Advanced Materials Innovation Open Call

The MAT4EU Advanced Materials Innovation Open Call is a cascade funding initiative under the Single Market Programme COSME strand providing financial and complementary support to manufacturing SMEs working with metals, polymers, ceramics or composites. The total budget is €1,241,250 allocated to two strands with fixed grants of €60,000 for development and innovation projects and €33,750 for industrial adoption projects. Eligible applicants are manufacturing SMEs located in Single Market Programme associated countries, projects last 12 months and require at least 25 percent private financial co funding. Applications must be submitted in English via the MAT4EU grant platform by 6 July 2026 at 02 00 Brussels time.

What it funds

Cascade funding for SME innovation projects in advanced materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites) to develop, test, validate and industrially adopt new materials and solutions that target strategic sectors (aerospace & defense, agri‑food packaging, renewable energy, construction, health, mobility).

Total budget:€1,241,250 total available.

Funding per strand and project

Who can apply

Manufacturing SMEs (EU definition) located in Single Market Programme associated countries (EU Member States and other countries participating in the SMP/COSME Competitiveness of SMEs strand). Projects must be managed by one SME; service providers (companies, universities, tech centres) can be subcontracted.

Eligibility and constraints

1. 1SME must work with at least one of the four material groups and target at least one of the six strategic sectors
2. 2Only one application per SME across both strands (submitting more than one makes the SME ineligible)
3. 3Applications in English; required supporting screenshots and Annex Budget must be provided
4. 4Private co‑funding of at least 25% mandatory and must be from private financial sources (debt or own funds), not in-kind or public funds

Project duration 12 months (planned start 1 September 2026, end 31 August 2027). Evaluation by two MAT4EU partners; max score 42 points and selection within available budget.

Deadline:Single-stage deadline: 06 July 2026, 02:00 Brussels time.

Submit via the MAT4EU grant platform. Full rules and templates in the Guide For Applicants and platform pages MAT4EU submission platform ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Official submission and Guide For Applicants are available on the MAT4EU grant platform: mat4eu.grantplatform.com.

Basic Facts

Opportunity title:Advanced Materials Innovation Open Call. Project acronym: MAT4EU. Full name of the EU funded project: Advanced Materials for a Sustainable European Future. Grant agreement number: 101236716. Call type: Multi-Topic Open Call, Cascade funding under MAT4EU. Opening date: 06 May 2026. Single-stage deadline date: 06 July 2026, 02:00 Brussels time. Expected duration of participation: 12 months (projected start 1 September 2026, end 31 August 2027). Total funding available for this open call: €1,241,250.00.

Objective and Programme Description

The MAT4EU Programme offers financial support combined with structured complementary services to selected manufacturing SMEs working with advanced materials. The programme aims to strengthen SMEs innovation capacity, accelerate industrial deployment and adoption of advanced materials, enhance collaboration across regions and value chains, facilitate SME access to international markets, and support the green and digital transition of European industry. Selected SMEs will implement 12-month innovation projects while benefiting from complementary services provided by the MAT4EU consortium. More implementation detail and evaluation criteria are provided in the Guide For Applicant Guide For Applicant. ¹

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary eligible applicants:manufacturing SMEs according to the European Commission SME definition. SMEs must be the sole project manager (single SME applicant per project) and may subcontract or involve third parties such as other enterprises, universities, technical centres, research organisations as service providers. An SME may submit only one application to this open call. Applicants must demonstrate SME status using the SME self-assessment screenshot and complete the financial capacity self-check simulator screenshot as required documentation.

Funding Type and Nature of Support

Primary funding mechanism:cascade grant funding (fixed-grant, lump-sum style within defined strands) delivered as grant financial support through the MAT4EU Fast-Track Support Programme (FSTP). Beneficiaries will receive monetary support (grant funding) plus non-monetary complementary services (technical support, market coaching, networking and other services delivered by the MAT4EU consortium).

Funding modalities and rates:Maximum funding rate: up to 75% of eligible costs. The remaining minimum 25% must be provided as private financial co-funding by the SME (private own funds or debt). Co-funding cannot be in-kind or public funding. Exact budget items must be described in Annex - Budget.

Consortia Requirements and Project Management

Consortium requirement:single-applicant model. Only one SME acts as the beneficiary and project leader. The SME may contract or involve other organisations as service providers or subcontractors, including universities, technical centres, research institutes, or other companies. The open call does not require a multi-party consortium for eligibility, but allows external partners in service provision roles.

Geographic Eligibility and Beneficiary Scope

Eligible location:applicants must be located in one of the Single Market Programme (SMP) associated countries. This includes EU Member States and other countries participating in the EU Single Market Programme/COSME strand 'Competitiveness of SMEs'. Applications from non-participating third countries are not eligible. Applications must be submitted in English.

Target Sectors and Technology Scope

Material groups in scope:metals, polymers, ceramics, composites. Strategic industrial sectors targeted (at least one must be targeted by the SME product or application): aerospace and defence; agri-food packaging; renewable energy; construction; health; mobility. The call targets manufacturing SMEs developing or adopting advanced materials solutions that support European industrial autonomy, green and digital transitions, or industrial deployment and scaling.

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Two strands define project maturity and objectives:Strand 1 supports development, testing and validation of innovative solutions (research-to-development and validation maturity). Strand 2 supports industrial adoption, uptake and scale-up into industrial environments and value chains (demonstration to scale-up maturity). Both strands expect SMEs to deliver technological and business outcomes within a 12-month project.

Strands, Budget Allocation and Grant Amounts

Eligible and Ineligible Costs; Co-Funding Details

Eligible costs must be described in Annex - Budget and follow IV.2 Budget composition in the Guide For Applicant. The MAT4EU grant covers up to 75% of eligible costs; the SME must provide at least 25% private financial co-funding coming from own resources or debt. Co-funding cannot be public funding or in-kind contributions. The FSTP-covered costs and the SME private financial co-funding items must be explicitly detailed in the Annex - Budget.

Submission, Evaluation and Selection Process

Submission is single-stage. Applications must be completed in English and submitted through the MAT4EU grant platform: mat4eu.grantplatform.com. Required supporting documents: screenshot of SME self-assessment, screenshot of financial capacity self-check simulator, and Annex - Budget filled out. An SME may submit only one application across strands; multiple submissions render the SME ineligible. Applications submitted after the deadline are rejected.

Evaluation method and scoring:Each application is evaluated by two MAT4EU project partners. Final score is a weighted average of the two assessments with a maximum of 42 points. Applications are ranked by score and selected within available budget. Passing the minimum threshold score does not guarantee funding; selection depends on ranking and budget limits. Evaluation criteria are described in Section V.1 Evaluation criteria of the Guide For Applicant.

Application Type, Templates and Submission Requirements

Application type:open call, single-stage, web portal submission. Applications must use the MAT4EU application form available on the grant platform. Required annexes and supporting screenshots must be uploaded. Specific templates required: Annex - Budget template (to be completed and submitted). Applicants must follow the Guide For Applicant for application form structure, evaluation criteria, budget composition, eligible costs and required supporting documents. Applications must be written in English; only English parts are evaluated.

Suggested application structure and templates to prepare:Prepare the following elements for upload and inclusion in the online application: 1) Project description: objectives, technical approach, workplan and deliverables aligned to selected strand. 2) Impact and exploitation: market deployment plan, scalability, internationalisation and contribution to green/digital transition. 3) Consortium and subcontracting: list of service providers, roles and justification (the SME remains sole beneficiary). 4) Budget: complete Annex - Budget template with breakdown of eligible costs, FSTP contribution and SME private financial co-funding source. 5) Administrative screenshots: SME self-assessment result and financial capacity self-check simulator screenshot. 6) Ethics and legal compliance statements if applicable. Follow the online form fields and the Guide For Applicant for precise text limits and required sections.

Application Stages and Timeline

Number of application stages:1 (single-stage submission). Timeline summary: Opening: 06 May 2026. Submission deadline: 06 July 2026 at 02:00 Brussels time. Project start expected 01 September 2026 for a 12-month duration ending 31 August 2027. Evaluation performed after submission with two evaluators per application, scoring out of 42 points and selection until budget exhaustion.

Success Rates and Competition

No explicit published success rate is provided in the call text. Selection is competitive and depends on application ranking and available budget (€1,241,250). Based on the funding plan (10 projects in Strand 1 and 19 projects in Strand 2) the open call intends to fund up to 29 projects in total, subject to ranking and budget availability. Achieving the pass threshold is necessary but not sufficient for funding due to budget limits.

Other Important Eligibility Conditions and Restrictions

An SME may submit only one application across both strands; submitting two applications will render the SME ineligible. Projects must last 12 months and adhere to the specified start and end dates. Co-funding must be private and cannot be in-kind or from public funding sources. Only parts of the application written in English are evaluated. Applicants must use the online portal specified.

