Sexual Risk Avoidance Education Program

National Research Center for Promoting Work and Strong Families is sponsored by Administration for Children and Families (ACF). This Center aims to improve the effectiveness of federal and state policies that promote the dignity of work, economic self-sufficiency, and family stability. It will support rigorous, policy-relevant research and build stronger connections between researchers and policymakers in human services programs. Activities include extramural research grants to fund timely, actionable research aligned with ACF priorities, including workforce development.

Culturally Specific Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Discretionary Grants (HHS-2026-ACF-OFVPS-EV-0036) is sponsored by Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The purpose of the Culturally Specific Services for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault program is to provide culturally specific services for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, addressing emergent needs from public health concerns. Optional activities include legal advocacy, job training, employment services, and identifying secure and safe affordable temporary or permanent housing.

Bio-based innovation in society: supporting the sustainable way of living is sponsored by European Commission — Horizon Europe. Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: advanced socio-economic transformation based on scientific/technological opportunities delivered by the bio-based sectors and bioeconomy. This will result in innovative bio-based products and services, supporting the more sustainable way of living (e.g. new socio-economic models), higher circularity, affordability, resource efficiency, climate neutrality etc); improved public understanding and engagement in bio-based innovation underpinned by scientific advances in life sciences and biotechnology; better living conditions for individuals and communities, benefiting from less polluted ecosystems, via healthier, and environmentally sustainable products and services with a reduced carbon footprint and based on circular and bio-based solutions. Scope: The projects under this topic are relevant to the EU policies related to the European Commission communication on: Building the future with nature: Boosting Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing in the EU, the Strategy for European Life Sciences, the EU Biotech Act, Clean Industrial Deal and the policies related to the fair green transition (objective of not leaving anyone behind). It also contributes to the Start-ups and Scale-ups strategy. Synergies with activities under the Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE) Joint Undertaking and New European Bauhaus are encouraged. Proposals should address the following activities: develop the innovative user-friendly bio-based products and/or services, underpinned by biotechnology and biomanufacturing approaches, to support the more sustainable applications with a clear societal benefit, such as less resource-intensive consumer goods, to reduce environmental and climate pressures. Foresee the necessary links with the digital technologies and tools (e.g., bioinformatics, AI, etc.); assess the potential of new socio-economic models for circular and bio-based systems, integrating aspects of environmental justice, gender equality, diversity and social inclusion, as well as relevant international global best practice, via e.g. societal dialogue/innovation, social impact assessment, involvement and inputs from the social sciences and humanities (SSH); include research and innovation activities to understand and increase the level of current public perception and acceptance, including the benefits / risks, addressing the consumer perspective, market acceptance and understanding of the bio-based innovation, as well as delivering higher understanding of consumption patterns and social demands; foresee the cooperation and feedback loops with industry and authorities, in respect to any new market solutions proposed. The multi-actor approach is encouraged. Proposals should involve SMEs – both as project beneficiaries or external actors - and offer opportunities to newcomers to Horizon Europe Cluster 6, as well as engage with the civil society stakeholders such as NGOs and consumer organisations to advance scale-up and facilitate future market deployment. Cooperation with projects funded under parallel topics such as HORIZON-CL6-2026-01-CIRCBIO-07: Advancing the European bio-based innovation enabled by biotechnology and biomanufacturing concepts is encouraged to maximise synergies, while avoiding overlaps. Cooperation between all projects funded under this topic should also be foreseen, as a specific tasks, with an allocation of resources, for synergies. Proposals should integrate the gender dimension and consider other social categories besides gender (disability, age, socio-economic status, ethnic and/or cultural origin, sexual orientation, etc.), and their intersections. This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and involvement of SSH experts in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities. International cooperation is encouraged. Technology Readiness Level - Techn Programme areas: Horizon Europe (HORIZON), Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment, Bio-based Innovation Systems in the EU Bioeconomy Keywords: Bio-based products (products that are manufactured using biological material as feedstock) bio-based materials, bio-based plastics, biofuels, bio-based and bio-derived bulk and fine chemicals, bio-based and bio-derived novel materials, Biochemical research methods, Biochemistry and molecular biology, Biodiversity conservation, Bioprocessing technologies (industrial processes relying on biological agents to drive the process) biocatalysis, fermentation, Environmental biotechnology, Environmental engineering, Industrial biotechnology, Materials engineering, Social innovation, Social sciences, interdisciplinary, Sociology, bio-based, bio-product, bioeconomy, biomanufacturing, biomass, biotechnology, fair transition

Ensuring comprehensive geographical coverage of the Network of Safer Internet Centres (SICs) is sponsored by European Commission — Digital Europe Programme. Expected Outcome: Deliverables: Provision of the four key elements required of a Safer Internet Centre, namely: A centre for raising awareness among children, parents/carers, teachers and educators as well as other relevant professionals working with children about online opportunities and risks for the under 18s, producing and promoting localised age-appropriate resources to address current and emerging risks and opportunities. A helpline to give advice and support to parents and children on issues related to children's use of digital technologies and services; to provide assistance on mental health issues relating to the exposure to age-inappropriate content online, including pornographic and violent content; to strengthen support to victims of cyberbullying, close cooperation with the national Child Helpline 116111 service is required. A hotline for tackling the spread of online CSAM (i.e., receiving, analysing, and processing reports of such material). Closer cooperation with law enforcement and the private sector should be further explored in the context of the EU strategy for a more effective fight against child sexual abuse and the proposed Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse and recast of the Directive 2011/93/EU on child sexual abuse. A youth panel to engage directly with children from different demographic groups, including the organisation of regular youth participation activities, allowing them to express their views and pool their knowledge and experience of using online technologies. Adequate turnover, geographic balance and an open selection of participants is required. Objective: The objective of the topic is to contribute to protection and empowerment of children online, a key EU priority, through comprehensive geographical coverage of national Safer Internet Centres (SICs) network in the EU. Notably: It seeks to enhance geographical coverage by engaging Safer Internet Centres that have not received EU funding under the previous call DIGITAL-2025-BESTUSE-08-NETWORKSICs. Only one Safer Internet Centre will be co-funded per country. SICs may be composed of one or more NGOs, government bodies/agencies, and/or private sector organisations and they provide online safety information, educational resources, public awareness tools and counselling and reporting services (through dedicated helplines and hotlines) for young people, teachers/educators, and parents/carers. The activities performed by the SICs help minors tackle online risks and become media-literate, resilient, digital citizens. The hotline work strand allows the public to anonymously report suspected online child sexual abuse material (CSAM) for assessment and takedown. The Safer Internet Centres also address the needs of children with specific or special needs, including those with disabilities and those hailing from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds, to ensure no child is left behind. Considering the new role for the Commission as an enforcement body for the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs), the Safer Internet Centres will strategically assist the Commission and cooperate with the DSCs in this role, in particular through data collection in the EU member states. Scope: The funding will ensure the continuation of the well-established European network of national SICs, by enabling the awarded consortia to provide at least: A centre for raising awareness among children, parents/carers, teachers and educators as well as other relevant professionals working with children about online opportunities and risks for the under 18s. The focus will be to identify and address: specific and general known risks (e.g. harmful and illegal content, cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content; sexual extortion, addictive design and manipulation, disinformation); specific and general emerging risks (e.g. new apps, games, online challenges and trends; AI and generative AI, including AI generated pornographic and viole Programme areas: DIGITAL Keywords: Artificial intelligence, intelligent systems, multi agent systems, Civil society organisations, Combating violence against children, young people and women, Communication, Communication network, Computer and information sciences, Computer sciences - Operating systems (software development only), Computing, Continuing professional training, Curriculum design and development, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Domains, Cybersecurity-aware culture (e.g. including children education), Data Security and Privacy, Data protection, Digital Rights Management (DRM), Education, Education and Training, Education-enterprises partnerships, Enhancing personal skills, Europe's innovation potential, Gamification, Gaming technology, Higher education, IT skills and competence, Identification of skills needs, Inclusive Education, Innovation, Involvement of children, Knowledge triangle between education, Learning outcomes, Media literacy, Network technologies / Internetworking, Networks (communication networks, sensor networks, networks of robots, etc.), New skills and competences for teachers, New technologies for Audio-Visual sector - Media, Personal development, Personalised prevention, Privacy, Privacy by design, Quality of education/educational products, Rights of the child, Social Media, Teaching materials, Telecommunications, Theories, techniques and tools for the identification, collection, attribution, acquisition, analysis and preservation of digital evidence, Training, Training of trainers (multiplication), Trust, Trust management architectures, mechanisms and policies, Trustworthy ICT, Virtual Reality, Vocational training, Youth policy, BIK+, Better Internet for Kids, CSAM, Digital Services Act, Network of safer Internet Centres, SICs, Safer Internet Centres, UN General Comment No. 25, awareness centre, carers, children, counsellingcyberbullying, educational resources, helpline, hotline, online child sexual abuse material, online safety, parents, professionals working with children, public awareness tools, special needs, special or specific needs, teachers and educators, victims of cyberbullying, xenophobia, youth