AID4SME Open Call 2

AID4SME Open Call 2 is an EU-funded Horizon Europe sub-grant program that selects up to 12 SMEs or startups to develop, test and validate AI and data-driven solutions addressing one of ten predefined industrial challenges. Selected projects receive up to €200,000 each (representing 70% of eligible costs) paid as lump sums across three periods and run for 14 months with mentoring and access to industrial playgrounds. Eligible applicants must be established in Horizon Europe member or associated countries and submit applications via the F6S platform by 15 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST. Applications are evaluated through eligibility checks, scope verification, external expert review and interviews, and successful beneficiaries must deliver IP, test and exploitation documentation during the project.

What it funds

Scope and activities supported

Grants for technology development, testing and validation of AI and data solutions addressing industrial challenges (data collection, insights, decision support, automation). Projects must target one of 10 predefined challenges (examples: augmented sensing, product-production digital twins, automated warehouse/logistics, EV battery disassembly, co-bot assembly). Selected projects join a 14-month programme with mentoring and playground access ¹.

Funding per project:Maximum contribution €200,000 (represents 70% of total costs). Up to 12 projects will be funded. Payments as lump sums at the end of Periods 1, 2 and 3 (30% + 40% + 30%).

Who can apply

Eligible for financial support:start-ups and SMEs established in Horizon Europe associated countries. Single legal entities or consortia of up to two (only SMEs/start-ups may request funding). Industry, integrators and research organisations may participate as non‑funded partners under specified rules.

Key administrative facts

1. 1Call type: Multi-topic open call under AID4SME HORIZON-CL4.
2. 2Deadline: 15 July 2026, 17:00 UTC.
3. 3Programme duration for selected projects: 14 months (staged Plan, Development, Test, Assessment).
4. 4Selection: up to 12 projects; evaluation includes eligibility check, scope check, expert evaluation and online interviews.

Apply online via the AID4SME Open Call 2 page and submission form on F6S. Read the Guidelines for Applicants and Annexes before preparing the proposal: AID4SME Open Call 2 and Apply on F6S ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Submission and full documentation (Guidelines, Challenges description, Proposal template, Application form) are provided on the AID4SME Open Call 2 pages and the F6S submission portal.

Call at a glance

Opportunity Title:AID4SME Open Call 2. Call type: Multi-topic Open Call under the AID4SME project, funded by the European Union within the AI, Data and Robotics Partnership framework. Objective: select and fund technology developers (start-ups and SMEs) to develop, integrate, test and validate combined Artificial Intelligence and Data solutions against predefined industrial challenges and deploy them at industrial playgrounds. Duration for selected projects: 14 months (four stages). Indicative start date of the programme: 01 November 2026. Maximum number of selected projects: up to 12. Maximum EU financial contribution per selected project: €200,000 provided as lump sums at end of Periods 1, 2 and 3 (30% + 40% + 30%).

Deadline for applications:15 July 2026, 17:00 UTC (official deadline recorded on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal).

Where to apply:Applications must be submitted online via the F6S platform at f6s.com. The AID4SME Open Call 2 documentation kit is available at aid4sme.eu.

Who is eligible

Eligible applicants for financial support:Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups only. Eligible application formats: single legal entity projects or consortia of up to two legal entities, where eligible entities requesting funding must be SMEs or start-ups. Other organisations (industry playground owners, integrators/engineering service providers, research institutions, research infrastructures, non-profit organisations, charitable foundations and public research centres) may participate as second partners but are not eligible to receive financial support under this call. Each eligible entity may submit a maximum of one application (whether applying alone or as part of a consortium). Research/ non-profit entities invited as supporting partners are exempt from the one-application limit.

Geographic and legal eligibility

Only entities established in Horizon Europe associated countries are eligible to receive funding. The call documentation clarifies that entities established in the United Kingdom and Switzerland are not eligible for funding under this specific open call because at the time of the AID4SME Grant Agreement signature those countries had not signed association agreements producing the necessary legal effects. Applicants must consult the Guidelines for Applicants for the definitive list of eligible associated countries. All binding rules are those set out in Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants; in case of contradiction the Annex is binding.

Target sectors and thematic scope

This call targets AI and Data-driven solutions for industrial applications aligned with resource optimisation, competitiveness and the Green Deal. The call is structured across four domains: 1) Data collection (augmented sensing), 2) Creation of insights (digital twins and inspection), 3) Decision support (planning, machine selection, skill capture), and 4) Automation (energy management, recycling, co-bot assembly). Application must address exactly one of the call challenges listed below.

1. 1C1.1 Augmented sensing solution
2. 2C2.1 Product-production Digital Twins
3. 3C2.2 Automated monitoring hygiene inspection for refurbishment
4. 4C2.3 Energy system Digital Twin decision support tool
5. 5C3.2 Automated machine selection for parts production
6. 6C3.3 Battery production digital work instructions & skill capturing
7. 7C3.4 Automated warehouse and internal logistics management
8. 8C4.1 Smart energy management of unplanned machine downtime
9. 9C4.2 Semi-automated EV battery disassembly for recycling
10. 10C4.3 Co-bot refrigerator door assembly solutions

Expected project maturity and deliverables

Target TRL:The AID4SME project aims to support solutions at TRL 6-7 for industrial deployment and demonstration. Selected projects are expected to develop, integrate and validate solutions in real industrial playgrounds and demonstrate measurable improvements (efficiency, waste reduction, energy savings, safety, process quality). Mandatory deliverables include an Intellectual Property Agreement with playground owners at month 4, a Test & Validation Report at month 10, and a Business Plan and Exploitation Roadmap at month 14.

Programme structure and timeline (for selected projects)

The AID4SME Programme #2 runs for 14 months and is organised in four stages (sprints). Selected beneficiaries will be supported by a mentor and by technical partners / playground owners to integrate and test solutions.

Duration:14 months for each selected project.

Funding, payment profile and eligible costs

Maximum EU contribution per selected project:€200,000. This maximum contribution must represent 70% of the total project costs (therefore total project costs must be approximately €285,714 for maximum funding). The contribution is paid as lump sums at the end of Periods 1, 2 and 3 using the split 30% + 40% + 30% (section 7.1.2 of the Guidelines). Eligible cost categories to be considered in project budgeting include personnel costs, purchase costs (travel and subsistence, equipment — depreciation only — and other direct costs), and indirect costs calculated as 25% of personnel and purchase costs. Subcontracting is not allowed. The funding mechanism is a lump-sum grant (sub-grant from the AID4SME consortium to selected third parties) under EU funding rules for this action.

Funding type and administrative model

Funding type:grant provided as lump sums to selected SMEs / start-ups. The administrative model follows an open call with a sub-grant agreement between the AID4SME Consortium and selected third-party beneficiaries; Annex 3 contains the Sub-grant Agreement Template and Annex 7 the read-only application form. Binding information is the Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants.

Application and evaluation process

Application method:open single-stage call submitted online through F6S. Required documents and resources available in the documentation kit include Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants, Annex 1.1 Challenges Description, Annex 2 Proposal Template, Annex 7 Application Form (read only), Declaration of Honour templates and SME declaration template. The AID4SME consortium publishes Q&A and updates via the call webpage and F6S; in case of contradiction the Annex 1 is binding.

1. 1Submission via F6S portal by the deadline.
2. 2Admissibility and eligibility check performed by the consortium.
3. 3In/out challenge scope check to confirm the proposal addresses one of the defined challenges.
4. 4External expert evaluation: each eligible proposal is evaluated by two external evaluators using the published evaluation criteria.
5. 5Online interviews: the top 3 proposals per challenge proceed to an interview stage before final selection.

Evaluation criteria and process specifics

Evaluation is remote and consists of eligibility screening, scope check and external expert evaluation. Each eligible and in-scope proposal receives two independent expert evaluations. The top-ranked proposals (top 3 per challenge) are invited to online interviews. Final selection is based on combined scores and interview outcomes. Applicants must ensure proposals clearly demonstrate technical approach, TRL, deployment plan with playground owner, IP arrangements, measurable KPIs, and exploitation strategy.

Consortium and application constraints

Consortium requirement:single legal entity or consortium of up to two entities. Only SMEs and start-ups may request funding; other organisations can participate as non-funded partners. Each entity may appear in only one application (only the last submitted application counts if multiple are submitted). Research and non-profit organisations invited as partners are not limited by the one-application rule. Subcontracting is explicitly not allowed under this open call.

Applicant documentation and templates

Key application documents included in the Open Call documentation kit:Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants (binding), Annex 1.1 Challenges Description (detailed requirements per challenge), Annex 2 Proposal Template, Annex 3 Sub-grant Agreement Template, Annex 4 Declaration of Honour (Single Entity), Annex 5 Declaration of Honour (Consortium), Annex 6 SME Declaration Template, Annex 7 Application Form (read-only). Applicants must read and comply with Annex 1 before applying.

Proposal template structure (summary of required sections):Applicants should use Annex 2 Proposal Template. Required content typically includes: administrative details, proposal abstract, selected challenge, technical and methodological approach, work plan mapped to the four stages, risk assessment and mitigation, partner and playground owner engagement plan (including evidence of availability/letters or contacts), detailed budget and justification (reflecting eligible cost categories and the 70% funding rate target), IP management plan and exploitation/business plan outline, deliverables and KPIs, CVs of key personnel and relevant past performance.

