Piloting Programme
Are you quite confident in your project and already know how you want to scale it? Do you have a bold, out-of-the-box idea to boost the societal impact of a democratic innovation, but need financial support to make it happen?
We give you the resources and guidance to test it.
What it is
A 12-month, action-oriented programme for organisations ready to test and learn from innovative approaches to scaling democratic participation.
It provides the missing resources to explore ideas that address one or more of the four scaling gaps with a strong focus on experimentation and practical results.
Who should apply
We welcome applications from public bodies, NGOs, civil society organisations, community initiatives, think-and-do tanks, research teams and mission-driven companies established in countries eligible under the call HORIZON-CL2-2024-DEMOCRACY-01-12 (Annex B, pp. 9-10-11). You should already be active in democratic practice, even indirectly.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want to try new ways to reach more people or communities? (Scale Out)
- Are you looking to improve the quality of your initiative? (Scale In)
- Do you want to test approaches to engage decision-makers or embed participation in institutions? (Scale High)
- Are you striving to achieve cultural resonance with your initiative? (Scale Deep)
If yes, the Piloting Programme is for you. We welcome both experienced teams and newcomers with bold ideas.
Funding up to €100,000 per project
Dedicated support to test innovative ideas to scale an innovation in real contexts.
Peer learning with other pilot teams
Exchange with a cohort of pilot teams facing similar scaling gaps.
Mentoring from ScaleDem experts
Tailored guidance from the ScaleDem consortium throughout implementation.
International visibility and network access
Access to a European network of democratic innovators, allies and stakeholders.
Dedicating working time to the pilot activities
Participants are expected to dedicate a certain amount of time per week (depending on goal of the pilots and the expected activities to be implemented) in the sucessful realisation of the pilots.
Contributing actively to the programm activities
Beyond carrying out the pilot activities, we expect all participants to take part in the programme’s events, including regular consortium meetings, information and training sessions, and networking activities.
Contributing to evaluation report
Participants in the piloting programme are expected to contribute to a report submitted by each pilot. A template for the report will be provided.
We provide support and two Q&A sessions on 20 and 29 January
Jury is in the process of evaluate applications
Applications selected and results are out
Physical kick-off event in Cascais, Portugal
Three mandatory capacity building events online
Two voluntary peer-to-peer advisory and networking events online
In-person final evaluation meeting
How to apply
Present your project idea, the scaling gap you seek to address and how you plan to overcome it during the programme.
We recommend submitting a declaration of interest before proceeding (see below). If you have any doubt or questions, check our Q&As and register for the info sessions!
Full details are in the guide for applicants and the application form.
We help you submit a strong application
If you would like feedback before submitting your full proposal, we offer optional pre-application support.
Submit a declaration of interest
Submit a declaration of interest by 13 February 2026 outlining your project idea and the scaling challenges you want to address. We will answer any questions and provide feedback to help you prepare a strong application for the most suitable programme. The form is provided below, and instructions on how to apply are available at this link.
Our online info sessions
Watch the recordings of the first info session (20 January) or the second one (29 January) to find answers to your questions.
If you have any questions, we are here to assist you. Please refer to our Q&A document, and if you cannot find the information you’re looking for, feel free to contact us at opencalls@scaledem.eu
Looking for a different path?
The Piloting Programme supports experimental ideas to scale democratic innovations that lack funding. If you already have a running or upcoming project, are facing a scaling gap, and need active coaching plus additional resources to boost its impact, then check out our Twinning Programme.