be lifted
— and the remaining time to pay (see Data Sheet, Point 4.2) will resume.
If the suspension exceeds two months, the coordinator may request the granting authority to confirm
if the suspension will continue.
If the payment deadline has been suspended due to the non-compliance of the report and the revised
report is not submitted (or was submitted but is also rejected), the granting authority may also terminate
the grant or the participation of the coordinator (see Article 32).
ARTICLE 30 — PAYMENT SUSPENSION
30.1 Conditions
The granting authority may — at any moment — suspend payments, in whole or in part for one or
more beneficiaries, if:
(a) a beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed or is suspected of
having committed:
(i) substantial errors, irregularities or fraud or
(ii) serious breach of obligations under this Agreement or during its award (including
improper implementation of the action, non-compliance with the call conditions,
submission of false information, failure to provide required information, breach of ethics
or security rules (if applicable), failure to cooperate with checks, reviews, audits and
investigations, etc.), or
(b) a beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed — in other EU grants
awarded to it under similar conditions — systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or
serious breach of obligations that have a material impact on this grant.
If payments are suspended for one or more beneficiaries, the granting authority will make partial
payment(s) for the part(s) not suspended. If suspension concerns the final payment, the payment (or
recovery) of the remaining amount after suspension is lifted will be considered to be the payment that
closes the action.
30.2 Procedure
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Before suspending payments, the granting authority will send a pre-information letter to the
beneficiary concerned:
- formally notifying the intention to suspend payments and the reasons why and
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If the granting authority does not receive observations or decides to pursue the procedure despite the
observations it has received, it will confirm the suspension (confirmation letter). Otherwise, it will
formally notify that the procedure is discontinued.
At the end of the suspension procedure, the granting authority will also inform the coordinator.
The suspension will take effect the day after the confirmation notification is sent.
If the conditions for resuming payments are met, the suspension will be lifted. The granting authority
will formally notify the beneficiary concerned (and the coordinator) and set the suspension end date.
During the suspension, no prefinancing will be paid to the beneficiaries concerned. For interim
payments, the periodic reports for all reporting periods except the last one (see Article 21) must
not contain any financial statements from the beneficiary concerned (or its affiliated entities). The
coordinator must include them in the next periodic report after the suspension is lifted or — if
suspension is not lifted before the end of the action — in the last periodic report.
ARTICLE 31 — GRANT AGREEMENT SUSPENSION
31.1 Consortium-requested GA suspension
31.1.1 Conditions and procedure
The beneficiaries may request the suspension of the grant or any part of it, if exceptional circumstances
— in particular force majeure (see Article 35) — make implementation impossible or excessively
difficult.
The coordinator must submit a request for amendment (see Article 39), with:
- the reasons why
- the date the suspension takes effect; this date may be before the date of the submission of the
amendment request and
- the expected date of resumption.
The suspension will take effect on the day specified in the amendment.
Once circumstances allow for implementation to resume, the coordinator must immediately request
another amendment of the Agreement to set the suspension end date, the resumption date (one day
after suspension end date), extend the duration and make other changes necessary to adapt the action
to the new situation (see Article 39) — unless the grant has been terminated (see Article 32). The
suspension will be lifted with effect from the suspension end date set out in the amendment. This date
may be before the date of the submission of the amendment request.
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During the suspension, no prefinancing will be paid. Costs incurred or contributions for activities
implemented during grant suspension are not eligible (see Article 6.3).
31.2 EU-initiated GA suspension
31.2.1 Conditions
The granting authority may suspend the grant or any part of it, if:
(a) a beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed or is suspected of
having committed:
(i) substantial errors, irregularities or fraud or
(ii) serious breach of obligations under this Agreement or during its award (including
improper implementation of the action, non-compliance with the call conditions,
submission of false information, failure to provide required information, breach of ethics
or security rules (if applicable), failure to cooperate with checks, reviews, audits and
investigations, etc.), or
(b) a beneficiary (or a person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or
person essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed — in other EU grants
awarded to it under similar conditions — systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or
serious breach of obligations that have a material impact on this grant
(c) other:
(i) linked action issues: not applicable
(ii) additional GA suspension grounds: not applicable.
31.2.2 Procedure
Before suspending the grant, the granting authority will send a pre-information letter to the
coordinator:
- formally notifying the intention to suspend the grant and the reasons why and
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If the granting authority does not receive observations or decides to pursue the procedure despite the
observations it has received, it will confirm the suspension (confirmation letter). Otherwise, it will
formally notify that the procedure is discontinued.
The suspension will take effect the day after the confirmation notification is sent (or on a later date
specified in the notification).
Once the conditions for resuming implementation of the action are met, the granting authority will
formally notify the coordinator a lifting of suspension letter, in which it will set the suspension
end date and invite the coordinator to request an amendment of the Agreement to set the resumption
date (one day after suspension end date), extend the duration and make other changes necessary to
adapt the action to the new situation (see Article 39) — unless the grant has been terminated (see
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Article 32). The suspension will be lifted with effect from the suspension end date set out in the lifting
of suspension letter. This date may be before the date on which the letter is sent.
During the suspension, no prefinancing will be paid. Costs incurred or contributions for activities
implemented during suspension are not eligible (see Article 6.3).
The beneficiaries may not claim damages due to suspension by the granting authority (see Article 33).
Grant suspension does not affect the granting authority’s right to terminate the grant or a beneficiary
(see Article 32) or reduce the grant (see Article 28).
ARTICLE 32 — GRANT AGREEMENT OR BENEFICIARY TERMINATION
32.1 Consortium-requested GA termination
32.1.1 Conditions and procedure
The beneficiaries may request the termination of the grant.
The coordinator must submit a request for amendment (see Article 39), with:
- the reasons why
- the date the consortium ends work on the action (‘end of work date’) and
- the date the termination takes effect (‘termination date’); this date must be after the date of the
submission of the amendment request.
The termination will take effect on the termination date specified in the amendment.
If no reasons are given or if the granting authority considers the reasons do not justify termination,
it may consider the grant terminated improperly.
32.1.2 Effects
The coordinator must — within 60 days from when termination takes effect — submit a periodic
report (for the open reporting period until termination).
The granting authority will calculate the final grant amount and final payment on the basis of the report
submitted and taking into account the costs incurred and contributions for activities implemented
before the end of work date (see Article 22). Costs relating to contracts due for execution only after
the end of work are not eligible.
If the granting authority does not receive the report within the deadline, only costs and contributions
which are included in an approved periodic report will be taken into account (no costs/contributions
if no periodic report was ever approved).
Improper termination may lead to a grant reduction (see Article 28).
After termination, the beneficiaries’ obligations (in particular Articles 13 (confidentiality and
security), 16 (IPR), 17 (communication, dissemination and visibility), 21 (reporting), 25 (checks,
reviews, audits and investigations), 26 (impact evaluation), 27 (rejections), 28 (grant reduction) and
42 (assignment of claims)) continue to apply.
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32.2 Consortium-requested beneficiary termination
32.2.1 Conditions and procedure
The coordinator may request the termination of the participation of one or more beneficiaries, on
request of the beneficiary concerned or on behalf of the other beneficiaries.
The coordinator must submit a request for amendment (see Article 39), with:
- the reasons why
- the opinion of the beneficiary concerned (or proof that this opinion has been requested in
writing)
- the date the beneficiary ends work on the action (‘end of work date’)
- the date the termination takes effect (‘termination date’); this date must be after the date of the
submission of the amendment request.
If the termination concerns the coordinator and is done without its agreement, the amendment request
must be submitted by another beneficiary (acting on behalf of the consortium).
The termination will take effect on the termination date specified in the amendment.
If no information is given or if the granting authority considers that the reasons do not justify
termination, it may consider the beneficiary to have been terminated improperly.
32.2.2 Effects
The coordinator must — within 60 days from when termination takes effect — submit:
(i) a report on the distribution of payments to the beneficiary concerned
(ii) a termination report from the beneficiary concerned, for the open reporting period until
termination, containing an overview of the progress of the work, the financial statement,
the explanation on the use of resources, and, if applicable, the certificate on the financial
statement (CFS; see Articles 21 and 24.2 and Data Sheet, Point 4.3)
(iii) a second request for amendment (see Article 39) with other amendments needed (e.g.
reallocation of the tasks and the estimated budget of the terminated beneficiary; addition of
a new beneficiary to replace the terminated beneficiary; change of coordinator, etc.).
The granting authority will calculate the amount due to the beneficiary on the basis of the report
submitted and taking into account the costs incurred and contributions for activities implemented
before the end of work date (see Article 22). Costs relating to contracts due for execution only after
the end of work are not eligible.
The information in the termination report must also be included in the periodic report for the next
reporting period (see Article 21).
If the granting authority does not receive the termination report within the deadline, only costs and
contributions which are included in an approved periodic report will be taken into account (no costs/
contributions if no periodic report was ever approved).
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If the granting authority does not receive the report on the distribution of payments within the deadline,
it will consider that:
- the coordinator did not distribute any payment to the beneficiary concerned and that
- the beneficiary concerned must not repay any amount to the coordinator.
If the second request for amendment is accepted by the granting authority, the Agreement is amended
to introduce the necessary changes (see Article 39).
If the second request for amendment is rejected by the granting authority (because it calls into question
the decision awarding the grant or breaches the principle of equal treatment of applicants), the grant
may be terminated (see Article 32).
Improper termination may lead to a reduction of the grant (see Article 31) or grant termination (see
Article 32).
After termination, the concerned beneficiary’s obligations (in particular Articles 13 (confidentiality
and security), 16 (IPR), 17 (communication, dissemination and visibility), 21 (reporting), 25 (checks,
reviews, audits and investigations), 26 (impact evaluation), 27 (rejections), 28 (grant reduction) and
42 (assignment of claims)) continue to apply.
32.3 EU-initiated GA or beneficiary termination
32.3.1 Conditions
The granting authority may terminate the grant or the participation of one or more beneficiaries, if:
(a) one or more beneficiaries do not accede to the Agreement (see Article 40)
(b) a change to the action or the legal, financial, technical, organisational or ownership situation
of a beneficiary is likely to substantially affect the implementation of the action or calls into
question the decision to award the grant (including changes linked to one of the exclusion
grounds listed in the declaration of honour)
(c) following termination of one or more beneficiaries, the necessary changes to the Agreement
(and their impact on the action) would call into question the decision awarding the grant or
breach the principle of equal treatment of applicants
(d) implementation of the action has become impossible or the changes necessary for its
continuation would call into question the decision awarding the grant or breach the principle
of equal treatment of applicants
(e) a beneficiary (or person with unlimited liability for its debts) is subject to bankruptcy
proceedings or similar (including insolvency, winding-up, administration by a liquidator or
court, arrangement with creditors, suspension of business activities, etc.)
(f) a beneficiary (or person with unlimited liability for its debts) is in breach of social security
or tax obligations
(g) a beneficiary (or person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person
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essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has been found guilty of grave professional
misconduct
(h) a beneficiary (or person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person
essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed fraud, corruption, or is
involved in a criminal organisation, money laundering, terrorism-related crimes (including
terrorism financing), child labour or human trafficking
(i) a beneficiary (or person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person
essential for the award/implementation of the grant) was created under a different jurisdiction
with the intent to circumvent fiscal, social or other legal obligations in the country of origin
(or created another entity with this purpose)
(j) a beneficiary (or person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person
essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed:
(i) substantial errors, irregularities or fraud or
(ii) serious breach of obligations under this Agreement or during its award (including
improper implementation of the action, non-compliance with the call conditions,
submission of false information, failure to provide required information, breach of ethics
or security rules (if applicable), failure to cooperate with checks, reviews, audits and
investigations, etc.)
(k) a beneficiary (or person having powers of representation, decision-making or control, or person
essential for the award/implementation of the grant) has committed — in other EU grants
awarded to it under similar conditions — systemic or recurrent errors, irregularities, fraud or
serious breach of obligations that have a material impact on this grant (extension of findings
from other grants to this grant; see Article 25)
(l) despite a specific request by the granting authority, a beneficiary does not request — through
the coordinator — an amendment to the Agreement to end the participation of one of its
affiliated entities or associated partners that is in one of the situations under points (d), (f), (e),
(g), (h), (i) or (j) and to reallocate its tasks, or
(m) other:
(i) linked action issues: not applicable
(ii) additional GA termination grounds: not applicable.
32.3.2 Procedure
Before terminating the grant or participation of one or more beneficiaries, the granting authority will
send a pre-information letter to the coordinator or beneficiary concerned:
- formally notifying the intention to terminate and the reasons why and
- requesting observations within 30 days of receiving notification.
If the granting authority does not receive observations or decides to pursue the procedure despite
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the observations it has received, it will confirm the termination and the date it will take effect
(confirmation letter). Otherwise, it will formally notify that the procedure is discontinued.
For beneficiary terminations, the granting authority will — at the end of the procedure — also inform
the coordinator.
The termination will take effect the day after the confirmation notification is sent (or on a later date
specified in the notification; ‘termination date’).
32.3.3 Effects
(a) for GA termination:
The coordinator must — within 60 days from when termination takes effect — submit a
periodic report (for the last open reporting period until termination).
The granting authority will calculate the final grant amount and final payment on the basis of
the report submitted and taking into account the costs incurred and contributions for activities
implemented before termination takes effect (see Article 22). Costs relating to contracts due
for execution only after termination are not eligible.
If the grant is terminated for breach of the obligation to submit reports, the coordinator may
not submit any report after termination.
If the granting authority does not receive the report within the deadline, only costs and
contributions which are included in an approved periodic report will be taken into account (no
costs/contributions if no periodic report was ever approved).
Termination does not affect the granting authority’s right to reduce the grant (see Article 28)
or to impose administrative sanctions (see Article 34).
The beneficiaries may not claim damages due to termination by the granting authority (see
Article 33).
After termination, the beneficiaries’ obligations (in particular Articles 13 (confidentiality
and security), 16 (IPR), 17 (communication, dissemination and visibility), 21 (reporting), 25
(checks, reviews, audits and investigations), 26 (impact evaluation), 27 (rejections), 28 (grant
reduction) and 42 (assignment of claims)) continue to apply.
(b) for beneficiary termination:
The coordinator must — within 60 days from when termination takes effect — submit:
(i) a report on the distribution of payments to the beneficiary concerned
(ii) a termination report from the beneficiary concerned, for the open reporting period
until termination, containing an overview of the progress of the work, the financial
statement, the explanation on the use of resources, and, if applicable, the certificate
on the financial statement (CFS; see Articles 21 and 24.2 and Data Sheet, Point 4.3)
(iii) a request for amendment (see Article 39) with any amendments needed (e.g.
reallocation of the tasks and the estimated budget of the terminated beneficiary;
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addition of a new beneficiary to replace the terminated beneficiary; change of
coordinator, etc.).
The granting authority will calculate the amount due to the beneficiary on the basis of the
report submitted and taking into account the costs incurred and contributions for activities
implemented before termination takes effect (see Article 22). Costs relating to contracts due
for execution only after termination are not eligible.
The information in the termination report must also be included in the periodic report for the
next reporting period (see Article 21).
If the granting authority does not receive the termination report within the deadline, only costs
and contributions included in an approved periodic report will be taken into account (no costs/
contributions if no periodic report was ever approved).
If the granting authority does not receive the report on the distribution of payments within the
deadline, it will consider that:
- the coordinator did not distribute any payment to the beneficiary concerned and that
- the beneficiary concerned must not repay any amount to the coordinator.
If the request for amendment is accepted by the granting authority, the Agreement is amended
to introduce the necessary changes (see Article 39).
If the request for amendment is rejected by the granting authority (because it calls into question
the decision awarding the grant or breaches the principle of equal treatment of applicants), the
grant may be terminated (see Article 32).
After termination, the concerned beneficiary’s obligations (in particular Articles 13
(confidentiality and security), 16 (IPR), 17 (communication, dissemination and visibility),
21 (reporting), 25 (checks, reviews, audits and investigations), 26 (impact evaluation), 27
(rejections), 28 (grant reduction) and 42 (assignment of claims)) continue to apply.
SECTION 3 OTHER CONSEQUENCES: DAMAGES AND ADMINISTRATIVE
SANCTIONS
ARTICLE 33 — DAMAGES
33.1 Liability of the granting authority
The granting authority cannot be held liable for any damage caused to the beneficiaries or to third
parties as a consequence of the implementation of the Agreement, including for gross negligence.
The granting authority cannot be held liable for any damage caused by any of the beneficiaries or
other participants involved in the action, as a consequence of the implementation of the Agreement.
33.2 Liability of the beneficiaries
The beneficiaries must compensate the granting authority for any damage it sustains as a result of the
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implementation of the action or because the action was not implemented in full compliance with the
Agreement, provided that it was caused by gross negligence or wilful act.
The liability does not extend to indirect or consequential losses or similar damage (such as loss of
profit, loss of revenue or loss of contracts), provided such damage was not caused by wilful act or
by a breach of confidentiality.
ARTICLE 34 — ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES
Nothing in this Agreement may be construed as preventing the adoption of administrative sanctions
(i.e. exclusion from EU award procedures and/or financial penalties) or other public law measures,
in addition or as an alternative to the contractual measures provided under this Agreement (see,
for instance, Articles 137 to 148 EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and Articles 4 and 7 of
Regulation 2988/9524).
SECTION 4 FORCE MAJEURE
ARTICLE 35 — FORCE MAJEURE
A party prevented by force majeure from fulfilling its obligations under the Agreement cannot be
considered in breach of them.
‘Force majeure’ means any situation or event that:
- prevents either party from fulfilling their obligations under the Agreement
- was unforeseeable, exceptional situation and beyond the parties’ control
- was not due to error or negligence on their part (or on the part of other participants involved
in the action) and
- proves to be inevitable in spite of exercising all due diligence.
Any situation constituting force majeure must be formally notified to the other party without delay,
stating the nature, likely duration and foreseeable effects.
The parties must immediately take all the necessary steps to limit any damage due to force majeure
and do their best to resume implementation of the action as soon as possible.
CHAPTER 6 FINAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 36 — COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE PARTIES
36.1 Forms and means of communication — Electronic management
EU grants are managed fully electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (‘Portal’).
24 Council Regulation (EC, Euratom) No 2988/95 of 18 December 1995 on the protection of the European Communities
financial interests (OJ L 312, 23.12.1995, p. 1).
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All communications must be made electronically through the Portal, in accordance with the Portal
Terms and Conditions and using the forms and templates provided there (except if explicitly instructed
otherwise by the granting authority).
Communications must be made in writing and clearly identify the grant agreement (project number
and acronym).
Communications must be made by persons authorised according to the Portal Terms and Conditions.
For naming the authorised persons, each beneficiary must have designated — before the signature of
this Agreement — a ‘legal entity appointed representative (LEAR)’. The role and tasks of the LEAR
are stipulated in their appointment letter (see Portal Terms and Conditions).
If the electronic exchange system is temporarily unavailable, instructions will be given on the Portal.
36.2 Date of communication
The sending date for communications made through the Portal will be the date and time of sending,
as indicated by the time logs.
The receiving date for communications made through the Portal will be the date and time the
communication is accessed, as indicated by the time logs. Formal notifications that have not been
accessed within 10 days after sending, will be considered to have been accessed (see Portal Terms
and Conditions).
If a communication is exceptionally made on paper (by e-mail or postal service), general principles
apply (i.e. date of sending/receipt). Formal notifications by registered post with proof of delivery will
be considered to have been received either on the delivery date registered by the postal service or the
deadline for collection at the post office.
If the electronic exchange system is temporarily unavailable, the sending party cannot be considered
in breach of its obligation to send a communication within a specified deadline.
36.3 Addresses for communication
The Portal can be accessed via the Europa website.
The address for paper communications to the granting authority (if exceptionally allowed) is the
official mailing address indicated on its website.
For beneficiaries, it is the legal address specified in the Portal Participant Register.
ARTICLE 37 — INTERPRETATION OF THE AGREEMENT
The provisions in the Data Sheet take precedence over the rest of the Terms and Conditions of the
Agreement.
Annex 5 takes precedence over the Terms and Conditions; the Terms and Conditions take precedence
over the Annexes other than Annex 5.
Annex 2 takes precedence over Annex 1.
ARTICLE 38 — CALCULATION OF PERIODS AND DEADLINES
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In accordance with Regulation No 1182/7125, periods expressed in days, months or years are calculated
from the moment the triggering event occurs.
The day during which that event occurs is not considered as falling within the period.
‘Days’ means calendar days, not working days.
ARTICLE 39 — AMENDMENTS
39.1 Conditions
The Agreement may be amended, unless the amendment entails changes to the Agreement which
would call into question the decision awarding the grant or breach the principle of equal treatment
of applicants.
Amendments may be requested by any of the parties.
39.2 Procedure
The party requesting an amendment must submit a request for amendment signed directly in the Portal
Amendment tool.
The coordinator submits and receives requests for amendment on behalf of the beneficiaries (see
Annex 3). If a change of coordinator is requested without its agreement, the submission must be done
by another beneficiary (acting on behalf of the other beneficiaries).
The request for amendment must include:
- the reasons why
- the appropriate supporting documents and
- for a change of coordinator without its agreement: the opinion of the coordinator (or proof that
this opinion has been requested in writing).
The granting authority may request additional information.
If the party receiving the request agrees, it must sign the amendment in the tool within 45 days of
receiving notification (or any additional information the granting authority has requested). If it does
not agree, it must formally notify its disagreement within the same deadline. The deadline may be
extended, if necessary for the assessment of the request. If no notification is received within the
deadline, the request is considered to have been rejected.
An amendment enters into force on the day of the signature of the receiving party.
An amendment takes effect on the date of entry into force or other date specified in the amendment.
ARTICLE 40 — ACCESSION AND ADDITION OF NEW BENEFICIARIES
25 Regulation (EEC, Euratom) No 1182/71 of the Council of 3 June 1971 determining the rules applicable to periods, dates
and time-limits (OJ L 124, 8/6/1971, p. 1).
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40.1 Accession of the beneficiaries mentioned in the Preamble
The beneficiaries which are not coordinator must accede to the grant by signing the accession form
(see Annex 3) directly in the Portal Grant Preparation tool, within 30 days after the entry into force
of the Agreement (see Article 44).
They will assume the rights and obligations under the Agreement with effect from the date of its entry
into force (see Article 44).
If a beneficiary does not accede to the grant within the above deadline, the coordinator must — within
30 days — request an amendment (see Article 39) to terminate the beneficiary and make any changes
necessary to ensure proper implementation of the action. This does not affect the granting authority’s
right to terminate the grant (see Article 32).
40.2 Addition of new beneficiaries
In justified cases, the beneficiaries may request the addition of a new beneficiary.
For this purpose, the coordinator must submit a request for amendment in accordance with Article 39.
It must include an accession form (see Annex 3) signed by the new beneficiary directly in the Portal
Amendment tool.
New beneficiaries will assume the rights and obligations under the Agreement with effect from the
date of their accession specified in the accession form (see Annex 3).
Additions are also possible in mono-beneficiary grants.
ARTICLE 41 — TRANSFER OF THE AGREEMENT
In justified cases, the beneficiary of a mono-beneficiary grant may request the transfer of the grant to
a new beneficiary, provided that this would not call into question the decision awarding the grant or
breach the principle of equal treatment of applicants.
The beneficiary must submit a request for amendment (see Article 39), with
- the reasons why
- the accession form (see Annex 3) signed by the new beneficiary directly in the Portal
Amendment tool and
- additional supporting documents (if required by the granting authority).
The new beneficiary will assume the rights and obligations under the Agreement with effect from the
date of accession specified in the accession form (see Annex 3).
ARTICLE 42 — ASSIGNMENTS OF CLAIMS FOR PAYMENT AGAINST THE
GRANTING AUTHORITY
The beneficiaries may not assign any of their claims for payment against the granting authority to
any third party, except if expressly approved in writing by the granting authority on the basis of a
reasoned, written request by the coordinator (on behalf of the beneficiary concerned).
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DIGITAL MGA — Multi & Mono: v1.0
If the granting authority has not accepted the assignment or if the terms of it are not observed, the
assignment will have no effect on it.
In no circumstances will an assignment release the beneficiaries from their obligations towards the
granting authority.
ARTICLE 43 — APPLICABLE LAW AND SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES
43.1 Applicable law
The Agreement is governed by the applicable EU law, supplemented if necessary by the law of
Belgium.
Special rules may apply for beneficiaries which are international organisations (if any; see Data Sheet,
Point 5).
43.2 Dispute settlement
If a dispute concerns the interpretation, application or validity of the Agreement, the parties must bring
action before the EU General Court — or, on appeal, the EU Court of Justice — under Article 272
of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (TFEU).
For non-EU beneficiaries (if any), such disputes must be brought before the courts of Brussels,
Belgium — unless an international agreement provides for the enforceability of EU court judgements.
For beneficiaries with arbitration as special dispute settlement forum (if any; see Data Sheet, Point 5),
the dispute will — in the absence of an amicable settlement — be settled in accordance with the Rules
for Arbitration published on the Portal.
If a dispute concerns administrative sanctions, offsetting or an enforceable decision under Article 299
TFEU (see Articles 22 and 34), the beneficiaries must bring action before the General Court — or, on
appeal, the Court of Justice — under Article 263 TFEU.
For grants where the granting authority is an EU executive agency (see Preamble), actions against
offsetting and enforceable decisions must be brought against the European Commission (not against
the granting authority; see also Article 22).
ARTICLE 44 — ENTRY INTO FORCE
The Agreement will enter into force on the day of signature by the granting authority or the
coordinator, depending on which is later.
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DIGITAL MGA — Multi & Mono: v1.0
SIGNATURES For the granting authority
For the coordinator [S-ig-ned by Marc VAN ACHTER with ECAS id achtemc as an authorised
[E-c-as Id n008bn5q signed in the Participant Portal on 2026/02/19 09:37:48 representative on 19-02-2026 11:57:45 (transaction id SigId-6912-KOniiqfaazi7b
T(SGigIdS-5M556-aYDrbkg#eRsi9iugyDnTRastouEzrjheiJm-9bD9TQ918nz1xd3lkM1C4aj5J0K_97kO5sP_H26v1Kk07a-X-9]
TGSMark#signature-
LEl06htb0OokxSdfvNXrfc65tyHOy4TJ-POMaLlcnzRyvy0y5mcndfy FIKdhcK8VNzd4UkFHZdruA42GbpXmVQxSqI8Xcvescce0fVmbjyOYabFnkWmwCl
whpJnL3NMZ7XccjxbHVyIzK4rIKZYsq9XlIzLzQc39w2trfG2K1GrwKG9SxzxO3Bt
vqpYuzRiMxITolv7AU3mHl). Timestamp by thirdparty at 2026/02/19 09:37:53 service_75_210--]
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6DeRUEM7atkoYzzvvQ7Xq78)
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ANNEX 1
Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL)
Description of the action (DoA)
Part A
Part B
Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTION (PART A)
COVER PAGE
Part A of the Description of the Action (DoA) must be completed directly on the Portal Grant Preparation screens.
PROJECT
Grant Preparation (General Information screen) — Enter the info.
Project number: 101256745
Project name: EDIH Northern and Eastern Bohemia 2.0
Project acronym: EDIH NEB 2.0
Call: DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08
Topic: DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08-CONSOLIDATION-STEP
Type of action: DIGITAL-SIMPLE
Service: CNECT/A/04
Project starting date: fixed date: 1 May 2026
Project duration: 36 months
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Project summary ......................................................................................................................................................3
List of participants .................................................................................................................................................. 3
List of work packages .............................................................................................................................................4
Staff effort ............................................................................................................................................................. 14
List of deliverables ................................................................................................................................................15
List of milestones (outputs/outcomes) .................................................................................................................. 22
List of critical risks ............................................................................................................................................... 23
Project reviews ...................................................................................................................................................... 26
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PROJECT SUMMARY
Project summary
Grant Preparation (General Information screen) — Provide an overall description of your project (including context and overall
objectives, planned activities and main achievements, and expected results and impacts (on target groups, change procedures,
capacities, innovation etc)). This summary should give readers a clear idea of what your project is about.
Use the project summary from your proposal.
The main objective of EDIH NEB 2.0 remains to support the digital transformation of SMEs, start-ups, mid-caps,
and public entities by providing high-quality services focused on advanced digital technologies, particularly artificial
intelligence (AI). The aim is to enhance their competitiveness, operational capacity, and resilience by facilitating
testing, deployment, and uptake of AI and other digital solutions such as IoT, robotics and machine learning. A
particular emphasis is placed on assisting public sector organisations, including municipalities, regional authorities,
social care providers, educational institutions, and other public bodies in adopting AI-driven innovations that improve
their efficiency. EDIH NEB 2.0 also acts as a first-line AI help desk, offering guidance on compliance with the AI Act
and referrals to relevant European AI infrastructures such as AI Factories, the AI-on-Demand Platform, and AI TEFs.
EDIH NEB 2.0 is a key component of the innovation infrastructure in the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions (CZ05
Northeast), where it leverages strong institutional, industrial, and research capacities. In addition to its primary regional
focus, EDIH NEB 2.0 extends its services across the Czech Republic and maintains active cross-border cooperation
especially within Euroregion Nisa and, to a lesser extent, Euroregion Glacensis, fostering collaboration with partners
in neighbouring regions of Germany and Poland. It also engages in broader international cooperation within the EDIH
network. By strengthening digital capacities and AI integration, EDIH NEB2.0 contributes not only to innovation and
growth, but also to the long-term resilience of local economies and public services, enhancing their ability to adapt to
future challenges, disruptions, and strategic technological shifts. It acts as a regional engine for the broader European
AI innovation ecosystem and a trusted partner for the digital transformation of both businesses and the public sector.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS
PARTICIPANTS
Grant Preparation (Beneficiaries screen) — Enter the info.
Number Role Short name Legal name Country PIC
ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE
1 COO ARR SPOL SRO CZ 999813145
VUTS AS
2 BEN VUTS NARODNI KLASTROVA ASOCIACE CZ 998726551
CENTRUM INVESTIC ROZVOJE A INOVACI
3 BEN NCA TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V LIBERCI CZ 939904490
UNIVERZITA HRADEC KRALOVE
4 BEN CIRI CZ 883107207
5 BEN TUL CZ 999856213
6 BEN UHK CZ 999865719
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LIST OF WORK PACKAGES
Work packages
Grant Preparation (Work Packages screen) — Enter the info.
Work Work Package name Lead Beneficiary Effort Start End Deliverables
1 - ARR (Person- Month Month
Package No Months)
WP1 Project management and coordination 151.20 1 36 D1.1 – Client database
D1.2 – Mandatory periodic report
D1.3 – Economic sustainability
D1.4 – Mandatory final periodic report
D1.5 – KPI report M6
D1.6 – KPI report M12
D1.7 – KPI report M18
D1.8 – KPI report M24
D1.9 – KPI report M30
D1.10 – KPI report M36
WP2 Test Before Invest 1 - ARR 136.48 1 36 D2.1 – Proposals for changes in the field
48.60
70.20 of digitalisation - i.e. a report on the
18.00 implementation of each Test Before Invest
service (handover documents)
WP3 Training and skills development 1 - ARR 1 36 D3.1 – Certificate of participation
WP4 Networking / Building the Innovation Ecosystem 3 - NCA 1 36 D4.1 – Database of cooperating entities at
regional, national, and EU level (clusters,
incubators, chambers of commerce,
universities, representatives of regional
politics, etc., EDIH in the EU) - excepting
EDIH clients, because it's output D 1.1
D4.2 – Two analytical documents
WP5 Support to find investments 1 - ARR 1 36 D5.1 – screening subsidy sources once
every 2 months
D5.2 – overview of investors
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Work packages
Grant Preparation (Work Packages screen) — Enter the info.
Work Work Package name Lead Beneficiary Effort Start End Deliverables
1 - ARR (Person- Month Month
Package No Months)
WP6 Communication and dissemination 61.92 1 36 D6.1 – Plan of dissemination and
Exploitation
D6.2 – Websites
D6.3 – Social Networks & Media &
Awareness Campaign
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Work package WP1 – Project management and coordination
Work Package Number WP1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Work Package Name Project management and coordination
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To ensure achievement of the set objectives, indicators, outputs, and milestones of the project in accordance with the
timetable and the approved budget.
To effectively manage the implementation team across the partners involved, and the coordination of tasks and
competencies.
To monitor how the implementation of activities is proceeding, to manage internal processes and undertake continuous
evaluation of progress.
To set up and maintain effective internal and external communication flows, including communication with the European
Commission.
To ensure the quality processing of all implementation reports, payment requests, and other mandatory documentation
according to EC requirements.
To enhance the capacities of the implementation team through targeted training, sharing know-how, and transferring
best practices.
Description
T1.1 - Meetings (EDIH team meetings, meetings with EC representatives, etc.)
Meetings within the project team, with representatives of the EC or the EDIH network for the purposes of project
management. ARR will manage activity and work closely with all partners. Regular meetings of representatives of
consortium partners and a minimum of once a month.
T1.2 Coordination of the project and EDIH activities (e.g. using CRM, client database, etc.) Coordination of work and
activities within the EDIH implementation team, i.e. cooperation between the individual partners of the consortium. Use
of CRM tools, client database, shared tools, etc.
T1.3 Monitoring and evaluation Regular monitoring of the implementation of activities and services, evaluating the
impact and obtaining feedback from clients. Monitoring the implementation of indicators. Regular risk assessment and
quality control of project management. Identifying potential problems, proposing corrective measures, risk management.
T1.4 Financial management Monitoring how the budget is drawn, changes in the budget, eligibility of expenditures, etc.
Processing payment requests.
T1.5 Reporting Compiling implementation reports, monitoring the achievement of project activities, indicators,
timetable, outputs, etc.
T1.6 Cooperation with the EC and EDIH network (training of EDIH staff, working with the EC information system, etc.)
Cooperation within the EDIH network and with the EC during project management, reciprocal exchange of information,
experience, training the EDIH team and involvement in other activities of the DTA. Cooperation of all members of the
consortium within the EDIH network and with the EC as required. Training provided to the implementation team on an
ongoing basis (approximately 15 per year). This task addresses the liaison and cooperation activities with the Digital
Transformation Accelerator (DTA).
The EDIH will:
- provide to the DTA the necessary data/information on the overall Key Performance Indicators on at least on a 6 monthly
basis or on request by the DTA
-participate actively in the relevant support activities of the DTA, such as matchmaking, training and capacity building
events;
-participate actively in the "Train the trainer" programme organised by the DTA, to acquire the necessary knowledge
on how to use the digital capacities supported by the Digital Europe programme, with the objective to help the EDIH
stakeholders to make use of them.
Work package WP2 – Test Before Invest Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Work Package Number WP2
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Work Package Name Test Before Invest
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To ensure access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to testing infrastructures and experts in order to verify
the suitability and benefits of digital technologies before their implementation.
To increase the digital maturity of the target group (SMEs and public administration) through individually targeted
analyses, consultations, and pilot technology testing.
To support the competitiveness of enterprises on global markets and improve their productivity through effective digital
solutions.
To intermediate professional, technological, and institutional support to SMEs in the transition to new digital tools,
including access to services in the field of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and Industry 4.0.
To make digital transformation services available to SMEs across sectors and regions.
To support the emergence and application of digital innovations that respond to current technological and societal
challenges.
To develop a sustainable economic business model through digital technologies that contribute to environmental and
energy sustainability (e.g. savings, effective planning, the optimisation of production).
To enable clients to test various digitalisation scenarios without the need to invest in advance.
Activity also entails cooperation with EDIHs within the Czech Republic and outside the Czech Republic if the scope
of EDIH NEB 2.0 expert services is insufficient.
Description
T2.1 Strategic consulting on digitalisation, IoT, AI, and Smart Technologies, including the operation of the First-line
AI helpdesk
Digital maturity assessment - Digital audit: (ARR, TUL, CIRI, VÚTS): Evaluation of the level of use of digital
technologies, definition of potential, opportunities, areas for resolution, and proposal of cooperation. Comparison with
other entities across Europe. The evaluation serves as a parameter for evaluating the success of the service. Applies to
all clients as part of WP2.
Consultation on the digitalisation of the company/public administration (ARR): Consulting services focusing on the
analysis of existing processes, and a proposal for optimisation and digitalisation possibilities.
Consultation on IoT, Smart Technologies, and the use of AI (UHK): Consulting services, research activities, and the
proposal of appropriate technical solutions tailored to the specific needs of the client.
Consultation on IoT, SMART Technologies, and solution proposal (ARR): Identifying the possibilities of deploying
smart technologies and proposing applicable solutions for specific use in companies or public administration.
Consultation on IoT and AI technologies using the ARR Test Bed (ARR): Support in the selection, testing, and
implementation of advanced IoT and AI solutions, including practical demonstration in the testing infrastructure.
Intelligent digital consultation (TUL): Comprehensive consultation support for digital transformation that combines
traditional strategies with the use of advanced AI analytics tools. This service ensures the effective development of
business models and the optimisation of processes through data-driven recommendations and predictive models.
Consultation on the digitalisation of selected processes using AI and no-code tools (CIRI): This service facilitates the
fast and cost-effective introduction of digital solutions to specific processes using artificial intelligence and tools without
the need for programming (no-code). A customised solution that streamlines their operations and serves as a model for
onward digitalisation steps is offered to clients and tested.
Expected number of services: 189.
T2.2 Testing IoT, Smart Technologies, and their deployment
Testing technologies according to the results of a digital audit (ARR): Practical verification of the proposed technologies
based on recommendations resulting from a digital audit, the aim being to verify their suitability and effectiveness in
a specific operating environment.
Testing with the use of IoT/AI technologies in the environment of the ARR Test Bed (ARR): Simulation and verification
of the functionality of IoT/AI solutions in the controlled environment of the Test Bed, making it possible to test safely
outside operating reality.
Testing IoT/AI technologies in the real company environment (ARR): Deploying and testing technologies under the
company's actual conditions in order to verify real added value and operating efficiency.
Testing SMART Technologies in real client operations (ARR): Implementation and tuning of smart technologies (Smart
Solutions) tailored to the specific needs of the company or public institution.
Testing of selected Smart and IoT solution(s) (UHK): The added value of this service is the option of consulting several
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variants of the solution and to deploy and fine-tune them for a particular case of use at the customer within the project.
Activity draws on the verified interest of clients, who can therefore access the latest technologies and test their impact
when applying them to their own processes (often newly developed ones too).
Expected number of services: 57
T2.3 Supporting the implementation of and compliance with the AI Act and the use of AI in practice
Consultation for the AI ACT (TUL): Specialised consultation focusing on the implementation of and compliance with
legislative requirements resulting from the AI ACT. This service combines the legal framework with technological
expertise and helps enterprises adapt systems and processes so as to be fully compliant with current norms and standards
in the field of artificial intelligence.
Design and use of AI methods for problem solving (UHK): Practical support in the deployment of methods and tools
that use artificial intelligence to effectively solve specific problems at a company. The service includes the selection of
appropriate AI methods, their adaptation to the specific needs of the customer, and close cooperation with its employees
in order to transfer basic knowledge and facilitate the independent use and development of the deployed solution. Possible
applications include, for example, image processing, the creation of decision-making algorithms, or the use of available
libraries and models.
