ScaleDem offers funds for scaling democratic innovations

ScaleDem has announced a call for applications from organisations across Europe and beyond to apply for funding, mentorship, and peer learning to help scale democratic innovations.

‍

The Piloting Programme supports teams test bold new ideas (up to €100,000) to scale democratic innovations, while the Twinning Programme helps mentor–mentee communities adapt proven scaling approaches (up to €65,500 per community) in new contexts. All guidance, FAQs, and online forms are available on the ScaleDem website. The call is open until 31 March 2026.

‍

ScaleDem is an EU-funded project coordinated by Missions Publiques. Through research and hands-on practice, ScaleDem is working with practitioners to test, adapt, and scale solutions in real contexts by exploring four pathways to meaningful scaling:

• Scale Out. How can they reach more people and places?
• Scale In. How can they strengthen internal capacities and quality?
• Scale Up. How could you gain political or institutional support? 
• Scale Deep. How can you draw on local cultural contexts and collective practices that encourage citizen participation and engagement to strengthen your project?

‍

If you have questions, ScaleDem is hosting two online info sessions in January. They’ve also produced a Q&A document and can be reached at opencalls@scaledem.eu.

‍