Skip to content

Pilot Guidance

On this page

General Guidance

This section provides an overview of the piloting process within LDT4SSC and offers guidance and relevant resources for each of the Work Strands.

Why to apply?
Pilots are at the heart of LDT4SSC. They enable real-world testing of data-processing through digital twin solutions, interconnection of digital twins requiring data spaces processes, validate interoperability, and deliver tangible benefits for communities. Selected pilots will receive:

  • Funding support.
  • Technical & non-technical guidance.
  • Increased visibility across the European Local Digital Twin ecosystem.

Who should apply?
LDT4SSC pilots are open to a wide range of stakeholders, including:

  • Cities, municipalities, provincial, regional authorities/governments
  • Syndicates and energy communities
  • Technology providers and AI innovators from the private and public sector

Piloting opportunities

👉 Check the sections below for more detailed information on each Work Strand.

⬇️

Work Strands (WS):
The project foresees three Work Strands through which potential pilots can apply to receive funding and develop their solutions:

WS1: Technical Interconnection of LDTs

Linking and scaling digital twins that are already in place

View Details

WS2: Creation of LDTs Based on Common Needs

Addressing shared urban or regional challenges (e.g., cross-border traffic, air pollution)

View Details

WS3: Adding New Advanced AI-Based Capabilities to existing LDTs

Integrating AI-driven, value-added services to enhance existing LDTs and new services to the LDT Toolbox

View Details

Common Requirements

This page summarises requirements shared across WS1, WS2, and WS3. For work-strand-specific requirements, see the individual cheat sheets.

🎯 Consortium Composition

  • 2+ local/regional public authorities from 2 different eligible countries
  • 1+ additional partner (private entity, association, trusted third party, or sector representative)
  • Eligible countries: EU Member States (incl. outermost regions & OCTs), EEA (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein), DEP-associated countries
  • Preference for EU local/regional authorities as Lead Partner
  • LDT4SSC Consortium members cannot participate in pilot consortia

📋 Application Form Content

  • Data governance scheme: current → target
    → Political • Technical • Legal • Organisational dimensions
  • Project management: teams, coordination, resource allocation, recruitment
  • Political endorsement (Letter of Commitment) + technical capacity for each public authority
  • End-user engagement strategy (workshops, consultations, participatory activities)
  • Quadruple Helix stakeholders — involve 3 of 4 groups:
    → Public • Private • Research/Academia • Civil Society
  • Alignment with EU priorities: Green Deal, New European Bauhaus, LDT4SSC challenges
  • Replicability: explain how approach/results can transfer to other EU communities
  • Socio-economic and environmental effects + eco-design approach
  • Sustainability strategy post-pilot (maintenance, scaling, financial plans)

🧱 Documents to Submit

Document Format
Application Form PDF
Financial Form Excel (.xlsx)
Letter(s) of Commitment PDF
Ownership and Control Declaration (OCD) PDF
Ethics and Data Protection Self-Assessment PDF

🛠️ Project Implementation

  • Follow LDT4SSC methodology phases:
    → Explore → Validate → Define → Implement
  • Submit workplan around pre-defined Pilot Deliverables (PD1–PD5)
  • Semantic interoperability via Linked Data Ontology (MIM1)
    → e.g., NGSI-LD, LDES, SPARQL
  • Engage with at least 5 foundational MIMs Plus:
    → MIM0 (Accessing Data), MIM1 (Interlinking Data), MIM2 (Processing Data), MIM3 (Sharing Data), MIM6 (Securing Data)
  • Establish contractual framework guaranteeing LDT/service sustainability
  • Publish open data models in open repositories under open licences
  • Maintain documentation for LDT4SSC Knowledge Hub
  • If using proprietary components: provide plan for open-source equivalent

💰 Financial Rules

Rule Value
Maximum grant per third-party (across all pilots) €500,000
Maximum grant per consortium €1,000,000
Co-funding from applicants ≥ 50% of total costs
Indirect costs 7% flat rate of direct costs
Pilot duration 12–18 months

📊 Reporting

  • Interim report (mid-term): Technical + Financial
  • Final report (within 30 days of conclusion): Technical + Financial
  • Certificate on Financial Statements (CFS) required if contribution ≥ €325,000

⭐ Common Recommendations

  • Assess LORDIMAS digital maturity
    → Lead: Digitally Optimised | Others: ≥ Moderate
  • Use open-source components; share enhancements back to community
  • Include IP and exploitation rights provisions in consortium agreement
  • Technically establish:
    → DCAT data catalogue
    → Data management system (JSON-LD, RDF, NGSI-LD)
    → IAM (OAuth2, OpenID Connect, Verifiable Credentials)
    → ODRL-based data policy
  • Record baseline data before project start (for Cost-Benefit Analysis)
  • Assess eco-design maturity (General Policy Framework for Ecodesign v2024)
    → At least 30 highest-priority criteria

📅 Timeline (Second Round of open calls - WS1, WS2, WS3)

Milestone Date
Call opens 2 February 2026
Call closes 2 April 2026 (23:59 CET)
Selection announced 30 June 2026
Pilots start 31 August 2026
Pilots end (max 18 months) 2 April 2028

Testing Environment

  • Demo environment: Provide sandboxed or reference environments for pilot demonstrations.

Application Process

👉 The second round of open calls is now OPEN. Check it out here. Apply until 15/04/2026, 23:59 CET.

To apply,

  1. Check your eligibility;
  2. Prepare and complete the required forms;
  3. Before submitting, ensure that all required documents are completed and signed, the consortium meets the eligibility criteria, the proposal aligns with the objectives of Work Strand 1;
  4. Submit your application via the LDT4SSC mailbox: 👉 Submit here.