HORIZON-KDT-JU-2021-2-RIA-Focus Topic 1-Processing solutions for AI at the edge addressing the design stack and middleware
HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-KDT-JU-2021-2-RIA-Focus-Topic-1
- Programme
- HORIZON-KDT-JU-2021-2-RIA
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- January 18, 2022
- Deadline
- April 27, 2022
- Deadline Model
- single-stage
- Budget
- €20,000,000
Description
Proposal results are expected to contribute to one or more of the following outcomes:
- Development of European processors/accelerators for secure embedded intelligence supporting inference and machine learning in autonomous intelligent objects and AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) at the edge.
- Development of platforms and automated tools for HW/SW co-design of edge-AI based systems including non traditional computing paradigms (e.g. neuromorphic).
- Development of AI software algorithms and/or frameworks and tools for dealing with sparse computing resources for edge-AI based systems.
- Increased energy efficiency and improved processing capabilities for edge-AI.
- Support of virtualization concepts at firmware, operating system and middleware layer for vertical applications (e.g. automotive, industry, … )
- Design for security and reliability to support applications in critical sectors like mobility, healthcare, industry, …
Proposals need to address:
- The design of innovative and energy-efficient processing solutions for AI on theedge and deep-edge, with a focus on new processor architectures and middleware.
- Tools allowing semi-automatic and automatic design space exploration, including variants of algorithms, computing paradigms, hardware performances, energy efficiency, etc.
- Scalable architecture, use of interposer and chiplets to build chips for various applications (for edge and for embedded HPC applications) with the same family of hardware building blocks with efficient interconnection network, e.g. using photonics.
- Development of hybrid architectures, integration and cooperation of neuromorphic or other non-conventional computing solutions within classical systems. Supporting design tool chains and OSs addressing multiple computing paradigms
- Middleware and engineering tools, to reach a trade-off between training cost, power consumption and execution time while supporting virtualization concepts.
- Advanced memory management
- Automated transfer-learning, meta-learning, and real-time learning at the edge
- Secure (i.e. trustworthy and explainable) edge-AI by design.
- Encouraging SMEs to participate in those developments, in particular paying attention to the needs of SMEs, involve SMEs in project execution, and develop solutions that can be taken up and/or exploited by SMEs
The activities have their centre of gravity at the TRL 4-5 – see Annex 1 of the KDT JU Work Pogramme 2021
Eligibility & Conditions
Applicants are invited to carefully read all the provisions below before preparing and submitting their proposals.
The estimated EU budget for this topic is given in the KDT JU Work Programme 2021 and in the topic header above. For the most up to date information concerning the budget commitments of the KDT JU Participating States applicants are invited to check the KDT JU web site: https://www.kdt-ju.europa.eu/current-call
The specific provisions and funding rates (both EU and national) are described in the KDT-JU Work Programme 2021.
The complex funding rates of KDT JU RIA call 2021 and the limitations of the submission system resulted in the fact that the funding rates of the large enterprises (for profit not SMEs) are not adequately integrated in the JU/EU Budget table in the Part A. Consequently, these organizations need to calculate their JU/EU Funding as instructed in the Guide for Applicants (examples for each Call/topic are presented).
Similarly, the National Budgets/Funding Table are not anymore integrated into the Part A (as it was the case in the past for the ECSEL JU) and it needs to be uploaded as a separate xls file in the dedicated place holder in the submission tool. More details/instructions are provided in the Guide for Applicants
The Part C are now named National Part in the submission tool to avoid confusion with the Part C (dynamic forms) used by other programmes. More details are provided in the Guide for Applicants
INFORMATION for the SWIISS applicants.
Switzerland has decided to fund the its applicants in approved KDT projects of the calls 2021-1 and 2021-2 directly. Swiss participants will receive funding from the State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) that covers the part that would otherwise be covered by the EU contribution. Innosuisse will provide the funding that would normally account for the national co-funding. More infromation: https://www.innosuisse.ch/inno/en/home/promotion-of-international-projects/eu-partnerships/key-digital-technologies.html
Admissibility conditions: are described in the KDT JU Work Programme 2021
The page limit of the application is as follows:
- The page limit for the chapter on EXCELLENCE is 60 pages
- The page limit for the chapter on IMPACT is 100 pages
- The page limit for the chapter on IMPLEMENTATION is 100 pages.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Proposal Template available in the Submission System
Eligible countries: described in Annex 1, Call/Topic Description and Annex 3 (specific National/ Regional Funding eligibility conditions) of the KDT JU Work Programme 2021.
