GROUNDED TRUTHS will develop and test a Rural Skills Navigator, a digital skills-intelligence and pathway tool that enables participating territories to identify the competencies required to respond to locally identified soil, water, food, biodiversity and climate challenges — and to connect those needs with existing skills, learning opportunities and future capacity-building pathways. The Navigator will not operate as a conventional course catalogue. It will connect territorial challenges → actors → roles → competencies → skills gaps → learning pathways → innovation opportunities.

Pre-application consortium management coordinator: Sandra Lund, email: info@livinglabsnetwork.com

Deadline: 4 March 2027

• Type: Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Actions, Grant Budget

• Total topic budget: €60 million

• Expected EU contribution: 1 500 000,00 € to 4 500 000,00 €

• Expected awards: 30 projects

The European Union’s R&I system needs to promote a more inclusive approach in which all can participate and from which all can benefit. Existing disparities between R&I leading and lagging countries should be tackled by introducing structural policy reforms. Closer links between research and innovation and institutional cooperation to produce high-quality knowledge are key to help bridge these disparities. By building on their pockets of excellence and connecting them to broader networks of excellence countries will be able to upgrade their R&I systems, and allow the European Union as a whole to advance together.

This destination will deploy a portfolio of complementary actions to build up and strengthen R&I capacities in Widening countries enabling them to advance to the competitive edge at European and international level. It will contribute to the development of pan-European innovation ecosystems. In addition, particular attention will be paid to cross-cutting objectives set for Horizon Europe, such as inclusive gender equality and open science practices.

Expected impact

• Increased science and innovation capacities for all actors in the R&I system in Widening countries;

• Structural changes leading to modernised and more competitive R&I systems with increased attractiveness and retention of research talents;

• Mobilisation of national and European resources for strategic investments;

• Higher participation in Horizon Europe and more leadership roles in collaborative projects;

• Stronger linkages between academia and business and improved career permeability;

• Greater involvement of regional actors in the R&I process;

• Excellent talents attracted to institutions including research infrastructures;

• Balanced circulation of R&I talents including intersectoral mobility, and improved gender equality and inclusiveness;

• Improved linkages and increased mobility between academic and business, notably by overcoming sectoral barriers;

• Free circulation of knowledge and expertise in line with ERA priorities.