Digitalisation of production and business enterprises using AI (NCA): Supporting companies in the integration of
advanced technologies that use artificial intelligence into production and business processes. The aim is to increase the
productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of companies using modern AI tools.
Expected number of services: 15
T2.4 4. AI in marketing, data analysis, and e-commerce
Consultation in the field of digital sales and marketing channels, data analysis, UI/UX, and e-commerce (TUL):
Comprehensive support in the analysis and processing of data to support digital marketing and sales, the use of available
AI tools, ensuring optimal user-friendliness, UI/UX analysis.
Testing and proof-of-concepts for optimising digital channels (TUL): Design and development of data analytics tools
with the possible use of AI, testing the available solutions suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises in the field
of e-commerce, and increasing their conversion rate.
Expected number of services: 6
T2.5 5. AI-based voice and image recognition
Consultation for industrial applications of AI-based voice and image recognition (TUL): Strategic consultation for the
deployment of advanced AI solutions in the field of voice and image recognition in an industrial environment. The
service focuses on optimising production and control processes using neural networks and machine learning, thereby
contributing to increased efficiency, safety, and quality.
Testing and proof-of-concepts for AI-based voice and image recognition in industry (TUL): A practical service aimed at
validating and prototype testing innovative AI solutions for voice and image recognition in manufacturing and industrial
applications. Provides validation of a technology concept under real conditions and helps identify the most effective
implementation strategies.
Expected number of services: 6
T2.6 Machine learning and neural networks
Digitalisation, machine vision and learning (VÚTS):
3D scanning and measurement (we have state-of-the-art measurement and scanning technology for precision
digitalisation of machine parts, the creation of 3D models and drawing documentation, use in the field of reverse
engineering and rapid prototyping). The aim is to streamline construction processes and optimise production activities
with accurate digital representation of real objects.
Reverse engineering: Based on the scanned data, we provide: an analysis of functional and structural elements, a proposal
of optimisations and modifications, the preparation of data for additive manufacturing or other simulation calculations.
Machine vision and inspection systems: We ensure the design and implementation of visual inspection systems with
which to check the dimensions, shapes, colours, position, and presence of parts, read text and characters (OCR), pattern
recognition. The systems are designed to measure, including the selection of suitable hardware and software, and can
be used for various types of equipment in industrial automation.
Use of AI and advanced methods: When designing and optimising systems, we use machine learning (ML), deep learning
(DL), and artificial neural networks (ANN). These approaches allow a high degree of automation, system adaptability
to changing conditions, and effective anomaly detection.
Expected number of services: 2
T2.7 Robotics, collaborative robots, and simulations
Consultation on robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots (TUL): Expert assessment of the possibilities of robotisation,
including the deployment of collaborative (HCR) robots, vision systems, force torque sensors, and the integration of
artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods into robotic applications.
Testing and proof-of-concepts for robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots (TUL): Practical verification of designs of
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robotic tasks on existing machinery or using mathematical simulations. Testing includes the validation of camera-based
and AI-based systems and tools and verification of their effectiveness for specific operating conditions
Expected number of services: 4
T2.8 Virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, scanning, and simulation
Consultation in the field of 3D printing, materials, optimisation of the construction of a model, product properties (TUL):
Expert consultation aimed at selecting appropriate additive technologies and materials (metals, plastics) with regard to
the required physical and functional properties of products. The service also includes analyses of product design from the
perspective of suitability for production using additive processes and recommendations for post-processing operations.
Testing and proof-of-concepts in the sphere of 3D printing (TUL): Optimisation of the construction of models,
reverse engineering - New concepts of construction solutions, proposal for the design of a part according to concrete
specifications with regard to the targeted additive technology and required properties, optimisation of the design of
parts of existing structures with regard to topological optimisation, preparation of an electronic model using reverse
engineering procedures, analysis of the shape and dimensional precision of printed parts. Proof of concept in the field
of 3D printing - Concepts of new solutions with regard to the use of 3D printing technologies and their verification,
prototyping - Rapid Prototyping, testing new materials and processes, the production of basic prototypes for testing the
usability of selected technologies of additive manufacturing and post-processing relating to the required output properties
of parts. Analyses of fundamental mechanical properties of materials.
The measurement and analysis of data for the comparison of a virtual and real product (VÚTS): We have an extensive
complex of know-how and equipment for identifying and measuring the parameters of machines and equipment. The
date obtained and measured will be used as the basis for verification of designed machines and equipment; i.e. that the
real measured data either act as background-input data in calculations, or are used for a comparison of the behaviour
of prototypes and machines with calculated parameters and simulation results (N.B. partially connected to the issue of
a digital twin).
Creation of a virtual model (VÚTS): Services and consultancy in the field of calculating and modelling the behaviour
of machines and equipment. These are skills in the field of calculations and modelling (which might be implemented
separately or as a whole), facilitating the design and implementation of a virtual model (twin). Using the models designed
in this way, the utility properties of machines can take the performance, reliability, quality, and accuracy of production
operations to a higher level, achieve lower energy consumption, and minimise the negative impact of machine operation
on the environment.
Expected number of services: 12
T2.9 Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and advanced sensorics
Consultation on IIoT and advanced sensorics (TUL): Help in finding suitable sensors of various physical quantities,
testing them, and help with implementing them in a specific application. Development and testing of advanced sensors
(e.g. TOF sensors, camera systems) for use in the sphere of IIOT. Consultation in the field of AI-based IoT systems
and platforms
Tests and proof-of-concepts of selected IIoT solutions (TUL): Development of IoT, IIoT, and embedded applications,
including applications using edge computing and ML. Designs of modular IIoT units for concept testing, firmware
development, and function testing in a specific application
Expected number of services: 10
T2.10 Data analysis, modelling, and the use of ML/AI
Consultation for data analysis, modelling and simulation using ML and AI (TUL): Comprehensive support in the analysis
and processing of data, including advanced modelling, simulation, and machine learning methods. The service facilitates
the creation of predictive models and the optimisation of decision-making processes through the integration of modern
AI technologies, thereby increasing the quality and accuracy of analyses.
Testing and proof-of-concepts for data analysis and processing, predictive algorithms (TUL): An innovative approach
to the validation of data solutions using AI and ML technologies. This service includes prototype tests and a practical
demonstration of the effectiveness of advanced data analytics tools, searching for data patterns, and use for predicting
events, which makes it possible to identify potential benefits and optimise implementation in real business processes.
Data analysis using advanced processing methods (UHK): An extended service that focuses on the use of advanced
statistical and AI methods for the analysis of large volumes of data. As part of this service, methods will be applied
from the sphere of artificial intelligence and other statistical methods for analysing company data. The identification of
unused data sources, analysis of the logic of data creation, and the design of optimisation measures. The development
of algorithms for continuous evaluation of results, with the possibility of deployment in a cloud environment or at the
client itself.
Expected number of services: 9
T2.11 Support for the development of proof-of-concept solutions
This service transfers the experience of university staff in the development of hardware and software solutions to the
corporate and public sectors. Based on an understanding of the company's problem, knowledge of its target market and
strategy, support is provided in the design and development of PoC solutions in line with the client's needs. Typical
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examples are sensoric solutions, the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in corporate processes, or the
design of cloud systems for data collection and evaluation.
Expected number of services: 3
T2.12 Range of services in relation to cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment (CMA): Assessment of the level of cyber security maturity of an organisation.
Cybersecurity analyses: Analysis of current security risks and the proposal of measures.
Cybersecurity audit: Comprehensive assessment of security measures and compliance with legislative requirements.
Penetration tests: Simulation of attacks to verify the resilience of systems.
Preparation for SOC (Security Operations Centre) services: Setting internal processes for the effective use of services
provided by a security supervision centre.
Expected number of services: 6
Work package WP3 – Training and skills development
Work Package Number WP3 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Work Package Name Training and skills development
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To increase the expertise and digital competencies of employees of companies and public administration, particularly in
the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analysis, automation, and other key technologies.
To respond to the current needs of the labour market in the field of digital skills and to enhance the readiness of the
workforce for technological transformation.
To offer multi-level and modular forms of digital education, from elementary digital literacy to advanced courses that
focus on specific technologies or sectors (e.g. AI for manufacturing, cybersecurity for public administration).
To connect theory with practice through exemplifications and practical demonstrations, including internships,
workshops, demonstrations of technology, test platforms, and case studies.
To use modern tools and technologies to make education more effective and attractive.
To contribute towards the achievement of European and national strategies in the sphere of developing digital skills
and education.
Description
T3.1 Training, internships, excursions
Specialised training, excursions, and internships for SMEs, mid-caps, and public organisations on various topics; e.g.
AI, cybersecurity, IoT, Smart Technologies, etc. Internships aimed at acquiring skills in working with IoT, smart
technologies, the digitalisation of production, etc. Practice focusing on practical exemplifications of the use of AI, IoT,
Smart Technologies, etc. Approximately 74 days of training. Approximately 629 participants in training, internships,
excursions.
3.2 Integration of EU AI platforms and resources into training activities
Work package WP4 – Networking / Building the Innovation Ecosystem
Work Package Number WP4 Lead Beneficiary 3 - NCA
Work Package Name Networking / Building the Innovation Ecosystem
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To build and enhance cooperation between enterprises, public administration, and other players of the innovation
ecosystem, including clusters, research organisations, incubators, associations, chambers of commerce and regional
stakeholders.
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To link the supply of and demand for digital solutions – to create platforms and tools for effective matchmaking between
companies, technology providers, and other relevant entities.
To actively communicate and cooperate with other European EDIHs within the pan-European network – to share
information, jointly organise events, and find solutions for clients whose needs exceed the competencies of EDIH NEB
2.0.
To support the internationalisation of EDIH NEB 2.0 clients, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, through
cross-border interconnection, by sharing know-how, and by participating in European innovation platforms.
To identify and reach new EDIH NEB 2.0 clients.
To motivate enterprises and public institutions to undertake digital transformation, and to raise their awareness of the
benefits of digital technologies and support opportunities.
To ensure systematic mapping of the digital and innovation environment in the regions, and identify the needs of target
groups, the available competencies, the barriers, and the opportunities.
To support the sharing of good practices, project results, and successful examples of digitalisation across partners,
regions, and countries.
To create conditions for the emergence of new partnerships and long-term cooperation, including interdisciplinary,
interregional, and international ties within what is known as the quadruple helix (public administration – enterprises –
research – civil society).
Description
T4.1 Networking activities, connecting, round tables, conferences
Connecting representatives of the public administration, business, and other organisations forming the innovation
ecosystem in the region, at national level, and in the EU: the organisation of round tables, platforms, etc.
- Collaboration with regional stakeholders, clusters, incubators, EEN, chambers of commerce, associations, players in
the sphere of innovation: Exchange of offers and requirements of the target group, searching for new innovative solutions,
cooperation on events (excepting WP3 events).
We expect the organisation of around 17 conferences and 41 round tables/networking sessions
We expect approximately 1,350 participants in these activities.
T4.2 Cooperation within the EDIH network and with other organisations at national/EU level
Collaboration on digitalisation events, sharing information and examples of good practice, networking, etc. We envisage
cooperation with around 40 organisations at national / European level.
T4.3 Analysis / mapping
Processing two sub-analyses: the first will identify the current needs of target groups in fields that are affected by
problems in industry, the aim being to optimise the services on offer. The second analysis will respond to the requirements
of the new EU NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security) and its implementation among target groups, and
proposed changes in terms of service settings for given clients.
Work package WP5 – Support to find investments
Work Package Number WP5 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Work Package Name Support to find investments
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To make it easier for EDIH NEB 2.0 clients to access suitable financial resources for the implementation of proposed
digital solutions, including the areas of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, automation, and the digitalisation of
processes.
To monitor and analyse available national and European sources of financing, including public (e.g. grants, subsidies,
financial instruments) and private (e.g. venture capital, business angels, crowdfunding).
To provide targeted consultation to clients with regard to financing digitalisation – e.g. by way of individual consultation,
investor days, or assistance in the preparation of applications.
To support clients in evaluating investment readiness and to propose steps to improve the credibility and sustainability
of their project plans.
To connect SMEs and public institutions with relevant investors and financial institutions, and to organise matchmaking
and presentation events.
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To increase financial literacy in the field of digitalisation investments, and knowing how to find one's way around the
available schemes and understanding the return on investment in technologies.
To motivate companies to engage in their own investment activity in the field of digital transformation, and thus
contribute to their long-term competitiveness and growth potential.
Description
T5.1 screening, consultancy, and assistance with the preparation of applications Screening grant sources in the field
of digitalisation, cooperation in securing financial resources for specific solutions (grants, loans, exchanges, venture
capital, etc.) and cooperation in preparing applications for the given financial source
T5.2 Investor days
The organisation or joint organisation of investor days for EDIH NEB 2.0 clients, cooperation with EDIH NEB 2.0
clients in preparing investor days. Support for the involvement of EDIH NEB 2.0 clients in investor days. Approximately
6 events.
Work package WP6 – Communication and dissemination
Work Package Number WP6 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Work Package Name Communication and dissemination
Start Month 1 End Month 36
Objectives
To engage and activate target groups (SMEs and public administration) through targeted communication that
distinguishes:
a) a group capable of defining its needs in the field of digitalisation, and
b) a group that is only now discovering the potential of digitalisation.
The aim is to increase the number of informed and active clients who understand the benefits of digital transformation
and who are ready to cooperate with EDIH NEB 2.0.
To create and develop a systematic contact base of clients and stakeholders of EDIH NEB 2.0, including new, potential,
and recurring users of services. Work with this database will also proceed as part of CRM and segmentation for targeted
communication.
To build a strong EDIH NEB 2.0 brand among the target group and the wider public:
a) Among the target group as a trusted and professional partner in the field of digitalisation and innovation,
b) Outside the target group in order to make the region visible as a centre of digital transformation, technological
competence, and innovation.
To increase the credibility of EDIH NEB 2.0 by sharing success stories, case studies, specialised content, podcasts,
videos, and examples of good practice.
To support the conversion potential of channels of communication – i.e. to lead informed website visitors or event
participants to actual use of EDIH NEB 2.0 services.
To ensure the visibility of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project in accordance with the requirements of the EC, including the use
of logos, PR activities, and reporting outcomes.
To develop strategic internal and external communication, including regular exchanges of information within the
consortium, media coverage of key outcomes, and involvement in thematic events.
To ensure the sustainability of the brand and awareness of EDIH NEB 2.0 even after the end of financing; e.g. through
established partnerships, open channels, and the community around the project.
Costs relating to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: Websites/subpages, costs of social networks and
paid campaigns, printed materials, leaflets, billboards, roll-ups, graphic works, videos, podcasts, promotional items, PR
agency, PR events, presentations at trade fairs, setting up and managing PPC campaigns aimed at publicising EDIH
NEB 2.0 (e.g. Google, etc.).
Description
T6.1 Plan of dissemination and Exploitation
The plan of dissemination and exploitation defines EDIH's vision and mission and its impact on the ecosystem of the
region. It elaborates the process for fulfilling this vision and mission in relation to the target groups of the project. It
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defines content, communication channels, campaigns, budget. The plan will be created no later than 6 months after the
commencement of the project. In the exploitation plan, it will describe how the EDIH NEB 2.0 ensures sustainability
of its operations.
Chief marketing manager: Creates the plan, is responsible for its implementation. Consortium members: comment on
the plan, jointly responsible for implementation.
T6.2 Websites & content marketing (articles, videos, podcasts, etc.).
Supportive communication channels for website, cooperation with DTA to promote EDIH NEB 2.0 on the EDIH
Network portal
On-line newsletter The website is part of the Lead Partner's website and is a key carrier of relevant and valuable content:
articles, videos, podcasts / information on digital technologies and trends, advice shops (how to ...), positive references.
It is administered on the basis of a content plan (content mkt). Activity also includes the administration of the EDIH
NEB 2.0 subpages of the individual partners. Chief Marketing Manager: management and coordination of processes,
content distribution, consortium members: creation of content.
SEO is another part of this - search engine optimisation - compiling an analysis of keywords, campaigns targeting visitors
to the website in the form of PPC Google Adwords, Newsletter - news sent out to a database of contacts.
T6.3 Social networks
The management and development of social networks (in particular LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram). Building
relationships with journalists. Regular advertising / publication about EDIH in the press. Information campaigns in the
media. Targeted online marketing. Organic and paid dissemination of articles, paid publicity on social networks. Both
the Lead Partner and the individual partners will be involved in carrying out this activity, with the individual partners
following the Lead Partner's instructions.
T6.4 Digital awareness campaigns
Events in support of spreading awareness of the need for the digitalisation of the region (or of target groups) and publicity
of EDIH NEB 2.0 services. Creating and cultivating networks at events, relationships with customers and with potential
EDIH NEB 2.0 partners. Partial online information campaigns to raise awareness of EDIH NEB 2.0 and of digitalisation.
Spreading awareness at events organised by other entities, distributing EDIH NEB 2.0 publicity materials, presenting
EDIH NEB 2.0 at trade fairs/conferences. Chief Marketing Manager - campaign management in collaboration with
partners.
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STAFF EFFORT
Staff effort per participant
Grant Preparation (Work packages - Effort screen) — Enter the info.
Participant WP1 WP2 WP3 WP4 WP5 WP6 Total Person-Months
1 - ARR
2 - VUTS 75.60 64.80 25.20 10.80 3.60 36.00 216.00
3 - NCA
4 - CIRI 10.80 10.80 7.20 28.80
5 - TUL
6 - UHK 18.00 10.80 36.00 3.60 10.80 79.20
Total Person-Months
7.20 3.60 14.40 14.40 3.60 3.60 46.80
21.60 25.85 9.00 9.00 3.60 4.32 73.37
18.00 20.63 3.60 42.23
151.20 136.48 48.60 70.20 18.00 61.92 486.40
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LIST OF DELIVERABLES
Deliverables
Grant Preparation (Deliverables screen) — Enter the info.
The labels used mean:
Public — fully open ( automatically posted online)
Sensitive — limited under the conditions of the Grant Agreement
EU classified —RESTREINT-UE/EU-RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIEL-UE/EU-CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET-UE/EU-SECRET under Decision 2015/444
Deliverable Deliverable Name Work Lead Beneficiary Type Dissemination Level Due Date
No Package 1 - ARR (month)
No
D1.1 Client database DATA — data sets, SEN - Sensitive 36
WP1 microdata, etc
R — Document, report PU - Public 20
D1.2 Mandatory periodic report WP1 1 - ARR R — Document, report SEN - Sensitive 18
D1.3 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 36
D1.4 Economic sustainability WP1 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 6
D1.5 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 12
D1.6 Mandatory final periodic report WP1 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 18
D1.7 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 24
D1.8 KPI report M6 WP1 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 30
D1.9 1 - ARR R — Document, report PU - Public 36
D1.10 KPI report M12 WP1 1 - ARR R — Document, report SEN - Sensitive 36
D2.1 1 - ARR
KPI report M18 WP1 36
D3.1 1 - ARR
KPI report M24 WP1 15
KPI report M30 WP1
KPI report M36 WP1
Proposals for changes in the field of WP2
digitalisation - i.e. a report on the
implementation of each Test Before Invest
service (handover documents)
Certificate of participation WP3 R — Document, report PU - Public
Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08 Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Deliverables
Grant Preparation (Deliverables screen) — Enter the info.
The labels used mean:
Public — fully open ( automatically posted online)
Sensitive — limited under the conditions of the Grant Agreement
EU classified —RESTREINT-UE/EU-RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIEL-UE/EU-CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET-UE/EU-SECRET under Decision 2015/444
Deliverable Deliverable Name Work Lead Beneficiary Type Dissemination Level Due Date
No Package SEN - Sensitive (month)
No 1 - ARR DATA — data sets,
microdata, etc 36
D4.1 Database of cooperating entities at regional, WP4 3 - NCA
1 - ARR 14
national, and EU level (clusters, incubators, 1 - ARR 36
1 - ARR 36
chambers of commerce, universities, 1 - ARR 6
36
representatives of regional politics, etc., 36
EDIH in the EU) - excepting EDIH clients,
because it's output D 1.1
D4.2 Two analytical documents WP4 R — Document, report PU - Public
R — Document, report PU - Public
D5.1 screening subsidy sources once every 2 WP5
months
D5.2 overview of investors WP5 R — Document, report SEN - Sensitive
R — Document, report PU - Public
D6.1 Plan of dissemination and Exploitation WP6 DEC —Websites, patent PU - Public
filings, videos, etc
D6.2 Websites WP6 R — Document, report PU - Public
D6.3 Social Networks & Media & Awareness WP6 1 - ARR
Campaign
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Deliverable D1.1 – Client database
Deliverable Number D1.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name Dissemination Level SEN - Sensitive
Type Client database 36 Work Package No WP1
Due Date (month) DATA — data sets,
microdata, etc
Description
EDIH NEB client’s database with contacts and services provided.
Deliverable D1.2 – Mandatory periodic report
Deliverable Number D1.2 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Mandatory periodic report PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP1
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
20 Work Package No
Description
This interim evaluation report will include an evaluation of ongoing achievement of the outputs and indicators of all
project activities (WP2 to WP6). English language Structure according to EC requirements.
Deliverable D1.3 – Economic sustainability
Deliverable Number D1.3 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Economic sustainability SEN - Sensitive
Due Date (month) WP1
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
18 Work Package No
Description
Summary report on economic sustainability. English language
Deliverable D1.4 – Mandatory final periodic report
Deliverable Number D1.4 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Mandatory final periodic report PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP1
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
36 Work Package No
Description
This final evaluation report will include a cumulative assessment of achievement of the outputs and indicators of all
project activities (WP2 to WP6). English language Structure according to EC requirements.
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Deliverable D1.5 – KPI report M6
Deliverable Number D1.5 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M6
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 6 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
Deliverable D1.6 – KPI report M12
Deliverable Number D1.6 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M12
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 12 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
Deliverable D1.7 – KPI report M18
Deliverable Number D1.7 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M18
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 18 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
Deliverable D1.8 – KPI report M24
Deliverable Number D1.8 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M24
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 24 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
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Deliverable D1.9 – KPI report M30
Deliverable Number D1.9 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M30
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 30 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
Deliverable D1.10 – KPI report M36
Deliverable Number D1.10 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name KPI report M36
Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level PU - Public
Due Date (month) 36 Work Package No WP1
Description
6 monthly KPI report - report with KPI on DMA (Digital Maturity Assessment) and services from the DTA website
Deliverable D2.1 – Proposals for changes in the field of digitalisation - i.e. a report on the
implementation of each Test Before Invest service (handover documents)
Deliverable Number D2.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Proposals for changes in the field of digitalisation - i.e. a report on the implementation
Type of each Test Before Invest service (handover documents)
Due Date (month)
R — Document, report Dissemination Level SEN - Sensitive
36 Work Package No WP2
Description
A4 format per service, English language, overview of each service
Deliverable D3.1 – Certificate of participation
Deliverable Number D3.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Certificate of participation PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP3
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
36 Work Package No
Description
around 629 certificates A4, English/Czech language
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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Deliverable D4.1 – Database of cooperating entities at regional, national, and EU level
(clusters, incubators, chambers of commerce, universities, representatives of regional politics,
etc., EDIH in the EU) - excepting EDIH clients, because it's output D 1.1
Deliverable Number D4.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Database of cooperating entities at regional, national, and EU level (clusters, incubators,
Type chambers of commerce, universities, representatives of regional politics, etc., EDIH in
Due Date (month) the EU) - excepting EDIH clients, because it's output D 1.1
DATA — data sets, Dissemination Level SEN - Sensitive
microdata, etc
36 Work Package No WP4
Description
Database of contacts and type of cooperation (approximately 40 entities)
Deliverable D4.2 – Two analytical documents
Deliverable Number D4.2 Lead Beneficiary 3 - NCA
Deliverable Name
Type Two analytical documents PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP4
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
14 Work Package No
Description
Two sub-analyses: the first will identify the current needs of target groups in fields that are affected by problems in
industry, the aim being to optimise the services on offer. The second analysis will respond to the requirements of the
new EU NIS2 Directive (Network and Information Security) and its implementation among target groups, and proposed
changes in terms of service settings for given clients.
English/Czech language, A4 format, PDF version
Deliverable D5.1 – screening subsidy sources once every 2 months
Deliverable Number D5.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type screening subsidy sources once every 2 months PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP5
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
36 Work Package No
Description
Regular newsletter (or if required) sent to clients with grant opportunities, overview of events and other useful
information.
Deliverable D5.2 – overview of investors
Deliverable Number D5.2 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name overview of investors
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Type R — Document, report Dissemination Level SEN - Sensitive
Due Date (month) 36 Work Package No WP5
Description
Overview of investors with whom EDIH NEB 2.0 clients were connected
Deliverable D6.1 – Plan of dissemination and Exploitation
Deliverable Number D6.1 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Plan of dissemination and Exploitation PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP6
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
6 Work Package No
Description
The plan of dissemination and exploitation defines EDIH's vision and mission and its impact on the ecosystem of the
region. It elaborates the process for fulfilling this vision and mission in relation to the target groups of the project. It
defines content, communication channels, campaigns, budget. The plan will be created no later than 6 months after the
commencement of the project. In the exploitation plan, it will describe how the EDIH NEB 2.0 ensures sustainability
of its operations.
Deliverable D6.2 – Websites
Deliverable Number D6.2 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name PU - Public
Type Websites WP6
Due Date (month) DEC —Websites, patent Dissemination Level
filings, videos, etc
36 Work Package No
Description
Functioning websites in Czech and English, website updates
Deliverable D6.3 – Social Networks & Media & Awareness Campaign
Deliverable Number D6.3 Lead Beneficiary 1 - ARR
Deliverable Name
Type Social Networks & Media & Awareness Campaign PU - Public
Due Date (month) WP6
R — Document, report Dissemination Level
36 Work Package No
Description
Summary report and communication of project, quantity of all output. In PDF in EN language.
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LIST OF MILESTONES
Milestones
Grant Preparation (Milestones screen) — Enter the info.
Milestone Milestone Name Work Package No Lead Beneficiary Means of Verification Due Date
No Mandatory periodic report (month)
1 WP1 1 - ARR Compiled mandatory Periodic Report. This 20
interim evaluation report will include an
evaluation of ongoing achievement of the outputs
and indicators of all project activities (WP2 to
WP6).
2 Economic sustainability WP1 1 - ARR Summary report on economic sustainability. 18
3 Plan of dissemination and Exploitation WP6 1 - ARR Substantiation of the plan 6
4 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M6) Plan of dissemination and 6
assessment M6 WP3, WP5 Exploitation
5 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M12) Plan of dissemination and 12
assessment M12 WP3, WP5 Exploitation
6 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M18) Evaluation of the Plan of 18
assessment M18 WP3, WP5 dissemination and Exploitation
7 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M24) Evaluation of the Plan of 24
assessment M24 WP3, WP5 dissemination and Exploitation
8 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M30) Evaluation of the Plan of 30
assessment M30 WP3, WP5 dissemination and Exploitation
9 Evaluation of KPIs, impact and dissemination WP2, WP4, WP6, 1 - ARR KPI Report (M36) Evaluation of the Plan of 36
assessment M36 WP3, WP5 dissemination and Exploitation
10 Launch of the AI Helpdesk in pilot mode WP2 1 - ARR Functional AI help desk 3
11 The first cross-border networking event WP4 1 - ARR KPI report M18 12
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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08 Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
LIST OF CRITICAL RISKS
Critical risks & risk management strategy
Grant Preparation (Critical Risks screen) — Enter the info.
Risk Description Work Package Proposed Mitigation Measures
number No(s)
1
Serious epidemics, pandemics, or similar crisis WP2, WP1, WP4, We have experienced several crises in the past. The C19 pandemic had a significant impact on
2 situations, including economic downturn WP6, WP3, WP5 the availability of human resources, budgetary stability, and cooperation. The energy crisis
subsequently arose, and an economic slump at its beginning. However, what both crises had
3 in common was that they meant an opportunity for the deployment of digitalisation - e.g.
4 online tools at the time of C19 and digital technologies that optimise energy consumption
at the time of the energy crisis. Europe is currently facing a significant security crisis. This
too ultimately means an opportunity, the need for greater digitalisation and cyber resilience
in potential clients. The risk will be managed by selected and controlled communication in
the sense of naming it as an opportunity for an increased level of digitalisation in today's
modern world.
Not obtaining a subsidy WP2, WP1, WP4, The risk will be handled by identifying alternative sources of financing. It would only be
WP6, WP3, WP5 possible to offer EDIH NEB 2.0 services on a lower scale, and without the possibility
of financial advantages, which would undoubtedly slow down the process of digital
transformation. Our aim is to prepare a project of the highest quality so that it is successful in
its evaluation and can be executed in our region. Financial models are prepared for solutions
to take into account different resulting subsidy percentage. At the same time, a business
plan will be addressed during the project, and will include possibilities for maintaining the
broadest possible spectrum of EDIH NEB 2.0 services.
The financial instability of the project WP2, WP1, WP4, All partners are proven and economically-stable organisations. If necessary, there is the
WP6, WP3, WP5 option of internally reallocating resources or making adjustments to the project plan.
Failure to meet project indicators WP2, WP1, WP4, Indicators were set realistically based on partners' experience and feasibility estimates. Their
WP6, WP3, WP5 achievement will be regularly monitored and, in the event of the risk of unreasonable
deviation, will be addressed by adjusting activities on an ad hoc basis. In order to minimise
the risk, an interim milestone has been set within the project to verify the achievement of
indicators and further evaluate possible remedies. Further risk minimisation stems from the
experience of EDIH NEB already built up from before in relation to demand and clients'
needs.
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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08 Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Critical risks & risk management strategy
Grant Preparation (Critical Risks screen) — Enter the info.
Risk Description Work Package Proposed Mitigation Measures
number No(s)
5
Low level of interest among the target group in WP2, WP4, WP3, This risk has primarily been minimised by the experience gained of working with clients
6 EDIH NEB 2.0 services WP5 during the preceding period, when we validated their needs. Another tool to eliminate the risk
7 is the compilation of two analyses (see WP4). The communication strategy (WP6) has been
put in place to attract relevant clients. The high added value of the services and a personal
8 approach will boost interest.
9
10 Insufficient internal communication between WP1 Communication flows and responsibilities were anchored in the execution of the EDIH NEB
11 partners project during the preceding period (2024-2026). An organisational structure was set up, with
appointed main contact persons and their responsibilities. Regular meetings and shared tools
(CRM, shared documentation, etc.) help ensure seamless coordination.
Personnel turnover or lack of competency WP1 Most implementation is carried out by the in-house employees of partners in possession of
demonstrable qualifications. We will, to the maximum extent possible, use employees who
have already been verified and with experience of working on this project. The selection of
any other team members will respect the set qualification requirements for the position in
question. Staff turnover, however, is a natural part of operation. It is necessary to work with
it and to solve the problems associated with this in a timely manner. One way of eliminating
the risk is by having partners that are strong in terms of personnel and qualification and that
know how to solve these problems with a high degree of flexibility.
The rapid development of new technologies WP2 The project envisages flexible adaptation to the development of technologies. New trends
(obsolescence of certain approaches/services) are monitored by an expert team. If necessary, the services offered will be updated. This risk
will be dealt with by means of a code of ethics and a code of technology.
The low level of involvement of regional players in WP4 This risk will be managed using active networking activities, the involvement of key
the innovation ecosystem stakeholders, and targeted matchmaking. The proven quadruple helix approach is employed.
Insufficient project visibility WP6 The communication plan encompasses a wide range of tools (web, media, social networks,
articles, awareness-raising events). A combined offline/online approach will be used, with
the emphasis on good practice and regional impact. Activities will be evaluated and adapted
on a regular basis.
Risk of the long-term economic sustainability of the The risk lies primarily in a lack of funds with which to finance services, and thus make them
project available to clients. A sustainability and continuity of activity plan will be elaborated, and the
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Project: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08 Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Critical risks & risk management strategy
Grant Preparation (Critical Risks screen) — Enter the info.
Risk Description Work Package Proposed Mitigation Measures
number No(s)
setting of the resulting mix will respond to current developments. Negotiations with regional
12 donors on the continuation of support will take place well in advance so that it is possible to
react in a timely way to any fluctuations. Subsidy resources at national and European level
13 will be monitored and relevant applications will be submitted in a timely way. We will also
14 keep an eye on developments in the willingness of clients to co-finance services.
15
Risk associated with jointly financing the project WP2, WP1, WP4, At the time of submitting the application, no level of co-financing the project from
WP6, WP3, WP5 national sources has been clarified (the remaining 50%). However, intensive discussions are
underway with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which has pledged co-financing from
the national budget. The specific level of joint financing is, however, under negotiation.
According to the latest information, the MiaT might provide 30% to 50%. The partners have
therefore eliminated the risk of financing the project, a matter considered in more detail in
section 1.4 “Financial obstacles”.
Changes in EU or national digitalisation WP2, WP1, WP4, Regular monitoring of EU and national policy updates. Continuous dialogue with relevant
policies, data protection laws, or public funding WP6, WP3, WP5 ministries and the European Commission. Flexibility in project management to adapt
regulations could alter project eligibility, reporting activities and documentation to comply with new regulations.
requirements, or operational rules.
Technological incompatibility or integration issues - WP2, WP4, WP3 Use open standards and interoperable technologies. Conduct early-stage compatibility
There is a risk that newly developed digital solutions testing. Provide technical assistance and training for clients to ensure smooth integration and
may not be easily compatible with existing systems uptake.
used by SMEs or public organisations.
Stakeholder disengagement or conflict of interest - WP2, WP1, WP4, Maintain stakeholder engagement through continuous communication, shared success
key stakeholders (public authorities, SMEs, research WP6, WP3, WP5 metrics, and transparent governance. Implement conflict-resolution protocols.
partners) may lose interest or have conflicting
priorities, reducing project impact.
25
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PROJECT REVIEWS
Project Reviews
Grant Preparation (Reviews screen) — Enter the info.
Review Timing Location Comments
No (month)
RV1 20 TBC
RV2 36 TBC
26
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION (PART B)
PROJECT EDIH Northern and Eastern Bohemia 2.0
Project name: EDIH NEB 2.0
Project acronym: Petr Dobrovský, ARR - Agentura regionálního rozvoje, spol. s r. o.
Coordinator contact:
VERSION PUBLICATION HISTORY OF CHANGES
1.0 DATE
1.0 CHANGE
1.0 29.8.2025 project summary removed
1.0 29.8.2025 risk management section removed
1.0 29.8.2025 Work package tables, including milestones and deliverables, removed
2.0 29.8.2025 Staff effort table removed
2.0 29.8.2025 Table of contents updated
2.0 21.11.2025 Page 45 – subcontracting – estimated costs were aligned to the budget of
21.11.2025 subcontracting (EUR 38 000)
2.0 21.11.2025 Part 5.1 Ethics added
2.0
21.11.2025 Chapter 1.1 – reaction on ESR report - detailed information on WP3, WP, WP5 added
2.0 21.11.2025
2.0 B - Training and skills development (WP3) - Thematic focus of education – second
21.11.2025 paragraph
21.11.2025 C - Networking and access to innovation ecosystem (WP4) - International cooperation
and the EDIH network – last paragraph
Support to find investments (WP5) - Monitoring and adapting to market developments –
second paragraph (part)
Chapter 2.2 - Implementation plan and efficient use of resources - reaction on ESR
report – second and third paragraph added
Chapter 2.2 - Project management, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation
strategy - Monitoring project implementation- information about milestones and
deliverables added
3.1 Expected outcomes and deliverables - reaction on ESR report – third and fourth
paragraph added
Chapter 3.2 - Competitiveness and benefits for the society - reaction on ESR report – last
two paragraphs added
3.0 1.12.2025 Timetable adjusted
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION (PART B)
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
1. RELEVANCE
1.1 Objectives and activities
1.2 Contribution to long-term policy objectives, policies and strategies — Synergies
1.3 Digital technology supply chain
1.4 Financial obstacles
2. IMPLEMENTATION
2.1 Maturity
2.2 Implementation plan and efficient use of resources
2.3 Capacity to carry out the proposed work
3. IMPACT
3.1 Expected outcomes and deliverables — Dissemination and communication
3.2 Competitiveness and benefits for society
3.3 Environmental sustainability and contribution to European Green Deal goals
4. WORK PLAN, WORK PACKAGES, RESOURCES AND TIMING
4.1 Work plan
4.2 Work packages resources and timing
Work Package 1
Work Package …
Subcontracting (n/a for prefixed Lump Sum Grants)
Purchases and equipment
Other cost categories
Timetable
5. OTHER
5.1 Ethics
5.2 Security
6. DECLARATIONS
ANNEXES
#@APP-FORM-DEP@#
#@PRJ-SUM-PS@# [This document is tagged. Do not delete the tags; they are needed for the processing.]
#§PRJ-SUM-PS§# #@REL-EVA-RE@# #@PRJ-OBJ-PO@#
1. RELEVANCE
1.1 Objectives and activities
Objectives and activities
Describe how the project is aligned with the objectives and activities as described in the Call document.
How does the project address the general objectives and themes and priorities of the call? What is the project’s contribution to the overall
Digital Europe Programme objectives?
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project builds on the successful ongoing EDIH NEB project and aims to enhance and expand the services
established so far. The project is based on long-term cooperation between major partners and their journey towards a common
goal - supporting the digital transformation of SMEs, startups, mid-caps, and public entities and creating the best conditions for
the long-term business success of all stakeholders by increasing their competitiveness, operability, and efficiency when it
comes to processes, products, or services with the use of advanced digital technologies. EDIH NEB logically became one of
six Czech Digital Innovation Centres to support digitalisation and became a successful partner to the European Commission in
the processes of promoting Europe's digital transformation through the Digital Decade strategy.
EDIH NEB launched its activity, funded by the DEP and by national resources, on 1.5.2023. The plan is for this first run to end
on 30.4. 2026. So far, in roughly two-thirds of the time planned for the current project, even when taking into account the initial
delay caused by the deficit of financing by the national donor, the EDIH NEB brand has established itself significantly and has
recorded a number of successes at all levels of services provided. Some KPIs have already been achieved, and interest in
other services exceeds capacity. At the same time, clients are showing an improvement in their digital maturity and increased
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competitiveness. Thanks to the EDIH NEB service, some clients' proven procedures or products now aspire to the patented
licensing protection of intellectual property. We already know that following the advice provided, EDIH NEB clients have
invested and intend to invest approximately EUR 3.1 million in digitalisation. So far, 940 different clients (according to their
Company ID) have used EDIH NEB services, of which around 500 are SMEs and Small Mid-Caps, including a number of
startups, the rest in the public sector. One original feature of EDIH NEB is that a high number of services are directed
towards entities in the public sector, making it relatively unique. Until now, there have been 30 training sessions and courses
as part of the education academy, attended by over 350 participants. Various formats were used for networking events aimed
at building the digital and innovation ecosystem; for example, conferences, business meetings, or roundtables, attended by a
total of almost 2,000 participants. For example, EDIH NEB is the chief organiser of what is the biggest annual networking
conference held by EDIHs in Czechia – the Czech-Slovak Technology Summit, with more than 330 delegates from CZ and SK
each year and other Czech and Slovak EHIHs appearing as presenting guests.
At the same time, there are almost 500 clients who use services repeatedly, proving the high standard of services and customer
satisfaction. One success was the "AI to Schools" training trilogy, a series that won a prestigious "Digital Awards" prize for the
best educational event in Europe (All Digital). These results meant that EDIH NEB was given a positive evaluation in the Mid
Term Review at the beginning of 2025.
Institutionally, cooperation is anchored on a platform of the long-established expert and research institutions/companies
involved in the consortium:
ARR - Agentura regionálního rozvoje, spol. s r.o. (Agency for Regional Development - Lead Partner), the Technical University
of Liberec (TUL), the University of Hradec Králové (UHK), VÚTS a.s. (Engineering Research Centre - VÚTS), Národní klastrová
asociace (National Cluster Association - NCA), and Centrum investic, rozvoje a inovací (Centre for Investment, Development
and Innovation - CIRI). The individual partners are described in more detail in section 2.3.
The consortium and its members have established long-term cooperation with other major partners and EDIHs in both the
Czech Republic and in Europe. In particular, there is plenty of cooperation with the closest Czech EDIHs and, consequently,
with others in Central Europe, such cooperation being set out in a joint memorandum of Central European EDIHs and other
individual memoranda (see annex 3 - Other Annexes). Cooperation takes many forms - from joint networking activities to
sharing infrastructure; for example, in the case of cooperation with EDIH Madrid Region, as part of which unique technology in
the form of an assistant robot used in the care of autistic children is currently being transferred to the Czech Republic, with
testing and staff training in Czech care institutions also underway.
The project also builds on existing cooperation in other networks and partnerships within the innovation environment. At the
European level, ARR is a member of the European Business and Innovation Centre Network – EBN/EU BIC, a network that
connects over 160 members in 35 countries, as a result of its very own business incubator: Lipo.ink. And at the national level,
there is a similar network called YNOVATE. It is in large part thanks to this interconnection that the consortium also has an
impact on the startup environment. Furthermore, ARR is the main contact point in the approved Regional Innovation Valley
CZ05 North-East. All these aspects and areas of cooperation will understandably be used and further expanded in the EDIH
NEB 2.0 project. More information is provided later in the text.
In light of the predominant base of the consortium members, and therefore the knowledge of the environment, clients and other
contexts, the main catchment areas for the provision of services are the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions within NUTS II
Northeast. This is one reason the agenda is supported greatly by regional governments. In this respect, the natural centres of
industry and research are the cities of Liberec and Hradec Králové, significant European centres of support for research,
development, and innovation. Moreover, the Liberec region is a world leader in the development of industrial technologies for
the production of nanomaterials and related nanotechnologies. The secondary catchment area is the cross-border area of
Saxony and Lower Silesia. Thirdly, a number of services are also aimed at clients across the Czech Republic owing to their
uniqueness and cooperation with other Czech EDIHs, and thanks to partner NCA, with its purely nationwide and cross-border
presence. And last but not least, the consortium also has an impact across the EU thanks to the cooperation established with
other EDIHs and institutions across Europe. This results in the transfer of consortium services to other regions, as well as the
transfer of other technologies, experiences, and approaches back to clients in the catchment area. EDIH NEB is already a
significant part of the innovation infrastructure and a fundamental building block in the mosaic of supporting digital
transformation. Looking at the existing clientele, it is clear that services are provided both in the primary catchment areas and
throughout the Czech Republic, and thanks to networking, there is genuine cooperation within Europe (e.g. the aforementioned
EDIH Madrid and infrastructure sharing).
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The primary mission of EDIH NEB 2.0 is to support the digital transformation of SMEs, startups, mid-caps, and public
institutions. The aim is to create favourable conditions for their long-term prosperity by boosting competitiveness, increasing
the capacity for action, and streamlining processes, products, and services using advanced digital technologies. This involves:
● Facilitating access to digital transformation
● Supporting a more advanced level of digital transformation
● Improving the quality and efficiency of production and business processes, and of the services provided
● Pooling expertise in the field of digital technologies
● Offering the necessary technological and institutional support in the implementation of digital technologies and
procedures in accordance with the principles of digital transformation
Specific objectives of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project:
● To contribute towards the European Commission's goal of 90% of companies achieving at least a basic level of
digitalisation by 2030.
● To support the EC's goal of 75% of companies actively using advanced digital technologies by 2030.
● To support the EC in achieving the objectives of the Competitive Compass initiative.
● To support the objectives of the EC set out in the AI Continent Action Plan using all services focusing on
disseminating knowledge and through direct support in testing and deploying AI technologies.
● To provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises in the development, testing, and deployment of advanced
production technologies and modern business organisation models in accordance with the principles of Industry 4.0.
● To connect the academic sphere with the business environment and promote cooperation between them.
● To increase the number of employees equipped with skills in advanced digital technologies, including AI, by
integrating knowledge and skills in the sphere of digitalisation.
● To enable clients to build cooperation with other European digital innovation hubs
● To support the introduction of innovation in the key technology areas targeted by EDIH NEB 2.0.
● To facilitate the use of smart and modern technologies that contribute to energy savings, improve the quality of life,
reduce environmental impacts, and support the objectives of the Green Deal in general, and to improve resilience
and adaptation to current and future threats.
● To develop and enhance cooperation in the field of specialised digitalisation competencies in the NUTS 2 region,
thereby strengthening the regional, national, and international innovation ecosystem.
● To strengthen cross-border cooperation and create new synergies between the neighbouring regions of the Czech
Republic, Germany, Poland, and Slovakia.
● To actively present the output and benefits of EDIH NEB 2.0 activities to the public and motivate target groups to
enter into cooperation.
● To contribute towards increasing the efficiency of public administration through digitalisation and innovation,
fortifying eGovernment.
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The specific measurable objectives of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project are expressed by individual KPIs: see below.
The consortium is ready to continue these activities - by expanding, targeting, and enhancing services based on AI and by
satisfying client demand. We consider it important to make full use of the efforts made so far and the potential built in effective
and targeted support for digital transformation.
Key EDIH NEB 2.0 activities (not including project management):
Horizontal function of the 1st Line AI Help Desk
The First-line AI Help Desk, supporting a broad adoption of strategic technologies supporting the development of an AI
continent, will be a fundamental horizontal function of EDIH NEB 2.0. The First-line AI Helpdesk will be conceived at two
fundamental levels under the conditions of EDIH NEB 2.0:
● 1st LEVEL AI Helpdesk
This is about providing information support to clients at the fundamental information level. Information will be provided
by all partners as part of communication with clients, regardless of the specific WP. We will primarily focus on:
- BASIC information on compliance with the AI Act;
- BASIC information on the use of AI;
- BASIC information on the use of available EU AI innovation infrastructure and initiatives;
- information on types of AI training
Suitable clients will also be directed to either the 2nd level AI Help Desk or directly to a specific EU AI Innovation
Infrastructure (for example, the AI on Demand soft-skills platform, the AI Skills Academy, or others)
● 2nd LEVEL AI HelpDesk
This is about providing expert and technological information support to clients. Support will be provided by specialised
experts (TUL, UHK, VÚTS) in the form of:
- EXPERT advice on the AI Act;
- EXPERT advice on the use of AI
Suitable clients will be further directed
- to AI services within TBI WP2, as provided by the EDIH NEB 2.0 consortium and/or
- to the available EU AI innovation infrastructure, requiring own use of this infrastructure (e.g. AI-Matters, TEF-
HEALTH, Lumi AI Factory)
- or to the services of expert training in AI tailored to the client in WP3, which will be provided by the EDIH
NEB 2.0 consortium
A. Test Before Invest (WP2)
Based on the functioning of EDIH NEB to date, we can now see a gradual shift in the digital maturity of the target groups, in
particular small and medium-sized enterprises. At the initial stage of the current project, we noticed a low level of digitalisation,
a lack of information, and often a reluctant attitude among companies to introduce new technologies. However, thanks to
systematic education, pilot services, and accessible technology testing, there has been an increase in awareness and interest
in more advanced forms of support.
We will therefore put more emphasis on clients with a higher degree of readiness and interest in services which are more
complex, time-consuming, and demanding on expertise in the forthcoming period. In addition to the latest technological
developments, consortium partners also took account of current demand and market developments, including significant
broadening of the offer in the field of AI. See below for an overview of WP2 services.
However, we continue to see barriers between companies and public administration in their willingness to invest in digitalisation,
this for a variety of reasons:
● the still-perceived "lack of priority" of digitalisation compared to current operating challenges,
● concerns about costs and the return on investment,
● the lack of qualified people to implement changes,
● general conservatism and inertia in change management.
However, we are convinced that the availability of quality services for free or at a symbolic price, spreading examples of good
practice, and the development of local capacities will contribute to a gradual change in this situation.
The range of services on offer in the forthcoming period therefore reflects the following principles:
● the comprehensive nature of services,
● stronger emphasis on quality, a higher level of digital services, and an individual approach,
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● a high level of motivation provided by free entry-level services,
● building a community of active companies by sharing stories and workshops (link to other WPs)
● stimulating demand through successful examples, networking, and education (link to other WPs)
The main focus of WP2 services is on AI and cybersecurity.
An overview of WP2 services, with only a brief description (and indication of the partner who is the main vehicle for
the service), divided into 12 thematic areas:
1. Strategic consulting on digitalisation, IoT, AI, and Smart Technologies
The aim of this area is to analyse the existing processes employed by companies and public institutions, to identify opportunities
for improvement through digitalisation, and to propose specific technical and organisational solutions that are tailored to clients'
needs. Consultation covers a wide range of areas – from initial mapping of the level of digitalisation, through the design of
specific Smart Technologies and IoT solutions, to the use of advanced methods of artificial intelligence and data analytics.
● Digital maturity assessment - Digital audit: (ARR, TUL, CIRI, VÚTS): Evaluation of the level of use of digital
technologies, definition of potential, opportunities, areas for resolution, and proposal of cooperation. Comparison with
other entities across Europe. The evaluation serves as a parameter for evaluating the success of the service. Applies
to all clients as part of WP2.
● Consultation on the digitalisation of the company/public administration (ARR): Consulting services focusing on
the analysis of existing processes, and a proposal for optimisation and digitalisation possibilities.
● Consultation on IoT, Smart Technologies, and the use of AI (UHK): Consulting services, research activities, and
the proposal of appropriate technical solutions tailored to the specific needs of the client.
● Consultation on IoT, SMART Technologies, and solution proposal (ARR): Identifying the possibilities of deploying
smart technologies and proposing applicable solutions for specific use in companies or public administration.
● Consultation on IoT and AI technologies using the ARR Test Bed (ARR): Support in the selection, testing, and
implementation of advanced IoT and AI solutions, including practical demonstration in the testing infrastructure.
● Intelligent digital consultation (TUL): Comprehensive consultation support for digital transformation that combines
traditional strategies with the use of advanced AI analytics tools. This service ensures the effective development of
business models and the optimisation of processes through data-driven recommendations and predictive models.
● Consultation on the digitalisation of selected processes using AI and no-code tools (CIRI): This service
facilitates the fast and cost-effective introduction of digital solutions to specific processes using artificial intelligence
and tools without the need for programming (no-code). A customised solution that streamlines their operations and
serves as a model for onward digitalisation steps is offered to clients and tested.
2. Testing IoT, Smart Technologies with the use of AI, and their deployment
EDIH NEB 2.0 services include practical verification of the use of IoT, AI, and Smart Technologies in real conditions. The
objective is to make it possible for companies and public institutions to safely and effectively test new technologies, reduce
investment risks, and adapt innovations to their own specific needs.
● Testing technologies according to the results of a digital audit (ARR): Practical verification of the proposed
technologies based on recommendations resulting from a digital audit, the aim being to verify their suitability and
effectiveness in a specific operating environment.
● Testing with the use of IoT/AI technologies in the environment of the ARR Test Bed (ARR): Simulation and
verification of the functionality of IoT/AI solutions in the controlled environment of the Test Bed, making it possible to
test safely outside operating reality.
● Testing IoT/AI technologies in the real company environment (ARR): Deploying and testing technologies under
the company's actual conditions in order to verify real added value and operating efficiency.
● Testing SMART Technologies in real client operations (ARR): Implementation and tuning of smart technologies
(Smart Solutions) tailored to the specific needs of the company or public institution.
● Testing of selected Smart and IoT solution(s) (UHK): The added value of this service is the option of consulting
several variants of the solution and to deploy and fine-tune them for a particular case of use at the customer within
the project. Activity draws on the verified interest of clients, who can therefore access the latest technologies and test
their impact when applying them to their own processes (often newly developed ones too).
3. Supporting the implementation of and compliance with the AI Act and the use of AI in practice
EDIH NEB 2.0 offers specialised services that focus on the practical use of artificial intelligence in corporate and public
processes, while ensuring compliance with legislative requirements in the field of AI. The aim is to help organisations use the
possibilities of artificial intelligence safely, effectively, and in accordance with current European standards. The deployment of
artificial intelligence in practice opens up new possibilities for companies and public organisations to increase efficiency,
innovation, and security.
At the same time, though, it requires knowledge of the technological possibilities and limits, current legal and ethical
regulations, and practical methods of application in various fields. EDIH NEB 2.0 services therefore combine technological
expertise, practical experience of the use of AI in real processes, and knowledge of current legislation.
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● Consultation for the AI ACT (TUL): Specialised consultation focusing on the implementation of and compliance with
legislative requirements resulting from the AI ACT. This service combines the legal framework with technological
expertise and helps enterprises adapt systems and processes so as to be fully compliant with current norms and
standards in the field of artificial intelligence.
● Design and use of AI methods for problem solving (UHK): Practical support in the deployment of methods and
tools that use artificial intelligence to effectively solve specific problems at a company. The service includes the
selection of appropriate AI methods, their adaptation to the specific needs of the customer, and close cooperation with
its employees in order to transfer basic knowledge and facilitate the independent use and development of the deployed
solution. Possible applications include, for example, image processing, the creation of decision-making algorithms, or
the use of available libraries and models.
● Digitalisation of production and business enterprises using AI (NCA): Supporting companies in the integration
of advanced technologies that use artificial intelligence into production and business processes. The aim is to increase
the productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness of companies using modern AI tools.
4. AI in marketing, data analysis, and e-commerce
Artificial intelligence is significantly changing the sphere of digital marketing, sales, and e-commerce. EDIH NEB 2.0 offers a
comprehensive range of services that focus on the use of AI tools to optimise the business and marketing activities of small
and medium-sized enterprises.
● Consultation in the field of digital sales and marketing channels, data analysis, UI/UX, and e-commerce (TUL):
Comprehensive support in the analysis and processing of data to support digital marketing and sales, the use of
available AI tools, ensuring optimal user-friendliness, UI/UX analysis.
● Testing and proof-of-concepts for optimising digital channels (TUL): Design and development of data analytics
tools with the possible use of AI, testing the available solutions suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises in the
field of e-commerce, and increasing their conversion rate.
5. AI-based voice and image recognition
Voice and image recognition based on artificial intelligence is a key technology for automating production, logistics, and control
processes in industry
EDIHNEB 2.0 offers companies expert support in the deployment of AI solutions aimed at increasing efficiency, safety, and
quality.
● Consultation for industrial applications of AI-based voice and image recognition (TUL): Strategic consultation
for the deployment of advanced AI solutions in the field of voice and image recognition in an industrial environment.
The service focuses on optimising production and control processes using neural networks and machine learning,
thereby contributing to increased efficiency, safety, and quality.
● Testing and proof-of-concepts for AI-based voice and image recognition in industry (TUL): A practical service
aimed at validating and prototype testing innovative AI solutions for voice and image recognition in manufacturing and
industrial applications. Provides validation of a technology concept under real conditions and helps identify the most
effective implementation strategies.
6. Machine learning and neural networks using AI
EDIH NEB 2.0 offers a comprehensive range of services in the field of 3D scanning and measurement, reverse engineering,
and machine vision using machine learning and artificial intelligence methods.
● Digitalisation, machine vision and learning (VÚTS):
3D scanning and measurement (we have state-of-the-art measurement and scanning technology for precision digitalisation
of machine parts, the creation of 3D models and drawing documentation, use in the field of reverse engineering and rapid
prototyping). The aim is to streamline construction processes and optimise production activities with accurate digital
representation of real objects.
Reverse engineering: Based on the scanned data, we provide: an analysis of functional and structural elements, a proposal
of optimisations and modifications, the preparation of data for additive manufacturing or other simulation calculations.
Machine vision and inspection systems: We ensure the design and implementation of visual inspection systems with which
to check the dimensions, shapes, colours, position, and presence of parts, read text and characters (OCR), pattern recognition.
The systems are designed to measure, including the selection of suitable hardware and software, and can be used for various
types of equipment in industrial automation.
Use of AI and advanced methods: When designing and optimising systems, we use machine learning (ML), deep learning
(DL), and artificial neural networks (ANN). These approaches allow a high degree of automation, system adaptability to
changing conditions, and effective anomaly detection.
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7. Robotics, collaborative robots, and simulations using AI
The development of robotics, particularly in the field of collaborative robots (HCR), opens up new possibilities for automating
production, handling, and control processes. EDIH NEB 2.0 offers expert advice and practical testing focusing on the
deployment of robotic systems using AI and machine learning. The integration of AI into robotic systems increases the
flexibility, adaptability, and efficiency of production and control operations. Simulations make it possible to test and optimise
robotic solutions before actual implementation, reducing costs and risks.
● Consultation on robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots (TUL): Expert assessment of the possibilities of
robotisation, including the deployment of collaborative (HCR) robots, vision systems, force torque sensors, and the
integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods into robotic applications.
● Testing and proof-of-concepts for robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots (TUL): Practical verification of
designs of robotic tasks on existing machinery or using mathematical simulations. Testing includes the validation of
camera-based and AI-based systems and tools and verification of their effectiveness for specific operating conditions.
8. Virtual and augmented reality, 3D printing, scanning, and simulation
Virtual and augmented reality technologies, and indeed additive manufacturing (3D printing) and advanced simulation, are key
tools in the digital transformation of manufacturing and development. EDIH NEB 2.0 offers comprehensive advice and practical
support in relation to the deployment of these modern technologies in corporate and research processes.
3D printing makes it possible to significantly shorten development cycles, reduce prototyping costs, and quickly produce
customised parts. Virtual and augmented reality, together with simulations and digital twins, greatly support innovation in
manufacturing, maintenance, and training. The combination of these technologies brings greater flexibility and efficiency to the
entire lifecycle of products – from design to manufacturing and optimisation.
● Consultation in the field of 3D printing, materials, optimisation of the construction of a model, product
properties (TUL): Expert consultation aimed at selecting appropriate additive technologies and materials (metals,
plastics) with regard to the required physical and functional properties of products. The service also includes analyses
of product design from the perspective of suitability for production using additive processes and recommendations for
post-processing operations.
● Testing and proof-of-concepts in the sphere of 3D printing (TUL): Optimisation of the construction of models,
reverse engineering - New concepts of construction solutions, proposal for the design of a part according to concrete
specifications with regard to the targeted additive technology and required properties, optimisation of the design of
parts of existing structures with regard to topological optimisation, preparation of an electronic model using reverse
engineering procedures, analysis of the shape and dimensional precision of printed parts. Proof of concept in the field
of 3D printing - Concepts of new solutions with regard to the use of 3D printing technologies and their verification,
prototyping - Rapid Prototyping, testing new materials and processes, the production of basic prototypes for testing
the usability of selected technologies of additive manufacturing and post-processing relating to the required output
properties of parts. Analyses of fundamental mechanical properties of materials.
● The measurement and analysis of data for the comparison of a virtual and real product (VÚTS): We have an
extensive complex of know-how and equipment for identifying and measuring the parameters of machines and
equipment. The date obtained and measured will be used as the basis for verification of designed machines and
equipment; i.e. that the real measured data either act as background-input data in calculations, or are used for a
comparison of the behaviour of prototypes and machines with calculated parameters and simulation results (N.B.
partially connected to the issue of a digital twin).
● Creation of a virtual model (VÚTS): Services and consultancy in the field of calculating and modelling the behaviour
of machines and equipment. These are skills in the field of calculations and modelling (which might be implemented
separately or as a whole), facilitating the design and implementation of a virtual model (twin). Using the models
designed in this way, the utility properties of machines can take the performance, reliability, quality, and accuracy of
production operations to a higher level, achieve lower energy consumption, and minimise the negative impact of
machine operation on the environment.
9. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and advanced sensorics
The development of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the use of advanced sensorics systems, and their safe integration
into business processes are among the basic pillars of the modern digitalisation of companies. EDIH NEB 2.0 offers a
comprehensive range of services, from design to testing and implementing IIoT solutions and embedded technologies.
IIoT and sensorics solutions facilitate the collection and analysis of data in real time and support the effective management of
production and operational processes. Edge computing and advanced ML techniques enable local data processing with
minimal latency and higher security. The emphasis on safety and real testing makes it possible to deploy robust and reliable
IIoT solutions even in highly demanding conditions.
● Consultation on IIoT and advanced sensorics (TUL): Help in finding suitable sensors of various physical quantities,
testing them, and help with implementing them in a specific application. Development and testing of advanced sensors
(e.g. TOF sensors, camera systems) for use in the sphere of IIOT. Consultation in the field of AI-based IoT systems
and platforms
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● Tests and proof-of-concepts of selected IIoT solutions (TUL): Development of IoT, IIoT, and embedded
applications, including applications using edge computing and ML. Designs of modular IIoT units for concept testing,
firmware development, and function testing in a specific application
10. Data analysis, modelling, and the use of ML/AI
Data is becoming a key resource in optimising processes, predicting trends, and supporting decision-making. EDIH NEB 2.0
offers advanced services in the field of data analysis, modelling, simulation, and the use of machine learning (ML) and artificial
intelligence (AI) methods that help companies and public institutions better exploit the potential of their data.
Most businesses and institutions generate vast amounts of data that often go unused – proper analysis of data can significantly
increase their efficiency and competitiveness. The integration of AI and ML technologies facilitates more effective work with
data, predictions of future developments, and support of strategic decision-making.
● Consultation for data analysis, modelling and simulation using ML and AI (TUL): Comprehensive support in the
analysis and processing of data, including advanced modelling, simulation, and machine learning methods. The
service facilitates the creation of predictive models and the optimisation of decision-making processes through the
integration of modern AI technologies, thereby increasing the quality and accuracy of analyses.
● Testing and proof-of-concepts for data analysis and processing, predictive algorithms (TUL): An innovative
approach to the validation of data solutions using AI and ML technologies. This service includes prototype tests and
a practical demonstration of the effectiveness of advanced data analytics tools, searching for data patterns, and use
for predicting events, which makes it possible to identify potential benefits and optimise implementation in real
business processes.
● Data analysis using advanced processing methods (UHK): An extended service that focuses on the use of
advanced statistical and AI methods for the analysis of large volumes of data. As part of this service, methods will be
applied from the sphere of artificial intelligence and other statistical methods for analysing company data. The
identification of unused data sources, analysis of the logic of data creation, and the design of optimisation measures.
The development of algorithms for continuous evaluation of results, with the possibility of deployment in a cloud
environment or at the client itself.
11. Support for the development of proof-of-concept solutions using AI
Th opportunity to verify the functionality of designs through a proof-of-concept (PoC) solution is crucial in the development of
innovation and the effective deployment of new technologies. EDIH NEB 2.0 offers clients support in the development and
testing of PoC projects that focus on the use of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence and IoT systems.
● Support for the creation of proof-of-concept solutions (UHK): This service transfers the experience of university
staff in the development of hardware and software solutions to the corporate and public sectors. Based on an
understanding of the company's problem, knowledge of its target market and strategy, support is provided in the
design and development of PoC solutions in line with the client's needs. Typical examples are sensoric solutions, the
implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in corporate processes, or the design of cloud systems for data
collection and evaluation.
12. Range of services in relation to cyber security
Cyber security is becoming increasingly important with the increasing digitalisation of corporate and public processes. EDIH
NEB 2.0 offers targeted services aimed at increasing the security level of organisations through the assessment, analysis, and
preparation of systems for new threats – including securing with the use of AI and securing from attacks coming from AI. The
client will be provided with one or more specialised services in the field of cyber security. Consultation in the field of cyber
security will be provided by partner NCA.
● Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment (CMA): Assessment of the level of cyber security maturity of an organisation.
● Cybersecurity analyses: Analysis of current security risks and the proposal of measures.
● Cybersecurity audit: Comprehensive assessment of security measures and compliance with legislative
requirements.
● Penetration tests: Simulation of attacks to verify the resilience of systems.
● Preparation for SOC (Security Operations Centre) services: Setting internal processes for the effective use of
services provided by a security supervision centre.
B. Training and skills development (WP3)
Education and the development of digital skills is an important pillar of EDIH NEB 2.0 services and directly promotes the
implementation of digital transformation among the target groups – in particular, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
and public administration.
The aim is to fortify the professional competencies of employees and prepare them for the effective use of new technologies in
practice.
We previously verified the demand for different types of training and various formats. The offer of different levels of digital
education (beginner, advanced) and the use of different formats (group, individual, on-line/off-line education, etc.) with practical
demonstrations (adapted as much as possible to the needs of clients) has proven successful, the most successful event being
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the "AI for Schools" training trilogy, for which we even won a prestigious Digital Awards prize from the European ALL DIGITAL
organisation in the Best Event category. In general, the topic of AI met with a response from the target groups of public
organisations and private entities alike, and we will continue to build on this.
Thematic focus of education
Education activities will focus on advanced technologies and know-how in line with the objectives of the Digital Europe
programme and the specialisation of the consortium.
The training sessions focus on key areas related to artificial intelligence and its practical application within organizations.
Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the principles and functioning of artificial intelligence, including basic
concepts, types of AI systems, and their applications across various industries. An important part of the program is a detailed
introduction to the European AI Act, which sets out the rules for the development, deployment, and use of AI technologies
according to their level of risk, while also defining the obligations of both providers and users of such systems. In connection
with this, the Digital Fairness Act (DFA) will also be presented, emphasizing transparency, fairness, and the protection of users’
rights in the digital environment.
The training further addresses the practical aspects of implementing AI into corporate processes, including recommendations
for ensuring legal compliance, establishing internal policies, training employees, and introducing ethical and security standards.
The goal is to provide participants with concrete tools and knowledge that will enable them to effectively leverage artificial
intelligence to improve performance, automate routine tasks, and innovate services — all while maintaining a responsible and
legally compliant approach.
Unlike before, attention will focus to a greater extent on more advanced level of education. Topics will be dealt with in line with
the current needs of clients. For example, we envisage the following training (individual and group):
● Artificial intelligence and its practical application
● Technological innovations relating to AI and cybersecurity
● Training in AI and modern software tools
● Training in IoT, smart technologies, etc.
Forms and approaches to education
EDIH NEB 2.0 will use modern teaching formats that reflect the needs of the day and the diversity of target groups. This
provides a wider range of education formats, with the ability to adapt to client demand; for example:
● Short-term thematic courses and training (on-line, off-line)
● Workshops, specialised seminars and excursions (including practical demonstrations)
● Practical internships at companies or research organisations
● Demonstration of technologies and related education (in a laboratory environment, TestBed)
EDIH NEB 2.0 therefore strengthens the link between technology and the human factor – after all, digitalisation changes cannot
be effectively implemented without a professional workforce with the right expertise.
Responding to market and societal needs
The range of training on offer responds to the long-standing shortage of qualified experts in the field of ICT and Industry 4.0. It
takes into account:
● Rising demand for digital competencies on the labour market
● The development of new professions stemming from work with advanced technologies
● The specific needs that companies and organisations have in regions where consortium partners operate
The aim is to contribute towards increasing the qualifications of the workforce, and in turn the competitiveness of enterprises
and the efficiency of public administration.
Cooperation and background of expertise
Partners have at their disposal the necessary premises and infrastructure to organise events. However, other premises
throughout the region and beyond can also be used; for example, to improve the accessibility of services for clients even in
less accessible.
C. Networking and access to innovation ecosystem (WP4)
Developing an innovation ecosystem
EDIH NEB actively contributes towards building and developing a regional, national, and international innovation ecosystem in
the field of digitalisation. A wide range of events have taken place during the current period, such as conferences, workshops,
round tables, or enhancing bilateral cooperation. This has served to support the building of an ecosystem to support
digitalisation in our region and beyond.
The forthcoming period will see the continuation of creating an environment that connects experts, research institutions,
companies, clusters, incubators, public organisations, chambers of commerce, regional politicians, and others. Networking
helps bring together different market segments, foster collaboration, and create lasting strategic partnerships that generate
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new opportunities and innovations. On the national level the broad cooperation was established with key institutions, e.g. Czech
Invest (national agency for enterprise, investment and innovation support), Technology centre of the Academy of Sciences of
the Czech Republic, Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, The Czech Chamber of Commerce, National Pedagogical
Institute of The Czech Republic,Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, The Business and Innovation Agency or
among clusters NANOPROGRESS cluster or CLUTEX cluster (clusters are mainly represented by one of the consortium
partner - NCA).
On the international level the examples of key cooperation are described further in the text.
Our activities will involve active participation in major events in the Czech Republic and in Europe and targeted support
through our own events.
Active involvement
We also help build an innovative ecosystem in the sphere of digitalisation by actively participating in events such as Week for
Digital Czechia - the largest networking event in the field of digitalisation in the Czech Republic, organised by the Office of the
Government of the Czech Republic. We are also involved in interregional cooperation as part of what is known as AI Days -
meaning events designed for those who are interested in AI and its uses. AI Days revolve around the introduction of artificial
intelligence in relation to current happenings and the development of this technology. A significant part of the programme is
devoted to practice and specific examples of the use of AI, across the fields of human activity and in different contexts. The
event brings attractive content to the representatives of companies and public institutions, academics, students and the public.
In fact it is the very breadth of AI Days that opens the door to insights into artificial intelligence in unconventional contexts, with
the emphasis on the interdisciplinary nature of the field. EDIH NEB is the event coordinator for the Liberec Region, where 16
events were organised in the region in 2024 together with other regional partners.
For networking, we also use events such as: Digifest, i.e. a one-day trade fair and conference on corporate tools in Prague,
Smart Business Festival, i.e. a one-day festival of smart business - offering small and medium-sized enterprises (and others)
an annual overview of new examples of good practice and offers of cooperation, in that the focus in 2025 was on fortifying their
safety, resilience, and sustainability. etc.
The events mentioned above are examples of opportunities to establish systematic work in building an innovation
ecosystem. They can also be used to update needs-mapping, validate services, and enhance cooperation between partners.
We continually aim to act as a leader in the field of digitalisation, one that connects diverse players and turns impulses into
specific support for target groups. Moreover, networking will continue with key stakeholders in the region or at a
national/European level.
Targeted support
Own networking activities will be structured according to sectoral and regional needs. Various formats of interconnection will
be used, such as thematic platforms, expert panels, workshops, seminars, and conferences, the aim of these being to
share good practice, inspire, and effectively transfer knowledge in the realm of digitalisation. Events targeted at the areas of
automation and digitalisation technologies with links to AI and cybersecurity (for example, the current series of conferences
entitled “Czech-Slovak Technology Summit, roadshow”, "Cybersecurity in the Regions" and "Digital Clerk") proved successful
in the preceding period.
We will build on these topics by organising regular conferences, round tables for companies and public organisations alike,
regular B2B events, workshops, and other types of events according to the current needs of the market.
The diversity of networking activities in the region and beyond is aimed at developing a functional network of contacts and
cooperating entities, creating new partnerships between companies, research, and public administration, increasing the
motivation of companies and public administration to engage in digitalization projects, and spreading good practices and
innovations faster.
Connecting demand and supply
EDIH NEB 2.0 networking activities act as a key bridge between client demand for digital solutions and the supply of relevant
tools, technologies, know-how, and expertise. The aim is to make it easier for clients to find their way around rapidly-evolving
technologies and at the same time foster the effective application of innovations in practice. EDIH NEB 2.0 covers the entire
process of digital transformation – from identifying the client's needs, through consulting and testing appropriate
solutions (e.g. in TestBed), to proposing the financing and connecting to a suitable technology supplier.
International cooperation and the EDIH network
EDIH NEB is already an active part of the European EDIH network, establishing cooperation with other hubs, organisations,
and universities across the EU. Cooperation with foreign entities mainly involves sharing information, exchanging know-how,
and organising joint events or joint research, as well as demonstration and testing activities. Apart from involvement in the
EDIH network itself, the membership of EDIH NEB coordinator ARR in the European Business and Innovation Centre Network
– EBN/EU BIC, which endeavours to provide space for networking among its EDIH members, coupled with a range of
interesting educational activities, is also important as far as international cooperation is concerned.
Another key partner is the Digital Transformation Accelerator, which provides space in which EDIHs can share knowledge
and best practices, provides space for EDIHs with the same thematic focus to come together in EDIHs Thematic Working
Groups, runs the EDIH Catalogue for presenting EDIHs to the public, and provides standardised tools for keeping records of
the required outputs of the EDIH network. EDIH NEB is an active participant in two Thematic Working Groups -
Cybersecurity and Digital Health.
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As for cross-border networking, the Czech-Slovak Technology Summit 2024, which hosted a total of 177 participants, was a
great success (in cooperation with other Czech and Slovak EDIHs). In 2023 and 2024, we took part in organising a series of
EDIH Twister events together with Czech EDIHs. One after the other, these events presented the individual Czech EDIHs and
the closest cross-border EDIHs and their services in detail to clients and stakeholders in selected Czech cities (Prague, Brno,
Ostrava, Ústí nad Labem) and in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. This laid the foundation for cooperation among Central
European EDIHs, cooperation which was officially confirmed by the recently-concluded Memorandum of Understanding on
Central European EDIH Cooperation among 23 EDIHs (6 from the Czech Republic, 5 from Slovakia, 6 from Poland, 3 from
Germany, 3 from Austria). We also established very close cooperation with EDIH Madrid Regional (see annex 3 - Other
Annexes in the application), with which collaboration, the sharing of infrastructure, and the transfer of know-how is currently
underway. In this case, a robot designed for exercising with people (especially children) with different levels of autism spectrum
disorder. The cooperation that we will continue to employ involves the sharing of know-how and the technological base with
other EDIHs; at present, for example, with the German pro_digital EDIH. Cooperation was also established with DIH
CONNECT5 (Portugal), EDIH ER2Digit (Italy) and CROBOHUB ++ (Croatia) where the approval process for the respective
Memoranda of Understanding is currently underway.
Even when submitting the application for the existing EDIH, we entered into initial cooperation with cross-border institutions,
primarily from Euroregion Nisa, where we expect to continue the development cooperation:
- The Fraunhofer Group for Production IWU, Chemnitz/Dresden, letter of intent with current EDIH NEB,
CHEMNITZ/DRESDEN/ Germany;
- Technical University in Chemnitz, letter of intent with current EDIH NEB; CHEMNITZ, Germany;
- Business Development in the Erzgebirge of Saxony, Chemnitz; letter of intent with current EDIH NEB; CHEMNITZ,
Germany;
- Hochschule Zittau/Goerlitz, letter of intent with current EDIH NEB; ZITTAU/GORLITZ, Germany;
- University in Opole, letter of intent with current EDIH NEB; OPOLE, Poland;
- Center of Excellence Chemnitz; letter of intent with current EDIH NEB; CHEMNITZ, Germany;
One digitally-advanced Czech company (SME) from Liberec, for example, earned itself a contract to provide a digital solution
in the German cross-border area through EDIH Saxony, with which we also have a Collaboration Agreement in place, alongside
the aforementioned MoU on Central European EDIH Cooperation. Sharing and using the know-how of Czech and cross-border
companies of advanced digital technologies is thus an important activity that contributes towards building a digital innovation
ecosystem.
In the follow-up project, EDIH NEB 2.0, which from the perspective of the national donor should not be limited solely to clients
from the Czech Republic, we will focus more on introducing our services to clients from abroad, primarily from Euroregion Nisa
and Euroregion Glacensis, and we will maintain and enhance the cooperation we have already established with other EDIHs.
Together, we will look for appropriate topics for sharing and for transferring information into practice in individual regions and
will involve companies and public organisations in cooperation so as to elevate their digital maturity.
We will organize major conferences – the regular Czech-Slovak Technology Summit, the TUL conference on AI in
manufacturing, and, if national co-financing conditions allow, we will hold a cross-border conference focused on connecting
entities from the Czech–German–Polish border region.
Ties to Enterprise Europe Network
We work closely with the Czech representatives of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), in particular through the Technology
Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences in Prague (see annex 3 - Other Annexes in the application). Together, events will
be organised, information will be shared, and ways will be sought to effectively connect businesses, researchers, and other
players in the field of digitalisation.
Collaboration with the European AI Innovation ecosystem
Collaboration with the European AI Innovation Infrastructure will primarily be based on the use of infrastructure that is
geographically, thematically, and technologically closest to the location and character of our activity. Such infrastructure
includes the Large Identified Modern Infrastructure (Lumi) AI Factory, one of the EuroHPC pre-exascale supercomputers,
located in CSC's data centre in Kajaani, Finland. VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava, IT4Innovations, National
Supercomputing Centre, is also a member of this consortium. Both institutions are already part of EDIH OVA, with which long-
term cooperation has been established within the network of Czech EDIHs in an MoU, meaning that cooperation in referring
clients to the Lumi AI Factory is a natural extension.
Connection with the EU AI Innovation Infrastructure in the form of testBeds for AI will, at least initially, be built on close
cooperation with the Czech AI-Matters node that focuses on the area of Manufacturing. As the leader of our consortium in the
field of AI, TUL negotiated a Letter of Intent with this centre, in doing so officially laying the foundation for cooperation with AI
Matters, although TUL has been collaborating with a representative of AI-Matters CIIRC for some time now. Another AI TEF
that is technologically very close to our consortium is TEF-Health, where Masaryk University in Brno, Czechia, is associated
partner and with which a Letter of Intent was also successfully negotiated, again defining the initial scope of cooperation. The
main purpose of these LoIs (see annex 3 - Other Annexes in the application) is to ensure close interconnection with the EU AI
Innovation Infrastructure, which will enable EDIH NEB to effectively carry out the function of First-line AI Help Desk in order to
provide maximum support to EDIH NEB clients on their journey towards elevating digital maturity by using all the possibilities
that the EU and the Czech Republic offer and support.
The foundation stone for interconnection between EDIH NEB and the AI on Demand platform was laid with initial registration,
whereby the truly active involvement and promotion of EDIH NEB AI services on the platform will be implemented only after
the launch of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project, when we also expect to offer the provision of EDIH NEB services to clients abroad,
which will not be limited by the rules of the national source of financing. Connection to the FinTech Sandbox already operating
in the Czech Republic will primarily involve monitoring its activities and announced calls. The list of initiatives/projects with
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which EDIH NEB will cooperate provided above is not final and merely represents the initial structure of the EU AI ecosystem,
on the basis of which the EDIH NEB First-line AI Help Desk will be established. We also envisage establishing cooperation and
using the possibilities on offer with the AI Act Service Desk initiative.
Analyses and needs-mapping
WP4 activity also includes the compilation of 2 analyses; namely the "Analysis of the needs of target groups in the field of digital
transformation in the context of the impacts of the crisis of Czech industry" and the "Ties of the processes of cybersecurity to
the obligations of NIS2 implementation in public administration".
The first analysis deals with identifying the current needs of potential target groups in fields that are affected by problems in
the industry, the aim being to optimise the services offered at these entities. The second analysis responds to current
requirements stemming from the new EU directive, the NIS2 Directive, and the need for its implementation among target group
entities - and the impact of these changes from the perspective of modifying the service settings for potential target groups.
Both analyses will be used to set up services according to the specific needs of clients.
The strategic role of WP4
Networking and building an innovation ecosystem are the core of EDIH NEB 2.0 activities. The expertise of partners and the
strength of the consortium mean that support will be provided to companies and public administration in their digital and
economic transformation. EDIH NEB 2.0 thus serves as a regional access point to the European network of digital hubs, and
at the same time maintains long-term ties with key players – from universities, through CzechInvest, EEN, and the Technology
Agency of the Czech Republic to ESA and regional authorities.
A. Support to find investments (WP5)
One of the key challenges in the implementation of digital solutions is the financial complexity of implementing new
technologies, products, or processes. In addition to technical and professional support, EDIH NEB 2.0 therefore also provides
its clients with services aimed at intermediating access to financing.
Diverse forms of financing
EDIH NEB 2.0 helps clients identify the most appropriate form of financing from the wide range of available options, be it
subsidy programmes, loans, grants, venture capital, crowdfunding, direct investors, or capital market entry.
Activities include the regular screening of available financial instruments at national and European level, monitoring new calls
and conditions, and ensuring access to up-to-date information. This information is passed on to clients on an ongoing basis
and further processed in the form of advice and targeted recommendations.
Practical client support
EDIH NEB 2.0 provides practical assistance in finding and using a suitable financial instrument tailored to the needs of a given
company or organisation. Such support includes:
● individual consultation on the possibilities of financing from public and private sources,
● assistance in the preparation of applications for subsidies or grants,
● the organisation of investor days, which connect companies with investment potential to domestic and international
investors and banking institutions.
● consultancy on investment readiness and development strategies,
● the intermediation of contacts to relevant financial institutions or investors.
Services also include the "Subsidy Ambulance", where enterprises and public administration organisations can have their plans
assessed and receive recommendations for suitable financial instruments.
Monitoring and adapting to market developments
EDIH NEB 2.0 continuously monitors the development of the financial market and monitors new methods of financing. The
consortium team participates in national and international events aimed at connecting companies to investors and supporting
technological development. Such activities contribute towards finding new opportunities and increasing the investment
readiness of target groups.
In cooperation with our partners, we will organize a set of capacity-building and networking actions designed to prepare
companies for investment processes and facilitate their access to funding opportunities. The activity will include three main
components:
Pitch Days and Investment Showcases
Organization of regular Pitch Days where selected SMEs and startups supported by the EDIH will present their digital
solutions to panels of investors, business angels, and innovation experts.
Participants will receive professional coaching on structuring and delivering effective investment pitches.
The events will include feedback sessions with investors and business mentors, helping companies to refine their
value proposition and business models.
Selected cases may be featured in regional or European-level investment showcases, promoting cross-border
visibility.
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2. Training and Education on Investment and Financing
Development and delivery of training modules focused on:
o Basics of investment readiness and valuation.
o Preparation of business and financial plans.
o Overview of funding instruments – venture capital, loans, and public funding (e.g. Digital Europe, Horizon
Europe, national ).
Workshops and mentoring sessions will be conducted by financial and investment professionals in collaboration with
innovation agencies and business support organizations.
Tailored guidance will be offered to SMEs preparing for the next stage of growth or commercialization of their digital
innovations.
3. Networking and Matchmaking with Investors
Organization of networking and matchmaking events bringing together innovators, investors, venture capital funds,
business angels, and other financial stakeholders.
The EDIH will act as a facilitator and neutral broker, promoting collaboration and ensuring transparency, especially in
relation to intellectual property rights (IPR) and confidentiality.
Events will strengthen the regional innovation ecosystem and encourage long-term partnerships supporting digital
transformation.
B. Communication and dissemination (WP6)
Communication and dissemination of information are another important tool of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project, both for the visibility
of the hub itself and its activities and in order to enhance the prestige of the region, motivate target groups to digitise, and raise
general awareness of the benefits of digital transformation.
The fundamental communication channels were created for EDIH NEB 2.0 in the preceding period, although we need to work
more on and develop them (social networks, website, newsletter, media work, information events).
Aims of communication activities
● to address and activate target groups (SMEs and the public sector),
● to increase the demand for EDIH NEB 2.0 services,
● to inspire the general public to have a positive view of digitalisation,
● to build the credibility of the EDIH NEB 2.0 brand and the entire innovation ecosystem,
● to enhance the region's reputation as an innovation and technology hub.
Communication plan and strategy
The project team has a communication plan in place that will be updated during the project. The plan is based on the
segmentation of target groups according to their knowledge, digital maturity, and relationship to digitalisation. Communication
will be differentiated; for instance, for:
● companies with clearly-defined needs,
● organisations that do not yet know the potential of digitalisation,
● public institutions looking for efficiency and savings.
Changing attitudes and motivation
Digitalisation is not merely a technical process, but a mental and cultural one too. Many companies and organisations encounter
inner blocks to change or lack the capacity to think about innovation – often due to economic pressure or fear of the unknown.
The task of communication is to overcome these barriers, change established attitudes, and show digital transformation as a
way to make savings, greater efficiency, and sustainability.
Communication tools used
WP6 will continue to use a wide range of marketing and communication tools, such as:
● the websites of partners in the EDIH NEB 2.0 project,
● social networks and interactive content (videos, case studies, etc.),
● cooperation with the media (regional, national, international),
● newsletters, specialist articles, press releases,
● presentations at conferences, regional events, trade fairs,
● roll-ups, brochures, publicity materials, digital banners,
● online campaigns targeting specific market segments.
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All output will match the visual identity of EDIH NEB 2.0 and EC publicity requirements (logotypes, etc.).
Presenting benefits and good practice
Another important element is presenting specific examples of successful digitalisation. EDIH NEB 2.0 will continue in its active
communication of:
● the experience of clients who have successfully undergone digital transformation,
● the use of TBI services and training,
● cooperation with regional companies, startups, public institutions,
● interviews with interesting personalities and sharing inspiring experiences.
This will ensure credibility and inspiration, in turn motivating other entities to use EDIH NEB 2.0 services.
Outreach outside the target groups
Communication activities will be aimed not only at the primary target groups, but also at the general public, regional
stakeholders, the media, academia, and international partners. Emphasis will be placed on strengthening the positive image of
the network presented by EDIH NEB 2.0 as a space open to innovation, digitalisation, and cooperation.
Available facilities
We have the necessary equipment available for the implementation of all EDIH NEB 2.0 activities (Test Before Invest, Training,
Networking, Communication, etc.). Example of available testing equipment:
- Technologies for Machine Learning and Neural Networks include a wide range of equipment such as optics - cameras
and lighting (for instance, high-resolution cameras, high-speed cameras, line-scan cameras, thermal cameras, fast
thermal cameras), the necessary SW and algorithms, computer stations, etc.
- Machine Vision technologies are found at a unique experimental and testing facility.
- The technologies for Measuring and Analysing Data for the comparison of a virtual and real product include special
SW laboratories and instrumentation.
- The unique SpeechLab is available for the development of algorithms for the machine processing of spoken word in
different languages.
- Technologies for Robotics and Cybernetics: Robotic Laboratory
- Virtual models are created using a wide range of specialised SW devices with the necessary HW equipment
- An EMC test chamber with accessories is available for EMC tests of electronics, sensors, and equipment and the
analysis of electronic devices.
- 3D Printing and 3D Scanning technologies, 3D Microscopes
- Augmented Reality Laboratory
- A complete cloud environment for processing and analysing big data, including machine learning
- TestBed for Industry 4.0: the EDIH NEB TestBed is a model workplace designed to present modern IoT and AI
applications. It simulates a real production process, the aim being to put together a simple product using the production
equipment commonly used in industry. Individual production operations are designed to facilitate the integration of IoT
devices, the deployment of which leads to an increase in the efficiency and quality of the sample production process.
Specific examples of various digitalisation options are created thanks to the possibility of supplementing with IoT
technologies. AI applications, meanwhile, are presented mainly in the form of: Structuring and analysis of data
collected using IoT devices, evaluation of manufacturing errors, image recognition, and other advanced functions.
TestBed thus allows clients to practically test digital technologies and understand their benefits before their possible
deployment under real operating conditions.
Equipment for other EDIH NEB 2.0 services (education, consulting, networking, conferences, etc.) is available to an adequate
extent. The individual partners in the consortium have conference rooms, meeting rooms, meeting spaces, and meeting rooms,
as well as the necessary technical infrastructure and presentation equipment. Equipment for on-line transmission or streaming
is also available.
EDIH NEB 2.0 target groups
EDIH NEB 2.0 services primarily target small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including start-ups, mid-cap
companies, and public sector entities. EDIH NEB 2.0 stands out for the high number of services aimed at public sector
entities, making it relatively unique – such clients have been addressed with great success during the current EDIH NEB
project.
The key objective is to support the digital transformation of these players and to create a functional innovation ecosystem
that connects businesses, academia, cluster organisations, research centres, and public administration. Consortium partners
have the expertise and technological background to provide comprehensive services in the field of digitalisation to companies
and public institutions alike.
The main target groups and a brief description of them:
● Small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps, particularly from the following sectors: Manufacturing industry
(machining, textiles, printing, food industry, healthcare), engineering, automotive and plastic industry, production of
medical equipment, glass industry, ICT companies, e-commerce, product design, design and prototype offices.
● Startups and young, innovative companies, for example in IoT, smart technologies, robotics, etc.
● Public administration, in particular: Cities and municipalities, regional authorities, hospitals, educational facilities,
public benefit corporations, other public institutions, and entities established by public administration.
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EDIH NEB 2.0 responds to current and future market needs and uses its services to enhance:
● the ability of enterprises to remain competitive on global markets,
● the readiness of the public sector for digital transformation,
● resilience to crises, as shown by the COVID-19 pandemic or the energy crisis.
At the same time, the project helps remove barriers to a willingness to innovate and makes it possible to interconnect the
public and private sectors in the development of digitalisation. EDIH NEB 2.0 is therefore a key tool in supporting stable
growth and innovation.
As the above description shows, the project strengthens the digital technology supply chain by facilitating the adoption and
integration of advanced European digital solutions among SMEs and public institutions, promoting local innovation capacities,
and building strategic links with technology providers across the EU.
EDIH NEB 2.0 Price List (price list table, see annex 3 - Other Annexes to the application)
The EDIH NEB 2.0 Price List was compiled by the consortium of EDIH NEB 2.0 partners and is used to calculate the amount
of state aid provided to project clients. The prices listed in the Price List correspond to the real costs associated with the
implementation of services and reflect the total eligible costs of the project.
The Price List includes only services within the bounds of Test Before Invest and Training and Skills Development activities,
which are considered relevant for the recording of state aid in line with the recommendations of the European Commission.
Networking, including activities relating to the organisation of events with a higher number of participants, and activities that do
not lead to an economic advantage for certain entities and are not measurable, will be reported outside state aid (in the form
of invitations, programmes, attendance sheets), including all associated costs (personnel, overhead, external, meaning the full
WP4). They are marked in the Price List as events with zero value.
Other costs of activities (WP1, WP5, WP6) will be passed on to clients using WP2 and WP3 services in the form of state aid.
Therefore, they are not subject to separate reporting within the bounds of state aid.
The principles of records of state aid
All provision of services will be monitored during the execution of the project in terms of the amount of state aid transferred to
specific clients.
Only that portion of support that comes from national sources will be put on record in the relevant register of public support
(e.g. de minimis regime), if requested by the national donor.
Recording applies only to SME and mid-cap clients. Public institutions do not fall under the state aid regime (unless a matter
of an economic activity). Records of state aid for WP2 and WP3 clients will be dealt with by way of contracts.
The unit prices for reporting state aid correspond to the usual market hourly rate. The size of the nominal price and the amount
of the state aid are therefore identical.
Charging for services
EDIH NEB 2.0 services will be provided free of charge. Economic models of service provision are in place if the national donor's
co-financing does not cover the remaining 50% of the subsidy, some of which foresee imposing partial charges on certain WP2
services. However, the consortium partners want to cover most of the remaining resources from their own budgets or from the
budget of the regions and make sure that income from clients remains at a minimum.
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1.2 Contribution to long-term policy objectives, policies and strategies — Synergies
Contribution to long-term policy objectives, policies and strategies — Synergies
Describe how the project contributes to long-term policy objectives of the call’s domain/area and to the relevant policies and strategies, and
how it is based on a sound needs analysis in line with the activities at European and national level.
What challenge does the project aim to address?
The objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound within the duration of the project.
The setting and focus of EDIH NEB 2.0 activities reflects the current strategic priorities of the EU and the Czech Republic in
the field of digital transformation and artificial intelligence. The project builds on the (already successfully implemented) EDIH
NEB and extends its reach with new advanced services and by way of greater integration with European systems that support
the EU AI Strategy and, above all, the follow-up AI Continent Action Plan (AI Factories, AI Act Service Desk). Through its
activities, the project directly fulfils priority European policies such as the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, whose four
main pillars (digital skills, digital infrastructure, digitalisation of enterprises and of public services) are reflected in the individual
areas of the project. As far as skills are concerned, EDIH NEB 2.0 provides training which focuses on AI and cybersecurity,
and other professional training for SMEs and PSOs. As for infrastructure, it offers access to testing and simulation systems. In
terms of the digitalisation of enterprises and public organisations, it provides Test Before Invest services, including audits of
digital maturity audit, AI readiness, and technological validation. It cooperates In the field of public services with municipalities,
regions, and institutions on the implementation of AI and smart digital solutions, including Smart Cities and open data. The
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project simultaneously supports the implementation of the AI Act by introducing the First-line AI Helpdesk as an accessible
advisory point for companies and public organisations alike, a place where clients are provided with initial orientation in
accordance with regulation and assessment of the risk level of the solution, and will at the same time provide them with more
in-depth expert advice on this issue as part of the WP2 service, as well as education as part of the WP3 service. Within the
context of the Green Deal, the project contributes to increasing sustainability in production, logistics, and resource management
through digitalisation. The services offered also include consumption analyses, optimisation of operations, and data modelling,
which can reduce the carbon footprint of an enterprise and optimise the services provided by public organisations.
At the national level, the project implements policies such as:
● Digital Czechia (Digital Economy and Society pillar) - EDIH NEB 2.0 provides consultancy for digital transformation
and supports the introduction of digital technologies,
● Innovation Strategy of the Czech Republic 2019-2030: "Czech Republic: The Country for the Future" (Digital State,
Production, and Services pillar) - ensuring the direct transfer of innovations and digital solutions to business and public
practice,
● National Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in the Czech Republic 2019-2035 - supporting the
development and deployment of AI technologies in practice, including education and making knowledge of AI
available,
● National RIS3 strategy (Digital Agenda pillar), including regional RIS for the Liberec and Hradec Králové regions -
linking smart specialisation priorities with digital technologies, focusing on manufacturing, precision engineering,
optics, robotics, and bioinformatics,
● Regional concept Smarter Region for the Liberec Region and Hradec Králové Region, Smart Region concept –
regional policies with the aim of supporting the deployment of digital technologies in the common practice of SMEs
and public institutions. The EDIH NEB 2.0 project achieves these priorities of eGovernment through its activities (for
example, the AI in Schools event, the application of smart mats in care services, monitoring interior space and energy
in public operations, etc.).
However, EDIH NEB 2.0 also links its activities to other programmes and tools, such as the Digital Europe Programme, by
offering cybersecurity services, AI testing, and other comprehensive services relating to digital innovations, expertise, access
to technologies, and trends in digitalisation, particularly in the field of AI. Moreover, we will integrate European digital
ecosystem tools such as the AI on Demand Platform, TEFs, AI Factories, and DTA tools into our services and work.
Synergies with these European initiatives form a key framework for achieving the cross-border impact of the project. EDIH
NEB 2.0 will be actively connected to the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA) and will use its tools for measuring
KPIs, sharing services and methodologies by regularly reporting key performance indicators via the DTA portal, participating
in common platforms for learning and exchanging experiences, and adopting the tools and methodologies provided by the
DTA. As part of AI support services, EDIH NEB 2.0 will integrate and promote the AI on Demand platform, both by sharing
its own tools and case studies and by using available AI solutions and education for its clients. In the field of education,
EDIH NEB 2.0 will use and continue to refer clients to the AI Skills Academy initiative. EDIH NEB 2.0 will also work
intensively with AI TEFs in testing and validation activities, facilitating clients' access to AI Testbed infrastructures where
necessary. Clients who for some reason are unable to use the services of the consortium, or when the complexity of what
they require exceed the capabilities of EDIH NEB 2.0 in the sphere of AI, will be redirected to the services of TEFs and AI
Factories. The consortium currently collaborates with Lumi AI Factory. LUMI AI Factory provides access to the powerful
LUMI supercomputer, which is optimised for AI tasks. This facilitates the training and deployment of advanced AI models,
including generative models and digital twins. We also intend to use this infrastructure and expertise for clients with specific
tasks. EDIH NEB 2.0 will also continue to work with the Innovation Radar platform to share information about unique
innovators and their innovative solutions. Innovation Radar intermediates the connection between investors and investment
opportunities in the form of new results of research, development, and innovation and acts as a business intelligence tool.
All this cooperation is an opportunity for EDIH NEB 2.0 to expand its services, fortify cooperation with European partners,
and contribute towards the development of the AI ecosystem in the Czech Republic, and abroad. EDIH NEB 2.0 will also
work in accordance with the "no wrong door" principle, meaning as part of a European network in which the client is always
directed the appropriate services – whether within the consortium or across the EDIH structure, or is referred to the above-
mentioned European initiatives if required. EDIH NEB has established many strategic partnerships for its activities,
particularly with the closest EDIHs in the Czech Republic and the border area, but also with other, more distant ones, such
as EDIH Madrid Region, EDIH ART-ER, and others; see WP4 activities. Its staff will continue to participate in joint events,
pilot projects, and working groups within the EDIH network as part of the project.
Synergies
EDIH NEB 2.0 project activities contribute to the implementation of all the above-mentioned policies through the services
described in individual WPs, thus contributing towards the digital transformation of Europe. The primary and specific objectives
are described in section 1.1, while the specific measurable objectives of the project are described in more detail in section 3.1.
In light of the fact that the consortium of EDIH NEB 2.0 partners comprises dominant entities in the field of digitalisation in the
northeast of the Czech Republic, the influence of this grouping is growing in terms of promoting interests in the field of digital
transformation. Networking activity will primarily serve this purpose. Following on from the national and regional RIS3 strategy,
EDIH NEB 2.0 will help develop smart specialisations and an innovative environment by enabling primarily public organisations
to access key knowledge, software, technology platforms, prototyping solutions, and test systems, thus allowing them to
improve their functioning. At the same time, it will develop cooperation between companies, and between business and
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research, and will support the transfer of technologies and the results of research and development into practice by
matchmaking and sharing best practices as part of WP4 activity. The consortium also has ties to the startup community - ARR
runs a business incubator and is a member of the EU/BIC network. Linking backbone sectors and key technologies in a targeted
manner will support added value and help create new research, technological, and economic opportunities.
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1.3 Digital technology supply chain
Digital technology supply chain
Explain to what extent the project would reinforce and secure the digital technology supply chain in the EU.
This criterion might not be applicable to all topics — for details refer to the Call document.
NOT APPLICABLE.
1.4 Financial obstacles
Financial obstacles
Describe to what extent the project can overcome financial obstacles such as the lack of market finance.
This criterion might not be applicable to all topics — for details refer to the Call document.
Identifying obstacles
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), mid-caps, and public institutions face a number of financial barriers that limit
their ability to carry out digital transformation. These are primarily as follows:
● a lack of investment funds for modern technologies,
● the high costs of implementing advanced digital solutions,
● fragmented access to expert services, which are often in short supply within the region,
● insufficient levels of awareness of financial instruments and subsidy opportunities,
● prioritisation of short-term operating needs over investment in innovation (particularly in times of crisis).
This situation is currently visible throughout Europe and is particularly pronounced in the central and eastern part of the
EU, where the level of digitalisation is lower, but there is at the same time significant potential for growth.
Response of the project to the obstacles identified
EDIH NEB 2.0 has been designed in such a way as to overcome these barriers on an ongoing basis:
● by offering services free of charge or at a favourable price,
● by providing access to testing technologies without the need for investment,
● by offering practical advice on finding the right financial instrument,
● by connecting clients with investors (networking, matchmaking),
● by sharing good practice and experience as part of educational and networking activities,
● by keeping an eye on subsidy calls and investment opportunities.
By providing targeted advisory services, support in identifying suitable funding instruments, and access to test-before-
invest services, EDIH NEB helps clients overcome key financial barriers to digital transformation, especially in regions
with limited access to private capital.
The experiences and strength of the consortium
EDIH NEB 2.0 partners have many years of experience in:
● providing expert assistance to companies and public institutions,
● involvement in national and international projects (see annex to the application),
● access to diverse sources of financing (subsidies, loans, VC, PPP),
● direct contacts to investors, banks.
With their expertise, infrastructures, and regional knowledge, these partners are able to design, test, and implement
the right solutions to increase efficiency, reduce running costs, and provide the motivation to innovate.
Financing the execution of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project
The running of EDIH NEB 2.0 will be provided for with a combination of European and national funding, and as the
case may be own or external resources:
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● 50% of the funds from the Digital Europe programme (EC),
● 50% of resources from the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic - multiple negotiations have
been ongoing at many levels over the past 5 months or so in relation to the level of co-financing by the national
donor, but unfortunately, the exact percentage of the subsidy had not been determined at the time preparing
the application. However, it is assumed to be between 30% and 50%.
In the event of a lower level of support from the national donor, the consortium is ready to cover the shortfall by
combining:
● the consortium members' own resources - members have their own resources earmarked (a minimum of
10%),
● outside resources - support from the Liberec and Hradec Králové Regions, as the key regional entities through
which the project fulfils regional policies, has been negotiated in advance. The regions are ready to financially
support activities at a level of around 10%.
● income from clients - some services are also prepared as being co-financed by clients (approximately 10-20%
of the value of constituent services). This model has been verified by operation to date and is realistic.
At the individual partner level, operational models of financing services have been elaborated according to the resulting
percentage of the total subsidy from the DEP and, above all, the national donor, so that it is possible to carry out EDIH
NEB 2.0 services in the planned scope and depth. The appropriate operational financing model will be chosen
according to the resulting situation.
Given that clients are still less willing to invest in digitalisation, concerns about costs and the return on investment, and the
lack of qualified staff to implement changes, we fundamentally forecast that the project will be set up without income from
clients. This would only be activated if necessary to cover the shortfall from other sources. We see subsidy support through
EDIH NEB 2.0 as accelerating digital transformation in general.
Financial stability of partners
EDIH NEB 2.0 is made up of entities that have been financially stable for many years:
● ARR and CIRI were established by regional self-governments (Liberec and Hradec Králové Regions),
● TUL and UHK are public universities with a solid financial base,
● private partners have reserves and the appropriate planning capacity.
All partners already assessed the risks involved during project planning and have put in place measures to cover any
ineligible expenditure.
Synergies with other tools
EDIH NEB 2.0 actively seeks ties to national and European programmes, such as Horizon Europe, Interreg, Digital Europe
– Specialised Education, Connecting Europe Facility, EIC, etc. The aim is to connect clients to other forms of support, and
in turn reduce barriers to digital development over the long term.
Summary
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project contributes significantly to reducing financial barriers to the digital transformation of small and
medium-sized enterprises and public institutions. Thanks to its affordability, wide range of services, the expertise of partners,
and stable financing, it is a systemically sustainable model that will motivate the target group to use innovations and
technologies.
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2. IMPLEMENTATION
2.1 Maturity
Maturity
Explain the maturity of the project, i.e. the state of preparation and the readiness to start the implementation of the proposed activities.
Technological readiness:
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project builds on successful implementation of EDIH NEB and seamlessly follows on from it both in terms
of personnel and operations. Services, technologies, communication settings, cooperation, and reporting have all been verified
in practice. New services, such as the First Line AI Helpdesk and cooperation with European AI infrastructures, are a natural
extension of the existing offer and have already been prepared in terms of personnel and methodology. The consortium has
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the functional infrastructure, tools, and competencies in place for the immediate launch of all services; see the facilities of
individual partners in the Objectives and Activities section.
In the previous project, multiple pilot services were successfully carried out for SMEs and public organisations in the areas of
predictive maintenance and optimising operation/production, technological validation, the application of advanced analytics and
the automation of production processes, the digital modelling of processes, etc. The consortium has at its disposal technological
platforms, testBeds and internal know-how in the field of AI, Industry 4.0, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and the digitalisation
of public administration. Prominent research centres - the Technical University of Liberec, the University of Hradec Králové,
and VÚTS - which are the spine of the concentration of science, research, innovation, and specialised technologies with
sufficient technological facilities, are all engaged in the project. As the Lead Partner in the consortium, ARR, 100-% owned by
the Liberec Region, ensures the key linking of research, development and business, offers support to business in a business
incubator, encourages innovation, intervenes in development in the field of digitalisation, and runs the TestBed Industry 4.0. It
is the key development entity in the region. Another partner, the Centre for Investment, Development and Innovation (CIRI) in
Hradec Králové, focuses on the advancement of research, development, and innovation, analyses of digitalisation, and the use
of AI. It complements the work of the University of Hradec Králové in the field of networking and marketing, which mainly
provides TBI services. Connecting EDIH NEB to cluster policy is ensured by the National Cluster Association, which brings
together the clusters operating in the Czech Republic. NCA therefore connects EDIH NEB 2.0 services to enterprises, excels
in networking, and connects EDIH NEB with other entities at national and international level. It also offers professional services
in the field of cyber security.
Institutional and financial readiness:
The consortium operates on the basis of a consortium and partnership agreement. The management structure, internal
reporting, records of services, and coordination of partners are all in place and have been functioning long term. All partners
have been active since the previous phase of the project and have experience with grant and national funding. At the individual
partner level, operational models of financing services have been elaborated according to the resulting percentage of the total
subsidy from the DEP and, above all, the national donor, so that it is possible to carry out EDIH NEB 2.0 services to the planned
extent and in the planned depth. The appropriate operational financing model will be chosen according to the resulting situation.
The models include a combination of own resources, contributions from regional governments, other grants and, lastly, fees
from clients; see section 1.4 for more details.
As for the continuation of EDIH NEB 2.0 activities even after the end of the project, a detailed plan for the long-term economic
sustainability of the project will be complied within the deliverables, and EDIH NEB 2.0 is proposed as a sustainable structure
that will continue even after the end of funding from the Digital Europe Programme.
Personnel and operational readiness:
The project team is composed mostly of employees already working within the existing EDIH NEB. Key positions, including the
coordination of services, digital experts, administration, or communication, are therefore already occupied. Internal operating
systems (MS Teams, CRM, service records, report templates) are already fully functional and ready for the continuation of the
project. The website (www.EDIH-northeast.cz) already provides information about services and is used to communicate with
interested parties.
Regional readiness:
Although EDIH NEB operates mainly in the regions of NUTS II Northeast, it is also active in regions throughout the Czech
Republic, such regions having identified digital technologies as a priority within their RIS3 strategies over the long term.
Extensive analyses of the digital maturity of a region and the demand for services were carried out in the preceding period.
Over 8,500 potential SMEs were identified in the field of machine learning alone, and over 26,000 in that of robotics. Mapping
from previous years showed that more than 60% of companies are planning digitalisation, but do not have sufficient internal
capacities or access to technologies – here EDIH NEB plays a crucial role as an intermediary and expert guide. Market
knowledge also comes from mapping as part of the in-depth analysis of target groups in the Czech Republic carried out in the
preceding period. This analysis provided valuable information on the degree of digital maturity of individual segments of
enterprises (SMEs, mid-caps, large companies), public administration, and specific sectors such as the automotive industry,
engineering, electronics, ICT, or services. It identified both the different needs of these groups and the key obstacles to digital
transformation — in particular, the lack of finance and skilled workers, a weak digitalisation strategy, or an underestimation of
change management. The analysis also showed that EDIH NEB has a unique combination of competences and facilities –
particularly in IoT, cyber security, 3D printing, computed tomography, or advanced production technologies. Drawing on the
results of this analysis, specific target groups were also defined and services tailored to their needs were profiled. The
consortium’s services therefore not only reflect general European technological and economic trends, but are fully anchored in
real demand in the region and in the Czech Republic. Everything will be fully transferred to the EDIH NEB 2.0 project and
supplemented with newly-required components (First Line AI Helpdesk, cooperation with DTA, AI on Demand, interoperability).
Summary
As far as the current project is concerned, a number of important aspects have been fine-tuned in terms of the system and
organisation of project management, but also in terms of service provision and feedback from clients, the development of
technology, and needs. Principles and necessary procedures are captured and elaborated in the methodology. These are
unique experiences that are the building blocks for successful continuation in the EDIH NEB 2.0 project. The aim is to ensure
a smooth transition. The system is ready for continuous evaluation and to respond to new challenges and opportunities that
may arise during the implementation of activities. The team, activities, facilities, and organisation of work are ready for launch
immediately after signing the GA, without any initial delay. Sub-settings (First Line AI Helpdesk, for example) do not require
any significant time costs.
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2.2 Implementation plan and efficient use of resources
Implementation plan
Show that the implementation work plan is sound by explaining the rationale behind the proposed work packages and how they contribute to
achieve the objectives of the project.
Explain the coherence between the objectives, activities, planned resources and project management processes.
Show how the project integrates, builds on and follows up on any pre-existing work or EU funded projects. Provide details (including architecture
and deliverables) about pre-existing technical solutions.
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project is structured into six Work Packages (WPs), each with clearly-defined objectives, a responsible
leader, and specific activities. The overall coordination and management of activities is ensured by the Director of EDIH NEB
2.0, who supervises the coherence and achievement of objectives across individual WPs. The proposed WP structure draws
on the logic of the services provided according to the requirements of the call, and at the same time reflects the experience of
the consortium partners.
The higher proportion of project management (approximately 30% of the total capacity) is fully justified by the nature and
complexity of the activities required within the EDIH project. The implementation of an EDIH demands intensive and continuous
coordination of activities across a broad consortium, management of the client pipeline, organisation and monitoring of services
provided to companies, quality assurance, administration of input and output data, and maintaining a complete audit trail in line
with the requirements of the European Commission and the national authority. The project additionally involves a high level of
mandatory reporting, KPI monitoring ((now every six months)) and compliance checks with EU rules related to financing, data
security and personal data protection.
The project management role also includes coordination of the regional ecosystem, communication with expert partners,
stakeholder engagement, promotion of EDIH services, and ensuring service standardisation across all participating entities.
These tasks are organisationally and administratively demanding and represent a key prerequisite for the effective, transparent
and sustainable implementation of the project. For these reasons, the higher allocation to project management is necessary
and proportionate to the nature and scope of the EDIH project.
Structure of Work Packages:
● WP1: Management and Coordination
● WP2: Test Before Invest
● WP3: Training and Skills Development
● WP4: Networking / Building the Innovation Ecosystem
● WP5: Support to Find Investments
● WP6: Communication and Dissemination (Marketing)
WP2 through WP5 represent the core of services provided to target groups and are the foundations on which the digital
innovation ecosystem is built. These packages complement each other and create synergies that lead to comprehensive
support for digital transformation. WP6 is a support tool for disseminating information, building awareness, and boosting the
impact of the project. WP1 is crucial for organisational management of the project and in ensuring the quality and transparency
of all activities.
Coherence between objectives, activities, resources, and project management:
When proposing the allocation of resources to individual WPs, emphasis was placed on the expert capacity of partners, their
experience, their level of involvement, and the demanding nature of the planned services. The allocation therefore reflects the
personnel and financial demands of the services provided and at the same time facilitates effective project management.
● WP1 ensures smooth project management, including partner coordination, budget management, reporting, and
communication with the European Commission, and at the same time with the national donor, which experience tells
us is highly demanding. It is run by the main project partner (ARR), which, through the position of Chief Financial
Manager, ensures fulfilment of the administrative and financial obligations of the project. Each partner is allocated
funds according to the degree of its involvement in management.
● WP2 focuses on direct work with clients in the sphere of "Test Before Invest" services. Partners provide services to
clients based on an assessment of their digital maturity and identified needs. Primary coordination is ensured by
the Chief Manager for TBI (ARR), in that the client is systematically guided through the EDIH NEB 2.0 service
ecosystem. It stands that each EDIH NEB 2.0 partner is a contact point for clients. The emphasis here is on
artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and the digitalisation of processes (for an overview of services, see section 1.1).
The allocation to WP2 draws on the expected number of clients and how demanding the service provided is, and the
list of services reflects the identified needs of clients from the preceding period. Partners have both expert knowledge
capacities and the necessary facilities (laboratories, testing and demonstration infrastructure, Testbed for Industry 4.0,
etc.) at their disposal for the provision of expert services.
● WP3 focuses on increasing the competencies of employees of companies and public administration. The aim is to
enhance skills in AI, cyber security, data analysis, and other key technologies through specialised courses, training,
and internships. WP3 activities follow on from WP2 by supporting the use of technology by developing human
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resources. The range of services on offer will also replicate the needs of the labour market, as the development of
digital technologies also comes with a shortage of competent workers who know how to work with these technologies.
Partners have their own technical or educational background. The Chief Manager for Training and Skills (ARR) is in
charge of coordination.
● WP4 builds an innovation ecosystem through networking, conferences, interconnection, expert groups, and
cooperation within the EDIH network, and with other partners in the Czech Republic and the EU. The key role here is
played by partner NCA, a guarantor with extensive experience in the internationalisation and interconnection of players
(triple/quadruple helix model). WP4 makes a significant contribution to the sustainability of project impacts. To
recapitulate, WP4 is divided into three fundamental branches:
○ matchmaking/networking events at regional, national, and EU level
○ cooperation within the EDIH network and with other organisations at national and EU level
○ analyses / mapping
By bringing together all stakeholders, we will initiate new solutions and innovation, motivate the target group to digitalise, and
raise awareness of the topic. We will create a suitable environment for new partnerships, collaboration (including cross-border),
or the development of business.
● WP5 supports clients in finding financial resources to implement digital solutions – grants, loans, venture capital,
investors. Activities also include support in the preparation of applications. As a result, we support the deployment
of proposed solutions in the field of digitalisation in practice. WP5 is run by ARR through the Chief Manager for
Investments and draws on the real needs that clients have when it comes to financing digital solutions.
● WP6 covers the whole of the project’s communication and marketing activities. It aims to ensure that target groups
and the general public are kept informed about the benefits of digitalisation. It uses tools such as the web, social
networks, specialised articles, interviews, videos, the dissemination of examples of good practice, the organisation of
information events, and the use of media or publicity materials. One integral part of this Work Package is to create an
appropriate communication plan and to coordinate communication outwardly among the members of the consortium.
The Chief Marketing Manager (ARR) plays the leading role. At the same time, WP6 supports other WPs by making
their results visible and increasing interest in the services on offer.
The project architecture is built on the shared responsibility of partners and effective project management, which facilitates a
flexible response to clients' needs. The CRM system, methodologies for assessing digital maturity, and monitoring tools were
all developed in the preceding period, and will now be used and further developed within the project.
The First-line AI Help Desk, through which EDIH NEB 2.0 will support a broad adoption of strategic technologies supporting
the development of an AI continent, is a new function for which EDIH NEB is already beginning to systematically prepare. The
First-line AI Helpdesk will be conceived at two basic levels under the conditions of EDIH NEB 2.0: the First-LEVEL AI Helpdesk
and the Second-LEVEL AI Helpdesk. The focus of content is presented in section 1.1.
The task of the 1st LEVEL AI HelpDesk will be to provide the information support to clients at a basic level (for more details
see chapter 1.1). This first level will be handled by trained members of the implementation teams of the consortium partners
who are in direct contact with EDIH NEB 2.0 clients within the bounds of their WPs. Regular training (at least twice a year) will
be provided by an AI expert from TUL, and training provided by DTA and the EU AI Innovation Infrastructure itself will also be
employed. Clients will be able to access the First-level AI Help Desk at in-person meetings, by telephone and e-mail
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communication, and by using the forms on the EIH NEB 2.0 project website. The largest number of relevant clients will be
referred to soft-skills platforms, such as AI on Demand and AI Skills Academy.
Use of the 1st LEVEL AI Help Desk will be monitored and regularly evaluated.
The 2nd LEVEL AI Help Desk will be handled by AI experts from TUL (and, for specific areas of AI by UHK and VÚTS). In
this case, we are talking about truly specialised information and technological support provided to EDIH NEB 2.0 clients (for
more details see chapter 1.1). An AI Toolbox will be established and maintained at the Second-level AI Help Desk, the use of
which will be governed by the licensing arrangements of individual SW tools and libraries.
The provision of Test Before Invest AI services and possible referral to and actual use of the EU AI Innovation Infrastructure
by EDIH NEB 2.0 clients will be recorded, monitored, and regularly evaluated. It will be crucial, therefore, to define the rules of
cooperation with the EU AI Innovation Infrastructure in the form of joint working arrangements at the beginning of the project.
Specific contact persons on both sides of the cooperation line will be determined in this document, and procedures for the
referral and transfer of clients will be defined in detail, including records of them for the needs of both projects/initiatives. EDIH
NEB will primarily play the role of multiplier.
This will involve the EU Innovation Infrastructure, AI TEFs such as AI-Matters and TEF-HEALTH. These are likely to be used
by clients whose solution require the use of infrastructure that exceeds the capabilities of the consortium's AI infrastructure
following validation by consortium AI experts. EDIH NEB 2.0 clients that need to test the legal and technical aspects of
innovative solutions in financial sectors will be referred to the FinTech AI Sandbox. Although the use of Lumi AI Factory only
makes sense for very complicated and complex tasks, this option will also be available to EDIH NEB 2.0 clients. The LoIs with
the aforementioned EU AI projects/initiatives already concluded therefore provide evidence of a common interest in working
together to create a functional model of client sharing in accordance with working agreements that are jointly prepared and
agreed at the time of launching this project. Development in the field of AI is very dynamic, and for this reason the above list of
initiatives and projects with which EDIH NEB 2.0 will cooperate is certainly not final.
For the EDIH NEB 2.0 consortium to start providing 1st line AI Help Desk services immediately after the start of the project, it
is necessary to start the systematic preparation of both levels now (for more details see section bellow - Project management).
The initial Concept of EDIH NEB 2.0 1st Line AI Help Desk
Project management, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation strategy
Describe the measures planned to ensure that the project implementation is of high quality and completed in time.
Describe the methods to ensure good quality of monitoring, planning and control activities.
Describe the evaluation methods and indicators (quantitative and qualitative) to monitor and verify the outreach and coverage of the activities
and results. The indicators proposed to measure progress should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound.
The implementation team of the EDIH NEB 2.0 coordinator is made up of experienced experts in their own fields (Work
Packages) who also have the ability to perceive and understand the entire complex of services provided, which intertwine and
influence each other. When providing a comprehensive range of services, achieving milestones, fulfilling the set deliverables
and indicators, financial management, networking, publicity activities, and working with clients, staff will rely on the valuable
experience gained during the implementation of the initial project, and on the experience of previous activities from long-term
practice. Taking account of the experience of the initial project, the organisational structure and planning and control
mechanisms have been adapted to primarily reflect the interconnectedness of individual areas (Work Packages) and the use
of already-established and proven processes and tools.
Project planning
Project planning involves several levels over time.
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The fundamental and highest level will be the Project Timetable for 3 years, which will be based on key project parameters
such as planned milestones, deliverables and indicators in individual areas (Work Packages), and also across all areas in
relation to expected budget drawdown, including the acquisition of planned equipment.
This timetable will be broken down into an Annual Timetable for each year. The Project Timetable and the Annual Timetable
are drawn up by the General Project Manager. They will subsequently be approved by the Director of EDIH NEB 2.0 and
submitted to the Steering Committee for approval.
The approved Annual Timetables will become the basis for the development of constituent annual timetables for individual
WPs, which, although processed by individual Chief Managers for WPs, will also take into account the interdependencies
between these WPs. Constituent annual timetables will be approved by the General Project Manager.
The fulfilment of timetables will be monitored on an ongoing basis and documented at regular meetings of the implementation
team of the Project Coordinator. Each constituent annual timetable will contain the set fundamental parameters of the project
for the given year, including the milestones, deliverables, and indicators relevant for the area in question (Work Package), but
also with regard to interdependencies between areas. Furthermore, a constituent annual timetable will include individual
planned activities and tasks aimed at fulfilling project objectives, deliverables and indicators, frequencies, deadlines, and
responsibilities for planned activities and set outputs. Such activities might take the form of holding meetings and compiling
minutes, writing up records of clients and services provided, records of public aid, the administration of project communication
tools, records of project expenditure, etc. Clearly defining responsibilities for individual activities, tasks and outputs, including
meeting and checking deadlines, is a prerequisite for the functioning management of the project.
As in the initial project, individual activities in the relevant WP will be set in terms of time so that they are interconnected and
logically follow on from each other (even between individual WPs) so as to have the broadest possible impact (for example,
the timing and focus of WP6 Marketing based on the timing of events in WP4 Networking and training in the WP3 Trainings
and Skills Development). All timetables will take into account the fundamental deadlines and activities set out in the subsidy
agreement (e.g. preparing a periodic report as part of a mid-term review and a final report at the end of the project). Proven
models of access to clients will be maintained, as well as the proven method of keeping records clients and services for the
purposes of documenting the course of execution of the project to both donors.
Methodological coverage of service provision
Substantive planning of procedures is another integral element. This is why the Chief Managers of WP2 - 5 have already
compiled the WP2 - 5 Service Provision Methodology, which describes the basic procedures, responsibilities, tools and
templates used, required output formats, and interconnection with other WPs. WP2 - 5 Chief Managers regularly review and
update these Methodologies under the guidance of the General Project Manager. Service Provision Methodologies are
necessary to maintain the know-how of the implementation team and for the systematic provision of services. Methodologies
are approved by the Director of EDIH NEB 2.0.
Monitoring project implementation
It is essential that we check and evaluate the fulfilment of the planned project steps and the quality of services. This will be
carried out in a planned way, and in the case that ad hoc problems or risk tendencies are identified, the communication and
management system within the consortium is naturally ready to act immediately. The basic structure of monitoring is as follows.
The achievement of KPIs will be monitored on an ongoing basis using an online tool to record the services provided in all
WP2 - 5, including the necessary data about clients from all consortium members. The current level of achievement of
monitored KPIs will be evaluated at regular meetings. The level of achievement of KPIs for individual WP2-5 and Deliverables
from all WPs and a comparison with the plan / timetable of activities will be evaluated once a month and reported to the General
Project Manager and the Director of EDIH NEB 2.0, who will decide on onward procedure if there is a threat of significant
deviations in the level of achievement of KPIs from the plan.
Risk management is an integral part of project management. Project risks will be named and continuously monitored and
evaluated by the General Project Manager. Should a threat arise, the Director of EDIH NEB 2.0 will be informed and will issue
further instructions (e.g. convening the Steering Committee, instruction to implement corrective measures, etc.). New risks will
also be identified on an ongoing basis within the bounds of project management. An in-depth risk analysis of the project will
take place over a period of at least 18 months as part of the Mid-term Review process.
There will be an internal evaluation of the quality of services and feedback from clients about the services provided, while
methodological procedures will be reviewed every six months.
A report on the progress of the project, a check of procedures, the implementation of activities in accordance with the annual
and overall timetables of the project will be written up for a period of six months and submitted to the Steering Committee. The
General Project Manager will prepare the structure of reporting. The content of reporting will be compiled in cooperation with
individual WP Chief Managers.
As a milestone for checking fulfilment of the timetable, the quality of outcomes, key performance indicators and
Deliverables, we decided to incorporate all this information into the mandatory Interim Periodic Report for project
implementation period 1 – 18 months based on the experience of the initial EDIH NEB project. As milestones, we included
a regular six-month KPI report along with an evaluation of the dissemination and exploitation plan. KPI report represents the
outcome of DMA and services from the DTA. Six-month KPI report is reflected in Deliverables as well This does not affect the
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setting of the continuous monitoring of the achievement of KPIs or the system of monthly evaluations and half-yearly proof of
project performance to Steering Committee members described above. It is this mechanism that will ensure timely and quality
documents and materials for the processing of the Interim Periodic Report for the first period of project implementation. In the
Interim Periodic Report, the tools deployed, the number and scope of services provided to EDIH NEB 2.0 clients, including the
function of the First Line AI Help Desk, evaluation of the implementation of digital technologies (investments and increasing
digital maturity), the number of networking events and feedback from participants, the effects of marketing tools on EDIH NEB
2.0 activities, etc., will all be evaluated in sufficient detail in addition to the standardised content of project management and
administration. The General Project Manager is responsible for compiling the regular Interim Periodic Report, using documents
from the Chief Managers of individual WP1-6.
Among other things, the Interim Periodic Report will serve the consortium as an important tool for monitoring the implementation
of the project and will check our goal of achieving a minimum of 50% of the planned outcomes and indicators for the
period 1 – 18 months. If this is not achieved, the reasons for this will be examined in more detail and such measures will be
put in place to ensure that the project has achieves 100% of its planned outcomes and indicators by the end. These measures
will be closely monitored in the next monthly / half-yearly reports on progress. Since we expect this project to directly follow on
from the existing project, we will endeavour to ensure a smooth transition and to continue to provide all original and new
services and activities connected to the integration of AI themes without interruption.
A Dissemination and Exploitation Plan will be written up under the leadership of the General Project Manager and the Chief
Manager of WP6 not later than by the end of the 6th month of the project implementation period. An Economic Sustainability
Plan will be written up under the leadership of the General Project Manager not later than by the end of the 18th month of the
project implementation period. These plans will be submitted to members of the Steering Committee by the EDIH NEB 2.0
Project Director for approval.
EDIH NEB 2.0 will continue to use a number of SW tools for project management, in particular for sharing information about
clients and the services provided to them among consortium partners, and this will facilitate the continuous monitoring of
objectives in real time mentioned above. Implementation teams will deploy advanced AI-based analytical solutions, which
will make it possible to evaluate the achievement of project objectives from different perspectives and with regard for the
different comparative parameters stemming from different evaluation methodologies.
The General Project Manager is responsible for compiling and checking implementation of the First-line AI Help Desk
Preparation Plan, culminating in the launch of this new functionality immediately after the start of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project.
An AI expert from the TUL implementation team will provide a high level of expertise in the use of AI, and consultancy on the
AI Act, as part of the 2nd LEVEL AI Help Desk. The purpose of the 1st LEVEL AI Help Desk will actually be fulfilled by members
of the implementation teams of the consortium who are in direct contact with EDIH NEB 2.0 clients as part of their WP2-5.
The General Project Manager, with the expert support of an AI expert from TUL, will remain responsible for the management
of this new functionality. The main tasks of the Project General Manager in this area will be to appoint and train members of
consortium implementation teams, to set up and maintain effective cooperation between the 1st and 2nd LEVEL AI Help Desk
within the consortium, to set up and maintain a high level of cooperation with the EU AI Innovation Infrastructure in the form of
concluded working arrangements, further coordination with the DTA on replies and new questions on the AI Act, to create an
access point to the services of the 1st Line AI Help Desk using the existing EDIH NEB web portal, etc., to monitor the quality
of advice provided and records of clients collected in accordance with the required KPIs in this area. An evaluation of the
progress of the 1st Line AI Help Desk will be processed by the General Project Manager as part of the six-month report on the
progress.
The digital maturity of EDIH NEB 2.0 clients will be determined, recorded, and evaluated in the up-to-date version of the "Digital
Maturity Assessment Tool" (DMAT), as created and administered by the European Commission on the Home | European
Digital Innovation Hubs Network website via the Digital Transformation Accelerator (DTA). One benefit of the questionnaire is
that it forms the basis for substantive discussion with the client on the principles and meaning of digitalisation at the given
operation, and is rightly part of consultation. With each client that is provided with a service that truly has the potential to
increase the level of its digital maturity (each WP2 client, but might also be WP3 or WP5 clients, if it makes sense), the DMA
questionnaire will be completed over three periods of time so that it is possible to assess the overall effect which the provision
of services has brought the client. In terms of timing and implementation, we will respect the terms of the call.
Questionnaires filled in for a specific client over three periods of time will subsequently be used to determine the shift in their
digital maturity, and at the same time this monitors fulfilment of the additional indicator "Increase in the digital maturity of
organisations". This information will then be used to assess the impact of EDIH NEB 2.0 services on SME, mid-caps, and PSO
clients, which will be part of the reports on progress and, subsequently, the Interim Periodic Report and Final Report.
As part of the evaluation of clients after the implementation of a service, we will monitor other impact aspects that can be
associated with the intervention of EDIH NEB 2.0, such as savings on resources (energy, time), the development of turnover,
development of the number of employees, the establishment or development of cooperation (with science and research,
companies and the public sector, the Czech Republic/EU/world), establishment on the market and new markets, and potential
for the creation of intellectual property.
Intensive communication with the DTA will take place in all supported areas throughout the implementation of the project:
reporting the required data about clients and services and achieved KPIs, including filling in the DMA in the DMA Tool,
participation in Train the Trainers at the EDIH Academy or the preparation of a webinar for other EDIHs, the presentation of
Success Stories and Best Practices, continued involvement in EDIH Thematic Working Groups Cybersecurity and Digital
Health, and others. It is planned that EDIH NEB 2.0 representatives will attend the EDIH Annual Summit every year. This event
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is a valuable source of information about innovations in the EDIH network and a unique space in which to share experiences
and opportunities to maintain and establish contacts with other EDIHs.
Cost effectiveness and financial management (n/a for prefixed Lump Sum Grants)
Describe the measures adopted to ensure that the proposed results and objectives will be achieved in the most cost-effective way.
Indicate the arrangements adopted for the financial management of the project and, in particular, how the financial resources will be allocated
and managed within the consortium.
Do NOT compare and justify the costs of each work package, but summarize briefly why your budget is cost effective.
The services and activities of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project were assembled by individual partners based on their experience of
the execution of the existing project and the ability to effectively provide the proposed services. This led to an overview of EDIH
NEB 2.0 services, the number of expected clients, the average number of expected hours of work with individual clients and
the associated working times (full- or part-time), personnel and other related costs. The level of personnel costs is usual at the
place and time and corresponds to the pay policy of the partner in question. Other costs (travel expenses, external supplies)
are set as being necessary for the proper provision of services and activities. Their level is calculated using the usual prices at
the place and time based on the experience of partners and market research. The specification of external costs is found in
separate tables under the overview of the WP.
We again addressed the economic efficiency of the budget when preparing the project by employing close cooperation between
the partners and internal elaboration of the budget in greater detail. Each cost was also carefully consulted with a view to
reducing the size of the budget by around 30% in comparison with the budget of the existing project.
The set scope of EDIH NEB 2.0 services and the working times (full- or part-time) or outside services stemming from this
correspond to the complexity of the services provided. Most services are not commonly available on the market, and their
demands on time are highly individual. This is influenced by the client itself. It stands that one type of service might even have
different time demands, because each client has different entry conditions, level of readiness, and facilities, different production
processes or services, etc.
The setting of working times (full- or part-time) and costs in all activities was monitored in detail for individual partners. At TUL,
account was taken of its new function of AI consortium expert undertaking new tasks in the field of consultation with regard to
AI as part of the 2nd LEVEL AI Help Desk. The scope and inclusion of services again corresponds to the set budget.
The Lead Partner retains the planned position of Chief Financial Manager in its team to coordinate the drawdown of the project
from the perspective of the project budget and to ensure communication with other financial managers, who will be available
on a part-time basis at all project partners.
Financial managers are responsible within their organisation for the proper and economical use of budget funds, market
research, or tenders, because they know the financial rules of their own organisation best. They monitor the eligibility of project
expenses and make relevant changes to the budget. They also communicate with each other in this regard. All under the sub-
leadership of the Chief Financial Manager. The Chief Financial Manager is also responsible for processing payment requests
and checking documents from other partners. For monitoring the drawing of project expenses as a whole and drawing at
individual partners. The execution of the existing project served to confirm that the concept described above is the right one.
The project expects 50% funding of the total eligible expenditure from the DEP and 30-50% from the national donor: the Ministry
of Industry and Trade. Financial models are prepared for possible top-up financing from own resources, regional budgets, or
income from clients. Subsidy programmes allow for advance payments of up to 60% of the subsidy. The manner of financing
project expenditure before receiving a subsidy has been discussed within the consortium, as has payment for any ineligible
expenditure. These aspects of the project were dealt with separately for each partner involved. They are all long-standing
organisations with stable cash flow and sufficient financing to fund project expenses. The financing of the project is assured.
The Financial Manager will prepare documents for the proper redirection of the relevant subsidy amount to individual partners
based on their partial budgets and expense reports. The advance payment will be transferred from the Lead Partner's account
to individual partners proportionally according to the size of their budgets. Other amounts of the subsidy will result from the
level of expenses reported at the individual financial stages of the project (according to the approved statement of expenditure).
Specific financial flows between partners will be addressed in a Partnership Agreement, which will be newly signed for EDIH
NEB 2.0.
Sustainability
The partnership and cooperation in the consortium, and the common interest in supporting digitalisation, is long-term and was
confirmed by the first Consortium Agreement even before the joint project of the first EDIH NEB. The assumption of long-term
sustainability of project activities can therefore be considered realistic in the years following the end of EDIH NEB 2.0. Financing
during the period of sustainability will be based on a model of mixed financing, meaning a combination of incomes from paid
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services (e.g. TBI, expert advice), regional public co-financing, and participation in other national and international calls.
Support will be discussed in a timely manner with relevant donors and applications for relevant grants will be sought. The
consortium will submit a specific sustainability and continuity of activity plan, which will be submitted as project output as part
of WP1. The setting of the resulting mix will respond to developments and possibilities at the time - of the market, clients,
technologies, the current calls and possibilities of European, national, and regional donors. Real possibilities of support for
EDIH 2.0 have already been positively discussed with regional donors, since the project activities meet the development
priorities of the regions; for example, the Smarter Liberec Region. Negotiations on the continuation of support will take place in
a timely manner and further subsidy projects will be prepared and requested. The consortium is interested in the long-term
sustainability of services, to which the partners will attend during execution. The good name of partners, the positive experience
of clients, and high level of expertise of services are attributes that build an interconnected safety net for other clients, enhance
cooperation, and increase the competitiveness and resilience of clients, and through them whole regions and as a result the
EU.
#§CON-MET-CM§# #§PRJ-MGT-PM§# #§FIN-MGT-FM§# #§RSK-MGT-RM§# #@CON-SOR-CS@#
2.3 Capacity to carry out the proposed work
Consortium cooperation and division of roles (if applicable)
Describe the participants (Beneficiaries, Affiliated Entities and Associated Partners, if any) and explain how they will work together to implement
the project. How will they bring together the necessary expertise? How will they complement each other?
In what way does each of the participants contribute to the project? Show that each has a valid role and adequate resources to fulfil that role.
Note: When building your consortium you should think of organisations that can help you reach objectives and solve problems.
The fundamental framework of reciprocal cooperation among EDIH NEB 2.0 project partners is laid down in a Consortium
Agreement. Inter alia, this agreement addresses the main subject-matter of cooperation, the objectives of the consortium, and
its basic structure.
Representatives of all partners are found in the Steering Committee, which is responsible for taking decisions regarding the
consortium management strategy, membership, cooperation with third parties, shared management, etc.
Main responsibility for the project lies with the position of EDIH NEB 2.0 Director, who is organisationally tied to the position of
authorised representative of the Lead Partner. The Director manages the project as a whole and communicates regularly with
the leaders of individual activities and, if necessary, with other team members. He/she represents the consortium outwardly.
More in-depth project management and decision-making competencies are addressed in section 2.2 Project Management and
the section entitled "Consortium management and decision-making risk" below.
Compared to the preceding period, a total of 6 partners (previously 7) are now entering the project. The outgoing partner is
ARICOMA, which will now focus only on large companies, meaning outside the target group. ARICOMA provided cybersecurity
services, which have now been taken over by partner NCA.
A more detailed description of the 6 partners involved:
1. Agentura regionálního rozvoje spol. s r.o. (ARR): Lead partner (www.arr-nisa..cz/en, www.dih-
northeast.cz/en). ARR is involved in all WPs, and carries the main coordination role.
ARR is the Lead Partner in the EDIH NEB 2.0 project. This involves coordinating the whole consortium, particularly from the
perspective of financial management, the methodical management of processes within the consortium, and all marketing. In
addition, it provides a range of its own services in individual WP. It was a crucial cog in the wheel of the digital transformation
process in the region during the activity of the first EDIH NEB project. It has the knowledge potential, a developed network of
cooperation, and the technological facilities (TestBed for Industry 4.0) required for this.
ARR provides technical and expert assistance in the preparation and implementation of projects which benefit the Liberec
Region. It implements the Smarter Region strategy for the Liberec Region, which addresses the use of smart digital
technologies in the public sector. It designs and tests smart solutions, and cooperates with other entities in the region to this
end. ARR is the umbrella organisation of the regional digitalisation platform, which brings together prominent entities in the
field of digital technologies. It is part of the European EBN network (i.e. an international European network that brings together
organisations supporting the development and growth of innovative enterprises, it holds EU| BI certification (see annex to the
application). EU|BIC certification is a mark of quality, recognising organisations that meet the highest standards of business
support services to ensure innovative entrepreneurs thrive.
ARR runs the Liberec Business Incubator - Lipo.ink, which supports the establishment and development of innovative
companies in the Liberec Region, particularly in the sphere of digital technologies. Lipo.ink is also a member of the PlatInn
network, through which it provides expert advice to SMEs, advice relating to digitalisation included. It also looks to resolve the
practical needs of companies in what are known as Industry 4.0 and the Industrial Internet of Things, as well as the development
of startups.
ARR runs the Smart Accelerator of the Liberec Region, which focuses on advancing the environment of research,
development, and innovation on the basis of what is known as the RIS3 strategy. It runs the 1012+ regional innovation brand.
There is a network of smart accelerators throughout the Czech Republic, meaning that we have ties to research and innovation
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organisations throughout the country, and to SMEs. We are part of the S3 European technology platform for the future of the
textile and clothing industry (RegioTex) and of a technology platform that focuses on the efficient use of water resources
(Water Smart Territories).
ARR has long-standing and strong ties with regional stakeholders (regional political representatives), chambers of commerce,
business associations, education facilities, and members of the Research, Development, and Innovation Council, which
numbers 20 delegated major innovation entities in the region. It is also part of Ynovate, a nationwide professional network
in support of innovation that comprises 8 professional innovation centres in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
ARR collaborates with clusters in the Liberec region, with the NANOPROGRESS cluster, which focuses on research into
and the development of nanofibre structures, and with the CLUTEX cluster, which focuses on textile and clothing companies,
and has memoranda of cooperation in place in this regard.
ARR has also worked for many years with Euroregion Nisa, an organisation based in Liberec that is active in what is known
as Trojzemí, meaning the border area between the Federal Republic of Germany, the Czech Republic, and the Republic of
Poland. This association seeks to create common and diverse space for cross-border cooperation within its territory.
ARR has established partnerships with a number of organisations (see letters of intent). Its cooperation continues with the
NOVUM European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, based in Jelenia Góra in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship of the
Polish border area. The grouping fortifies, facilitates, and broadens Polish-Czech cross-border cooperation, the aim being to
foster the economic and social cohesion of this border region. Further cross-border cooperation is most common with
entities in the German-Polish border area; for example, Zentrum für Innovation und Technologietransfer, Hochschule
Zittau/Görlitz, Karkonoska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego S.A, Jelenia Góra, Poland, Leibnitz Institute of Ecological Urban
and Regional Development, Dresden, manufacturing enterprises from the border region; for example, in Jelenia Góra,
Szklarska Poręba, etc.
Another way of supporting the activities of EDIH NEB 2.0 is the fact that ARR is the contact point of the European Regional
Innovation Valley (RIV) network, of which NUTS2 Northeast is now a part. This is a European initiative that aims to boost
innovation ecosystems in the regions and promote cooperation between business, research, and public administration. The
aim is to accelerate the digital and green transformation by linking regional capacities, sharing good practice, and engaging in
European value chains. EDIH NEB 2.0 can therefore actively use this network.
2. Technical University of Liberec (TUL): (www.tul.cz), TUL is involved in all WPs.
The Technical University of Liberec is the only actual university in the Liberec Region. It brings together seven faculties and
one specialised research institute. It offers a wide range of study and research programmes, decidedly technical in focus,
primarily in the areas of material, mechanical, and textile engineering. In recent years, it has also advanced at dynamic pace
in the fields of nanotechnology, automation, robotics, information technology, and biotechnology.
TUL has one of the key roles in addressing AI needs. TUL collaborates with the Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics
and Cybernetics, CTU in Prague (CIIRC), on selected activities involving testing and experimentation in the field of AI-based
solutions and related topics (see annex MoU in the subsidy application).
Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CXI), www.tul.cz/university/cxi
One important research division at TUL is the Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation (CxI), which
was established in 2009 with the aim of effectively linking academic research with the needs of industrial practice at regional,
national, and international level.
Research activities at CxI are concentrated in three main areas:
● Nanomaterials in life sciences: The development of advanced materials and nanomaterials for ecological and
biological applications. Research centres on (for example) the development of sensors, antibacterial and antifungal
surfaces, membrane technologies, and biotechnologies for environmental protection.
● Advanced manufacturing technologies: Focusing on sustainable manufacturing processes, including the processing
of plastics (TUL boasts the oldest plastic technology department in Europe), additive manufacturing, and the
development of environmentally-friendly and renewable materials.
● System integration: The development of modern software and control solutions for industrial applications. This area
includes industrial automation, robotics (including collaborative robots), data processing, cybersecurity,
communication protocols (e.g. 5G), industrial computer vision, cloud applications, machine learning applications,
and artificial intelligence, including work with large multimodal language models.
CxI actively cooperates with partners from academia and industry. Key partners include the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany
and companies such as Volkswagen, Škoda Auto, Trask Solutions, Magna, Continental, Sineta, Datera, Balakáři, Good Mask,
and others. The Institute is also a member of the Nanoprogress innovation cluster and the coordinator of the National Centre
for Industrial 3D Printing.
CxI research teams are involved in a number of prestigious national and international projects, including Horizon Europe
programmes (including Twinning and LIFE), the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), Interreg, and projects supported by the
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Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Czech Science Foundation (GACR), the
Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic, and the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. Many years of experience in
applied research, development and technological transfer guarantee the high quality and practical usability of the results.
3. VÚTS a.s.: https://www.vuts.cz/en/about-us, is involved in WP1, WP2, and WP6.
VÚTS, a.s., is a private research organisation specialising in research, development, and the production of machines and
equipment for the manufacturing industry, particularly in the fields of machining, textiles, printing, food, packaging, and
healthcare. It is also involved in automation and the development, design, and production of special-purpose machines,
handling equipment, conveyors, and testing equipment, primarily for suppliers in the automotive industry.
VÚTS, a.s., offers a wide range of services, from research and development to compiling structural designs and executing
complete technological units. It has its own production capacities that allow for the prototype and small-series production of
machine parts, machines, and equipment.
One of the key pillars of the work done at VÚTS is the development of cooperation with industrial and academic partners. We
carried out a number of joint research and development projects in 2024 – 14 in total, as part of the TREND, SIGMA, NCK
APPLICATIONS programmes, etc. Cooperation in the field of collaborative and contractual research, involving dozens of
successful projects, advanced greatly in parallel with these activities. One important project for the development of such
cooperation is the NCKS project (TN02000018 - National Centre of Competence ENGINEERING), in which VÚTS, as the main
researcher and coordinator, ensures the collaboration of a further 8 research organisations and 24 industrial partners. Research
and development activities within the project focus on dealing with the current challenges of European and Czech engineering
in the 21st century. The strategic research agenda takes into account the needs of customers and users, economic,
environmental, social, and technological requirements. The key objective is to increase the performance and accuracy of
machines, improve their energy performance, automate production processes, shorten innovation cycles, and minimise the
impact on the environment. It also focuses on cost optimisation and trends in Industry 4.0.
VÚTS is a member of the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic, AVO (Association of Research Organisations), the
CLUTEX cluster (a cluster focusing on technical textiles), and the Nanoprogress cluster (a cluster focusing on R&D and
applications in the field of nanomaterials). VÚTS is also a member of ČTPT (Czech Technology Platform for Textiles) and of
ČTPS (Czech Technology Platform for Engineering).
The organisation is also involved in the work of the "MANUFUTURE" platform and the "European Textile Platform" through
these national platforms. VÚTS was able to monitor the possibilities and calls of the EUREKA CLUSTER SMART Advanced
Manufacturing cluster initiative and to identify opportunities for potential cooperation at project level.
Moreover, VÚTS, through its representatives, is a member of the Federation for the Promotion of Mechanism and Machine
Science and ASPT Proton - European Technology Transfer Association.
International cooperation is primarily advanced with the Fraunhofer Institutes of Chemnitz, Dresden, and Zittau, RWTH Aachen
University, TITV Greiz - Textilforschungsinstitut Thüringen-Vogtland e.V., ITV - Institut für Textil und Verfahrenstechnik
Denkendorf, and Linz Center of Mechatronics in Austria.
As far as international cooperation is concerned, the most important matter for VÚTS is successful involvement in the
"Automated Mass Production of SOC Stacks" (amps) project as part of the HORIZON-JTI-CLEANH2-2022-2 call. Our
organisation is working on creating virtual twins of solid oxide cells (SOCs) and their components.
4. National Cluster Association (NCA): (https://www.nca.cz/en/), is part of all WPs except WP3.
NCA currently brings together 37 entities, mainly cluster organisations, with the aim of achieving the coordinated and
sustainable development of cluster initiatives and the development of cluster policy in the Czech Republic based on a
concentration of knowledge, experience, and expertise with a view to strengthening the competitiveness of the Czech Republic.
Through its members, it therefore represents more than 1,000 innovative companies and research institutions, perceives their
needs, and knows their competitive advantages.
It provides advice and education to both cluster managers and their teams, and to small and medium-sized enterprises. It also
fortifies the function of clusters in innovation processes, offers consultation on the development of international cooperation,
and provides assistance to Czech innovation companies on selected foreign markets or in the preparation and management
of projects financed by domestic and international sources. Thanks to the implementation of national and international projects,
NCA has over the past three years provided training to hundreds of employees in small and medium-sized companies, compiled
a wide range of cybersecurity analyses, and organised dozens of events in the field of cybersecurity and the use of AI. It has
a professional in-house team with ties to outside experts.
It builds long-term relationships with the relevant representatives of regional and national governments, national institutions,
and other relevant entities that support innovation activities in the region and the process of digitalisation.
It also keeps records of cluster organisations and technological platforms in the Czech Republic – the Cluster Map - meaning
it has an overview of the focus, portfolio of services, and international cooperation of cluster organisations in the Czech
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Republic. NCA is a member of the European Clusters Alliance (ECA) and of the European Clusters Labelling Excellence
Structure (EUCLES), which creates the methodology and actual certification for the award of international cluster labels of
excellence - gold, silver, and bronze. It is also a member of the team at the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP),
as the main European provider of information and promoter of events in Europe. These activities mean that the entire EU
cluster network system is even more closely connected.
5. The University of Hradec Králové (UHK): (https://www.uhk.cz/en), is part of WP1, WP2, and WP5.
UHK is a major university with a strong regional base and international ambitions. UHK provides a wide range of
educational opportunities at all levels of study and develops and engages in a wide range of scientific research projects and
topics, often having a fundamental social impact. UHK has modern science and research infrastructure, supports
interdisciplinarity in research, and purposefully develops teams of excellence in specific scientific fields and within the bounds
of international cooperation, in which it achieves significant results worldwide.
It carries out research in selected areas of physics, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and computer science. It
promotes and ensures the transfer of knowledge and technology through its intensive cooperation with the corporate
sector and public institutions. University-wide topics: Healthy ageing and quality of life, Security and sustainable
development in the digital society, and new challenges in education. UHK devotes attention to Industry 4.0, cyber security,
high-performance computing, IoT, smart solutions, and advanced IT solutions in electronics, biomedicine, management,
economics, etc. UHK is involved in the EDIH NEB project and supports small and medium-sized businesses and public
administration in the deployment of digital technologies. Three employee spin-off companies have been established at UHK so
far: ANUME s.r.o., Grant Detection s.r.o., and TallWell s.r.o. (a company dealing with data collection and evaluation). UHK also
provides services to companies in the form of contracted research and fosters significant international cooperation, carried
out within the framework of bilateral agreements and EU programmes. UHK purposefully networks in the relevant organisations,
e.g. Transfera.cz, CzechInvest, and others. UHK is involved in significant cooperation in the sphere of application with
Technologické centrum Hradec Králové (Technology Centre in Hradec Králové), working on the creation and transfer of
innovations and their commercialisation. UHK and the University Hospital in Hradec Králové are also involved in a number of
significant projects (e.g. the IT4Neuro and BIPOLE projects).
6. Centre for Investment, Development and Innovation (CIRI): (https://www.cirihk.cz/ciri.html? lang=2), is
involved in all WPs.
CIRI is a regional investment and development agency in the Hradec Králové region. It devotes its time to project management
and strategic planning. It compiles regional strategic documents, including the RIS3 strategy, monitors and evaluates, initiates
new R & D & I activities, jointly manages the Regional Innovation Fund of the Hradec Králové Region, runs the Research,
Development and Innovation Council of the Hradec Králové Region, is an executive component in the implementation of RIS3,
encourages cooperation and awareness among key players in the region, and focuses on developing the environment of
research, development, and innovation. It also runs the Regional Centre for the Support of Social Entrepreneurship, is a
member of the Employment Pact of the Hradec Králové Region, and is part of the European S3 platform for textiles. CIRI has
long-standing and strong ties to regional stakeholders (representatives of regional politics), chambers of commerce, business
associations, education facilities, etc. CIRI representatives are also members of a number of professional working parties or
platforms, such as national innovation platforms, regional standing conferences for science and research, etc.
Project teams and staff
Describe the project teams and how they will work together to implement the project.
List the staff included in the project budget (budget category A) by function/profile (e.g. project manager, senior expert/advisor/researcher,
junior expert/advisor/researcher, trainers/teachers, technical personnel, administrative personnel etc. — use the same profiles as in the detailed
budget table, if any (n/a for prefixed Lump Sum Grants)) and describe briefly their tasks.
Name and function Organisa Role/tasks/professional profile and expertise
tion
Petr Dobrovský ARR Director/Main responsibility, cooperation at all levels (regional, inter/national), stakeholders
networking, synergies, policy implementation and development/CEO of ARR, last project
experience. FTE: 0,2
Andrea Faltusová ARR General project manager/Sustainable implementation of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project/years
of experience in project management, leading projects, last project experience. FTE: 1,0
Jana Geislerová ARR Chief financial manager/Budget management, procurement, payment requests, etc./Long-
term experience with financial project management, last project experience. FTE: 0,9
Zdeněk Runštuk ARR Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Marek Pšenička Chief managers for TBI (SMEs, POs)/Activity management in WP2 (meetings, reports,
communication with partners etc.), provision of TBI services/ last project experience. Total
Michaela FTE: 1,8
Jakubičková
Chief manager for training and skills/Organisation of internships and courses/last project
Darina Rákosníková ARR experience. FTE: 0,7
Darina Rákosníková ARR Networking manager/Networking activities, cooperation within EDIH network/last project
experience. FTE: 0,3
Pavlína Marešková ARR
Chief manager for investments/Support in finding investments, screening of grant sources,
Jiří Vojtěch ARR administrative assistance/long-term experience, last project experience. Total FTE: 0,1
Petra Polášková NCA Chief marketing manager/Responsible for WP6 management. Manages the activities of
Jiří Herinek NCA other marketing managers/long-term experience, last project experience. Total FTE: 1,0
Jiří Herinek NCA Project manager/Project management/last project experience. FTE: 0,3
Jaroslav Burčík NCA
Ivo Říha NCA Financial manager/Project and financial management of NCA activities/long-term
experience with the financial management of EU and CZ projects, last project experience.
Petra Polášková NCA FTE: 0,2
Renáta Pfefferová NCA Digitalisation and AI expert/Process audit with the aim of digitizing small and medium-sized
companies using AI/ Many years of experience in providing these services. FTE 0,15
Jan Kočí TUL
Cybersecurity expert/Cyber Security Maturity Assessment, Cybersecurity analysis and
Michala Bobková TUL audits/Should have long-term experience with cybersecurity. FTE 0,15
TBD TUL Chief networking manager/Conducting networking activities (matchmaking activities,
cooperation with other EDIHs etc.)/Experience in the field of networking, innovation, EDP
TBD TUL process and leading of teams, last project experience. FTE: 1,0
TBD TUL Manager for investments/Project and financial management of NCA activities/last project
experience. FTE: 0,1
Jan Kočí TUL
Marketing manager/Marketing activities, web and social network management/She has
been doing these activities in NCA for more than 2 years. FTE 0,3
Project manager/Project manager for TUL - meetings, monitoring and evaluation,
reporting/Extensive experience in managing project teams both in the commercial sector
and at TUL, last project experience. FTE: 0,15
Financial manager/Financial management, monitoring, reporting, evaluation/Experience in
administration and financial management, last project experience. FTE: 0,2
ICT administrator/Management and maintenance of IT infrastructure, ensuring data and
system security, solving technical problems and requirements always in relation to the
provided services. FTE: 0,1
Project assistant/Administrative support of the project team (coordination of meetings,
minutes, document registration). Collection and processing of data necessary for project
management and evaluation. Cooperation in budget administration and reporting. FTE:
0,05
Lawyer/Legal support in preparing and concluding contracts, checking project compliance
with legal regulations (e.g. public procurement, GDPR, subsidy conditions), cooperation on
project outputs from a legal perspective (e.g. licensing, intellectual property protection).
FTE: 0,1
Senior researcher/Big data processing and analysing, AI based image recognition, testing
and verification solutions within PoC/long-term experience within the activities at TUL, last
project experience. FTE: 0,1
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Jindřich Cýrus TUL Senior researcher/Specialist in Industrial IoT and augmented reality, testing and verification
solutions within PoC/long-term experience within the activities at TUL, last project
Tomáš Martinec TUL experience. FTE: 0,01
JIří Šafka TUL Senior researcher/Specialist in the field of sensing robotics, testing and verification
solutions within PoC/long-term experience within the activities at TUL, last project
Filip Véle TUL experience. FTE: 0,04
TBD TUL Senior researcher/Specialist in additive technologies, testing and verification solutions
within PoC/long-term experience within the activities at TUL, last project experience. FTE:
Věnceslav TUL 0,03
Chumchal Junior researcher/Expert advice, analysis, design and production in the field of 3D printing,
including recommendation of suitable materials based on the desired properties of the final
Šárka Horská TUL products/last project experience. FTE: 0,05
Světlana Trejbalová TUL Senior/junior researcher/Support for the preparation and implementation of proof-of-
concepts, implementation and processing of tests, documentation. FTE: 0,36
Jakub Zach TUL
Junior researcher/Providing strategic advice on the deployment of advanced AI
Adam Blažek TUL technologies, particularly in the area of voice and image recognition. Prototyping and
testing innovative AI solutions in manufacturing and industrial environments. Validation of
Michala Bobková TUL technology concepts in real-life operating conditions.Creation of predictive models to
optimize decision-making processes. Support in data analysis and processing using
Markéta Pánková advanced modeling, simulations and predictive algorithms/last project experience. FTE:
0,08
Lenka Hanušová TUL
Junior researcher/Provision of expert advice in the field of artificial intelligence (especially
Jaromír Ficek VÚTS according to the AI Act regulation)/EDIH NEB 2.0 expert for 2nd LEVEL AI Help Desk:.
Jan Kolník FTE: 0,09
Eva Dvořáková VÚTS
TBD VÚTS Manager for training and skills/Organisation of courses/last project experience. FTE: 0,15
Lidmila Řehová Lector of WP3/ training courses focused on the practical use of artificial intelligence in
companies and the public sector/last project experience. FTE: 0,1
Martin Sedláček UHK
Michal Svoboda UHK Networking manager/Preparation and organization of conferences organized at TUL,
cooperation with other EDIH, Matchmaking/networking/B2B events/last project experience.
FTE: 0,25
Managers for investments/Screening of grant sources and cooperation in preparing
applications for the given financial source/long-term experience, last project experience.
Total FTE: 0,1
Marketing manager/Cooperation with lead partner in marketing activities, articles in media,
printed materials, use of social networks, etc. marketing activities/last project experience.
FTE: 0,12
Project managers/Project management and administration/many years in project
management, last project experience. Total FTE: 0,3
Senior expert/Experienced specialists in the fields of calculations and modelling,
measuring, machine learning, 3D scan etc. FTE: 0,3
Marketing manager/Cooperation with lead partner in marketing activities, articles in media,
printed materials, use of social networks, etc. marketing activities/last project experience.
FTE: 0,2
Financial manager/Financial management, monitoring, reporting, evaluation/last project
experience. FTE: 0,2
Project manager/Project administration on UHK side/last project experience. FTE: 0,2
Richard Cimler UHK Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Jitka Kühnová UHK Senior expert/Consultation, design, implementation of IoT and smart systems, Artificial
Intelligence, project administration/long-term experience, last project experience. FTE: 0,2
Alena Faltysová UHK
Senior data analyst/Data analysis, report creation, consultation/long-term experience. FTE:
Jan Štěpán UHK 0,1
Dalibor Cimr UHK Junior data analyst/Data analysis, report creation, consultation/long-term experience. FTE:
0,1
Jan Matyska UHK
Senior expert/Consultation, hardware design, implementation of IoT and smart
Michal Svoboda UHK systems/long-term experience. FTE:0,1
Veronika CIRI Senior expert/Consultation, design, implementation of IoT and smart systems, Artificial
Intelligence/long-term experience. FTE:0,1
Semerádová
Senior expert/Consultation, hardware design, implementation of IoT and smart
Kateřina Kopecká CIRI systems/long-term experience. FTE:0,1
TBD CIRI Grant and Investments specialist/Investment and grants consultation/last project
experience. FTE: 0,1
Tomáš Mejstřík CIRI
Project manager/Administrative management of the project/last project experience. FTE:
Josef Lochman 0,1
Tomáš Merta CIRI Financial manager/Financial management of the project/last project experience. FTE: 0,1
Josef Lochman Senior expert/Consulting, auditor, software administrator/long-term experience. FTE: 0,1
Josef Lochman CIRI Managers for training and skills/Training on AI and modern software tools, ESG
reporting/last project experience. Total FTE: 0,4
Vojtěch Tuček CIRI
Networking managers/networking activities/last project experience.Total FTE: 0,4
Investment manager/Suppport to find investment/last project experience. FTE: 0,1
Marketing manager/Marketing activities/last project experience. FTE: 0,1
Outside resources (subcontracting, seconded staff, etc)
If you do not have all skills/resources in-house, describe how you intend to get them (contributions of members, partner organisations,
subcontracting, etc.) and for which role/tasks/professional profile/expertise
If there is subcontracting, please also complete the table in section 4.
All the consortium's services in the field of Test Before Invest are provided by its own personnel capacities, and the
consortium can call on the required expertise of the teams at individual partners. In some cases, costs include the use of
outside experts, but only for additional sub-parts and to the extent necessary. The aim is to provide the highest quality and
detailed services to clients with regard to the breadth and depth of the issue.
Other activities will also be carried out using own personnel capacities, with the exception of mapping:
● Networking activity, mapping/analysis section: compiling 2 analyses, namely Analysis of the needs of target groups
in the field of digital transformation within the context of the impact of the Czech industry crisis and Links of the
processes of cybersecurity to the obligations to implement NIS2 in public administration.
The first analysis deals with identifying the current needs of potential target groups in fields that are affected by problems in
the industry, the aim being to optimise the services offered at these entities. The second analysis responds to current
requirements stemming from the new EU directive, the NIS2 Directive, and the need for its implementation among target
group entities - and the impact of these changes from the perspective of modifying the service settings for potential target
groups.
These are time-consuming activities that it will be more effective to leave to an experienced company that specialises in
analytical work and has the necessary methodology, data sources, and equipment in place for the task.
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Consortium management and decision-making (if applicable)
Explain the management structures and decision-making mechanisms within the consortium. Describe how decisions will be taken and how
regular and effective communication will be ensured. Describe methods to ensure planning and control.
Note: The concept (including organisational structure and decision-making mechanisms) must be adapted to the complexity and scale of the
project.
The management structure and decision-making mechanisms of the consortium were set up for the previous EDIH NEB project
and fine-tuned and improved during execution. As a result, the setting of competencies and cooperation is very effective,
functional, and able to respond to any external changes, fluctuations, and client needs, or indeed the internal needs of the
consortium. At the same time, it makes it possible to monitor, evaluate, and respond in the right way to the development of
services, technologies, client reactions, or the interest of potential clients.
The framework of cooperation between partners in the EDIH NEB 2.0 project is defined in a consortium agreement. The
Steering Committee, made up of representatives of all member organisations in the consortium, is the supreme governing
body of the project. This committee undertakes the overall supervision of project execution, approves fundamental decisions
(for example, the inclusion of new partners, significant changes in the execution of the project), and determines the strategic
direction of activities in the field of support for digital transformation.
The Lead Partner – the Regional Development Agency (ARR) – is responsible for the overall coordination of the project.
The Lead Partner provides services and coordinates the consortium as a whole. It also has the personnel capacity to do so.
Executive responsibility lies with the Director of EDIH NEB 2.0 (ARR), whose main role is:
● to represent the consortium vis-à-vis external entities and ensure strategic interconnection with national and European
digital and innovation ecosystems,
● to identify synergies and establish cooperation with other EDIH, key players and politicians in the Czech Republic and
the EU,
● to inform the Steering Committee about the progress of the project and submit proposals for its onward development
and the optimisation of services,
● to decide on the key parameters and methods of carrying out project activities,
● to actively participate in identifying and addressing ethical risks, including risks relating to the use of AI; a Code of
Ethics has been written up for this purpose.
The General Project Manager (ARR), who ensures the day-to-day operational management of the project and coordination
of all Work Packages, reports directly to the Director. The General Project Manager's responsibilities include:
● coordinating Work Package managers and internal communication within the consortium,
● together with the Financial Manager, ensuring communication with the European Commission and the Ministry of
Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic,
● preparing reports on activities, monitoring indicators, evaluating progress, and planning of the development of
services,
● ensuring that project execution complies with the timetable, the budget, and the quality of output,
● managing implementation processes and control mechanisms which lead to the effective implementation of project
objectives.
A more detailed description of project management, planning and control tools is provided in the "Project Management" section.
Individual WP managers are answerable to the General Project Manager, providing detailed information on the course of
individual activities within their own WP and on the achievement of tasks and the fulfilment of objectives. Each of these
managers coordinates the activity of the other partners in a specific matter, decides on constituent detailed steps, and is
responsible for achieving the objectives and fulfilling the tasks within them (see organogram below):
- WP1: Chief Financial Manager (ARR)
Competencies: financial/project management of the entire project according to EC rules - checks the drawing of the budget,
changes in the project, the fulfilment of indicators, the time schedule, compiling monitoring reports, etc.
- WP2: Chief Manager for Test Before Invest (ARR)
Competencies: the coordination of activities, detailed orientation in the expert services provided in WP2 by all partners, key for
the interconnection of partner services and, as the case may be, the partner network of other EDIH, the development of services
according to client requirements.
- WP3: Chief Manager for Training and Skills (ARR)
- WP4: Chief Networking Manager (NCA)
- WP5: Chief Manager for Investments (ARR)
- WP6: Chief Marketing Manager (ARR)
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
As far as WP3 - WP6 are concerned, it is invariably a matter of the main competencies in the relevant thematic area, the
coordination of activities across partners, and designing services according to project development and client requirements.
Each of these WP managers has a set timetable of activities and check points after 3 months in order to achieve the set project
outcomes.
At individual partner level, the working times (full-time, part-time) are determined for the actual execution of individual activities
in each WP (i.e. Financial Managers, Networking Managers, Project Managers, etc.), through which they ensure the running
of the project at the level of their own organisation - they are responsible for the actual performance and management of
activities, their evaluation, etc. within their own WP. Competent managers are only appointed in such WP where the partner in
question has a designated role.
Coordination and communication within the consortium:
● The Steering Committee meets regularly every six months, and on an ad hoc basis as required, and takes decisions
according to the approved Rules of Procedure
● coordination meetings of the entire consortium, including full implementation teams, are held on average twice a year,
or as needed
● The coordinators of individual WPs at individual partners take part in the coordination of procedures, under the
leadership of the General Project Manager, on average twice a month (mostly online)
● The Chief Managers of individual WPs coordinate their own WP across the consortium as needed, and are in contact
with each other on a weekly basis.
● The chief managers of individual WPs coordinate on a regular basis, on average once a week, as do individual teams
at the level of individual partners
Minutes with set tasks and deadlines are taken from meetings. Ad hoc reciprocal communication naturally proceeds through
all available and usual means, such as additional meetings in person, e-mails, and daily communication by mobile phone.
Control and monitoring mechanisms
The consortium has created online digital tools for management, coordination, evaluation and reporting, with easy optimisation
in line with the needs of the ongoing EDIH NEB 2.0 project. The foundation here is a shared space for different levels of the
consortium - from individual WPs to the Steering Committee - for example:
● A database of clients and the services provided to them, tied to monitoring the status of achieving KPI and with the
possibility of automatic transfer to the DTA KPIs Reporting Tool
● A database of cooperation with other EDIH or stakeholders
● A database with all other information important for the coordination of activities (education activities for implementation
teams, a list of communication and dissemination activities and tools, etc.)
● A database of contacts to all EDIH NEB 2.0 staff members
● Drawing budgets
● Activity calendar
● Methodologies for the services provided within individual WP (coordinated form of services, categorisation of clients,
etc.)
● CRIBIS - an application for client evaluation based on available public information (number of employees, etc.)
Tools are optimised in such a way as to provide online information about clients, the status of services, KPIs, and other key
indicators, and consequently facilitate the effective management of all processes and evaluation in real time - as a result, they
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
make it possible to take the timely decisions necessary to ensure the quality provision of services to clients and the successful
management of the project itself.
#§CON-SOR-CS§# #§QUA-LIT-QL§# #@IMP-ACT-IA@# #@COM-DIS-VIS-CDV@#
3. IMPACT
3.1 Expected outcomes and deliverables — Dissemination and communication
Expected outcomes and deliverables
Define and explain the extent to which the project will achieve the expected impacts listed in Call document.
The deliverables and outcomes of the project are the specific services implemented and the benefits for the target group in line
with the objectives of the project. There are quantifiable outcomes (e.g. the number of services, courses, etc.) and qualitative
impacts on clients and the regional ecosystem (e.g. increasing digital maturity, enhancing innovation cooperation, etc.).
The outcomes of the individual work packages stem from the implementation logic of the entire project, the real needs of the
target group, the specific territorial focus of EDIH NEB 2.0, and the professional capacities of the partners involved. When
determining these, we took account of experience from the EDIH NEB project, where we had the opportunity to verify the
demand for individual services, their impact and technical feasibility in the real environment of clients. This experience made it
possible for us to better structure the services and expected outcomes in the current period.
WP3 ensures the transfer of know-how and training, without which the other EDIH services (e.g. technology testing in WP2)
would not be sustainably usable. It strengthens the digital competencies of employees and managers so they can apply the
results of TBI activities, and it has a strategic impact on the long-term sustainability of digital transformation in the region.
The activities of WP4 directly support and expand the impact of WP2 activities through events, networking, and similar
initiatives.
The outcomes of the project are closely linked to key performance indicators (KPIs), which have been defined on the basis
of expert estimates, experience in the field, the available data, and modelling according to the capacities of the partners.
Emphasis was placed on realism, measurability, and synergy across activities. This ensures that the entire system of service
provision is highly efficient and targeted. At the same time, we set our measurable objectives using KPIs.
Furthermore, when determining the size of indicators, consideration was made of the fact that the budget of the follow-up
project is around 30% lower than it was for the existing project (which impacts on the capacity of human and other resources).
Nevertheless, the indicators are set at a similar or higher level in many cases. When planning the services and activities of the
project, the consortium of partners also took into account the need to deal with clients in a more complex and time-consuming
manner. We are convinced that the chosen mix of the offer of services, its targeting, an experienced team, and a management
system guarantees the achievement of these KPIs.
Milestones and deliverables are listed in individual Work Packages under set Tasks according to relevance. These outcomes
correspond to individual activities. At the same time, they contain the mandatory outcomes specified in the Call document
Below is an overview of KPIs that complement the outcomes mentioned in each WP (a summary table of an overview of
KPIs can be found in an annex to the application).
Horizontal function indicator of the 1st Line AI Help Desk (link to section 1.1):
★ As part of the 1st LEVEL AI Helpdesk, all partners provide a basic level of information about AI to all relevant clients
(for this reason, the value of the indicator is not set)
★ As part of the 2nd LEVEL AI Helpdesk, the relevant partners provide expert advice in the field of AI; we expect around
30 clients.
Indicator relating to WP2 Test Before Invest:
★ Estimated number of Test Before Invest services provided: 319 (of which approximately 181 to SME/mid-caps and
138 to public organisations)
These are services from the list of Test Before Invest services provided to the target group (SMEs, mid-caps, public
organisations) during the project. The client can also use multiple services, and we count the number of such services.
Individual partners have estimated the number of services provided for which they are responsible (according to the experience
of EDIH NEB, the needs of the region, and demand).
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Overview of Test Before Invest services:
★ Digital maturity assessment (Digital audit)
★ Consultation on the digitalisation of a company/public administration
★ Consultation on IoT, Smart Technologies, and the use of AI
★ Consultation on SMART Technologies and proposed solution
★ Consultation on IoT/AI technologies using the ARR Test Bed
★ Smart digital advice
★ Pilot digitalisation of selected processes using AI and no-code tools
★ Testing technologies according to the results of a digital audit
★ Testing with the use of IoT/AI technologies in the environment of the ARR Test Bed
★ Testing IoT/AI technologies in the real company environment
★ Testing SMART Technologies in real client operation
★ Testing selected Smart and IoT solution(s)
★ Consultation on the AI ACT
★ Design and use of AI methods for problem solving
★ The digitalisation of production and business enterprises using AI
★ Consultation in the field of digital sales and marketing channels, data analysis, UI/UX, and e-commerce
★ Testing and proof-of-concepts for optimising digital channels
★ Consultation for industrial applications of AI-based voice and image recognition
★ Testing and proof-of-concepts for AI-based voice and image recognition in industry
★ Digitalisation, machine vision and learning (3D scanning and measurement, Reverse engineering, Machine vision and
inspection systems, Utilisation of AI and advanced methods)
★ Consultation on robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots
★ Testing and proof-of-concepts on robotics and sensitive/collaborative robots
★ Consultation in the field of 3D printing, materials, optimisation of the construction of a model, product properties
★ Testing and proof-of-concepts in the field of 3D printing
★ The measurement and analysis of data for comparison of a virtual and a real product
★ The creation of a virtual model
★ Consultation on IIoT and advanced sensorics
★ Tests and proof-of-concepts of selected IIoT solutions
★ Consultation on data analysis, modelling, and simulation using ML and AI
★ Testing and proof-of-concepts for data analysis and processing, predictive algorithms
★ Data analysis using advanced processing methods
★ Support for the creation of proof-of-concept solutions
★ Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment (CMA)
★ Cybersecurity analysis
★ Cybersecurity audit
★ Penetration test
★ Preparation for SOC (Security Operations Centre) services
Indicator relating to WP3 Training and skills development:
★ The expected number of events (courses, internships, work experience) for WP3 activity is 71.
★ The estimated number of participants in these events is 629 (of which approximately 276 from SME/mid-caps and
353 from public organisations).
Indicator relating to WP4 Innovation ecosystem and networking:
★ The expected number of events (conferences, round tables, networking events, etc.) for WP4 activity is 58.
★ The estimated number of participants in these events is 1,350 (of which approximately 470 from SME/mid-caps
and 880 from public organisations).
★ Number of collaborations foreseen with other EDIHs and stakeholders outside the region at EU level, and description
of jointly shared infrastructures / joint investments with other EDIHs (for example, in joint events, sharing expertise or
examples of good practice, matchmaking, collaboration on disseminating information in the sphere of digitalisation,
collaboration on Test Before Invest services, etc.): 40
★ Number of participants in WP4 who subsequently used other EDIH NEB 2.0 services: 150
Indicator relating to WP5 Support to find investments:
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★ Estimated number of Support to Find Investments services provided (consultation on sources of financing, searching
for investors, etc.): 187 (of which approximately 157 for SME/mid-caps and 30 for public organisations).
★ Number of entities that apply for investment (grants, venture capital, credit, etc.): 30
★ For access to finance: Amount of additional investments successfully triggered: approximately EUR 2.5 million
(around how much will be invested in relation to a provided EDIH NEB 2.0 service in proposed measures in the field
of digitalisation, artificial intelligence, or cybersecurity at individual clients (SMEs, mid-caps, public organisations).
Aggregate indicators:
Clients can draw multiple services across activities or even within a single activity, and we therefore also present an estimate
of so-called unique entities – that is, the number of individual clients counted only once (based on their Company ID),
regardless of the number of services each uses. More detailed data on these entities will be added during the implementation
of the project (sector, localisation, technologies used, type of services, etc.).
★ Number of entities which have used EDIH NEB 2.0 services: a minimum of 800 over the three-year project period.
This minimum figure is based on the expert evaluation of the individual partners in the consortium and the experience
gained from the EDIH NEB project.
○ Sub indicator: Number of entities that have used services related to the development and uptake of AI
solutions: 150 (the number comes from WP2 and WP3)
Other mandatory indicators:
★ Number of entities referred to European AI Innovation Infrastructures (AI TEFs, AI Factories, AI on Demand):
approximately 150
A set of additional impact indicators will be collected and analysed with the support of the Digital Transformation
Accelerator:
★ Increase in the digital maturity of organisations that have used the services of the EDIH network (Digital maturity will
be defined on the basis of a questionnaire assessing the categories of digital strategy and readiness, intelligence and
automation, data and connectedness, sustainable and human-centric digitalisation): 63 (the number comes from
WP2)
★ Increase in the number of companies benefiting from the real use of European AI technology (AI TEFs, AI Factories):
2
The values of indicators were determined in cooperation with all consortium partners based on their professional experience,
capacity possibilities, and actual level of involvement in individual Work Packages. Each value was determined with regard to
the genuine feasibility of the activities at issue and the past experience of the partners with similar activities, such as carry out
training, organising events, providing advice or networking activities.
Dissemination and communication of the project and its results
If relevant, describe the communication and dissemination activities, activities (target groups, main messages, tools, and channels ) which are
planned in order to promote the activities/results and maximise the impact. The aim is to inform and reach out to society and show the activities
performed, and the use and the benefits the project will have for citizens
Clarify how you will reach the target groups, relevant stakeholders, policymakers and the general public and explain the choice of the
dissemination channels.
Describe how the visibility of EU funding will be ensured.
In case your proposal is selected for funding, you will have to provide a more detailed plan for these activities (dissemination and
communication plan), within 6 months after grant signature. This plan will have to be periodically updated; in line with the project progress.
The communication and dissemination strategy of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project is designed to increase the visibility and availability
of project services to target groups and to support their active involvement and the long-term impact of the hub's activities. Its
identity and visuals are based on the previous EDIH project and seamlessly follow on from this. The target groups of project
communication are as follows:
● small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-caps, including people with decision-making powers (directors,
production, IT, and innovation managers), technology specialists, operating technicians, and data analysts,
● public institutions and local governments (regional governors, mayors, heads of trade unions and organisations), as
well as experts responsible for digitalisation projects at the level of municipalities, regions, and state institutions,
● research organisations, academia and schools,
● the wider professional and lay public, including innovators, startup communities, professional associations, digital
ambassadors and key promoters in the media, clusters, and professional networks.
Content is passed on to these groups within WP6 on three levels: raising awareness of the existence and value of EDIH NEB
2.0 and its benefits for each group. Then there is support of the use of EDIH NEB 2.0 services through the publicity of
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specific tools (Subsidy Ambulance, Digital Ambulance, testBed, AI helpdesk, etc.) and the dissemination of results to other
players in the ecosystem, public institutions and authorities.
The key messages to be communicated as part of our communication strategy are:
● the value of EDIH NEB 2.0 as a regional "one-stop-shop" for digitalisation - the client will find all services relating to
digitalisation and AI under one roof,
● access to expertise and services such as test-before-invest, digital maturity assessment, subsidy management,
training, and AI Helpdesk,
● successful examples and case studies of clients,
● connection to the European EDIH and AI infrastructure network (AI on Demand, AI Factories, TEFs).
This strategy is built on a combination of owned, earned, and paid media channels. Owned channels include the project
website (https://www.EDIH-northeast.cz/en), which currently registers over 1,500 visits a month and which will be extended by
other AI Helpdesk functionalities. Such channels also include social networks (LinkedIn and Facebook), a YouTube channel
where we currently have 13 videos presenting, for example, consortium technologies, partner websites and social networks, a
newsletter with news, important information from partners, events, and a subsidy bulletin. We will continue to use the above-
mentioned channels in EDIH NEB 2.0, although we plan to expand them to include new functionalities, such as the
aforementioned AI Helpdesk or a video podcast series with well-known personalities and proponents of digitalisation and AI in
the Czech Republic and abroad, or with clients who have used EDIH NEB 2.0 services focusing on AI services. For self-
presentation, we will also continue to use in-person events such as conferences, workshops, roadshows, and printed materials
(CZ/EN brochure, roll-ups, promotional items with our visual identity). Earned media consists of press releases, specialised
articles, and interviews in the media, taking place directly or through a PR agency. We have already used forms of paid
publicity in EDIH NEB and will use them again in EDIH NEB 2.0; particularly targeted campaigns on social networks (especially
Facebook), PPC campaigns (Google, Seznam), and the paid service of SEO analysis and keyword editing on the web, which
leads to better searchability of the web portal in the unpaid part of the search engines.
All output will match the visual identity and communication rules of the EU and national co-financing bodies. Activities are
coordinated by the main marketing manager (ARR), while implementation is carried out by the WP6 working group. The impact
of communication will be regularly evaluated.
One activity in WP6 is the compilation of a Dissemination and Exploitation Plan, which will comprise specific objectives, target
groups, channels, responsibilities, and impact metrics, and an Exploitation Plan, which will describe how EDIH ensures the
sustainability of its operations. This plan will be submitted as an official deliverable in month 6, as the call requires.
#§COM-DIS-VIS-CDV§#
3.2 Competitiveness and benefits for society
Competitiveness and benefits for the society
Describe the extent to which the project will strengthen competitiveness and bring important benefits for society
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project has a direct impact on increasing the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises and
public organisations. Based on practical experience from the previous EDIH NEB, it is possible to document the specific impacts
of digital transformation on enterprises and the public sphere, some of which are available on the project website in the form
of case studies. For example, the Test Before Invest service was used to create a virtual model and computational analysis
of a new type of wheelchair construction for people with severe mobility disabilities, significantly shortening development
time and reducing prototype production costs. Another service led to cooperation between public-benefit organisations and
private providers of care for elderly people – an innovative solution was created to boost the resilience of the system of
care for elderly people based on a data platform. In the field of sports technology, the frames of bicycle saddles were
optimised based on simulation models thanks to EDIH NEB, leading to a reduction in production demands and an increase
in product comfort. At Komerční slévárna Turnov (Commercial Foundry Turnov), the TBI service was used to monitor
production equipment and effectively plan maintenance at the company, and this actually increased productivity by 10%.
The public sphere benefits from digitalisation when it comes to care for elderly people – one example is the deployment of
smart pads to monitor the positioning and vital functions of elderly people in retirement homes. Schools also widely use
TBI services when monitoring space indoors, which they would like to build on with follow-up measures – ventilation,
recovery, etc. This service is also appreciated by libraries and archives, which must maintain a specific environment for books
and rare prints, and which, based on the available data, will deploy follow-up measures, smart sockets, and technologies to
maintain the optimum environment. Furthermore, EDIH NEB supported the digitalisation of the national cultural monument –
cooperation with the Třebechovice Museum of Nativity Scenes led to the creation of digital records, ensuring the protection
and promotion of cultural heritage. Digital technologies also help archaeology – one of the services implemented facilitated
the 3D digitalisation of sites and artefacts, which are now available to the professional and general public online.
Education and skills development also have a significant impact alongside TBI services. The project offers training courses
on digital skills, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data technologies that have been attended by hundreds of employees
from companies and public institutions. Such training helps bridge the digital divide, enhances the adaptability of the workforce,
and increases competitiveness and adaptability to modern trends among companies and public organisations.
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Networking activities across regions and sectors enable the exchange of experience, the identification of synergies, and the
emergence of cross-sectoral innovations. EDIH NEB organises thematic events, round tables, and matchmaking platforms
which connect companies, researchers, and public institutions. Almost 2,000 participants have already attended our events,
which only proves the need for and importance of these formats.
Support to Find Investment has proven to be a key factor, particularly for smaller enterprises and startups, but public
organisations too, through which EDIH NEB helps identify suitable sources of financing, prepare documents for donors, and
connect enterprises to relevant financial instruments or state aid.
Marketing activities help disseminate and share good practice, help build a community, and enhance cooperation – regionally
and throughout Europe.
The EDIH NEB 2.0 project builds on the setting and successes of the existing project and has all the prerequisites to further
increase and enhance the benefits for companies, public administration and society. It brings the following tangible
benefits, for example:
● savings of time, cost, and resources (energy, media, etc.),
● increasing the precision of production and accelerating product development,
● streamlining and increasing production/productivity,
● increasing competitiveness,
● streamlining care in health and social services,
● the development of employees' skills,
● better access to financing for digital transformation,
● support of innovative ecosystems and sustainable development,
● increasing resilience and stability,
● higher engagement of AI in manufacturing, administration, or management,
● the interconnection of infrastructures and cooperation in the field of AI and elsewhere.
We expect these principles to remain and individual values to keep on growing (savings, efficiency, stability, turnover, the
application of new technologies, the use of AI, etc.) because we are building on an already-ongoing project and, as part of the
continuation, we will use EDIH NEB 2.0 to enhance our services to clients and thus contribute to the enhancement of the high
impact of EDIH NEB 2.0.
Intelllectual Property Rights
Given the nature of the services to be provided under the EDIH 2.0 project—primarily consulting and advisory activities—we
do not anticipate the creation of intellectual property. Most of the services consist of providing expert advice, where the main
output is the transfer of know-how and experience, rather than the development of new technical solutions or protectable works
of authorship. Similarly, services such as "Test Before Invest" focus on accelerating and optimizing the client’s internal
processes and are carried out using the provider’s existing internal know-how, meaning no externally protectable result is
generated.
However, intellectual property protection is an integral part of the subsequent research activities that may evolve from the initial
collaboration, as many of the provided services naturally transition into research projects. Within these projects, tangible and
protectable results are already declared, as demonstrated by project FW12010088 – Prediction of Critical Conditions in Small
Wastewater Treatment Facilities Using Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Image Analysis and Resource Planning, which reports
outcomes such as one Verified Technology and two Functional Prototypes. These results represent specific forms of intellectual
property that are typically subject to protection.
3.3 Environmental sustainability and contribution to European Green Deal goals
Environmental sustainability and contribution to European Green Deal goals
Describe the extent to which the project will contribute to environmental sustainability and in particular to European Green Deal goals
This might not be applicable to all topics — for details refer to the Call document.
NOT APPLICABLE
#§IMP-ACT-IA§#
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#@WRK-PLA-WP@#
4. WORK PLAN, WORK PACKAGES, RESOURCES AND TIMING
4.1 Work plan
Work plan
Provide a brief description of the overall structure of the work plan (list of work packages or graphical presentation (Pert chart or similar)).
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
4.2 Work packages - resources and timing
Work package 1
Estimated budget — Resources
Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participan
t
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontra and Equipmen goods, support to third Internally procurement costs
invoiced 306.541,42 €
cting subsistenc t works and parties goods and costs 46.455,12 €
e services services
71.262 €
ARR 75,6 274.287,31 € 0 5.000 € 0 7.200 € 0 0 0 0 20.054,11 € 23.637,93 €
93.630,71 €
VÚTS 10,8 43.416 € 0 0 € 0 0 € 0 0 0 0 3.039,12 €
71.723 €
NCA 18 63.000 € 0 3.600 € 0 0 € 0 0 0 0 4.662 € 613.250,18 €
CIRI 7,2 21.611,52 € 0 480 € 0 0 € 0 0 0 0 1.546,41 €
TUL 21,6 81.305,34 € 0 3.200 € 0 3.000 € 0 0 0 0 6.125,37 €
UHK 18 63.030,84 € 0 4.000 € 0 0 € 0 0 0 0 4.692,16 €
Total 151,2 546.651,01 € 0 16.280 € 0 10.200 € 0 0 0 0 40.119,17€
person
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Work Package 2
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Costs related to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: UHK: Graphics cards for training neural networks, Powerful laptops and PCs for data processing and creating algorithms,
Computer and server components (for example disks for PCs and servers), Mobile phones for testing mobile applications in development, 3D printing material and devices for 3D printing,
Measurement technology, Electrical material and construction material, Sensors. CIRI: additional services in the field of digitalisation according to the needs of clients, TUL: material for 3D
printing, maintenance of equipment and SW, IoT consumables, hardware components, PC, material for robotic sets and preparation for measuring and collecting data, VÚTS: rental of SW
required for the implementation of services, ARR: external additional expert services, consumables and additional equipment for TestBed, equipment/material for IoT, Smart technologies.
Estimated budget — Resources
Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participant
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 Internally D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontr and Equipmen goods, support to third invoiced procurement costs
goods and 295.000,21 €
acting subsistenc t works and parties services costs 19.299,08 € 78.324 €
e services 5.124 € 64.414 €
4.214 €
ARR 64,8 191.421,13 € 0 5.000 € € 79.280 € 0 0 0 0 958 € 14.643,76 €
201.241,25 €
VÚTS 10,8 43.200 € 0 0 € 30.000 € 0 0 0 0 13.165,32 € 160.857,87 €
10.523,41€ 814.481,1 €
NCA 10,8 58.200 € 0 2.000 € € 0 0 0 0 0 53.283,81€
CIRI 3,6 10.805,76 € 0 480 € € 2.400 € 0 0 0 0
TUL 25,85 120.075,94 € 0 9.000 € € 59.000 € 0 0 0 0
UHK 20,63 133.334,46 € 0 1.000 € € 16.000 € 0 0 0 0
Total 136,48 557.037,29€ 0 17.480 € € 186.680 € 0 0 0 0
person
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Work Package 3
Costs relating to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: Refreshments, teachers, rentals, transport for excursions, SW for training, material for courses, small-scale
equipment, PC.
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Estimated budget — Resources
Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participant
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 Internally D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontr and Equipmen goods, support to third invoiced procurement costs
goods and 124.471,99 €
acting subsistenc t works and parties services costs 8.143,03 € 0
e services 0 0
0
ARR 25,2 78.288,97€ 0 3.000 € 0 35.040 € 0 0 0 0 64.545,65 €
4.222,61 € 46.260,72 €
VÚTS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.026,4 €
0
NCA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 235.278,37 €
15.392,04 €
CIRI 14,4 43.223,04€ 0 300 € 0 16.800 € 0 0 0 0
TUL 9 31.234,32€ 0 1.000 € 0 11.000 € 0 0 0 0
UHK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 48,6 152.746,33€ 0 4.300 € 0 62.840 € 0 0 0 0
person
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Work Package 4
Costs relating to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: refreshments, rent, teachers, technology, moderation, graphic work, material, SW technology, HW, event websites,
ICT technology.
Costs relating to budget item B. Subcontracting: NCA: Cost of compiling 2 sub-analyses; for more detailed information see the overview of subcontracting below.
Estimated budget — Resources
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Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participant
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 Internally D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontr and Equipmen goods, support to third invoiced procurement costs
goods and 74.635,08 €
acting subsistenc t works and parties services costs 4.882,67 € 0
e services 0
262.182,1 €
ARR 10,8 33.552,41 € 0 6.000 € 0 30.200 € 0 0 0 0 17.152,1 € 70.259,86 €
4.596,44 € 52.145,72 €
VÚTS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.411,4 €
0
NCA 36 145.500 € 38.000 € 6.200 € 0 55.330 € 0 0 0 0 0 459.222,77 €
30.042,61 €
CIRI 14,4 43.223,04 € 0 440,38 € 0 22.000 € 0 0 0 0
TUL 9 31.234,32 € 0 9.000 € 0 8.500 € 0 0 0 0
UHK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 70,2 253.509,77 € 38.000 € 21.640,38 € € 116.030 € 0 0 0 0
person
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Work Package 5
.
Costs relating to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: Outside consultancy on financing, the organisation of investor days (rent, teachers, technology,
refreshments, graphics, etc.).
Estimated budget — Resources
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Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participant
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 Internally D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontr and Equipmen goods, support to third invoiced procurement costs
goods and 20.527,03 €
acting subsistenc t works and parties services costs 1.342,89 € 0
e services 0
14.766 €
ARR 3,6 11.184,14 € 0 2.000 € 0 6.000 € 0 0 0 0 966 € 17.340,16 €
1.134,4 € 14.438,29 €
VÚTS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 944,56 € 13.489,17 €
882,47 € 80.560,65 €
NCA 3,6 12.600 € 0 1.200 € 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.270,32 €
CIRI 3,6 10.805,76 € 0 0 0 5.400 € 0 0 0 0
TUL 3,6 12.493,73 € 0 1.000 € 0 € 0 0 0 0
UHK 3,6 12.606,70 € 0 0 0 € 0 0 0 0
Total 18 person 59.690,32 € 0 4.200 € 0 11.400 € 0 0 0 0
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Work Package 6
Costs relating to budget item C.3 Other goods, works and services: Websites/subpages, costs of social networks and paid campaigns, printed materials, leaflets, billboards, roll-ups,
graphic works, videos, podcasts, promotional items, PR agency, PR events, presentations at trade fairs, setting up and managing PPC campaigns aimed at publicising EDIH NEB 2.0
(e.g. Google, etc.).
Estimated budget — Resources
Costs (n/a for Lump Sum Grants)
Participant
A. Personnel B. C.1 Travel C.2 C.3 Other D.1 Financial D.2 Internally D.3 PAC E. Indirect Total costs
Subcontr and Equipmen goods, support to third invoiced procurement costs
goods and
acting subsistenc t works and parties services costs
e services
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ARR 36 111.842,04 0 2.000 € 0 35.800 € 0 0 0 0 10.474,94 € 160.116,98 €
VÚTS 7,2 19.200 € 0 0 0 19.500 € 0 0 0 0 2.709 € 41.409 €
NCA 10,8 37.800 € 0 1.000 € 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.716 € 41.516 €
CIRI 3,6 10.805,88 € 0 480,62 € 0 500 € 0 0 0 0 825,06 € 12.611,56 €
TUL 4,32 14.993,36 € 0 1.000 € 0 7.500 € 0 0 0 0 1.644,54 € 25.137,90 €
UHK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 61,92 194.641,28 € 0 4.480,62 € 0 63.300 € 0 0 0 0 18.369,53 € 280.791,43
person
months
For Lump Sum Grants, see detailed budget table/calculator (annex 1 to Part B; see Portal Reference Documents).
Subcontracting (n/a for prefixed Lump Sum Grants)
Subcontracting
Give details on subcontracted project tasks (if any) and explain the reasons why (as opposed to direct implementation by the Beneficiaries/Affiliated Entities).
Subcontracting — Subcontracting means the implementation of ‘action tasks’, i.e. specific tasks which are part of the EU grant and are described in Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement.
Note: Subcontracting concerns the outsourcing of a part of the project to a party outside the consortium. It is not simply about purchasing goods or services. We normally expect that the participants have sufficient
operational capacity to implement the project activities themselves. Subcontracting should therefore be exceptional.
Include only subcontracts that comply with the rules (i.e. best value for money and no conflict of interest; no subcontracting of coordinator tasks).
Work Subcontract No Subcontract Name Description Estimated Justification Best-Value-for-Money
Package (continuous numbering (subcontracted (including task number and BEN/AE to which Costs (Why is subcontracting (How do you intend to ensure it?)
action tasks) (EUR)
No linked to WP) it is linked) necessary?)
4 S4.3 Analyses Processing two sub-analyses: the first EUR 38 000 The analyses are carried out Using transparent selection
will identify the current needs of target by a specialised company that procedure
groups in fields that are affected by creates analytical documents
problems in industry, the aim being to and that has the necessary
optimise the services on offer. The Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
second analysis will respond to the
requirements of the new EU NIS2 tools, methods, databases,
Directive (Network and Information etc. at its disposal. It is a time-
Security) and its implementation among consuming task.
target groups, and proposed changes in
terms of service settings for given clients.
Other issues: Not relevant
If subcontracting for the entire project goes beyond 30% of the total eligible
costs, give specific reasons.
Purchases and equipment
Purchase costs (travel and subsistence, equipment and other goods works and services)
Details for major cost items (needed if costs declared under ‘purchase costs’ are higher than 15% of the claimed personnel costs).
Start with the most expensive cost items, down to the 15% threshold.
Participant 1: ARR
Cost item name Category WP(s) Explanations Costs
(EUR)
travel and [Travel and WP1 - WP6 Travel expenses within the bounds of execution of the EDIH NEB 2.0 the project's routine business 23 000 EUR
subsistence Subsistence] WP1 - WP6 according to the focus of the activity (meeting the target group of the project to provide services,
meeting entities of the innovation environment to establish cooperation, meeting partners and clients WP1: 7200 EUR
External services Other goods outside the region and outside the Czech Republic, meeting within the EDIH network, etc. The item WP2: 79280 EUR
relating to the and services includes travel expenses, accommodation, per diem in the Czech Republic and abroad, and other WP3: 35040 EUR
execution of related expenses. ARR is the coordinator of the project, and we consequently expect a higher level of WP4: 30200 EUR
activities involvement in the meetings of the EDIH network and representation in many EDIH NEB 2.0 activities WP5: 6000 EUR
within the region and outside the region. WP6: 35 800 EUR
WP1: Costs relating to the EDIH team meeting (venue, refreshments, etc., database for data
administration, training the implementation team, etc.)
WP2: Experts for specific solutions in the field of Smart, IoT technologies, material for the operation
of TestBed, material for solutions in the field of Smart, IoT, AI
WP3: Rental of premises, technology, the costs of outside instructors, refreshments, materials for
events, excursion costs
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
WP4: Rental of premises, technology, the costs of outside instructors, refreshments, materials for 210 520 EUR
events
Costs
WP5: Costs associated with the joint organisation of, e.g., investor days - rental of premises, (EUR)
refreshments, the cost of specific expert financial advice, etc. 30000 EUR
19500 EUR
WP6: Costs associated with the communication and dissemination of information (costs of the website,
social media, media, printed materials, information events, campaigns, videos, video podcasts, PR 49 500 EUR
agency, graphic works, promotional items, etc.)
Costs
Total (EUR)
14000 EUR
Participant 2: VÚTS WP(s) Explanations
Cost itm name Category 55330 EUR
External services [Other goods WP2 and WP2: rental of software necessary for the implementation of WP2 services 69 330 EUR
relating to the and services] WP6 WP6: Management of paid campaigns), billboards, modification of the website (e.g. creation of a
execution of section focused on EDIH), presentation of EDIH activities at trade fairs, preparation of graphic materials
activities (e.g. banners for social networks and the web, billboard graphics, advertising posters, etc.) in order to
promote individual services, setup and management of PPC campaigns aimed at promoting EDIH and
EDIH NEB services (e.g. Google, SKLIK).
