Funding and support now available for organisations ready to expand their
democratic solutions.
ScaleDem has launched two open calls to support organisations seeking to scale democratic
innovations. Through dedicated piloting and twinning programmes, the initiative provides
funding, empirical testing, and practical support to help proven solutions grow beyond their
current limits.
Funded by the European Union, ScaleDem bridges the gap between research and practice.
Across Europe, hundreds of participatory and civic innovations have been developed in recent
years, yet many remain small, isolated, or short-lived. ScaleDem provides the missing scaling
infrastructure by helping innovators strengthen internal capacities, expand to new contexts,
secure institutional backing, and root participation in culture.
The open calls invite local authorities, civil society organisations, NGOs, cooperatives, research
teams, and mission-driven companies to apply for two programmes:
- Piloting programme: for pathbreaking organisations ready to test bold strategies for
scaling, with up to €100,000 available. - Twinning programme: for pioneers looking to adapt or mentor proven democratic
innovations in new contexts. ScaleDem welcomes applications from both mentors and
mentees, with up to €65,500 available.
At the launch, project coordinator Camille Dobler encouraged a broad range of organisations and innovators to take part:
“Whether you are a practitioner, a public administration, or simply someone with an idea that can strengthen democratic resilience, ScaleDem is here to support you. We have resources and a knowledge transfer system in place to help you make it happen. So do not hesitate to reach out and learn more on our website.”
Registrations are open until 31 March 2026, with optional pre-application support available through a declaration of interest to be submitted by 31 January 2026.
More information on eligibility and the application process is available at: https://scaledem.eu/open-calls/
Register for the info sessions here.
Contacts
For the open calls: opencalls@scaledem.eu
For media inquiries: info@scaledem.eu
