Open Topic: Innovative solutions for the sustainable and circular transformation of SMEs

This funding program primarily targets Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and their associations, aiming to support their transition towards sustainable and circular economic models. The geographic scope extends across the European Union and associated countries, with specific provisions for participation from other non-EU/non-associated nations. The overarching objective is to contribute significantly to the EU’s environmental and climate goals by fostering green innovation within the SME sector.

This program funds projects focused on developing and demonstrating innovative, sustainable, and circular solutions across various industrial and environmental sectors. It aims to advance technologies and practices from prototyping through market introduction, primarily supporting innovation actions that can be deployed in large-scale operational environments.

The funding for this program is provided as a grant, with a maximum allocation of 5,000,000 € per project. This financial support is designed to facilitate the development and demonstration of innovative solutions.

Applicants must adhere to specific conditions for proposal submission, consortium formation, and project implementation, including strict administrative guidelines and regulatory compliance. Proposals are subject to a blind evaluation process in the first stage and must consider broader EU policy objectives.

The application process for this program is structured in two stages, featuring a blind evaluation for initial proposals. The selection process is competitive, with clear evaluation criteria and timelines provided by the European Commission.

This section outlines the fundamental legal and official documents that authorize, establish, and govern the funding program, ensuring its legitimacy and guiding its operational framework within the broader European Union policies.