Open Call Frequently Asked Questions
Publication date: 12-08-22
1. What do you mean by digital solution?
The Call is not prescriptive as to the format of the digital solutions - these can be a program, an application (web or mobile) or any digital tool that addresses at least one of the identified challenges and helps improve accessibility and safety of people with reduced mobility and other vulnerable groups who have their mobility experience restricted in Lisbon.
Please refer to the Bid Tool Kit to know in detail the challenges to be addressed.
Please refer to the Bid Tool Kit to know in detail the challenges to be addressed.
2. What kind of solutions are you looking for?
We are looking for any type of open-source digital solutions that improve accessibility and safety of people with reduced mobility and other vulnerable groups who have their mobility experience restricted in Lisbon.
By solution it is meant a full new solution, a plug-in, or an adaptation of an already existing open-source solution to customise it to Lisbon or to the targeted community/ies.
Examples include (but are not in any way limited to): a digital assistant to map (with precision) physical barriers in public spaces, automatic interpreters, augmented reality solutions, chatbots, audio guides, enriched language dictionaries with mobility related words for text-to-speech conversion, or assistive tools.
By solution it is meant a full new solution, a plug-in, or an adaptation of an already existing open-source solution to customise it to Lisbon or to the targeted community/ies.
Examples include (but are not in any way limited to): a digital assistant to map (with precision) physical barriers in public spaces, automatic interpreters, augmented reality solutions, chatbots, audio guides, enriched language dictionaries with mobility related words for text-to-speech conversion, or assistive tools.
3. Should my solution be data-centric?
Not necessarily. You can use already existing city data in your solution (for information on the data available you can check the webpage of the Open Call where you will find a list of available data sets in the Data Directory.
However, digital solutions to address the real challenges of vulnerable communities can take many forms, including solutions that gather and generate new data.
However, digital solutions to address the real challenges of vulnerable communities can take many forms, including solutions that gather and generate new data.
4. What is open-source?
By an open source solution, we mean that any deployed solution must be delivered in compliance with OSI’s open-source principles. That is, source code and all used libraries must be licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPL-V3) or equivalent, as long as it is ensured compliance with the following open-source principles (for more information: https://opensource.org/definition):
1. Free redistribution
2. Publish the source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavour
7. Distribution of license
8. License must not be specific to a product
9. License must not restrict other software
10. License must be technology-neutral
Any additional non-software deliverables, materials must be released under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public Licence.
1. Free redistribution
2. Publish the source code
3. Derived works
4. Integrity of the author's source code
5. No discrimination against persons or groups
6. No discrimination against fields of endeavour
7. Distribution of license
8. License must not be specific to a product
9. License must not restrict other software
10. License must be technology-neutral
Any additional non-software deliverables, materials must be released under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public Licence.
5. What kind of organisations can apply?
Any legal entity (public or private body) established as a Micro, Small or Medium-sized Enterprise (SME), Civil Society Organisation (CSO), including Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Higher Education Institution, or Research Centre an apply. Before submitting your applications, please check if your organisation fits in any of the above definitions here:
• Micro or SMEs: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/sme-definition_en
• CSOs: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/civil-society-organisation.html
• NGOs: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectID=09000016805d534d
• Micro or SMEs: https://ec.europa.eu/growth/smes/sme-definition_en
• CSOs: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/civil-society-organisation.html
• NGOs: https://search.coe.int/cm/Pages/result_details.aspx?ObjectID=09000016805d534d
6. Do applicants have to be based in the EU?
No. Applicants must be legally established in one of the 27 EU Member States, or in one of the third countries associated with Horizon Europe: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, Tunisia, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.
7. Can a consortium of several entities apply?
No. Each application should be promoted by one single entity, rather than consortium of multiple entities. That does not mean, however, that more organisations besides the promoter may not be able to participate in the development of the solution, for instance as subcontracted parties.
8. How will proposals be evaluated?
The criteria employed to evaluate proposals are similar to other European programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe). The proposals will be evaluated based on Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the implementation.
1. Excellence: the proposed solution must be relevant and sound, the proposed methodology credible and with the potential to advance the established status quo.
2. Impact: the proposed solution shall contribute to solve the challenges of the target group and to have the potential to create significant value to its users in the short term. Shall also demonstrate that the solution’s business model and financial sustainability strategy are well supported.
3. Quality and Efficiency of the implementation: the proposal shall demonstrate that the team have the capability and motivation to implement the innovation proposal. It shall also demonstrate the applicant has the operational and appropriate technical competencies required to develop de solution.
Each criterion will be scored from 0 to 5 points. Only proposals with at least 3 points in each criterion will be considered for funding. Once all applications have been evaluated, highest scored proposals will be financed until the budget of 1 million euro is reached.
Please refer to the Bid Tool Kit to access all details per criterion.
1. Excellence: the proposed solution must be relevant and sound, the proposed methodology credible and with the potential to advance the established status quo.
