Euroclusters for Europe's recovery
The Euroclusters for Europe's recovery program, launched under the Single Market Programme (SMP), aims to enhance the resilience and accelerate the green and digital transformation of European industrial ecosystems through collaborative cluster initiatives. It specifically focuses on empowering SMEs to innovate, internationalize, and upskill their workforce. This competitive call mobilizes cluster organizations to develop solutions for critical EU value chains and promote Europe's industrial leadership.
Who is Funded
The Euroclusters for Europe's recovery program is designed to fund a diverse range of organizations that are crucial for fostering European industrial resilience and transformation. Eligibility extends to cluster organizations and networks, along with other entities actively supporting green and digital transitions across EU Member States and associated countries. The program's core objective is to drive strategic autonomy, innovation, and internationalization within key industrial ecosystems.
What is Funded
The Euroclusters program provides funding for projects focused on addressing disruptions in critical EU value chains, accelerating the green and digital transformation of SMEs, and fostering the industrial deployment of new technologies. Supported activities span various industrial ecosystems and include specific cost categories for financial support to third parties and consortium operations, targeting projects primarily in later stages of development.
Type and Scope of Funding
The Euroclusters program offers competitive grant funding under the Single Market Programme, with a significant portion dedicated to cascade funding for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Projects receive a substantial grant to cover eligible costs, distinguishing between direct financial support to third parties (100% funded) and other consortium activities (90% co-funded). The program operates over a defined period, requiring projects to align with specific duration guidelines.
Conditions and Requirements
Applicants to the Euroclusters program must adhere to specific conditions and requirements concerning application submission, consortium formation, budgetary rules, and other operational provisions. These guidelines ensure fair evaluation, proper financial management, and effective implementation of the program's objectives, particularly emphasizing collaborative efforts and transparency.
Application Procedure
The application process for the Euroclusters program is structured around a single-stage submission, followed by a rigorous evaluation by an expert committee. Successful applicants will proceed to grant agreement signature, with a clear timeline for expected payments.
Legal Basis
The Euroclusters program operates under a clear legal framework established by EU regulations, ensuring its legitimacy and guiding its implementation. Key documents define its mandate and operational principles, with public access to official texts for transparency.
Introduction
The Euroclusters for Europe’s Recovery program is a competitive EU funding initiative aimed at strengthening European industrial ecosystems. It supports cluster organisations and their networks in driving green and digital transitions, fostering innovation, and enhancing SME resilience and international competitiveness. With a total budget of 42 million euros from 2021 to 2024, the program mandates a significant portion of funding to cascade down to SMEs, facilitating their direct involvement in key transformation activities. It emphasizes collaborative, cross-sectoral projects with a strong European dimension and a focus on impactful, measurable outcomes.
Similar Programs
Funding Overview
Funding Status:
Closed
Maximum Amount:
60,000 € per third party (SME)
Allocated Budget:
Total: 42,000,000 € across 2021-2024 (14,000,000 € in 2021, 9,000,000 € in 2022, 16,000,000 € in 2023, 3,000,000 € in 2024)
Deadline:
07.12.2021
Award Channel:
Competitive Tender
Region:
European Union Member States, as well as countries associated with the Single Market Programme (SMP) or those in ongoing negotiations for an SMP Association Agreement (e.g., Kosovo, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), provided the agreement enters into force before grant signature. Projects must also aim to engage SMEs from EU regions different from the countries of individual Euroclusters’ partners, with specific attention to EU-13 countries and less developed regions.
Sectors:
Construction and Building Materials, Energy Production and Supply, Renewable Energy, Transportation and Logistics, Information and Communication Technology, Software Development, Healthcare, Medical Technology, Tourism, Creative Industries, Other
Application Type:
Consortium Required
Funding Stages:
Product Development, Process Optimization, Market Introduction, Scaling, Commercialization
Funding Provider
Program Level:
European Union
Funding Body:
European Commission
Managed By:
European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)
Website: