Budget

Funding rate: 70% Budget conditions / limitations: Up to €150,000 per project Payments: Payments are made in instalments upon approval of deliverables and reports.

Key dates and deadline

- Submission Period: 30 June 2025, 12:00 PM CEST - 11 September 2025, 5:00 PM CET - Evaluation: September-October 2025 - Results Announcement: Late October 2025 - Sub-Grantee Agreement Signature: November 2025 - Deployment Phase: December 2025 – January 2027.

Details

What we offer Up to 13 projects tailored to real-world innovation challenges will be funded with a maximum of €150,000 each Selected applicants will have up to 14 months to deploy their innovative solutions Selected applicants will receive additional support for maximizing impact and growth (training sessions, coaching, mentoring) Become part of the AID4SME Community of Practice and benefit from the opportunities and the wide network of professionals in the field The call is structured around specific challenges including data collection, insights creation, decision support, and automation. The list of Open Call Challenges are: Combined AI and Data solutions for DATA COLLECTION 1.1 - Augmented sensing solution 1.2 - 2D/3D image analysis for large Energy Infrastructure predictive maintenance Combined AI and Data solutions for creation of INSIGHTS 2.1 - Product-production Digital Twins 2.2 - Digital Twin based lifespan analysis tool 2.3- Energy system Digital Twin decision support tool Combined AI and Data solutions for DECISION SUPPORT 3.1 – Digital Twin-Enabled Smart Production Process Planning Tool Combined AI and Data solutions for AUTOMATION 4.1- Automated energy management for parts production 4.2 - Automated energy management for battery production 4.3 - Semi-automated EV battery disassembly for recycling 4.4 - Co-bot refrigerator door assembly solutions. Projects duration: Each project is expected to last 14 months.

Eligibility

- Eligible lead participant must be SMEs or Start-Ups based in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated countries. - The following organisations may apply as the second partner in a consortium: (1) Industry organisations providing the SMEs / Start-ups use-cases and high-TRL playgrounds for solution testing and validation; (2) Integrators / engineering services providers that support the SMEs / Start-Ups in integration of the solutions; or (3) Research institutions, research infrastructures, non-profit organisations and charitable (scientific) foundations and public research centers.

Additional information

How to apply?

https://aid4sme.eu/open-call-1/