Budget
Each selected SME receives a fixed lump sum of €30,000. The funding rate is up to 99%, with a minimum private contribution of 1% of the total budget required. Payment is made in two instalments: 20% pre-financing, equal to €6,000, within 15 days after contract signature, and 80% final payment, equal to €24,000, after approval of the final report.
Key dates and deadline
June 1, 2026 — Opening of the call July 31, 2026, 17:00 Brussels time — Submission deadline Autumn 2026 — Launch of selected projects Project duration — 6 months
Details
ELEVATEX Open Call 2026 supports innovation in the European textile sector by funding short-term activities focused on developing and bringing to market new or significantly improved solutions. Eligible project types include: • Development of new or significantly improved products • Development of innovative services • Process improvement for the green and digital transition • Prototype development • Testing and validation • Market analysis and business models • Activities supporting market launch preparation Projects must demonstrate impact, technical excellence, feasibility and a coherent private contribution.
Eligibility
The call is open to individual applicants only. Proposals must be submitted by a single SME. Eligible applicants are for-profit SMEs, including startups with at least one year of legal existence, operating in the textile ecosystem. Applicants must be established in EU Member States or eligible non-EU countries, such as EEA or COSME-associated countries. SMEs must comply with the EU SME definition, not be in financial difficulty or under exclusion, provide a private financial contribution of at least 1% of the total budget and propose solutions with TRL above 6. Only one application per SME is allowed. ELEVATEX partners are not eligible.
Additional information
ELEVATEX focuses on SME competitiveness and the green and digital transition of the textile sector. The private contribution is also an evaluation criterion: • 1%–9.99% private contribution — 1 point • 10%–19.99% — 4 points • 20%–29.99% — 7 points • 30% or more — 10 points The 2026 call will support 20 textile SMEs, each receiving €30,000.
How to apply?
https://elevatex.grantplatform.com/