Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADSM) for more efficient and flexible distribution grids
Horizon Europe · Grant topic
Summary
A Polish company can use this call for R&D.
Funds companies, distribution operators and research organisations developing and testing advanced distribution management software, architectures and technologies for flexible, efficient grids.
- Who can apply
- Companies can lead: SME, large company, research org, university.
- Amount
- €9.5M per projectTotal budget €28,500,000
- Deadline
- 01 Dec 2027 01:00 CETin 403 days
- Status
- Forthcomingopens 4 Aug 2027
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source.
Description
Expected Outcome:
Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes:
• Enhanced reliability, resilience, controllability and efficiency of electricity distribution grids. Congestion in distribution grids is managed effectively;
• Distribution system operators (DSO) leverage modern digital solutions and employ improved systems to effectively manage their grids and improve interoperability with TSOs and other DSOs;
• Vendor-agnostic reference architectures, solutions and tools are developed to help advancing the ADSM design and operation and effectively manage a broad range of grid services.
Scope:
Projects are expected to address all the following items:
• Design and test innovative solutions, architectures, technologies and processes for advancing the way the ADSM are designed and operated;
• Provide ADSM software platforms that improve grid performance, controllability, and help integrating distributed energy resources (DERs) in an efficient way, while reducing congestion and improving grid flexibility;
• Advance forecasting solutions for energy supply, demand, and flexibility made available to the system operator; provide advanced analytics and visualisations;
• Advance interoperability, both with TSOs and other DSOs, as well as with the DERs at the edge of the grid;
• Leverage modern solutions, notably digital twins and artificial intelligence. Use security-by-design and advanced protection mechanisms against cyber threats. Use and/or develop, to the greatest extent possible, open-source software solutions and or software modules;
• Develop a manual and propose best practices on this matter to be used by other DSOs (including instructions to operate the system). Identify remaining gaps and further needs for research and development.
The demonstration, test and validation of the activities should be carried out in at least two pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
Projects are expected to include at least three Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and at least two universities and/or research organisations.
Additionally, collaboration is encouraged with the following entities:
• at least one supplier of technology and solutions for ADMS;
• at least one transmission system operator, which manage grids that are connected to the grids operated by any of the DSOs that are partners in the project;
• (at least) one project funded under the separate call ‘Advanced TSO control rooms to enhance grid control and resilience’ with the view to strengthen TSO-DSO coordination and support interoperable solutions. To that end, the project proposals are expected to describe a credible mechanism to do so.
This collaboration (minimum number of entities) is sought per project in total and does not necessarily apply per each pilot in particular.
Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative[1] and actively participate in its activities.
Technology Readiness Level - Technology readiness level expected from completed projects
Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
[1] https://bridge-smart-grid-storage-systems-digital-projects.ec.europa.eu/
Who can apply, in detail
- Applicant types
- SME, Large company, Research org, University
- Purpose
- Research and innovation
- R&D relevance
- 3 of 3
- Poland eligible
- Yes
- Country limit
- —
- Region
- Any
- Consortium
- Unclear
- Readiness level (TRL)
- —
- Topics
- Distribution management systems
- Grid flexibility
- Distributed energy integration
- Grid software platforms
- Grid interoperability
Machine-classified from the call text; check eligibility at the source. 23 Oct 2026
Conditions
Typed facts extracted from the source documents by Scindu's grant-data review. Each value keeps its own conditions. Unknown means unstated, not zero or unlimited.
- Consortium required
- Yes
Unless the exact topic-specific conditions provide otherwise, this action requires three independent beneficiary legal entities established in three different countries: at least one in an EU Member State and at least two others in different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Affiliated entities do not count toward the minimum. Topic-specific required organisation types, applicant restrictions, and exceptions recorded elsewhere in this packet remain applicable; this baseline does not replace them.
- Consortium requiredConsortium across the whole project, not each pilot
- Yes
At least three DSOs and at least two universities and/or research organisations are expected. A technology supplier, connected TSO and one project funded under D3-25 are encouraged collaborators rather than required consortium minima.
- Other condition
- The Work Programme specifies Innovation Action as the action type for this topic.
- Other condition
- Selected projects are expected to contribute to the BRIDGE initiative and actively participate in its activities.
- Other condition
- Entities established in eligible countries but directly/indirectly controlled by China (or China-established legal entities) cannot participate where the topic invokes the critical-technology restriction.
- Other condition
- The topic encourages an ADMS technology supplier, at least one connected TSO, and a project funded under the separate D3-25 call; proposals should describe a credible coordination/interoperability mechanism.
These are encouraged collaborator categories, not additional minimum consortium requirements.
- Other condition
- Improve distribution-grid reliability, resilience, controllability and efficiency; support DSOs with modern digital tools and interoperability; and develop vendor-agnostic ADSM solutions.
