Call for proposals under the Challenge program

Publication date

22.5.2025. 16:00

Application start

9.6.2025. 09:00

Application deadline

14.7.2025. 14:00

Status

Open

About call for proposal

FAQ

Call reference number: DIGIT.2.1.02
Funding source: DIGIT Project
Type of call: Temporary open – two stage submission (Concept note and Full application stage)
Status: Open
Publication date: 22 May 2025, 16:00
Start date for project application submission (Stage 1: Concept note): 09 June 2025, 09:00
Deadline for project application submission (Stage 1: Concept note): 14 July 2025, 14:00
Responsible authority: Ministry of Science, Education and Youth

Subject of this call:

The subject of the call is to support innovative project proposals from consortia that address specific challenges related to digital transformation and green transition. The goal is to develop solutions that have transformative potential, aiming to foster Croatia’s digital future and transition to a climate-resilient, environmentally sustainable economy. The call targets large-scale, mission-driven projects designed to stimulate industrial efficiency, competitiveness, and cross-sectoral technological collaboration.

Total grant funding available: €15,000,000.00
Minimum grant amount: €2,000,000.00
Maximum grant amount: €4,000,000.00

Eligible applicants for this call: Research organizations

Documentation of this call:

  1. Guidelines for Applicants – Challenge
  2. Annex I. Conditions for the preparation and implementation of projects
  3. Annex II. Declaration by the Applicant
  4. Annex III. Declaration by the Partner
  5. Annex IV. Concept note form
  6. Annex V. Indicative content of the baseline survey
  7. Annex VI. Full application form
  8. Annex VII. Environmental and social screening questionnaire
  9. Annex VIII. Minimum content requirements for the Partnership agreement
  10. Annex IX. Group statement
  11. Annex X. State aid request
  12. State aid program

Announcement, 20 June 2025:
The presentation from the online workshop held on 18 June 2025 is available on this link.

Announcement, 23 June 2025:

We inform all interested applicants to the Call for proposals under the Challenge program (DIGIT.2.1.02) that answers to relevant questions received by 1 July 2025 will be published as part of the FAQ section on the official call webpage, no later than 7 July 2025, i.e. prior to the closure of the Concept note submission phase. Questions received after 1 July 2025 will not be subject to further clarification before the end of the first submission phase. However, relevant inquiries will be subsequently published in the FAQ section of the call webpage, with the aim of informing applicants about the next stage of the application process – the Full application.

Announcement (27 June 2025): First revision of the Challenge Call documents

The following documents have been amended as part of the first revision of the Challenge Call (DIGIT.2.1.02):

All changes in these documents are clearly marked as follows:

The previous versions of these documents are no longer valid. All other annexes of the Call documentation not listed above remain unchanged and in force.

The revision also includes an extension of the deadline for submitting Concept note proposals, which is now until July 14, 2025.

Announcement (27 June 2025): Update regarding the FAQ publication

Considering the 1st revision of the Call, FAQs no. 5, 7, 9, and 16 have been updated.

Following the extension of the Concept note submission deadline, we inform all interested applicants to the Challenge Call (DIGIT.2.1.02) that answers to relevant questions received by 7 July 2025 will be published as part of the FAQ section on the official call webpage, no later than 11 July 2025, i.e. prior to the closure of the Concept note submission phase.

Questions received after 7 July 2025 will not be subject to further clarification before the end of the first submission phase. However, relevant inquiries will be reviewed and subsequently published in the FAQ section, with the aim of informing applicants about the next stage of the application process – the Full application.

Announcement (July 1, 2025): Important update regarding baseline survey submission

Applicants are hereby informed that the Guidelines for Applicants document contained an error in the links provided for completing the baseline survey for research organisations (ROs) and enterprises. Please make sure to use the correct links below when completing the baseline survey: