AIoD OC1-Private Sector

AIoD OC1-Private Sector is a cascade funding open call under the DeployAI project (Digital Europe) to accelerate integration and market deployment of mature European AI solutions (mandatory TRL 7+). Total budget is €1,300,000 with up to €60,000 available per AI Provider paid as lump sums across three stages and up to €15,000 for AI Adopters in Stage 3. Eligible applicants are single legal entities (startups, SMEs, research organisations/RTOs/academia) established in EU Member States or Digital Europe associated countries; Stage 3 requires consortia led by the selected AI Provider together with a private-sector AI Adopter. Applications open 8 April 2026, close 8 June 2026 16:00 Brussels time and must be submitted via the F6S portal, with mandatory registration on the AIoD Platform and attendance at in-person pitching/integration events during the programme.

What it funds

Scope and objective

Accelerates integration, market uptake and real-world deployment of mature European AI solutions (minimum TRL 7) by funding staged integration into the AI-on-Demand (AIoD) Platform, Marketplace and Business Navigator; beneficiaries act as platform beta-testers and deploy with real AI Adopters.

Total budget:EU-funded programme total for this open call: €1,300,000. Individual AI Provider maximum: €60,000 (paid as lump sums across 3 stages). AI Adopter maximum in Stage 3: €15,000 ¹.

Who can apply

Single legal entities established in eligible EU or associated countries:startups, SMEs or research organisations (RTOs/academia). Stage 3 requires a consortium led by the AI Provider together with an AI Adopter (private-sector end user).

Key eligibility and technical requirements

1. 1AI product at TRL 7 or above (system prototype demonstrated in operational environment).
2. 2Solution delivered containerised (e.g., Docker) and designed for portability/interoperability.
3. 3Applicant must register on the AIoD Platform/Business Navigator prior to submission.
4. 4Maximum one application per applicant; legal and VAT documentation required for contracting.

Deadlines and process

Applications open 08 April 2026. Submission deadline (single-stage):08 June 2026 16:00 Brussels time. Apply exclusively via the F6S portal.

How selections work:Competitive three-stage funnel: Stage 1 selection and pitch, Stage 2 integration into AIoD, Stage 3 deployment with AI Adopter; progression driven by evaluations, pitching events and delivered milestones.

How to apply

Submit via F6S:f6s.com. Required documents include the Technical & Business Proposal template, registration on AIoD Platform, and declarations requested during contracting.

Practical notes

1. 1Payments are lump sums disbursed at the end of each stage after verification of milestones and deliverables.
2. 2Subcontracting is not eligible; IPR remains with beneficiaries.
3. 3In-person pitching events are mandatory for selected stages; mentoring provided by DeployAI partners.

Further official details, templates and the Guide for Applicants are available from the AIoD open calls page AIoD Open Calls and the F6S application page Apply on F6S. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Guide for Applicants and Annexes specify funding breakdown, eligibility, evaluation criteria and contractual requirements: aiodp.ai and the Annex documents linked from that page.

Key Facts

Call title:AIoD OC1-Private Sector. Project acronym: DeployAI — Development and Deployment of the European AI-on-demand Platform. Grant agreement number: 101146490. Programme: DIGITAL-2022 (Digital Europe). Opening date: 08 April 2026. Submission deadline: 08 June 2026 16:00 Brussels time (single-stage). Submission channel: exclusively via F6S: f6s.com. Total budget for this open call: €1,300,000.00. Expected duration of participation: up to 8 months across three consecutive stages (Stage 1: 1 month, Stage 2: 3 months, Stage 3: 3 months).

Objective and Scope

Main objective:accelerate integration, market uptake, adoption and real-world deployment of mature European AI solutions (mandatory TRL 7 or above) into the AI-on-Demand (AIoD) Platform. Selected AI Providers will fully integrate products into the AIoD Marketplace and Business Navigator, serve as beta-testers for the Platform, receive mentoring from DeployAI Consortium partners, and, when applicable, form consortia with AI Adopters to deploy solutions in real-world use cases. Funding is provided as lump sums paid at the end of each stage upon successful achievement of deliverables and milestones.

Who can apply

Eligible applicant types and roles differ by stage. For Stage 1 and Stage 2 applications must be submitted by a single legal entity which can be a startup, SME, or research organisation (research and technology organisation RTO or academia). For Stage 3 selected Stage 2 beneficiaries must form consortia led by the AI Provider and including at least one AI Adopter (legal entity from private sector such as businesses, institutions, associations or organisations).

Eligible applicant types:Startups, SMEs, research organisations (RTOs, universities, academia) as single legal entities for Stages 1 and 2; for Stage 3 consortia composed of the AI Provider (lead, previous beneficiary) plus AI Adopter(s) (private sector end users).

Eligible countries / geographic scope:Entities legally established in European Union Member States and DIGITAL Europe associated countries (per the Digital Programme Guide) are eligible. Entities established in countries subject to EU restrictive measures (sanctions) during the application phase are excluded. The call follows Digital Europe Regulation geographic rules and exclusions.

Funding, Financial Mechanism and Amounts

Funding Type:grant in the form of Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) paid as fixed lump sums tied to stage-specific deliverables and milestones. The maximum contribution per AI Provider across all stages is €60,000, disbursed as €5,000 (Stage 1) + €35,000 (Stage 2) + €20,000 (Stage 3). For Stage 3 the AI Adopter may receive up to €15,000. No requirement to provide proofs of incurred costs (lump sum schema), and subcontracting is expressly not eligible. Payments are conditional on successful review and achievement of required deliverables and milestones at each stage.