2. Impact: the proposed solution shall contribute to solve the challenges of the target group and to have the potential to create significant value to its users in the short term. Shall also demonstrate that the solution’s business model and financial sustainability strategy are well supported.
3. Quality and Efficiency of the implementation: the proposal shall demonstrate that the team have the capability and motivation to implement the innovation proposal. It shall also demonstrate the applicant has the operational and appropriate technical competencies required to develop de solution.
Each criterion will be scored from 0 to 5 points. Only proposals with at least 3 points in each criterion will be considered for funding. Once all applications have been evaluated, highest scored proposals will be financed until the budget of 1 million euro is reached.
Please refer to the Bid Tool Kit to access all details per criterion.
9. What kind of costs are covered by the financial grant?
The grant will cover 100% of costs that are relevant and directly related to the delivery of the project, up to 50.000€ or 60.000€, as applicable.
Eligible costs include staff costs linked to the development of the solutions, purchasing of digital tools, travel and accommodation costs (for instance to come to Lisbon to meet target communities) and subcontracting (e.g. user research, UX testing or legal support).
Please note the same rules for other European programmes also apply, such as: on request, innovators should be able to provide the probing documents (invoices, proof of payment, etc.); double financing is not allowed (e.g. same costs secured by a different grant or financial instrument); and all supported projects may be subject to future audit.
Eligible costs include staff costs linked to the development of the solutions, purchasing of digital tools, travel and accommodation costs (for instance to come to Lisbon to meet target communities) and subcontracting (e.g. user research, UX testing or legal support).
Please note the same rules for other European programmes also apply, such as: on request, innovators should be able to provide the probing documents (invoices, proof of payment, etc.); double financing is not allowed (e.g. same costs secured by a different grant or financial instrument); and all supported projects may be subject to future audit.
10. How will the grant be paid?
Projects will receive a first instalment of 50% of the fund upon signing the grant agreement, and the remainder at the end of the process, after delivery of the solution and approval of the final report.
11. Is commercial exploitation of the solution developed allowed?
Yes. The solution can be used for commercial purposes. You can even sell the deployed solution, as long as all source code and all necessary libraries to a well-functioning solution are available under an open-source license.
Please note that commercial exploitation is not the same as proprietary solution and that you may not enforce further restrictions to third parties, all solutions funded by the open call and derivative works must be distributed under the same open-source licence (please see FAQ #4).
Please note that commercial exploitation is not the same as proprietary solution and that you may not enforce further restrictions to third parties, all solutions funded by the open call and derivative works must be distributed under the same open-source licence (please see FAQ #4).
12. What are the most relevant dates of the call?
Submission of proposals: until 25 September 2022 (11:59PM GMT+1)
Potential panel interview within the evaluation process: October 2022 Announcement of evaluation results: November 2022
Signature of grant agreement: November 2022
Development of funded projects: up to 6 months from the signature of the contract (i.e. December 2022 to May 2023)
Final report submission: June 2023
Potential panel interview within the evaluation process: October 2022 Announcement of evaluation results: November 2022
Signature of grant agreement: November 2022
Development of funded projects: up to 6 months from the signature of the contract (i.e. December 2022 to May 2023)
Final report submission: June 2023
13. Solutions that improve the use of sustainable modes when commuting to school are eligible in this call?
The Call will fund the development of digital tools that address at least one of the specific challenges identified to improve accessibility and safety of people with reduced mobility and other vulnerable groups who have their mobility-experience restricted in Lisbon, children included.
Any digital solution that fits at least one of the challenges and is able to demonstrate its relevance, credibility to the challenge and target group, as well as its impact in improving accessibility and future sustainability can be proposed, as long as you intend it to be deployed in an open-source manner.
Any digital solution that fits at least one of the challenges and is able to demonstrate its relevance, credibility to the challenge and target group, as well as its impact in improving accessibility and future sustainability can be proposed, as long as you intend it to be deployed in an open-source manner.
14. Are children considered a vulnerable group in the scope of the Open Call?
Yes. The Call aims to fund digital solutions that improve accessibility of all persons who have their mobility experience in Lisbon constrained. Whilst some priorities are more focused on people with disabilities, impairments or D/Deaf, solutions that address other communities/groups are also welcome, as long as they demonstrate their relevance, credibility of approach and impact (in addition to quality and efficiency of implementation).
15. Does exist open-source digital solutions for urban mobility?
Yes, there are several solutions that can be found online. Here are some examples:
OpenTripPlanner
Transportr
Trufi
OpenTripPlanner
Transportr
Trufi
16. What data is available?
The data directory on the open call page of the VoxPop project website lists the typology of data made available.
17. Can I install equipment (e.g. Bluetooth sensors)?
No, the solution must be self-sufficient
18. Can my solution be on a wearable?
Yes, provided that all the developments made within the scope of the awarded funding are open-source.