Success rates and selection volume

Selection volume:up to 12 projects will be funded under this call. The total AID4SME budget indicated for this call is €2,350,000. Given the maximum award of €200,000 per project, the final number funded depends on the proposals and available budget and may be less than 12. No explicit historical success rate is provided in the call documents; success rate will be determined by the number of eligible submissions relative to the 12 funded slots.

Co-funding and financial requirements

Co-funding requirement:applicants must provide co-financing to reach total project costs because the maximum €200,000 represents 70% funding rate. Therefore, for a project requesting the maximum grant, the applicant must cover the remaining 30% from its own resources or other sources. Budget must be prepared with eligible cost categories and comply with the funding rules in the Guidelines.

Nature of support and payment modality

Nature of support:monetary lump-sum grants disbursed as sub-grants. Non-financial support: selected beneficiaries will also receive mentoring, coaching, training and access to the AID4SME Community of Practice and industrial playgrounds for integration and testing. Mentors will monitor progress and facilitate communication with technical partners during the four stages.

Application stages and selection stages count

Application and selection stages count:single-stage open call submission followed by multi-step evaluation. Overall applicant-facing stages to obtain funding: 1) Submission (1), 2) Admissibility/Eligibility and in/out scope check (2), 3) External expert evaluation (3), 4) Online interview for shortlisted proposals (4), 5) Final selection and sub-grant signature (5). From the perspective of the funding programme delivery to selected projects, the project implementation itself is organized in 4 project stages (Plan, Development, Test, Assessment).

Success rate estimate

No explicit historical success rates are provided in the call documentation. Practical upper bound: with up to 12 funded projects. The actual success probability for applicants depends on overall application volume and quality; applicants should assume competitive selection and prepare to demonstrate strong technical readiness, industrial validation plan and exploitation potential.

Mentioned organisations and playground partners

Examples of named playground partners and stakeholders in the call text:Arçelik (refrigerator production facility use-cases), KU Leuven (laboratory testing and injection moulding facility and mechatronic testbeds), and other AID4SME consortium members and industrial partners. The AID4SME consortium includes partners from Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Türkiye, coordinated by Katholieke Universiteit Leuven with partners including Universiteit Gent, Institut Jozef Stefan, I2M, Leitat, F6S, Logiicdev, Arcelik, ELES, LTH Castings, Verkor, TechConcepts, ISQ, EWF, Green eDIH and LTC.

Mentioned countries and geographic references

Explicit country mentions in the scraped content:Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Ireland, Latvia, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Türkiye, United Kingdom and Switzerland (the latter two referenced in eligibility clarifications as not eligible for funding under this call at the time of GA signature). General eligibility: Horizon Europe associated countries (the call follows the Horizon Europe associated country list). Region: EU and associated countries.

Template and application form specifics

Application forms and templates available:Annex 2 Proposal Template (use this to structure the technical proposal), Annex 7 Application Form (read-only view of the online form), and several annex templates (Declarations of Honour for single entities and consortia, SME Declaration Template, Sub-grant Agreement Template). Applicants should complete the Annex 2 Proposal Template and submit via F6S following the instructions in Annex 1. Required attachments typically include CVs, evidence of legal status, financial declarations, letters of intent/availability from playground owners where applicable, and any other documents requested in Annex 1 and Annex 2.

1. 1Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants: binding document describing eligibility, evaluation criteria, payment modalities and deliverables.
2. 2Annex 1.1 Challenges Description: detailed technical requirements and expected contributions per challenge.
3. 3Annex 2 Proposal Template: structure for technical proposal and work plan.
4. 4Annex 3 Sub-grant Agreement Template: contractual terms for selected beneficiaries.
5. 5Annex 4/5 Declarations of Honour: required legal declarations for single entities and consortia.
6. 6Annex 6 SME Declaration Template: to confirm SME status where relevant.
7. 7Annex 7 Application Form (read-only): the exact online form fields applicants must complete on F6S.

Key obligations and restrictions

Important restrictions:subcontracting is not allowed; only SMEs and start-ups may receive funding; one application per eligible entity; each application must address only one challenge; mandatory deliverables include IP agreement (M4), Test & Validation Report (M10) and Business plan and exploitation roadmap (M14). Payment is linked to project performance and stage completion and is made as lump sums after Periods 1, 2 and 3. Applicants must follow the guidance in the Guidelines for Applicants and supporting annexes; the Annex is the binding reference in case of inconsistency with other communications.

Contact and support channels

Primary contact channels and resources:AID4SME Open Call 2 webpage at aid4sme.eu; F6S submission page and discussion board at f6s.com and f6s.com; open call helpdesk email aid4sme_ocs_helpdesk@f6s.com; F6S platform support at support@f6s.com. The AID4SME consortium will publish FAQs and Q&A exchanges via the F6S Open Call page so that all applicants have transparent access to clarifications. Binding documentation remains the Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants.

Summary and recommendation

What this opportunity is about and how to explain it:AID4SME Open Call 2 is a targeted funding opportunity for SMEs and start-ups developing AI and data-driven industrial solutions. It provides up to €200,000 per project (70% funding rate) to finance development, integration and validation of proof-of-concept and pilot deployments in industrial playgrounds across a set of ten pre-defined challenges spanning augmented sensing, digital twins, inspection automation, decision-support, planning and automation including energy management, battery recycling and co-bot assembly. The programme runs for 14 months and combines monetary support (lump-sum grants) with mentoring, technical playground access and business acceleration services. Applicants must be located in Horizon Europe associated countries, prepare a single application addressing exactly one challenge, and comply with the Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants and the provided proposal templates. Selection is competitive and involves eligibility checks, expert evaluations and online interviews. Successful applicants will be required to sign a sub-grant agreement with the AID4SME consortium and deliver agreed reports and an IP agreement during the project. Interested SMEs and start-ups should carefully read Annex 1 and Annex 1.1, align their technical proposal with a named playground where possible, prepare the Annex 2 Proposal Template and submit via the F6S platform before the deadline.

Footnotes

1. 1Full open call documentation kit including Guidelines for Applicants, Challenges Description, Proposal Template and Sub-Grant Agreement Template available at the AID4SME Open Call 2 webpage: aid4sme.eu and on the F6S submission page: f6s.com. The Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants is the binding document in case of contradiction with other communications.

The AID4SME Open Call 2, part of the EU-funded project enabling SMEs to develop AI and data solutions through a Community of Practice and low/high-TRL playgrounds, supports SMEs and startups in developing, testing, and validating innovative AI and data-driven solutions for industrial resource optimization challenges aligned with the European Green Deal. Up to 12 projects will be selected to address specific challenges in data collection, insights creation, decision support, and automation. The call is managed under Horizon Europe HORIZON-CL4 with a total budget of €2,350,000.

Key Dates and Timeline

Submission Deadline:15 July 2026 at 17:00 CEST. Applications must be submitted via the F6S platform at Apply on F6S.

Project Duration:14 months, structured in four stages: Stage 1 - Plan (November 2026), Stage 2 - Development (December 2026 - June 2027), Stage 3 - Test (July - August 2027), Stage 4 - Assessment (September - December 2027). Projects start 1 November 2026.

Funding Details

• Maximum funding per project: €200,000 (lump sum payments: 30% at end of Period 1, 40% at end of Period 2, 30% at end of Period 3).
• Funding rate: 70% of total eligible project costs.
• Total projects funded: Up to 12.
• Eligible costs: Personnel, travel/subsistence, equipment (depreciation only), other direct costs, indirect costs (25% of personnel and purchase costs). No subcontracting allowed.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Applicants must be established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Only SMEs and startups are eligible for funding. Single entities or consortia of up to 2 partners (SME/startup as lead). Non-funding partners (no financial support): Industry organizations (providing use-cases/high-TRL playgrounds), integrators/engineering services, research institutions, non-profits, public research centers. Limit of one application per entity (last submitted counts if multiple). Entities must be registered with valid VAT by contracting phase.

Challenges and Focus Areas

Proposals must address exactly one of the 10 challenges across four domains. Full challenge descriptions in Annex 1.1 available at AID4SME Open Call 2 Documentation.

Application Process and Evaluation

1. 1Eligibility and admissibility check.
2. 2In/out of challenge scope check.
3. 3Evaluation by two independent external experts based on four criteria: Novelty/Innovation (weight TBD), Impact (weight TBD), Project Planning/Value for Money (weight TBD), Expertise/Team Excellence (weight TBD). Minimum threshold per criterion.
4. 4Online interviews for top 3 proposals per challenge.
5. 5Ranking: Best scores on criteria in sequence.

Required documents:Annex 1 Guidelines for Applicants, Annex 2 Proposal Template (max 11 pages), Declaration of Honour, SME Declaration. Download full kit at Project Website. Submit via F6S. Q&A/discussion: F6S Discussion Board. Contact: aid4sme_ocs_helpdesk@f6s.com.

Support and Benefits

• Mentoring throughout the project.
• Access to low/high-TRL playgrounds from partners like Arçelik, KU Leuven.
• Training, coaching, integration support.
• Membership in AID4SME Community of Practice (CoP) for networking, exploitation.
• Mandatory deliverables: IP Agreement (M4), Test & Validation Report (M10), Business Plan/Exploitation Roadmap (M14).¹

Additional Resources

Primary portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Project CORDIS page: CORDIS AID4SME. Read Guidelines for Applicants first.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed guidelines and templates available in the Open Call Documentation Kit on the project website.