Enabling a network of EOSC federated and trustworthy repositories and enhancing the framework of generic and discipline specific services for data and other research digital objects

Across the two open calls, FIDELIS will allocate a total of 500,000 euros in cascading grants to support repositories in adopting and implementing tested best-practice solutions, such as services, tools, methodologies, or policies developed by FIDELIS, EDEN, existing repositories or other relevant EOSC projects. These solutions are intended to support repositories in becoming or strengthening their capabilities as Trustworthy Digital Repositories. For the first open call, a total of up to 280,000 will be distributed.

Applicants are able to apply using the TRUST-Grants platform accessible via the FIDELIS website.

Topics for the first calls are:

1. Support offer 1: Exposing your repository in the EDEN registry for long term preservation services
2. Support offer 2: Tools for privacy preserving data release and trustworthy publication (EOSC SIESTA)
3. Support offer 3: Advancing repository capabilities with Core Preservation Processes (EOSC EDEN)
4. Support offer 4: Managing repositories: a service perspective

Further details are available on the FIDELIS Training & Support webpage.

Successful applicants are expected to clearly demonstrate the following:

1. The support offer(s) they are applying for
2. The level of relevant knowledge and experience prior to participation
3. The expected benefits and learning outcomes gained though participation (max. 300 words)
4. Confirmation that they are in an eligible country
5. Declaration that they are not a beneficiary of the FIDELIS project
6. Confirmation of commitment to 12-15 person-days of effort, as defined in the selected support offer descriptions.

Eligibility

This call is open to individuals or individuals representing a team in a single organisation. Applicants must reside and/or work in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country for the duration of the grant. The call is not open to individuals affiliated with direct beneficiaries of the FIDELIS project.

Evaluation

Applications will be reviewed by three members of the FIDELIS project team. The evaluation will focus on selecting the most suitable applicants while bringing together a range of experiences and viewpoints, with the aim of ensuring good representation and creating the best possible support-offer‑specific opportunities for peer learning. To achieve this, a good balance of participants from different geographic areas, repository types and levels of maturity, and disciplines will be sought. Successful applicants will be notified following the completion of the evaluation period.

Effort required from successful applicants and duration of the support offers:

1. Participation in a single support offer will require no more than 15 working days. A full breakdown of the effort required from successful applicants is listed on the project website.
2. The effort will be spent by active participation in the contact points or workshops during the support offer, implementing the solution(s) in the participant's local environment, presenting the outcomes, and on implementation reporting.
3. The actual delivery of the support offer and related work on implementing the solution will not exceed a period of 3 months (between mid-August and mid-November 2026).

Compensation for adopting a solution:

1. Successful applicants will receive a standard day rate of 500 EUR/day to support their adoption of a solution and active participation to the selected support offer. 
2. Each support offer requires a defined number of days worth of effort. The effort ranges from 12 to 15 days, and a respective total of 6000 to 7500 euros will be paid upon completion of the support offer. 
3. Financial support will be payable by invoice to the FIDELIS cascading grants coordinator (Trust-IT) upon successful completion of the support offer.

For further details, please see the Support for the Adoption of Solution section of the FIDELIS Training & Support webpage and the related FAQs on the same webpage. Queries can be sent to us at [email protected].