The following additional eligibility criteria apply:
- Consortium size limit: the maximum size is 50 participants.
- Maximum EU contribution per project: the EU contribution per project is capped at 12M€
- Maximum EU contribution per participant in a project is limited to 40% of the total EU funding for the project.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in the Annex 1 of the KDT JU Work Programme 2021 and Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in the KDTJU Work Programme 2021
The following additions to the general award criteria apply:
- The scores will be given with a resolution of one decimal
- The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 11
- To determine the ranking the score for "Implementation" will be given a weight of 0.7
Submission and evaluation processes are described in the KDT JU Work Programme 2021, the KDT PAB Decision on evaluation and selection procedures, and the Online Manual
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: dscribed in the KDT JU Work Programme 2021
Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in KDT JU Work Programme 2021
Specific conditions
All the conditions are described in the KDT JU Work Programme 2021.
In this Call the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement
Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium agreement, in principle prior to the signature of the grant agreement.
CALL/TOPIC Documents
- KDT JU Work Programme 2021
- ECS-SRIA-2021
- Guide for Applicants to KDT JU Calls for proposals
- Proposal Template Model for IA and RIA Actions – KDT JU (this is only a model for applicants information; the template to be used for submission is available in the Submission System)
- Template Model National Budgets Table (this is only a model for applicants information; the template to be used for submission is available in the Submission System)
- Evaluation Form IA an RIA Actions – KDT JU
- KDT PAB Decision on evaluation and selection procedures
- Model Grant Agreement
- Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
- EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
For reference:
- KDT-JU Regulation of Establishment
- KDT PAB Decision on KDT-JU Calls 2021
- HE Programme Guide
- HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/69
- HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Support & Resources
Applicants are invited to carefully read all the call's provisions before preparing and submitting their proposals.
KDT JU HelpDesk – [email protected]
KDT JU National Contact Points - see Annex 3 of the KDT JU Work Programme 2021
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
The ECS Collaboration Tool and Partner Search Services help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Latest Updates
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for DK (pages 73-74).
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for PL (page 118).
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for TR (pages 136-137).
More information for the Swiss applicants interested to participate in KDT Calls 2021 (RIA and IA Actions) is available here: https://www.innosuisse.ch/inno/en/home/promotion-of-international-projects/eu-partnerships/key-digital-technologies.html
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for IT (MUR and MISE) (pages 98-104).
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for IT (MUR) (pages 98-101) and ES (MINAETD, AEI) (pages 125-132); a clerical error copy/paste was corrected in the sections “Artificial Intelligence” and “Connectivity” (pages 18 & 33); the national budgets table has been updated for IT(MUR), EL and SE (page 16)
The complex funding rates of KDT JU RIA call 2021 and the limitations of the submission system resulted in the fact that the funding rates of the large enterprises (for profit not SMEs) are not adequately integrated in the JU/EU Budget table in the Part A. Consequently, these organizations need to calculate their JU/EU Funding as instructed in the Guide for Applicants (examples for each Call/topic are presented).
Similarly, the National Budgets/Funding Table are not anymore integrated into the Part A (as it was the case in the past for the ECSEL JU) and it needs to be uploaded as a separate xls file in the dedicated place holder in the submission tool. More details/instructions are provided in the Guide for Applicants
The Part C are now named National Part in the submission tool to avoid confusion with the Part C (dynamic forms) used by other programmes. More details are provided in the Guide for Applicants
The “Guide for Applicants to KDT JU Calls for proposals” and the “Template Model National Budgets Table” are now available
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for PT (page 120) and SE (page 134-136)
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for AT (page 60) and LV (page 105-107)
The Model Grant Agreement with the KDT JU specificities is now available in the Call Documents
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules (funding rates) for NL (page 110)
The KDT JU Work Programme 2021 has been updated with information about the national eligibility rules for CZ (pages 70-71), LV (page 104), NO (page 111-112), ES (pages 121-126) and national budgetary commitments for CZ (page 15) and LV (page 16)