Explicitly Mentioned Countries and Regions

The call explicitly refers to EU Member States and other countries participating in the EU Single Market Programme/COSME strand 'Competitiveness of SMEs'. No individual non-EU countries are listed by name in the call text. Therefore geographic eligibility corresponds to Single Market Programme associated countries, primarily EU Member States and additional SMP/COSME participants.

1. 1Eligible material groups: metals; polymers; ceramics; composites.
2. 2Target industrial sectors: aerospace and defence; agri-food packaging; renewable energy; construction; health; mobility.
3. 3Required documentation: SME self-assessment screenshot; financial capacity self-check screenshot; Annex - Budget completed.
4. 4Submission portal: mat4eu.grantplatform.com.

Summary and What This Opportunity Is About

The MAT4EU Advanced Materials Innovation Open Call is a cascade funding opportunity targeted at manufacturing SMEs working with metals, polymers, ceramics or composites and addressing at least one strategic sector among aerospace and defence, agri-food packaging, renewable energy, construction, health or mobility. It provides fixed grant funding within two strands: Strand 1 funds development, testing and validation projects with a fixed grant of €60,000 per awarded project (minimum total eligible costs €80,000) and Strand 2 funds industrial adoption and scale-up projects with a fixed grant of €33,750 per awarded project (minimum total eligible costs €45,000). The grant covers up to 75% of eligible costs and requires at least 25% private financial co-funding. Projects are single-SME led, last 12 months with an expected start of 1 September 2026, and must be submitted in English through the MAT4EU grant platform by 06 July 2026 02:00 Brussels time. Selection is competitive, based on evaluation by two consortium partners with scoring up to 42 points; funding is awarded according to ranking within the available budget. The programme augments monetary support with complementary services to accelerate industrial deployment, collaboration, internationalisation and green/digital transitions for European advanced materials SMEs.

Footnotes

1. 1Full application instructions, templates and the detailed Evaluation Criteria are available in the MAT4EU Guide For Applicant published on the grant platform and EU portal. Access the application portal at mat4eu.grantplatform.com and the EU funding notice at EU Funding Portal Opportunity.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The MAT4EU Advanced Materials Innovation Open Call is a cascade funding initiative under the Single Market Programme (SMP) COSME Strand, specifically the Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe's recovery. This call aims to strengthen the innovation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working with advanced materials and to accelerate the adoption and industrial deployment of innovative solutions across European value chains. The programme combines direct financial support with complementary services to generate broader European-level impact beyond individual project results.

Key Funding Details

Total Budget Available:€1,241,250 across all funded projects ¹

Funding Rate:Maximum 75% of eligible costs, with mandatory private co-financing of at least 25% required from SMEs

Project Duration:12 months, with project start date of 1 September 2026 and end date of 31 August 2027

Application Deadline:6 July 2026 at 02:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Eligible Applicants

The call targets manufacturing SMEs according to the EU definition. Applicants must be located in Single Market Programme (SMP) associated countries, which include EU Member States and other countries participating in the EU Single Market Programme COSME Strand (Competitiveness of SMEs). Each SME can submit only one application to the MAT4EU Open Call and must choose between the two available strands. SMEs submitting multiple applications across either the same strand or both strands will be considered ineligible.

Eligible Advanced Materials and Sectors

Applicants must work with at least one of four advanced material groups:metals, polymers, ceramics, or composites. Their products or applications must target at least one of six strategic industrial sectors: aerospace and defense, agri-food packaging, renewable energy, construction, health, or mobility.

Call Structure and Funding Strands

Strand 1: Product Innovations Supporting European Autonomy - Development and Innovation

This strand focuses on supporting SMEs in the development, testing, and validation of innovative solutions in advanced materials. The call will fund 10 projects with the following financial parameters: minimum eligible budget of €80,000, fixed grant of €60,000 per project, corresponding to a maximum 75% funding of eligible costs. This requires SMEs to provide private co-financing of at least €20,000 (25% of minimum eligible costs).

Strand 2: Mastering Green and Digital Transformation - Industrial Adoption

This strand aims at facilitating the uptake, scale-up, and integration of advanced materials solutions into industrial environments and value chains. The call will fund 19 projects with the following financial parameters: minimum eligible budget of €45,000, fixed grant of €33,750 per project, corresponding to a maximum 75% funding of eligible costs. This requires SMEs to provide private co-financing of at least €11,250 (25% of minimum eligible costs).

