Digital and media literacy as drivers for democratic and civic resilience

Overview

Funding for research projects that enhance democratic and civic resilience through digital and media literacy, targeting disinformation, polarization, and emotional manipulation in digital spaces. Intended for consortia of researchers, civil society organizations, public authorities, and educational institutions.

Who Can Apply

Consortia composed of legal entities (e.g., universities, research institutions, NGOs, public bodies, businesses) from eligible countries. The Joint Research Centre (JRC) may participate as a beneficiary with zero funding or as an associated partner.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: €6,000,000
• Funding is provided as a lump sum.

What Is Funded

Projects must address:

• Patterns of user behavior in digital information consumption, including emotional dynamics in disinformation dissemination.
• Algorithmic amplification of emotive content and its impact on polarization and trust in democratic institutions.
• Development of digital and media literacy strategies to counter manipulative narratives (e.g., populist or post-truth discourses).
• Assessment of existing media literacy initiatives and identification of gaps or new approaches.
• Use of computational tools (e.g., Social Network Analysis, Natural Language Processing) to map and mitigate disinformation.
• Strategies to improve critical thinking, evidence-based decision-making, and resilience against disinformation.
• Collaboration with relevant EU-funded projects and synergies with the JRC’s work on democracy and public governance.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Projects must target Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 4 to 6.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-05-11
• Deadline: 2026-09-22

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage application process via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must include a detailed budget table and adhere to a 50-page limit for Part B of the application.

Post-Award Obligations

• The granting authority may object to transfers of ownership or exclusive licensing of results for up to 4 years post-project.
• Standard Horizon Europe reporting and dissemination requirements apply.

Geographic Scope & Language

Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland. Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must adopt a multi-actor approach, involving stakeholders such as public authorities, educational institutions, civil society, and citizens.
• Clustering and cooperation with other selected projects under this topic are strongly encouraged.