Total
Participant 3: NCA WP(s) Explanations
Cost item name Category
travel and [Travel and WP1, WP2, Travel expenses within the bounds of execution of the EDIH NEB 2.0 the project's business according
subsistence Subsistence] WP4, WP5, to the focus of the activity (meeting the target group of the project to provide services, meeting entities
of the innovation environment to establish cooperation, meeting partners and clients outside the region
External services WP6 and outside the Czech Republic, meeting within the EDIH network, etc. The item includes travel
relating to the expenses, accommodation, per diem in the Czech Republic and abroad, and other related expenses.
execution of
activities [Other goods WP4 WP4: Hiring venues for conferences, etc. events, technology, the costs of outside instructors,
and services] refreshments, materials for events, graphic works
Participant 4:
Total
CIRI
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Cost item name Category WP(s) Explanations Costs
(EUR)
Travel and [Travel and WP1, 2, Travel expenses within the bounds of execution of the EDIH NEB 2.0 the project's routine business 2180,38 EUR
Subsistence Subsistence] WP3, WP4, according to the focus of the activity (meeting entities of the innovation environment to establish
WP6 cooperation, meeting partners and clients outside the region and outside the Czech Republic, WP2: 2400 EUR
External services [Other goods networking, meeting within the EDIH network, etc. The item includes travel expenses, accommodation, WP3: 16800 EUR
relating to the and services] WP2 - WP6 per diem in the Czech Republic and abroad, and other related expenses WP4: 22000 EUR
execution of WP5: 5400 EUR
activities WP2: Experts for specific solutions in the field of digitalisation and AI
WP6: 500 EUR
Participant 5: WP3: Rental of premises, technology, the costs of outside instructors, refreshments, materials for
Cost item name events 49 280,38 EUR
WP4: Rental of premises, technology, the costs of outside instructors, refreshments, materials for Costs
events (EUR)
24200 EUR
WP5: Rental of premises, technology, the costs of outside instructors, refreshments, materials for
events WP1: 3000 EUR
WP2: 59000 EUR
WP6: Costs associated with the communication and dissemination of information (paid media, WP3: 11000 EUR
promotional items, etc.) WP4: 8500 EUR
WP7: 7500 EUR
Total
TUL
Category WP(s) Explanations
Travel and [Travel and WP1-WP6 Travel expenses within the bounds of execution of the EDIH NEB 2.0 project's routine business
Subsistence Subsistence] associated with the execution of individual EDIH NEB 2.0 activities, meeting clients, meeting within the
WP1, WP2, EDIH team, meeting within the EDIH network, or meeting other relevant organisations in the region,
External services [Other goods WP3, WP4, outside the region, and outside the Czech Republic. The item includes travel expenses,
relating to the and services] accommodation, per diem in the Czech Republic and abroad, and other related expenses.
execution of WP6 WP1: purchase of specialized tools for client eligibility verification, refreshments, specialized training
activities for the project team
WP2: Material for 3D printing, maintenance devices and SW, consumables - IoT units, hardware
components, computers, material for robotic sets and preparations for measuring and collecting data
WP3: Refreshments, app technology for training, software for training, the costs of outside
instructors, material for courses, rental of premises, small equipment, computer
WP4: Refreshments, rent, technology sw + hw, experts, event website, ICT technology
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
WP6: Website and its management, social networks and their management, advertising on social 113 200 EUR
networks, media and communication with media, PR events, printed materials
Costs
Total (EUR)
5000 EUR
Participant 6: UHK WP(s) Explanations
Cost item name Category 16000 EUR
Travel and [Travel and WP1 - WP2 Travel expenses within the bounds of routine business in the EDIH NEB 2.0 project relating to Test 21 000 EUR
Subsistence Subsistence] Before Invest services, education, meetings within the EDIH team, the EDIH network, or other relevant 264 535,03 EUR
organisations within the region, outside the region, and outside the Czech Republic. The item includes 254 295,35 EUR
External services travel expenses, accommodation, per diem in the Czech Republic and abroad, and other related 518 830,38 EUR
relating to the expenses.
execution of
activities [Other goods WP2 Graphics cards for training neural networks, Powerful laptops and PCs for data processing and
and services] algorithm creation, Computer and server components (e.g. disks for PCs and servers), Mobile phones
for testing mobile applications under development, 3D printing material and equipment for 3D printing,
Measuring technology, Electrical material and construction material, Sensors
Total
Total purchase costs > 15% (all participants)
Remaining purchase costs < 15% (all participants)
Total purchase costs (all participants)
Equipment with full-cost option
For calls where full-capitalised costs are exceptionally eligible for listed equipment (see Call document), indicate below the equipment items for which you request the full-cost option, and justify your request.
Ensure consistency with the budget details provided in the previous table.
Equipment Name Description Estimated Costs Justification Best-Value-for-Money
(including WP, task number and BEN/AE to which it is linked) (EUR) (why is reimbursement at full-cost (how do you intend to ensure it?)
needed?)
Irrelevant pro EDIH NEB 2.0
Other cost categories
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Other cost categories (financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods and services, etc)
Complete the table below for each participant that would like to declare costs under other costs categories (e.g. financial support and internally invoiced goods and services), irrespective of the percentage of
personnel costs.
financial support and internally invoiced goods and services are not relevant for the project
Timetable
Timetable (projects of more than 2 years)
Fill in cells in beige to show the duration of activities. Repeat lines/columns as necessary.
Note: Use actual calendar years and quarters. In the timeline you should indicate the timing of each activity per WP. You may add additional columns if your project is longer than 6 years.
YEAR 1 YEAR 2 YEAR 3 YEAR 4 YEAR 5 YEAR 6
ACTIVITY
Q Q QQQ Q Q QQ Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q Q 4
1 23412341 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3
Task 1.1 - 1.6
Task 2.1 - 2.12
Task 3.1 - 3.2
Task 4.1 - 4.2
Task 4.3
Task 5.1 - 5.2
Task 6.1
Task 6.2 - 6.4
#§WRK-PLA-WP§#
Call: [insert call identifier] — [insert call name] AssociaEteUdGwritahndtso:cAumppelnictaRtieofn. Aforerms(2(0D2E6P)1)6: 5V427.908–-0113./0062./22002262
#@ETH-ICS-EI@#
5. OTHER
5.1 Ethics
Ethics
If the Call document contains a section on ethics, the ethics issues and measures you intend to take to solve/avoid them must be described
in Part A.
See Application Form Part A.
Personal data:
Data protection policy outline how personal data are handled, stored, and protected throughout the project, it is described in
internal documentation of each member of the consortium and it is fully in compliance with the appropriate law (Regulation
(EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council and the Czech law 110/2019 on processing personal data).
Data protection policy includes:
- purpose of data collection (personal data are collected only for specified, explicit and legitimate purposes and not further
processed in a manner that is incompatible with those purposes, e.g. the participants of the events are fully informed about
the purpose and content of given consent with the data processing, anonymisation of contracts signed with clients and
published in the register of contracts
- data types (we only work with personal data, no specific and sensitive personal data are processed; when using and
processing health data they are pseudonymised which makes impossible to identify the person),
- Roles and Responsibilities:
HR - ensure compliance with data protection laws and internal policies and process data in compliance with relevant laws
IT Department - ensure secure handling and processing of personal data; further processing of previously collected
personal data including use of preexisting datasets is subject to technical safeguards to prevent misuse or unauthorized re-
identification All employees follow the organization’s data protection policy.
- Compliance - compliance with the appropriate law (Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the
Council and the Czech law 110/2019 on processing personal data
Artificial intelligence:
The activities carried out within this project will not focus on the development of a single AI system but will cover a wide
range of services related to the deployment, testing, demonstration, and implementation of various digital technologies,
including artificial intelligence. In most cases, these activities will involve the application of machine learning techniques in
industrial or operational environments. Our project is committed to aligning with the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).
We have integrated its key requirements into our AI development and deployment practices. This ensures that we not only
meet legal obligations but also adhere to the Act’s underlying principles of transparency, accountability, and risk
management. We clearly inform users when they are interacting with an AI system rather than a human. In line with the AI
Act’s transparency obligations (Article 50), any user-facing AI component of our project prominently discloses its artificial
natureartificialintelligenceact.eu. This means users are never misled – they know from the start that they are engaging with
an AI driven service. By making humans aware of the AI’s involvement, we uphold trust and comply with the Act’s
requirement that natural persons be notified about AI interactions (except in obvious cases or lawful public-security uses)
artificialintelligenceact.eu. This practice reflects the Act’s broader transparency principle, which emphasizes that people
should be aware they are communicating with an AI artificialintelligenceact.eu. We provide comprehensive and transparent
information about the capabilities, limitations, risks, and intended benefits of any AI systems or tools used within the project.
Each AI-based solution comes with clear documentation and user guidance that describe what the system can and cannot
do, including its intended purpose, main functionalities, performance levels (such as accuracy metrics), and the scope of
situations it is designed for. We openly communicate any known limitations of the technology, such as dependency on the
quality of training data, restricted scope of use, or potential uncertainty in outputs, as well as scenarios where its
performance might degrade. Importantly, we highlight possible risks, including bias, error rates, or misclassification, to
ensure that users are fully aware of these factors when engaging with the AI system. This approach follows the
requirements of the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) artificialintelligenceact.eu, which emphasizes the need for
transparency and user information, particularly for high-risk AI systems, where concise and clear instructions must
accompany the technology, outlining its characteristics, capabilities, and foreseeable risks. Furthermore, we clearly
communicate the expected benefits and added value for end-users to support informed decision-making. By consistently
providing this level of information, we enable participants and client organizations to understand the role of AI within their
processes and to responsibly decide how to deploy these technologies in line with the AI Act’s principles of informed
transparency.
Compliance with ethical principles and relevant legislation
Personal data
Data protection policy is in compliance with the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council
and the Czech law 110/2019 on processing personal data.
53
Call: [insert call identifier] — [insert call name]
AssociaEteUdGwritahndtso:cAumppelnictaRtieofn. Aforerms(2(0D2E6P)1)6: 5V427.908–-0113./0062./22002262
Artificial intelligence:
We acknowledge that the use of AI systems may involve certain ethical risks, even though the majority of our activities
focus on industrial use-cases, where such risks are generally limited and unlikely to directly affect fundamental rights.
However, we are fully prepared to apply appropriate risk mitigation strategies whenever necessary, in line with Article 9 of
the AI Act, which mandates the implementation of a risk management system for high-risk AI systems
(artificialintelligenceact.eu). Our approach to ethical risk management includes the following key measures: • Risk
Identification and Assessment: We systematically identify potential ethical risks that could arise from AI systems, including
risks of unintended discrimination, lack of transparency, erosion of human agency, or misuse of the technology. Each
identified risk is assessed with regard to its likelihood and potential impact. • Mitigation Strategies: Based on the risk
assessment, we develop and implement proportionate mitigation measures. These may include, for example, applying
fairness constraints in algorithm design, enhancing explainability, introducing human oversight mechanisms, or limiting the
scope of AI-driven decisions where appropriate. • Continuous Monitoring: We establish processes for the ongoing
monitoring of AI systems throughout their lifecycle, allowing for the detection of emerging risks and their timely mitigation,
particularly during testing, deployment, and operational phases. • Stakeholder Engagement: In cases where AI systems
may significantly impact end-users or affected communities, we engage with relevant stakeholders to collect feedback and
ensure that the systems align with ethical standards, societal values, and the intended purpose of the service. By
consistently applying these measures, we aim to ensure that all AI-related services are delivered responsibly and in
compliance with the ethical requirements of the AI Act. This approach supports the development of trustworthy AI solutions,
even in scenarios where the initial risk level is low, while maintaining readiness to scale up risk management actions if the
nature of a specific project demands it. At this stage, there are no specific AI projects or use-cases confirmed under this
program that would require a detailed risk assessment or risk mitigation plan. The planned activities are primarily focused
on industrial testing, validation, and advisory services, which typically fall outside of high-risk categories as defined by the
EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) (artificialintelligenceact.eu). However, we are fully aware of the regulatory obligations
under the AI Act, including the requirement to establish a risk management system for high-risk AI systems. Should any
future project involve AI applications where ethical or fundamental rights risks are identified, we will carry out a
comprehensive risk assessment and prepare a risk mitigation plan covering the development, deployment, and post-
deployment phases. All such documentation will be properly maintained and made available as required.
#§ETH-ICS-EI§# #@SEC-URI-SU@#
5.2 Security
Security
The security issues and the measures you intend to take to solve/avoid them must be described in Part A.
Note: Beneficiaries must ensure that their projects are not subject to national/third country security requirements that could affect the
implementation or put into question the award of the grant (e.g. technology restrictions, national security classification, etc).
See Application Form Part A.
#§SEC-URI-SU§# #@DEC-LAR-DL@#
6. DECLARATIONS
Double funding
Information concerning other EU grants YES/NO
Please note that there is a strict prohibition of double funding from the EU budget (except
under EU Synergies actions).
We confirm that to our best knowledge none of the projects under the action plan as a whole YES
or in parts have benefitted from any other EU grant (including EU funding managed by
authorities in EU Member States or other funding bodies, e.g. EU Regional Funds, EU
Agricultural Funds, etc). If NO, explain and provide details.
We confirm that to our best knowledge none of the projects under the action plan as a whole YES
or in parts are (nor will be) submitted for any other EU grant (including EU funding managed
by authorities in EU Member States or other funding bodies, e.g. EU Regional Funds, EU
Agricultural Funds, etc). If NO, explain and provide details.
Financial support to third parties (if applicable)
If in your project the maximum amount per third party will be more than the threshold amount set in the Call document, justify and explain
why the higher amount is necessary in order to fulfil your project’s objectives.
Insert text
#§DEC-LAR-DL§#
54
Call: [insert call identifier] — [insert call name]
AssociaEteUdGwritahndtso:cAumppelnictaRtieofn. Aforerms(2(0D2E6P)1)6: 5V427.908–-0113./0062./22002262
55
Call: [insert call identifier] — [insert call name]
AssociaEteUdGwritahndtso:cAumppelnictaRtieofn. Aforerms(2(0D2E6P)1)6: 5V427.908–-0113./0062./22002262
ANNEXES
LIST OF ANNEXES
Standard
1. List of previous projects
2. Letter of designation by the Member State
Special
3. Other annexes which include:
- Summary of KPIs
- List of services and prices
- Memoranda of Understanding and Letters of Intent with other EDIHs, EU AI Innovation Infrastructure and Stakeholders accompanied
with Letter of Support, Collaboration Agreement and Contract
56
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
LIST OF PREVIOUS PROJECTS
List of previous projects
Please provide a list of your previous projects for the last 2 years.
Participant Project Reference No and Period (start Role Amount Website (if any)
Title, Funding programme and end date) (COO, (EUR)
BEN, AE,
OTHER)
ARR, 101120003, EDIH 2023-05-01- COO, 3 406 001 https://www.edih
VÚTS, Northern and Eastern 2026-04-30 BEN -
UHK, CIRI, Bohemia, DIGITAL-2022- northeast.cz/en/h
TUL, NCA EDIH-03 ome/
* detailed description at the
end of the table
ARR GreenStep (101180298), 2024-01-11- BEN 1 339 386 https://greenstep-
I3-2023-Cap2b 2026-10-31 project.eu/
ARR Smart Accelerator of the
Liberec region III
(CZ.02.01.02/00/22_009/0 2023-01-01- COO 2536710 https://1012plus.c
003642), Programme 2026-12-31 z/en
Johannes Amos Comenius
ARR Smart Region, the Liberec 2022-01-01- https://1012plus.c
region 2024-12-31 z/cs/projekt/chytre
COO 214840 jsi-liberecky-kraj
VÚTS https://www.isvav
ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
CL02000217, Cargo dron 2025-01-01 - BEN 1022200 duche-
2027-12-31 vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=CL02000
217
VÚTS EG20_321/0025178,
Research and
development concerning 2021-02-01 - BEN 984601,6 https://www.isvav
water recovery by 2023-11-01 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
recycling with duche-
simultaneous waste vyhledavani&ss=d
concentrate salts recovery etail&h=EG20_32
from these technologies in 1%2F0025178
the industry
VÚTS EI22_002/0000766, A https://www.isvav
comprehensive solution for ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
extending the life of molds 2023-06-01 - BEN 936392,64 duche-
for high-pressure casting 2026-12-31 vyhledavani&ss=d
of sanitary ceramics etail&h=EI22_002
%2F0000766
VÚTS EI22_002/0001074,
Innovative 3D structure of
biomass carrier with 2023-08-01 - BEN 372223,64 https://www.isvav
nanofibrous and biological 2026-03-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
component for duche-
biotechnological vyhledavani&ss=d
applications in the field of etail&h=EI22_002
water purification %2F0001074
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
VÚTS FV40025, Processing of 2019-05-01 - BEN 1497793,8 https://www.isvav
VÚTS wasted and recycled textile 2022-11-30 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
VÚTS fibers duche-
VÚTS vyhledavani&ss=d
VÚTS etail&h=FV40025
VÚTS
VÚTS FV40131, New 2019-06-01 - BEN 804162,28 https://www.isvav
VÚTS technologies for producing 2022-12-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
VÚTS scintillation detectors duche-
VÚTS vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FV40131
FV40151, Equipment for 2019-05-01 - BEN 913604,6 https://www.isvav
the manufacture of hollow 2022-04-30 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
fibres membrane modules duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FV40151
FV40431, Microwave 2019-01-01 - BEN 1010343,9 https://www.isvav
preheating of large- 2022-12-31 6 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
dimensional semi-finished duche-
tires for production cycle vyhledavani&ss=d
increase of vulcanizing etail&h=FV40431
presses
FV40446, Combined load 2019-01-01 - BEN 887213,52 https://www.isvav
angular gearbox testing 2022-06-30 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
technology duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FV40446
FW03010195, R&D of 2021-01-01 - BEN 1030299,9 https://www.isvav
Automated Machine for 2023-12-31 6 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
Viscose Fiber Diagnostics duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FW03010
195
FW03010274, R&D of the 2021-01-01 - BEN 785699,2 https://www.isvav
Production Line Ending for 2024-12-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
Filtration Plates duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FW03010
274
FW03010525, R&D of 2021-01-01 - BEN 1397261,4 https://www.isvav
Automated Machine For 2024-12-31 82 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
Grinding and Polishing of duche-
Glider Surface vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FW03010
525
FW03010640, Advanced 2021-01-01 - BEN 1780270,4 https://www.isvav
sensors and methods for 2024-11-30 31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
automatic quality control of duche-
textile yarn in the spinning vyhledavani&ss=d
mill etail&h=FW03010
640
FW06010192, Research 2023-01-01 - BEN 1148490,1 https://www.isvav
and development of new 2026-12-31 58 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
applications of fibrous duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
materials with functional etail&h=FW06010
properties 192
VÚTS FW06010270, R&D of 2023-01-01 - BEN 983360 https://www.isvav
VÚTS ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
VÚTS hybrid motorized surfboard 2025-12-31 duche-
VÚTS vyhledavani&ss=d
VÚTS etail&h=FW06010
VÚTS 270
VÚTS
VÚTS FW06010716, R&D of 2023-01-01 - BEN 740832 https://www.isvav
VÚTS equipment for automated 2025-12-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
change of sleeves for duche-
flexographic printing vyhledavani&ss=d
machines etail&h=FW06010
716
FW10010384, Reducing 2024-01-01 - BEN 1268352,2 https://www.isvav
the energy consumption of 2026-06-30 6 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
yarn preparation and duche-
production vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FW10010
384
FW10010423, 2024-01-01 - BEN 967395,2 https://www.isvav
Development of Equipment 2026-06-30 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
for Automatic Sorting of duche-
Twisted Yarn vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=FW10010
423
LTI19003, Regional 2019-05-01 - COO 351280 https://www.isvav
Contact Point Liberec - 2022-12-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
Contact for the European duche-
Research Area III vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=LTI19003
TM02000031, Production 2021-01-01 - COO 1164078,6 https://www.isvav
technology performance 2023-12-31 8 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
increase and distance duche-
fabrics utility properties vyhledavani&ss=d
extension for new etail&h=TM02000
applications. 031
TN01000015, National 2019-01-01 - COO 10050000 https://www.isvav
Centre of Competence 2022-12-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
ENGINEERING duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=TN01000
015
TN02000018, National 2023-01-01 - COO 33361971, https://www.isvav
Centre of Competence 2028-12-31 69 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
ENGINEERING duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=TN02000
018
TN02000028, Center for 2023-01-01 - BEN 13818443, https://www.isvav
advanced machines and 2028-12-31 48 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
manufacturing technology duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=TN02000
028
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
VÚTS TQ11000041, Proof-of- 2024-08-01 - COO 748200 https://www.isvav
VÚTS concept activities at VÚTS 2028-07-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
VÚTS duche-
NCA vyhledavani&ss=d
NCA etail&h=TQ11000
NCA 041
NCA
CIRI TQ15000291, 2024-11-01 - COO 235749,88 https://www.isvav
CIRI Energetically Efficient 2026-10-31 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
Infrared Heating System duche-
for the Technology of vyhledavani&ss=d
Automated Fiber etail&h=TQ15000
Placement of 291
Thermoplastic Composites
TS01020231, Intelligent 2024-07-01 - BEN 1456291,2 https://www.isvav
low-emission support 2027-06-30 ai.cz/cep?s=jedno
services in energy duche-
vyhledavani&ss=d
etail&h=TS01020
231
DRP0401474, DanubIA 2024-09 - BEN 124 999 https://nca.cz/en/a
Clusters, Interreg Danube 2025-05 bout-
Region us/projects/danubi
a-clusters/
00/22_040/0002400, 2024-01 - COO 168 271 https://nca.cz/en/a
Innovate through 2026-12 bout-
education 2, Operational us/projects/innova
Programme Employment te-through-
plus education-2-01-
2024-12-2026/
NPO/31.6/23_101/000848 2024-02 - COO 345 683 https://nca.cz/en/a
5, Innovate through 2025-11 bout-
education DIGI, National us/projects/innova
Recovery Plan te-through-
education-digi-02-
2024-11-2025/
Project 101074557, 2022-09 - BEN 1 299 https://nca.cz/en/a
Eurocluster Rural Tourism, 2025-02 644.47 bout-
SMP-COSME-2021- us/projects/14-
CLUSTER - eurocluster-rural-
"EUROCLUSTERS" tourism-09-2022-
02-2025/
CZ.01.4.03/0.0/0.0/19_259 2021-02-26 - COO 8 543 428, https://www.khk.c
/0025435, Digital Technical 2024-02-20 97 z/oblasti/dtm-gis-
Map of Hradec Kralove mapove-
Region, Operational sluzby/dtm/kralov
Programme Enterprise and ehradecky-kraj-
Innovation for realizuje-digitalni-
Competitivness technickou-mapu
CZ.31.1.0/0.0/0.0/23_070/ 2023-11-29 - COO 3 031 349 https://www.khk.c
0008512, Advancement of z/dotace-
the Digital Technical Map prehled/realizovan
of the Hradec Králové e-
Region, National Recovery projekty/vyhledav
Plan ani-v-
projektech/rozvoj-
digitalni-
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
technicke-mapy-
kralovehradeckeh
o-kraje
CIRI https://www.khk.c
z/dotace-
prehled/realizovan
CZ.31.2.0/0.0/0.0/23_092/ e-
0008807, Enhancement of 2024-02-01 - COO 1 246 351, projekty/vyhledav
Cybersecurity in the 30 ani-v-
Hradec Králové Region, projektech/rozvoj-
National Recovery Plan kyberneticke-
bezpecnosti-
kralovehradeckeh
o-kraje
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00 https://www.zhkhk
00024, Setting and .cz/nastaveni-
Unifying the Level of sjednoceni-
Cybersecurity across the 2022-08-16 - COO 2 136 752, urovne-
Hospitals of the Healthcare 2025-x 14 kyberneticke-
Holding, Integrated bezpecnosti-v-
Regional Operational nasich-
Programme nemocnicich
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00 https://www.nemo
00020, Enhancement of cnicenachod.cz/se
Cybersecurity of Oblastní arch/node/Zv%C3
nemocnice Náchod a.s. in 2022-08-16 - %BD%C5%A1en
the Area of 2025-x COO 839 983,20 %C3%AD%20kyb
Communication Networks, ernetick%C3%A9
Integrated Regional %20bezpe%C4%
Operational Programme 8Dnosti%20ONN
%20a.s.
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00
00023, Enhancement of
Cybersecurity of Oblastní 2022-08-16 - COO 835 945,66 https://www.nemjc
nemocnice Jičín a.s. in the 2025-x .cz/irop-2021-
Area of Communication 2027---kb-2
Networks, Integrated
Regional Operational
Programme
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00 https://www.nemtr
00016, Enhancement of u.cz/projekt-irop-
Cybersecurity of Oblastní zvyseni-
nemocnice Trutnov a.s. in 2022-08-16 - kyberneticke-
the Area of 2025-x COO 839 630,56 bezpecnosti-
Communication Networks, oblastni-
Integrated Regional nemocnice-
Operational Programme trutnov-v-oblasti-
komunikacnich
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00
00015, Enhancement of https://www.mndk.
Cybersecurity of Městské cz/zvyseni-
nemocnice, a.s. in the 2022-08-16 - COO 247 941,73 kyberneticke-
Area of Communication 2025-x bezpecnosti-
Networks, Integrated mestske-
Regional Operational nemocnice
Programme
CIRI CZ.06.01.01/00/22_003/00
00037, Enhancing the 2022-11-18 - COO 2 838 696, https://www.zzskh
Cybersecurity of the
Information System of the 2025-x 35 k.cz/eu-
Emergency Medical
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
CIRI Service of the Hradec 2016-12-13 - COO kyberneticka-
TUL Králové Region 2 2023-12-31 COO bezpecnost-is-2/
TUL
CZ.06.3.05/0.0/0.0/16_034 2023-01-01 - 2 579 852,
TUL /0003048, Regional 2028-12-31 31
TUL Hospital Information
TUL System of the Hradec 11 583 056 https://p3dt.cz/cs/i
TUL Králové Region, Integrated ndex.html
TUL Regional Operational
UHK Programme
UHK
TN02000033, National
Centre of Competence for
Industrial 3D Printing,
TACR NCK
100693265, Cross-border 2024-11-01 - COO 3 120 000 https://www.sn-
support for SME 2027-12-31 cz2027.eu/cz/proj
involvement in future ekty/priorita-1-
materials research, Interret inovace-a-
CZ-DE konkurenceschop
nost/100693265_s
upport4sme
101180298, Green, digital, 2024-11-01 - BEN 104 325
and sustainable transition 2026-12-31 COO
for technology and process BEN 2 775 395 https://life4zoo.cz/
optimization in energy 2023-09-01 - BEN
intensive industries, 2027-02-28 BEN 219 600
Horizon Europe BEN
2025-01-01 - BEN 278 975
101114509, Water 2026-12-31
Resources Management in 291 600 https://matca.cz/e
Visitor Attractions - 2025-01-01 - n/home/
FIT4USE Water 2026-12-31
Recirculation Technology, 384 622 https://wealth-
LIFE Programme 2023-01-01 - stamify.com/
2026-06-30
LUE232018, Competitive 94 649
and sustainable molds for 2022 - 2025
tomorrow's composite
production through 2021 - 2026
function-integrating
additive technologies,
SmartEureka
TQ16000066, Adaptive
multi-directional additive
manufacturing based on
artificial intelligence, TACR
Sigma
TN02000069,National
centre of competence for
Materials, Advanced
Technologies, Coatings
and their Applications,
TACR NCK
8F22001, Wearable
sensors for the
assessment of physical
and eating behaviours,
JPI HDHL/STAMIFY
NU21-09-00007,
mHealth intervention
delivered in general
practice to increase
physical activity and
reduce sedentary
behaviour of patients
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
with prediabetes and
type 2 diabetes,
Program to support
applied health research
for the years 2020 -
2026
UHK EG19_262/0020162,
Research and
development of a
complex anti-drone
systém, Operational 2020 - 2023 BEN 166 988
Programme
Entrepreneurship and
Innovation for
Competitiveness (2014 -
2020)
UHK TL03000520, SMART
Solutions Across
2020 – 2023 BEN 63 612
Continuum of Care for
the Elderly
UHK EH23_021/0008439,
Biomedical indicators
for personalized
medicine, Jan Amos 2024 - 2028 BEN 687 547
Comenius Operational
Programme (2021 -
2027)
* DESCRIPTION OF PREVIOUS EDIH NEB PROJECT
EDIH NEB (1.0)
A consortium of partners has been working together for a long time to support the introduction of
digitalization, the presentation of digital technologies, education and training in this area. The consortium
consists of long-standing expert and research institutions/companies:
ARR - Regional Development Agency, spol. s r. o. (ARR - lead partner), Technical University of Liberec
(TUL), University of Hradec Králové (UHK), VÚTS a.s. (VÚTS), National Cluster Association (NCA),
Centre for Investment, Development and Innovation (CIRI) and Aricoma Enterprise Cybersecurity a.s.
The consortium's effort successfully culminated in the EC call under the EDIH NEB brand, funded by
the DEP and national sources. EDIH NEB started its activities on the 1st May 2023, with a planned end
date on the 30th April 2026. So far, approximately in the stage of two-thirds of the current project, also
taking into account the initial delay caused by funding gap from the national donor, the EDIH NEB brand
has got established itself significantly and has achieved a big success with provided services at all
levels.
Services
EDIH NEB services are primarily linked to the following key sectors: Advanced engineering, Automotive
industry, Aviation and Space industry, Optics, Nanotechnology, Healthcare.
EDIH NEB focuses its activities primarily on supporting digitalization linked to artificial intelligence (AI)
and secondarily on cybersecurity as an integral part of digitalization.
Overview of the main services of EDIH NEB in the area of Test before Invest
In connection with AI:
● Industrial application of AI based voice and image recognition;
● Machine vision and learning and neural networks;
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
● Cloud robotics, cybernetics, robot swarms, collaborative robots, digital twins;
● Virtual and augmented reality (3D printing and 3D scanning, sensor technology, super-precise optics,
access to Big data, mathematical and physical modelling and simulation);
● Autonomous vehicles, electromobility, edge computing;
● Industrial Internet of Things (IoT), use of AI and advanced analytics, data processing, IoT,
bioinformatics;
● Other services in the field of digitalization.
Cross-cutting themes include digital audits, smart cities, web systems and applications, etc.
In connection with cybersecurity:
● Cybersecurity audits;
● Penetration tests;
● Comprehensive preparation of SMEs for security certification.
Results up to now:
Already in the two-thirds of the project, some KPIs have been met and demand from our clients for
further services exceeds project capacity. At the same time, clients are reporting improvements in their
digital maturity and increased competitiveness. We also know that, in connection with the services
already provided, EDIH NEB clients have invested and intend to invest approximately €3.1 million in
digitalization. To date, 940 unique clients (according to their company ID numbers) have used one or
more EDIH NEB services, of which approximately 500 are SMEs and small mid-caps, including a
number of start-ups, with the remainder belonging to the public sector. Thanks to EDIH NEB services,
some of the clients' proven processes or products are now seeking patented intellectual property
protection. A remarkable component of EDIH NEB is the high number of services aimed at public sector
entities, which makes it relatively unique. The educational academy has so far held 30 training sessions
and courses, attended by over 350 participants. The training trilogy "AI to Schools" even won the
prestigious "Digital Awards" for the best educational event in Europe.
Various formats were employed for networking events aimed at building a digital and innovative
ecosystem, such as conferences, business meetings, and round tables, which were attended by almost
2,000 participants in total. For example, EDIH NEB is one of the main organizers of the largest annual
networking conference organized by EDIH in the Czech Republic, the Czech-Slovak Technology
Summit, which is attended by over 330 participants from the Czech Republic and Slovakia every year,
with other Czech and Slovak EDIHs among the presenting guests. We have almost 500 clients who
have used our services repeatedly, demonstrating the high quality of services and customer
satisfaction.
Taking into consideration the progress of work, positive feedback, and continued interest in our services,
we are confident that we will meet the project's planned KPIs. Additionally, the first repeat DMAs in T1
(one year after service provision) show that our clients are experiencing growth in the area of
digitalization. On top of it, the response from EC experts and the mid-term review assessment (January
2025) was also positive.
Specific examples of good practice and potential digital innovators include:
SME Posedla
Content of the service: the project tested the possibilities of optimizing the composite skeleton of a
bicycle saddle using numerical 3D models. The aim was to introduce technologies that can optimize
manufacturing processes in the development of new products and their marketing. The substantive
objective was to reduce the cost and labour of production while maintaining or improving the mechanical
properties of the skeleton. Two case analyses of the skeleton were performed based on simulation
models: a strength analysis under static loading and a stiffness analysis that investigated the distribution
of forces and deformations of the skeleton in both transverse and longitudinal directions.
Outcome: test results showed that some variants with fewer layers offer better mechanical properties
than the original design. The proposed changes allowed to reduce the number of layers and to optimize
the material composition, which could consequently increase the production efficiency without losing
mechanical resistance and stiffness. Conversely, in some cases, these properties could even be
improved. The introduction of digital modelling technology into the prototype testing area has shown
the client how these technologies can lead to increased production efficiency and a long-term reduction
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
in energy consumption due to the ability to test multiple prototype variants without the need for physical
production.
SME Obrobna Resl
Content of the service: the company has a machine tool for machining of 6 aluminium castings
simultaneously. However, it lacks the technology to determine whether the machining has taken place
and whether it is possibly alright. A study was carried out to assess if anything existed and whether it
made sense to invest in equipment to carry out such checks.
Outcome: a study of possible principles for the detection of casting machining was carried out. The
design of the machine with a rotary table and a working environment heavily contaminated with emulsion
excludes most of the considered principles for reasons of durability, design cost and reliability. The most
promising option is to use a camera outside the work area to record through the open machine door
whether all parts have been removed from the fixtures and then to set up new parts. The evaluation
algorithms were tested using Vision Builder AI software from National Instruments and reliably detected
parts both on the bench in the lab and directly on the machine during real operation. A number of tasks
would still have to be addressed for implementation, such as finding the most suitable camera and lens,
installing them in the hall, controlling them with a button, and the form of output. Unfortunately, the
camera system is not able to distinguish whether a part is machined or not. This still leaves the risk of
re-founding a part that has already been machined. Thanks to this testing, the client was introduced to
the use of the technology in question, the process modelling and the expected outputs. At the same
time, the use of verification and testing methods relevant for further plans to optimize production
processes for increased efficiency and competitiveness was demonstrated
SME Commercial foundry Turnov
Content of the service: the company faced challenges in modernizing casting processes and improving
productivity. The problem was complex coordination between departments managed by different
managers, leading to inefficiencies. The solution included the introduction of an MES production
management system.
Outcome: During a three-month test period, the new MES showed opportunities for major
improvements. The system provided real-time visibility of production performance, enabling
management to allocate resources more efficiently, reduce downtime and increase productivity by 6-
10%. This has directly impacted energy consumption by reducing downtime during production stops.
The MES also strengthened communication between departments and increased transparency in the
production process through detailed data on time, resource and machine usage. This demonstration
showed the foundry how to use digital technology to stay competitive and created a solid foundation for
further optimizations. A test application of the MES system showed the shortcomings and how they
could be managed or eliminated. The company has decided to acquire this system for continuous
monitoring and is actively working on possibilities of involvement in other projects designed for the
development of digital technology.
SME DŘEVOPLAST Ludvík
Content of the service: PoC for a system solution integrated into the Dřevoplast Ludvík environment
providing communication with machines and collecting selected data for the possibility of optimizing
resource planning and production optimization.
Outcome: analysis and design of suitable approaches and identification of data blocks in machines,
research of existing commercial solutions and comparison of their acquisition costs, indication of
workload in case of custom solutions integrated into ISDPLAST. Source codes used for PoC data
collection.
Evaluation of digitalization: the possibility of using direct communication with production equipment will
enable a higher degree of automation in the collection and evaluation of production data and its
subsequent use in optimization and production planning. In addition, it will be possible to react flexibly
to sudden situations in the form of notifications or alerts. As part of the consultancy service, Dřevoplast
Ludvík's equipment and its suitability for using the OPCUA protocol were analyzed, including an
assessment of the potential costs of acquiring and operating a comprehensive ARBURG data
acquisition system. The company was thus able to test the functionality in a pilot solution before investing
in communication modules for all production equipment. Thanks to the EDIH cooperation with
Dřevoplast Ludvík, we are currently addressing another requirement, namely the use of LLM and the
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
development of a chatbot for rapid analysis of production documentation. It is certain that the
implementation of these devices will lead to a significant reduction in energy consumption of individual
machines, thanks to the possibility to react quickly to the running of the equipment "idle" in case of
sudden stops in production.
SME VODACZ
Content of the service: PoC for the collection and evaluation of data from the selected water treatment
plant, design and development of the corresponding algorithms and determination of the expected
reliability of the prediction of the condition of the treatment plant tank.
Outcome: Analysis and design of suitable ML/AI algorithms, design of necessary modules and possible
implementation project, indication of development and operational costs.
Evaluation of digitalization: Thanks to the possibility to automate the collection and analysis of data from
water management equipment, in the future it will be possible to save the time of service technicians
during routine regular service interventions, it will be possible to better predict the condition of the Water
Management Facility with respect to current and historical data, it will be possible to create new modules
and plugins for processing additional data. As part of the provision of the consultancy service, suitable
machine learning approaches and algorithms have been identified that can be validated in the next
phase of the PoC. This helped the company to confirm the feasibility of a low-cost solution for predicting
the condition of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) based on image analysis and to get a more
accurate indication about the required HW and SW costs. Thanks to EDIH, we were able to establish a
successful cooperation and, as a result, a project application was submitted together with VODACZ to
the TACR TREND call for the development of an innovative platform for the prediction of the status of
WWTP.
PSO Retirement home Jindřichovice pod Smrkem
Content of the service: introduction of a system for monitoring of clients in homes for the elderly people
during regular operation, optimization of care, systematization of staff workload, optimization of the
environment
Outcome: within the project, the senior centre had the opportunity to test sensory systems for
monitoring of well-being and quality of care. The service included the opportunity to try out special
sensory pads, environmental quality sensors and wearable sensors. The pads allow the current status
of clients to be determined, information to be transmitted to a tablet application for nurses, and the
system then generates long-term quality of care reports that can be used by management. The reports
are particularly focused on activities related to stay in bed and positioning for patients at risk of bedsores.
The reports also include information on environmental quality such as temperature, humidity, CO2 levels
and noise. The systematization of the solution, linked to HVAC and ventilation, then creates the
prerequisites for energy savings - the service will be complemented by additional IoT environmental
monitoring from other EDIH follow-up services.
Evaluation of digitization: thanks to this service, the systems have been tested and staff trained. Thanks
to the experience gained, the aforementioned retirement home decided to purchase up to 10 of these
systems. At the same time, negotiations are underway with the Liberec Region to extend these systems
to other senior centres in the region. The system has attracted a great response and the service will
continue to be provided, while the equipped premises will also serve as a place for realization of the
professional internships.