- Other condition
- Technology Activities are expected to achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project – see Readiness Level General Annex B. Activities may start at any TRL.
- Other condition
- Work Programme call table lists an indicative EU contribution of around EUR 9,500,000 per project and an indicative 3 project(s) expected to be funded. The amount and count are indicative, not guarantees or hard recipient caps.
- Other condition
- Demonstration, testing and validation should occur in at least two pilots located in different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
- Other condition
- Where satellite data/services are used, beneficiaries must use Copernicus and/or Galileo/EGNOS; other services may also be used.
- Other condition
- All listed scope items apply: advance ADSM design/operation; provide software for performance, controllability, DER integration, congestion and flexibility; improve forecasting/analytics, interoperability, digital twins/AI/cybersecurity/open source, and operating manuals/best practices. Demonstrate/test/validate in at least two pilots in different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
- Technology readiness level at end, maximumExpected end-of-project target upper endpoint, not a hard maximum
- 8 TRL level
Work Programme wording is “expected to achieve”; activities may start at any TRL. This is an expected target range, not a prohibited higher result.
- Technology readiness level at end, minimumExpected end-of-project target lower endpoint, not a mandatory minimum at project end
- 6 TRL level
Work Programme wording is “expected to achieve”; activities may start at any TRL. The endpoints are not hard grant eligibility thresholds.
Amounts and costs
- Indicative budget
- €28,500,000
Topic budget as stated in the portal's budget table. Lump-sum and per-project limits are in the call conditions.
- Eligible cost limit
- 25 percent flat rate of eligible direct costs, subject to the base exclusions in conditions
Horizon Europe General Annex G describes a 25% indirect-cost flat rate on eligible direct costs, excluding eligible direct subcontracting costs, financial support to third parties, and any unit costs or lump sums that include indirect costs. For HORIZON-AG actual-cost grants this is a cost-calculation rule, not a grant-rate increase. For HORIZON-AG-LS it informs the underlying eligible-cost estimate only; it is not an additional payment on top of the fixed lump sum. The topic indicative allocation and per-project contribution are distinct from this cost rate.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 70 percent of eligible costs (general Innovation Action maximum for non-profit status not established)
The exact Work Programme labels this topic an Innovation Action. General Annex G sets a 70% maximum for legal entities other than non-profit entities; the separate nonprofit maximum is represented in its own typed fact. This is an action-type maximum, not a guarantee or the topic-level indicative EU contribution; the final rate is fixed in the grant agreement. For the lump-sum topics, the rate is already applied in the lump-sum methodology and is not an extra multiplier.
- Funding intensity, maximum
- 100 percent of eligible costs (up to; nonprofit legal entities only)
Only for a non-profit legal entity, the general Innovation Action maximum may be up to 100%; this is not automatic or a salary entitlement, and final funding parameters are fixed in the grant agreement. For the lump-sum topics, the percentage is embedded in the lump-sum amount methodology and is not an extra multiplier.
- Expected contribution per projectCommission-estimated EU contribution per project for this exact topic
- €9,500,000
The Work Programme says this amount would allow outcomes to be addressed appropriately but expressly does not preclude proposals requesting other amounts. It is not a minimum, maximum or award promise.
- Topic allocationExact Work Programme topic allocation, not per-project funding
- €28,500,000
The call table marks the budget indicative and subject to availability of Union appropriations; it is not a guaranteed grant or per-beneficiary amount.
Personnel and services
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are eligible personnel-cost categories when the source terms are met; the call does not identify vacancies, salary amounts, project headcount, or hiring decisions. MGA A.2/A.3 requires assignment to the action, employee-like working conditions, result ownership by the beneficiary unless otherwise agreed, and a rate based on actual incurred costs not significantly different from similar employee tasks.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are eligible personnel-cost categories when the source terms are met; the call does not identify vacancies, salary amounts, project headcount, or hiring decisions. MGA A.1 covers personnel working for the beneficiary under an employment contract or equivalent appointing act and assigned to the action; salary components follow Article 6.2 A.1.
Other role
Staff cost the grant can fund
These are eligible personnel-cost categories when the source terms are met; the call does not identify vacancies, salary amounts, project headcount, or hiring decisions. Only SME owners not receiving a salary or natural-person beneficiaries not receiving a salary are covered; declared as Annex 2a unit costs, subject to general eligibility conditions.
Source documents
Call facts
- Opens
- 4 Aug 2027
- Deadline model
- Single-stage
- Programme
- Horizon Europe · 2021 - 2027
- Call
- HORIZON-CL5-2027-07 · ENERGY
- Types of action
- HORIZON Innovation Actions
- Source
- ec.europa.eu
- Checked
- 24 Oct 2026
- Portal updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Review status
- Partial review
- Reviewed
- 23 Oct 2026
This is a summary of the source page, not the official text. Eligibility, conditions and the submission system are at the source.