Budget
Funding rate: 100% (lump sum) Budget conditions / limitations: Maximum EUR 100,000 per beneficiary. Up to 24 projects will be funded, with a total budget of EUR 2.4 million. Payments: Lump sum in 3 stages: up to EUR 10,000 after project design (Month 1), up to EUR 50,000 after prototype development (Months 2–4), up to EUR 40,000 after release and testing (Months 5–7). Payments depend on achieving deliverables and milestones.
Key dates and deadline
Deadline: 19/11/2025
Details
Upscaling projects extending functionalities of O-CEI pilots through testing components, developing edge solutions (apps and services), and providing added value (e.g., new models, data sharing, efficiency, performance, coverage). Applicants must address one specific challenge from an O-CEI pilot. This is more than just a grant; it’s an invitation to: Validate your technology: Test and refine your solutions in live, operational environments. Solve real-world problems: Address tangible challenges with significant societal and economic impact. Collaborate & grow: Work alongside leading experts and pilot partners across Europe. Unlocking your potential: benefits for selected SMEs We will select 24 exceptional SMEs to participate in this transformative project. Successful applicants will receive: €100,000 in funding Real-world pilot opportunities Tailored technical & business support Comprehensive 7-Month support programme Sectors / domain: Energy grids, electromobility, software-defined vehicles, logistics, agriculture and agrifood, urban environments.
Eligibility
Applicants must be established in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), or Horizon Europe Associated countries. Entities under EU restrictive measures, O-CEI partners, affiliates, and employees are ineligible. Applicants must demonstrate alignment with EU goals and positive European impact.
Additional information
Specific topics or challenges: Applicants must address one of the following eight domains: 1.- Electricity and heat pumps 2.- Energy flexibility with 5G telco operators 3.- Electric vehicle fleet management and EV charging 4.- Electromobility SDV and VaS 5.- Logistic hub efficiency via energy flexibility 6.- Farm-to-fork dairy energy tracking 7.- Sustainable yield and harvesting 8.- Smart Energy City Applicants must address one challenge within a specific domain from one of the 8 O-CEI Project pilots. For a more detailed description of the pilots and the challenges, please check the Technical Guidelines Documens.
How to apply?
https://o-cei.eu/open-calls/