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Summary of KPIs
KPI title Type of Reference to Category Target clients Type of services Target Target Target Total
AI Helpdesk KPI description in individual Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Target
Part B (page) Summary indicator SME,
Output for all WP midcaps/public 10 10 10 30
35-37 organisations
54 82 181
Number of services Output 35-37 TBI SME, midcaps individual 45 41 63 138
provided Output 35-37 21 32 71
Number of services Output 35-37 TBI Public individual 34 83 124 276
provided 35-37 organistions 106 159 353
Number of events 35-37 Training and Skills Collective 18 17 26 58
carried out 35-37 development SME, 141 211 470
35-37 midcaps/public 264 396 880
Number of Output 35-37 Training and Skills organisations Collective 69
participants in events Output development 12 18 40
number of Output 35-37 SME, midcaps Collective 88
participants in events Training and Skills 45 68 150
Number of events 35-37 development Public events 15
carried out 35-37 Innovation organistions 47 71 157
Number of Output ekosystém and SME, events 118
participants in events networking midcaps/public
Innovation organisations
Number of Output events 220
participants in events ekosystém and SME, midcaps
networking
Innovation Public
organistions
ekosystém and
Number of networking
collaborations Innovation SME,
ekosystém and
foreseen with other Outcome Events,
networking midcaps/public collective,individual 10
EDIHs and Impact organisations
Output Innovation
stakeholders outside ekosystém and
the region networking
Number of Support to find
Investments
participants in WP4 SME,
who subsequently midcaps/public Individual 37
used other EDIH NEB organisations
2.0 services
Number of services SME, midcaps Individual 39
provided
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Number of services Output 35-37 Support to find Public Individual 8 9 13 30
Outcome 35-37 Investments organisations Individual
provided 35-37 Individual 3 9
Impact 35-37 Support to find SME, Individual
Number of entities Output 35-37 Investments midcaps/public 200.000 750.000
Output 35-37 organisations EUR EUR
that apply for Output 35-37 Support to find 18 30
Impact Investments SME,
investment 35-37 midcaps/public
Impact Summary indicator organisations
Amount of additional for all WP 1.550,000 2.500,000
SME, EUR EUR
investments midcaps/public
organisations
successfully triggered
Number of entities
which have used 200 240 360 800
EDIH NEB 2.0
services
Sub indicator:
Number of entities SME,
midcaps/public
that have used Summary indicator organisations Individual 37 45 68 150
for all WP
services related to the
development and
uptake of AI solutions
Number of entity SME,
midcaps/public
referral to European Summary indicator organisations Individual 37 45 68 150
for all WP
AI Innovation
Infrastructures
Increase in digital
maturity of SME,
organizations that TBI midcaps/public Individual 5 20 38 63
have used the organisations
services of the EDIH
network
Increase in number of
companies benefiting Summary indicator SME,
for all WP midcaps/public
from the use of organisations Individual 0 1 1 2
European AI
technology
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Price list EDIH NEB
The EDIH NEB 2.0 Price List was compiled by the consortium of EDIH NEB 2.0 partners and is used to calculate the amount of state aid provided to project clients. The prices
listed in the Price List correspond to the real costs associated with the implementation of services and reflect the total eligible costs of the project.
The Price List includes only services within the bounds of Test Before Invest and Training and Skills Development activities, which are considered relevant for the recording of
state aid in line with the recommendations of the European Commission.
Networking, including activities relating to the organisation of events with a higher number of participants, and activities that do not lead to an economic advantage for certain
entities and are not measurable, will be reported outside state aid (in the form of invitations, programmes, attendance sheets), including all associated costs (personnel, overhead,
external, meaning the full WP4). They are marked in the Price List as events with zero value.
Other costs of activities (WP1, WP5, WP6) will be passed on to clients using WP2 and WP3 services in the form of state aid. Therefore, they are not subject to separate reporting
within the bounds of state aid.
The principles of records of state aid
All provision of services will be monitored during the execution of the project in terms of the amount of state aid transferred to specific clients.
Only that portion of support that comes from national sources will be put on record in the relevant register of public support (e.g. de minimis regime), if requested by the national
donor.
Recording applies only to SME and mid-cap clients. Public institutions do not fall under the state aid regime (unless a matter of an economic activity). Records of state aid for
WP2 and WP3 clients will be dealt with by way of contracts.
The unit prices for reporting state aid correspond to the usual market hourly rate. The size of the nominal price and the amount of the state aid are therefore identical.
Service title and description Service category Target client Type of Nominal State aid Unit of Planned Price
services price measure duration remaining
(number of to be paid
€ 63.24 months) by client
€ 110.67
Test Before Invest - Digital audit, IoT, IIoT, TBI SMEs, midcaps, Individual € 63.24 €/hour 36 0
Smart technologies, AI consultancy, TBI public Individual € 90.91
Advice on the digitalisation TBI Individual € 63.24 € 110.67 €/hour 36 0
Training and skills organisations Individual
Test Before Invest - Cybersecurity € 90.91 €/hour 36 0
Expertise SMEs, midcaps,
public € 63.24 €/hour 36 0
Test Before Invest - Speech recognition
and synthesis, machine learning, robotics, organisations
virtual and augmented reality, analytics,
data processing, 3D Printing Testing etc. SMEs, midcaps,
public
Training courses, Internships
organisations
SMEs, midcaps,
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
development public and group
organisations activities
Networking – events (the costs of this Networking and SMEs, midcaps,
activity will be kept outside state aid) access to public group x € 0 x
innovation activities 36 0
ecosystem organisations
Estimated number of hours for the implementation of state aid:
EDIH NEB Service Number of Target group * Price (EUR) Total (EUR)
number of hours (= total number per hour
€ 926 845,44
of hours for clients) € 63.24 € 88 536
Test Before Invest - Digital audit, IoT, IIoT, Smart technologies, AI consultancy, Advice 14656 € 110.67 € 520 005,2
on the digitalisation € 90.91 € 29 849,28
€ 918 445,53
Test Before Invest - Cybersecurity Expertise 800 € 63.24 € 2 483 681,45
x
Test Before Invest - Speech recognition and synthesis, machine learning, robotics, virtual 5720
and augmented reality, analytics, data processing, 3D Printing Testing etc.
Training courses, Internships 472
Networking – events (the costs of this activity will be kept outside state aid) x
Total / 3 Years
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Memorandum on Central European EDIH
Cooperation
The following Cooperating Parties enter into this Memorandum on
Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as the "Memorandum").
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On behalf of the Cooperating Parties:
Tereza Šamanová Barbora Zochová
EDIH CIH (CZ) Coordinator EDIH CTU Coordinator
Martin Duda Andrej Chrzanowski
EDIH OVA Coordinator EDIH Brain4Industry Coordinator
Petr Dobrovský Veronika Večeřová
EDIH NEB Director EDIH-DIGIMAT Coordinator
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Franz Suemecz Martin Benedikt
EDIH AI5Production Coordinator EDIH Applied CPS Coordinator
on behalf of AI5Production EDIH and
innovATE EDIH
Veronika Hornung-Prähauser Maximilian Wunsch
EDIH Crowd in Motion Coordinator EDIH Thuringia Coordinator
Markus Vossel Dominik Rother
EDIH pro_digital Representative EDIH DInA Representative
on behalf of DInO EDIH and DIBI EDIH
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Aleksandra Zajusz-Woyda Aleksandra Błaszczak
EDIH-SILESIA Coordinator EDIH h4i Coordinator
Justyna Lichosik Agnieszka Michałowska-Dudkiewicz
EDIH TKDIH Coordinator re_d: rethink digital
- Central Poland Digitailisation HUB Representative
Marcin Czyża Emilia Magajczyk
EDIH WAMA Coordinator WRO4digitAI EDIH Wrocław Coordinator
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Samuel Arbe Artur Bobovnický
EDIH CIH (SK) Representative EDIH EXPANDI 4.0 Coordinator
Michal Kompan Miroslav Michalko
EDIH SK-AI (Hopero) Representative EDIH CASSOVIUM Coordinator
Emil Fitoš
SCDI Proposal EDIH Coordinator
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Letter Of Intent
From:
Czech Institute of Informatics, Robotics and Cybernetics, CTU in Prague (CIIRC)
Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, 160 00 Dejvice
Represented by:
Ondřej Beránek
Head of AI-MATTERS Office
703-895-255
ondrej.beranek@cvut.cz
Whom:
Technical University of Liberec (TUL) as representative of eDIH NEB
Studentská 1402/2, Liberec
Subject:
Cooperation within selected activities of testing and experimenting in the field of AI-based solutions
and related topics
Description:
This letter confirms mutual intention regarding innovation of AI based solutions that we have discussed.
We expect that both sides will provide an effort to reach a preliminary agreement on the basis of these
conditions.
Background of the cooperation:
TUL has been cooperating with CIIRC for a long time, which is the Czech node coordinator of the AI
TEF scheme for manufacturing, realized by the AI MATTERS consortium. Both sides expect that
further cooperation in the field of AI/ML will be established and developed, which is declared hereby
in this expression of interest. The main potential of the cooperation is generated by natural synergies
within TEF and EDIH operations and additionally in marketing, PR, training or exchange of experience.
Disclosure:
Both parties undertake to keep all information confidential and not to disclose it to third parties without
prior agreement.
At Prague, on 17.03.2025
Signature(s):
Ondřej Beránek
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
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Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2025-EDIH-EU-EEA-08 Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
DIGITAL MGA — Multi & Mono: v1.0
ANNEX 2
ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR THE ACTION
Estimated eligible1 costs (per budget category) Indirect costs Estimated EU contribution2
Direct costs E. Indirect costs3 EU contribution to eligible costs
E. Indirect costs
B. Total costs Funding rate %4 Maximum EU Requested EU Maximum
Subcontracting contribution5 contribution grant amount6
A. Personnel costs C. Purchase costs D. Other cost categories
costs
A.1 Employees (or equivalent) A.4 SME owners C.1 Travel and C.2 Equipment C.3 Other goods, D.1 Financial D.2 Internally
and natural person B. Subcontracting subsistence works and support to third invoiced goods
A.2 Natural persons under direct beneficiaries services parties and services
contract
A.3 Seconded persons
Forms of funding Actual costs Unit costs (usual Unit costs7 Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Unit costs (usual Flat-rate costs8
accounting accounting
practices) a3 b c1 c2 c3 practices) e = flat-rate *
(a1 + a2 + a3 +
a1 a2 0.00 0.00 23 000.00 0.00 193 520.00 d1 d2 f = a + b + U g = f * U% h m
0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 49 500.00 b + c1 + c2 + c + d + e
1 - ARR 700 576.00 0.00 0.00 38 000.00 0.00 55 330.00 0.00 0.00 c3 + d1 + d2) 50 490 646.36 490 646.36 490 646.36
0.00 0.00 14 000.00 0.00 47 100.00 981 292.72 83 094.06 83 094.06
2 - VUTS 105 816.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 2 181.00 0.00 89 000.00 0.00 0.00 64 196.72 166 188.12 50 83 094.06 227 070.05 227 070.05
0.00 0.00 24 200.00 0.00 16 000.00 10 872.12 454 140.10 101 519.46 101 519.46
3 - NCA 317 100.00 0.00 0.00 38 000.00 5 000.00 0.00 450 450.00 0.00 0.00 29 710.10 203 038.92 50 227 070.05 216 427.30 216 427.30
68 381.00 13 282.92 432 854.59 123 035.02 123 035.02
4 - CIRI 140 475.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 28 317.59 246 070.04 50 101 519.46 1 241 792.25 1 241 792.25
16 098.04 2 483 584.49
5 - TUL 291 337.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 162 477.49 50 216 427.30
6 - UHK 208 972.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 50 123 035.02
Σ consortium 1 764 276.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1 241 792.25
1 See Article 6 for the eligibility conditions. All amounts must be expressed in EUR (see Article 21 for the conversion rules).
2 The consortium remains free to decide on a different internal distribution of the EU funding (via the consortium agreement; see Article 7).
3 Indirect costs already covered by an operating grant (received under any EU funding programme) are ineligible (see Article 6.3). Therefore, a beneficiary/affiliated entity that receives an operating grant during the action duration cannot declare indirect costs for the year(s)/reporting period(s) covered by the operating grant, unless they can
demonstrate that the operating grant does not cover any costs of the action. This requires specific accounting tools. Please immediately contact us via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for details.
4 See Data Sheet for the funding rate(s).
5 This is the theoretical amount of the EU contribution to costs, if the reimbursement rate is applied to all the budgeted costs. This theoretical amount is then capped by the 'maximum grant amount'.
6 The 'maximum grant amount' is the maximum grant amount decided by the EU. It normally corresponds to the requested grant, but may be lower.
7 See Annex 2a 'Additional information on the estimated budget' for the details (units, cost per unit).
8 See Data Sheet for the flat-rate.
Page 1 of 1
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 2a
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON UNIT COSTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS
SME owners/natural person beneficiaries without salary
See Additional information on unit costs and contributions (Annex 2a and 2b)
1
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2A0s2s5o-cEiaDteIdHw-EithUd-oEcEumAe-0nt8Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 3
ACCESSION FORM FOR BENEFICIARIES
VUTS AS (VUTS), PIC 998726551, established in SVAROVSKA 619, LIBEREC RUZODOL 460
01, Czechia,
hereby agrees
to become beneficiary
in Agreement No 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘the Agreement’)
between ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR) and the European
Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or ‘granting
authority’),
and mandates
the coordinator to submit and sign in its name and on its behalf any amendments to the Agreement,
in accordance with Article 39.
By signing this accession form, the beneficiary accepts the grant and agrees to implement it in
accordance with the Agreement, with all the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
SIGNATURE
For the beneficiary
[--TGSMark#signature-998726551_75_210--]
Andrea Václavíková with ECAS id n00jnxci signed in the Participant
Portal on 05/03/2026 at 13:31:58 (transaction id SigId-7195-ZzOjzH
KdzqJ3DHgXF6Qw7CJY4TXJKK0scJO3DJd2zUx9nxLQVimiUzmI6qjVH
Tgmvw75sPJ6xbqZ3g2zRynJzqVe-m5stpJzr6Tdarg7jSnOwRy-wDx2n
GcMmjMzInUTjL0lGSfjzbU059Tb9aSi8N2fsiPTqTkbLPRXh1jJzpvxzG
vNeAfXRxNV5Zdr61ptWVWZYyK). Timestamp by third party at
2026.03.05 13:32:04 CET
1
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2A0s2s5o-cEiaDteIdHw-EithUd-oEcEumAe-0nt8Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 3
ACCESSION FORM FOR BENEFICIARIES
NARODNI KLASTROVA ASOCIACE (NCA), PIC 939904490, established in 28. října 1142/168,
Ostrava - Mariánské Hory, OSTRAVA 709 00, Czechia,
hereby agrees
to become beneficiary
in Agreement No 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘the Agreement’)
between ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR) and the European
Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or ‘granting
authority’),
and mandates
the coordinator to submit and sign in its name and on its behalf any amendments to the Agreement,
in accordance with Article 39.
By signing this accession form, the beneficiary accepts the grant and agrees to implement it in
accordance with the Agreement, with all the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
SIGNATURE
For the beneficiary
[--TGSMark#signature-939904490_75_210--]
Ecas Id n002zhq4 signed in the Participant Portal on 2026/02/20 22:33:40 (SigId-
14299-sq6v8Btzodr6OABuXRHFHG6HszxfQ0H5OhHu0i7riw7wVkzcs39hNqNR6d
6tzvc2yWRzjgazJHi6KWzPAqjqFvdG-POMaLlcnzRyvy0y5mcndfy
ipq22wAK0uTMvAWYPyQLaaoZWEN28zLzykqgFLLHXIAzqYFY8UF95GEcWhTJwoc
XRpCdhtzUKHJzeuwDrhsM29x). Timestamp by thirdparty at 2026/02/20 22:33:44
2
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2A0s2s5o-cEiaDteIdHw-EithUd-oEcEumAe-0nt8Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 3
ACCESSION FORM FOR BENEFICIARIES
CENTRUM INVESTIC ROZVOJE A INOVACI (CIRI), PIC 883107207, established in
SOUKENICKA 54 8, HRADEC KRALOVE 500 03, Czechia,
hereby agrees
to become beneficiary
in Agreement No 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘the Agreement’)
between ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR) and the European
Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or ‘granting
authority’),
and mandates
the coordinator to submit and sign in its name and on its behalf any amendments to the Agreement,
in accordance with Article 39.
By signing this accession form, the beneficiary accepts the grant and agrees to implement it in
accordance with the Agreement, with all the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
SIGNATURE
For the beneficiary
[--TGSMark#signature-883107207_75_210--]
Ecas Id n00c4hyr signed in the Participant Portal on 2026/02/24 13:26:36 (SigId-
3014-VEO0L1IJgQzRaFf6EHLuhgBP0mKDY2HPrh0DRyOG7W7c8nTUPSgtreHGgq
DmALeyHlWUtFTqmqzUwARqiNGlCy-R2zIpfT8xjMtLYsOHmf3ky
sWGogfEV1VKvAvsxNj342gFG97fAtwzzMKzwHoQCWlWvGtkxT4xofMzmkpMLYA
anzNcRhJBlYdyCXgjYjIwhztyW). Timestamp by thirdparty at 2026/02/24 13:26:39
3
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2A0s2s5o-cEiaDteIdHw-EithUd-oEcEumAe-0nt8Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 3
ACCESSION FORM FOR BENEFICIARIES
TECHNICKA UNIVERZITA V LIBERCI (TUL), PIC 999856213, established in STUDENTSKA
1402/2, LIBEREC 46117, Czechia,
hereby agrees
to become beneficiary
in Agreement No 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘the Agreement’)
between ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR) and the European
Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or ‘granting
authority’),
and mandates
the coordinator to submit and sign in its name and on its behalf any amendments to the Agreement,
in accordance with Article 39.
By signing this accession form, the beneficiary accepts the grant and agrees to implement it in
accordance with the Agreement, with all the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
SIGNATURE
For the beneficiary
[--TGSMark#signature-999856213_75_210--]
Aleš KOCOUREK with ECAS id nkocoual signed in the Participant
Portal on 06/03/2026 at 11:55:35 (transaction id SigId-10837-wMMD
2zO5iTBgTBnF4VxOgeuOuYU7B2kdvryHM5lMkUiy3gekjVGbwGwUM
5XHunJ8i7YR77TsqGXuFnzjxWnvTg-m5stpJzr6Tdarg7jSnOwRy-P2WX
3J7fkxQUNwoa29A7pLSW9iCZzM1NzoYFA4A6KaezG0vdA45MlBX8EN
UIzVYhM5ir5Gg38f8ZkAS9oMaFiqm). Timestamp by third party at
2026.03.06 11:55:40 CET
4
Grant Agreement number: 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 — DIGITAL-2A0s2s5o-cEiaDteIdHw-EithUd-oEcEumAe-0nt8Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 3
ACCESSION FORM FOR BENEFICIARIES
UNIVERZITA HRADEC KRALOVE (UHK), PIC 999865719, established in ROKITANSKEHO
62, HRADEC KRALOVE 500 03, Czechia,
hereby agrees
to become beneficiary
in Agreement No 101256745 — EDIH NEB 2.0 (‘the Agreement’)
between ARR - AGENTURA REGIONALNIHO ROZVOJE SPOL SRO (ARR) and the European
Union (‘EU’), represented by the European Commission (‘European Commission’ or ‘granting
authority’),
and mandates
the coordinator to submit and sign in its name and on its behalf any amendments to the Agreement,
in accordance with Article 39.
By signing this accession form, the beneficiary accepts the grant and agrees to implement it in
accordance with the Agreement, with all the obligations and terms and conditions it sets out.
SIGNATURE
For the beneficiary
[--TGSMark#signature-999865719_75_210--]
Ecas Id nkrizaac signed in the Participant Portal on 2026/02/24 10:48:47 (SigId-
1643-mrIbzplpgGc4sPGFnbks1tQ2nMRRzZZMrWzqc90rKboWU37qxNcHLtZylcTz
jPrpfEopCktV8CAn04NetBButSq-R2zIpfT8xjMtLYsOHmf3ky
gqqZpXV96hnRpQ4UMIp57JWQ0QcvsEc2FY6gWbXsNdOP8pdzZZpMok7sgWidg
zZCddDq8wHDdyjxT0pnLJkjip). Timestamp by thirdparty at 2026/02/24 10:48:52
5
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Direct costs ANNEX 4 DIGITAL EUROPE MGA — MULTI + MONO EU contribution2 Revenues
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR [PARTICIPANT NAME] FOR REPORTING PERIOD [NUMBER] EU contribution to eligible costs
Eligible1 costs (per budget category) Income generated by the
action
Indirect costs
Total costs Total requested EU
contribution
E. Indirect costs2 Funding rate %3 Maximum EU contribution4 Requested EU
A. Personnel costs B. Subcontracting costs C. Purchase costs D. Other cost categories E. Indirect costs contribution
A.1 Employees (or equivalent) A.4 SME owners and B. Subcontracting C.1 Travel and subsistence C.2 Equipment C.3 Other goods, works and D.X Financial support to [OPTION for PAC
natural person services third parties D.2 Internally invoiced Grants for
beneficiaries goods and services Procurement: D.3
A.2 Natural persons under direct contract PAC procurement
costs]
A.3 Seconded persons
Forms of funding Actual costs Unit costs (usual Unit costs5 Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Actual costs Unit costs (usual [ Actual costs] Flat-rate costs6
XX – [short name beneficiary/affiliated entity] accounting practices) accounting practices)
a1 a2 a3 b c1 c2 e= f= m (i) n
c3 d1a d2 [ d3] flat-rate * (a1 + a2 + a3 + b + a+b+c+d+e U g = f*U% h
c1 + c2 + c3 + d1a + d2 [ + d3] )
The beneficiary/affiliated entity hereby confirms that:
The information provided is complete, reliable and true.
The costs and contributions declared are eligible (see Article 6).
The costs and contributions can be substantiated by adequate records and supporting documentation that will be produced upon request or in the context of checks, reviews, audits and investigations (see Articles 19, 20 and 25).
For the last reporting period: that all the revenues have been declared (see Article 22).
i Please declare all eligible costs and contributions, even if they exceed the amounts indicated in the estimated budget (see Annex 2). Only amounts that were declared in your individual financial statements can be taken into account lateron, in order to replace costs/contributions that
are found to be ineligible.
1 See Article 6 for the eligibility conditions. All amounts must be expressed in EUR (see Article 21 for the conversion rules).
2 If you have also received an EU operating grant during this reporting period, you cannot claim indirect costs - unless you can demonstrate that the operating grant does not cover any costs of the action. This requires specific accounting tools. Please contact us immediately via the Funding
& Tenders Portal for details.
3 See Data Sheet for the reimbursement rate(s).
4 This is the theoretical amount of EU contribution to costs that the system calculates automatically (by multiplying the reimbursement rates by the costs declared). The amount you request (in the column 'requested EU contribution') may be less.
5 See Annex 2a 'Additional information on the estimated budget' for the details (units, cost per unit).
6 See Data Sheet for the flat-rate.
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
ANNEX 5
SPECIFIC RULES
CONFIDENTIALITY AND SECURITY (— ARTICLE 13)
Sensitive information with security recommendation
Sensitive information with a security recommendation must comply with the additional
requirements imposed by the granting authority.
Before starting the action tasks concerned, the beneficiaries must have obtained all approvals
or other mandatory documents needed for implementing the task. The documents must be
kept on file and be submitted upon request by the coordinator to the granting authority. If they
are not in English, they must be submitted together with an English summary.
For requirements restricting disclosure or dissemination, the information must be handled in
accordance with the recommendation and may be disclosed or disseminated only after written
approval from the granting authority.
EU classified information
If EU classified information is used or generated by the action, it must be treated in
accordance with the security classification guide (SCG) and security aspect letter (SAL) set
out in Annex 1 and Decision 2015/4441 and its implementing rules — until it is declassified.
Deliverables which contain EU classified information must be submitted according to special
procedures agreed with the granting authority.
Action tasks involving EU classified information may be subcontracted only with prior
explicit written approval from the granting authority and only to entities established in an EU
Member State or in a non-EU country with a security of information agreement with the EU
(or an administrative arrangement with the Commission).
EU classified information may not be disclosed to any third party (including participants
involved in the action implementation) without prior explicit written approval from the
granting authority.
ETHICS (— ARTICLE 14)
Ethics
Actions involving activities raising ethics issues must be carried out in compliance with:
- ethical principles
1 Commission Decision 2015/444/EC, Euratom of 13 March 2015 on the security rules for protecting EU
classified information (OJ L 72, 17.3.2015, p. 53).
1
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
and
- applicable EU, international and national law, including the EU Charter of
Fundamental Rights and the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights
and Fundamental Freedoms and its Supplementary Protocols.
The beneficiaries must pay particular attention to the principle of proportionality, the right to
privacy, the right to the protection of personal data, the right to the physical and mental
integrity of persons, the right to non-discrimination, the need to ensure protection of the
environment and high levels of human health protection.
Before the beginning of an action task raising an ethical issue, the beneficiaries must have
obtained all approvals or other mandatory documents needed for implementing the task,
notably from any (national or local) ethics committee or other bodies such as data protection
authorities.
The documents must be kept on file and be submitted upon request by the coordinator to the
granting authority. If they are not in English, they must be submitted together with an English
summary, which shows that the documents cover the action tasks in question and includes the
conclusions of the committee or authority concerned (if any).
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) — BACKGROUND AND RESULTS —
ACCESS RIGHTS AND RIGHTS OF USE (— ARTICLE 16)
Definitions
Access rights — Rights to use results or background.
Dissemination — The public disclosure of the results by appropriate means, other than
resulting from protecting or exploiting the results, including by scientific or
professional publications in any medium.
Exploit(ation) — The use of results in further innovation and deployment activities other than
those covered by the action concerned, including among other things,
commercial exploitation such as developing, creating, manufacturing and
marketing a product or process, creating and providing a service, or in
standardisation activities.
Fair and reasonable conditions — Appropriate conditions, including possible financial terms
or royalty-free conditions, taking into account the specific circumstances of
the request for access, for example the actual or potential value of the results
or background to which access is requested and/or the scope, duration or
other characteristics of the exploitation envisaged.
List of background — Background free from restrictions
The beneficiaries must, where industrial and intellectual property rights (including rights of
third parties) exist prior to the Agreement, establish a list of these pre-existing industrial and
intellectual property rights, specifying the rights owners.
The coordinator must — before starting the action — submit this list to the granting authority.
2
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
Where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU strategic
autonomy reasons, background that is subject to control or other restrictions by a country (or
entity from a country) which is not one of the eligible countries or target countries set out in
the call conditions and that impact the results (i.e. would make the results subject to control or
restrictions) must not be used and must be explicitly excluded in the list of background —
unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority.
Results free from restrictions
Where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU strategic
autonomy reasons, the beneficiaries must ensure that the results of the action are not subject
to control or other restrictions by a country (or entity from a country) which is not one of the
eligible countries or target countries set out in the call conditions — unless otherwise agreed
with the granting authority.
Ownership of results
Results are owned by the beneficiaries that generate them (unless the consortium agreement
specifies another ownership regime).
Protection of results
The beneficiaries must adequately protect their results — for an appropriate period and with
appropriate territorial coverage — if protection is possible and justified, taking into account
all relevant considerations, including the prospects for commercial exploitation, legitimate
interests of the other beneficiaries and any other legitimate interests.
Exploitation of results
Beneficiaries must — up to four years after the end of the action (see Data Sheet, Point 1) —
use their best efforts to exploit their results directly or to have them exploited indirectly by
another entity, in particular through transfer or licensing.
Where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU strategic
autonomy reasons (and unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority), the beneficiaries
must produce a significant amount of products, services or processes that incorporate results
of the action or that are produced through the use of results of the action in the eligible
countries or target countries set out in the call conditions.
Where the call conditions impose moreover a first exploitation obligation, the first
exploitation must also take place in the eligible countries or target countries set out in the call
conditions.
The beneficiaries must ensure that these obligations also apply to their affiliated entities,
associated partners, subcontractors and recipients of financial support to third parties.
Transfers and licensing of results
Where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU strategic
autonomy reasons, the beneficiaries may not transfer ownership of their results or grant
licences to third parties which are established in countries which are not eligible countries or
target countries set out in the call conditions (or are controlled by such countries or entities
3
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
from such countries) — unless they have requested and received prior approval by the
granting authority.
The request must:
- identify the specific results concerned
- describe in detail the new owner or licensee and the planned or potential exploitation
of the results and
- include a reasoned assessment of the likely impact of the transfer or license on the
security interests or EU strategic autonomy.
The granting authority may request additional information.
The beneficiaries must ensure that their obligations under the Agreement are passed on to the
new owner or licensee and that this new owner or licensee has the obligation to pass them on
in any subsequent transfer.
Access rights — Additional rights of use
Rights of use of the granting authority on results for information, communication, publicity
and dissemination purposes
The granting authority also has the right to exploit non-sensitive results of the action for
information, communication, dissemination and publicity purposes, using any of the
following modes:
- use for its own purposes (in particular, making them available to persons working for
the granting authority or any other EU service (including institutions, bodies, offices,
agencies, etc.) or EU Member State institution or body; copying or reproducing them
in whole or in part, in unlimited numbers; and communication through press
information services)
- distribution to the public in hard copies, in electronic or digital format, on the
internet including social networks, as a downloadable or non-downloadable file
- editing or redrafting (including shortening, summarising, changing, correcting,
cutting, inserting elements (e.g. meta-data, legends or other graphic, visual, audio or
text elements), extracting parts (e.g. audio or video files), dividing into parts or use in
a compilation)
- translation(including inserting subtitles/dubbing)in all official languages of EU
- storage in paper, electronic or other form
- archiving in line with applicable document-management rules
- the right to authorise third parties to act on its behalf or sub-license to third parties,
including if there is licensed background, any of the rights or modes of exploitation set
out in this provision
- processing, analysing, aggregating the results and producing derivative works
4
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
- disseminating the results in widely accessible databases or indexes (such as through
‘open access’ or ‘open data’ portals or similar repositories, whether free of charge or
not).
The beneficiaries must ensure these rights of use for the whole duration they are protected by
industrial or intellectual property rights.
If results are subject to moral rights or third party rights (including intellectual property rights
or rights of natural persons on their image and voice), the beneficiaries must ensure that they
comply with their obligations under this Agreement (in particular, by obtaining the necessary
licences and authorisations from the rights holders concerned).
Access rights for the granting authority and EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies to
results for policy purposes
The beneficiaries must grant access to their results — on a royalty-free basis — to the
granting authority, other EU institutions, bodies, offices or agencies, for developing,
implementing and monitoring EU policies or programmes.
Such access rights are limited to non-commercial and non-competitive use.
Access rights for the granting authority to results in case of a public emergency
If requested by the granting authority in case of a public emergency, the beneficiaries must
grant non-exclusive, world-wide licences to third parties — under fair and reasonable
conditions — to use the results to address the public emergency.
Access rights for third parties to ensure continuity and interoperability
Where the call conditions impose continuity or interoperability obligations, the beneficiaries
must make the results produced in the framework of the action available to the public (freely
accessible on the Internet under open source licences).
COMMUNICATION, DISSEMINATION AND VISIBILITY (— ARTICLE 17)
Communication and dissemination plan
The beneficiaries must provide a detailed communication and dissemination plan, setting out
the objectives, key messaging, target audiences, communication channels, social media plan,
planned budget and relevant indicators for monitoring and evaluation.
Dissemination of results
The beneficiaries must disseminate their results as soon as feasible, in a publicly available
format, subject to any restrictions due to the protection of intellectual property, security rules
or legitimate interests.
They must upload the public project results to the Digital Europe Project Results platform,
available through the Funding & Tenders Portal.
In addition, where the call conditions impose additional dissemination obligations, they must
also comply with those.
Additional communication activities
5
Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
The beneficiaries must engage in the following additional communication activities:
- present the project (including project summary, coordinator contact details, list of
participants, European flag and funding statement and special logo and project results)
on the beneficiaries’ websites or social media accounts
SPECIFIC RULES FOR CARRYING OUT THE ACTION (— ARTICLE 18)
Implementation in case of restrictions due to security or EU strategic autonomy
Where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU strategic
autonomy reasons, the beneficiaries must ensure that none of the entities that participate as
affiliated entities, associated partners, subcontractors or recipients of financial support to third
parties are established in countries which are not eligible countries or target countries set out
in the call conditions (or are controlled by such countries or entities from such countries) —
unless otherwise agreed with the granting authority.
The beneficiaries must moreover ensure that any cooperation with entities established in
countries which are not eligible countries or target countries set out in the call conditions (or
are controlled by such countries or entities from such countries) does not affect the security
interests or EU strategic autonomy and avoids potential negative effects over security of
supply of inputs critical to the action.
Specific rules for PAC Grants for Procurement
When implementing innovative procurements in PAC Grants for Procurement, the
beneficiaries must respect the following conditions:
- avoid any conflict of interest and comply with the principles of transparency, non-
discrimination, equal treatment, sound financial management, proportionality and
competition rules
- assign the ownership of the intellectual property rights under the contracts to the
contractors (unless there are exceptional overriding public interests which are duly
justified in Annex 1), with the right of the buyers to access results — on a royalty-free
basis — for their own use and to grant (or to require the contractors to grant) non-
exclusive licences to third parties to exploit the results for them — under fair and
reasonable conditions — without any right to sub-license
- allow for all communications to be made in English (and any additional languages
chosen by the beneficiaries)
- ensure that prior information notices, contract notices and contract award notices
contain information on the EU funding and a disclaimer that the EU is not
participating as contracting authority in the procurement
- allow for the award of multiple procurement contracts within the same procedure
(multiple sourcing)
- for procurements involving classified information: apply the security rules set out in
Annex 5 mutatis mutandis to the contractors and the background and results of the
contracts
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Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
- where the call conditions restrict participation or control due to security or EU
strategic autonomy reasons: apply the restrictions set out in Annex 5 mutatis mutandis
to the contractors and the results under the contracts
- where the call conditions impose a place of performance obligation: ensure that the
part of the activities that is subject to the place of performance obligation is performed
in the eligible countries or target countries set out in the call conditions
- to ensure reciprocal level of market access: where the WTO Government Procurement
Agreement (GPA) does not apply, ensure that the participation in tendering procedures
is open on equal terms to bidders from EU Member States and all countries with
which the EU has an agreement in the field of public procurement under the
conditions laid down in that agreement, including all Horizon Europe associated
countries. Where the WTO GPA applies, ensure that tendering procedures are also
open to bidders from states that have ratified this agreement, under the conditions laid
down therein.
Specific rules for Grants for Financial Support
When implementing financial support to third parties in Grants for Financial Support, the
beneficiaries must respect the following conditions:
- avoid any conflict of interest and comply with the principles of transparency, non-
discrimination and sound financial management
- for the selection procedure and criteria:
- publish open calls widely (including on the Funding & Tenders Portal and the
beneficiaries’ websites)
- keep open calls open for at least two months
- inform recipients of call updates (if any) and the outcome of the call (list of
selected projects, amounts and names of selected recipients)
Specific rules for JU actions
JU actions must contribute to the long-term implementation of the JU partnership, including
the JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, the JU objectives and the exploitation of
research and innovation results.
Moreover, when implementing JU actions, the members and contributing partners of the Joint
Undertaking must fulfil their obligations regarding contributions to the Joint Undertaking:
- the description of the action in Annex 1 must include, for beneficiaries, affiliated
entities, associated partners or other participants or third parties which are members or
contributing partners, the estimated contributions to the action, i.e.:
- in-kind contributions to operational activities (‘IKOP’; if applicable)
- in-kind contributions to additional activities linked to the action (‘IKAA’; if
applicable)
- financial contributions (‘FC’; if applicable)
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Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
- the contributions must be reported during the implementation of the action in the
Portal Continuous Reporting tool
- at the end of the action, the members and contributing partners that have not received
funding under the grant must ensure that financial and in-kind contributions of EUR
430 000 or more (see Article 21) are supported by statements of contributions (CS)
and certificates on the statements of contributions (CCS) which fulfil the following
conditions:
- be provided by a qualified approved external auditor which is independent and
complies with Directive 2006/43/EC (or for public bodies: by a competent
independent public officer)
- the verification must be carried out according to the highest professional
standards to ensure that the statements of contributions comply with the
provisions under the Agreement and the applicable JU Regulation, that the
contributions cover activities that are part of the action and that they have not
been reimbursed by the grant
- contributions must comply with the following conditions:
- costs covered by financial contributions cannot be claimed for reimbursement
under the JU grant.
The beneficiaries must comply with the additional IPR, dissemination and exploitation
obligations set out in the call conditions (Article 16 and Annex 5), in particular:
- for all JU grants: the granting authority right to object to transfers or licensing also
applies to results generated by beneficiaries not having received funding under the
grant.
In addition to the obligations set out in Article 17, communication and dissemination
activities as well as infrastructure, equipment or major results funded under JU actions must
moreover display the Joint Undertaking’s special logo:
and the following text:
“The project is supported by the [insert JU name] and its members [OPTION for actions with national
contribution top-ups: (including top-up funding by [name of the national funding authority])].”
For EuroHPC and Chips JU grants, the beneficiaries must respect the following conditions
when implementing actions with national contribution top-ups from Participating States:
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Associated with document Ref. Ares(2026)1654798 - 13/02/2026
- the beneficiaries must ensure visibility of the national contributions (see below)
- the payment deadlines for prefinancing, interim or final payments are automatically
suspended if a national funding authority is late with its payments to the Joint
Undertaking for the national contribution top-up
- the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), European Public Prosecutor’s Office
(EPPO), European Court of Auditors (ECA), the National Court of Auditors and other
national authorities can exercise their control rights on the project implementation and
costs declared, including for the national contribution top-up.
Specific rules for blending operations
When implementing blending operations, the beneficiaries acknowledge and accept that:
- the grant depends on the approved financing from the Implementing Partner and/or
public or private investors for the project
- they must inform the granting authority both about the approval for financing and the
financial close — within 15 days
- the payment deadline for the first prefinancing is automatically suspended until the
granting authority is informed about the approval for financing
- both actions will be managed and monitored in parallel and in close coordination with
the Implementing Partner, in particular:
- all information, data and documents (including the due diligence by the
Implementing Partner and the signed agreement) may be exchanged and may be
relied on for the management of the other action (if needed)
- issues in one action may impact the other (e.g. suspension or termination in one
action may lead to suspension also of the other action; termination of the grant
will normally suspend and exit from further financing and vice versa, etc.)
- the granting authority may disclose confidential information also to the Implementing
Partner.
9
Digitally sealed by the European Commission
Date: 2026.02.13 16:05:36 CET
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organisation. Both the content of the document and a set of metadata have been digitally
sealed.
This digital signature mechanism, using a public-private key pair mechanism, uniquely
binds this eReceipt to the modules of the Funding & Tenders Portal of the European
Commission, to the transaction for which it was generated and ensures its full integrity.
Therefore a complete digitally signed trail of the transaction is available both for your
organisation and for the issuer of the eReceipt.
Any attempt to modify the content will lead to a break of the integrity of the electronic
signature, which can be verified at any time by clicking on the eReceipt validation
symbol.
More info about eReceipts can be found in the FAQ page of the Funding & Tenders
Portal.
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