Application Requirements and Process

Applications must be written in English and submitted through the dedicated portal at mat4eu.grantplatform.com. All applications must be complete in all parts indicated in the application form, with only English-language sections being evaluated. Applicants must provide the following supporting documents to finalize their application: a screenshot of the SME self-assessment results to confirm qualification as an SME according to the Commission SME Definition, a screenshot of the completed financial capacity self-check simulator form, and a completed Annex Budget document.

The SME's financial co-funding must come exclusively from private financial sources in the form of debt or own financial resources. Co-funding cannot come from in-kind contributions or other public funding sources. All costs covered by the fixed support and the minimum 25% private financial co-funding must be clearly described in the Annex Budget.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Each application will be assessed by two MAT4EU project partners according to evaluation criteria specified in Section V.1 of the Guide for Applicant. The final score for each application is calculated as a weighted average of the individual assessments provided by each evaluator, with a maximum of 42 points per application. Applications with the highest scores will be selected within the limit of available budget. Obtaining a passing score does not guarantee that an application will receive funding ².

Project Management and Partnership Structure

Projects must be managed by a single SME applicant. The lead SME can involve other partners such as enterprises, universities, or technical centers as service providers in its project. However, the SME remains the primary beneficiary and project manager responsible for implementation and delivery of project outcomes.

Complementary Services and Programme Support

Beyond direct financial support, selected SMEs will receive a structured set of complementary services designed to generate impact beyond individual project results. The MAT4EU Programme aims to strengthen innovation capacity of SMEs in advanced materials, accelerate adoption and industrial deployment of innovative solutions, enhance collaboration across regions and sectors, facilitate SMEs' access to international markets, and support the green and digital transition of European industry.

Broader Context and Strategic Alignment

This call is part of the broader European commitment to advanced materials innovation. The European Commission is preparing an Advanced Materials Act scheduled for 2026, which will establish a strategic framework for advanced materials crucial for industrial leadership, strategic autonomy, and competitiveness in the EU. The Act will address challenges in research and innovation ecosystems, streamline regulatory processes, and enhance production capacity of advanced materials in the EU, fostering a competitive industry by promoting circularity and reducing dependencies on critical raw materials ³.

Related Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities

Applicants should be aware of complementary Horizon Europe funding opportunities in advanced materials. The Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) offers several related calls, including HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-05 on circular innovative advanced materials (deadline 21 April 2026, with estimated EU contribution between €5,000,000 and €6,500,000 per project) and HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-23 on accelerating discovery and development of chemicals and innovative advanced materials through digitalisation and artificial intelligence (providing up to €13 million across up to 4 projects). These larger-scale research and innovation actions complement the SME-focused cascade funding approach of the MAT4EU Open Call.

Key Submission Reminders

1. 1Submit applications only through mat4eu.grantplatform.com before the 6 July 2026 deadline at 02:00 Brussels time
2. 2Ensure all application parts are complete and written in English
3. 3Provide all required supporting documents: SME self-assessment screenshot, financial capacity self-check screenshot, and completed Annex Budget
4. 4Confirm your organisation qualifies as an SME according to EU definition
5. 5Verify your organisation is located in an SMP associated country
6. 6Select only one strand (Strand 1 or Strand 2) for your application
7. 7Ensure private co-financing of at least 25% is secured from private financial sources
8. 8Confirm your advanced materials and target sector align with call requirements
9. 9Note that any proposals submitted outside the deadline will be rejected

Additional Resources

Detailed information is available in the Guide for Applicant of the MAT4EU Innovation Open Call. The EU Funding and Tenders Portal provides access to the official call documentation and submission system. Applicants are encouraged to review the evaluation criteria and budget composition requirements in detail before submitting their applications.

Footnotes

1. 1Total funding of €1,241,250 is distributed across 29 projects: 10 projects in Strand 1 receiving €60,000 each (€600,000 total) and 19 projects in Strand 2 receiving €33,750 each (€641,250 total).
2. 2The evaluation process is competitive and score-based. Applicants should ensure their proposals clearly address the evaluation criteria and demonstrate strong alignment with the call objectives and their chosen strand's focus areas.
3. 3The Advanced Materials Act represents a key legislative initiative for the EU's industrial competitiveness and strategic autonomy. The call for evidence and public consultation on the Act closed on 13 January 2026, with the legislative proposal expected in 2026. This MAT4EU call supports the practical implementation of advanced materials innovation aligned with the Act's strategic objectives.