Eligibility and Technical Requirements

Mandatory technical requirements include that the AI Product must be mature at TRL 7 or above (system prototype demonstration in operational environment) and be delivered in a containerised format (Docker, Helm charts or equivalent) to ensure portability and integration with AIoD infrastructure. Solutions must demonstrate generalisability, modularity, interoperable interfaces, and alignment with European digital sovereignty principles (avoid vendor lock-in; open standards preferred). Applicants must be registered on the AIoD Platform and list their company on the Business Navigator prior to submission.

Application process and templates

Application submission is exclusively through the F6S platform. Applicants must complete the online form and upload a Technical & Business Proposal using the official Annex 2 Proposal Template (PDF). The proposal template is structured into sections mapped to evaluation criteria and must be followed exactly; failure to use the template will cause automatic disqualification. The template enforces page limits and format rules (English language, PDF, Calibri or Arial font, font size minimum 11pt). Mandatory documents during contracting include Declaration of Honour, SME Declaration (if applicable), proof of legal existence, VAT number, bank account information, and KYC documents.

Proposal structure (Annex 2 — Technical & Business Proposal):Cover page, Table of Contents, Sections 1 to 8 mapped to evaluation criteria: 1 Summary (max 1 page); 2 AI Product & Technical Readiness (max 2 pages); 3 Market Potential & Impact (max 3 pages); 4 Alignment with AIoD Platform (max 2 pages); 5 Implementation Plan (max 3 pages); 6 Responsible AI, Compliance & EU Sovereignty (max 2 pages); 7 Team Skills & Expertise (max 2 pages); 8 Resources & Funding Use (max 3 pages). Annex 9: Ethics Self-Assessment (not counted in page limit). Tables for activities, milestones, person-months and cost justifications must be used. The page limit for Sections 1-8 is 18 pages total.

Evaluation and Selection

The Open Call follows a competitive three-stage funnel approach with separate selection moments: Evaluation 1 selects up to 50 proposals for Stage 1; Evaluation 2 selects up to 20 AI Products to proceed to Stage 2; Evaluation 3 selects up to 10 sub-projects (consortia) to proceed to Stage 3. Evaluation 1 is performed by external expert evaluators; Evaluations 2 and 3 are carried out by the Internal Evaluation Committee together with stakeholders and include live pitching sessions and reviews.

1. 1Evaluation 1 (Selection for Stage 1): Reviews technical readiness, containerisation, TRL, interoperability, innovation and market potential, team skills and implementation plan. Minimum thresholds: 6/10 per criterion and 18/30 overall. Top-ranked proposals (up to 50) selected.
2. 2Evaluation 2 (Selection for Stage 2): 50% based on revised Technical & Business Proposal; 50% based on Pitching Session (Event 1). Up to 20 selected.
3. 3Evaluation 3 (Selection for Stage 3): Scoring split — 40% on the submitted sub-project to implement in AI Adopter, 30% on degree of integration achieved with Platform, 30% on Pitching Session (Event 2). Up to 10 selected.

Tie-break rules prioritize higher impact/market potential scores, then implementation quality, then team skills, and finally female-led projects if ties persist. Applicants may appeal eligibility or evaluation procedural issues within three working days of receiving a rejection/ESR. The selection timeline includes eligibility checks, evaluation, and announcement with contract negotiations and KYC checks prior to onboarding.

Application timeline and commitments

Call open:08 April 2026. Submission deadline: 08 June 2026 16:00 Brussels time (the Guide notes 17:00 CEST on some pages; official portal deadline is 16:00 UTC). Announcement of results: by August 2026. Programme implementation window: 01 September 2026 – 30 April 2027 (approx. 8 months). In-person mandatory events: Event 1 (Pitching session for Stage 1, late September 2026), Event 2 (Pitching session for Stage 2, November 2026), Event 3 (Demo Day, early 2027). Participation in webinars, mentoring sessions and beta-testing activities is mandatory for beneficiaries in stages 1–3.

Submission channel and support:Submit exclusively via F6S: f6s.com. Use the Q&A/discussion board on F6S and contact aiod.opencalls@f6s.com for call-specific queries; support@f6s.com for platform issues.

Evaluation deliverables and payments

Payments are staged and conditional:Payment 1 (end of Stage 1) requires updated Technical & Business Proposal, travel report for Event 1, and survey response — €5,000. Payment 2 (end of Stage 2) requires Stage 2 implementation report, travel report for Event 2, beta-testing confirmation and optional sub-project submission — €35,000. Stage 3 payments are split: 30% at project start (€6,000 for AI Provider; €4,500 for AI Adopter) and 70% at the end of Stage 3 (€14,000 for AI Provider; €10,500 for AI Adopter) upon delivery of travel report, final implementation report, impact self-assessment and beta-testing confirmation.

Assessment criteria (summary)

Evaluation criteria mapped in the Guide:C1 Tech/solution concept (containerisation, TRL, interoperability, innovation, EU27 readiness); C2 Team skills & expertise; C3 Implementation plan (market uptake, contribution to AIoD, business model quality); C4 Ambition & scalability potential. Scoring uses 1–10 per criterion; minimum 6/10 per criterion and 18/30 overall to pass Evaluation 1.

IPR, confidentiality, ethics and data protection

Intellectual Property Rights remain with the third parties; beneficiaries retain ownership of solutions and results. Confidentiality obligations apply during implementation and for five years after completion (extensions possible). Applicants must complete an ethics self-assessment; proposals with unresolved ethical or data protection issues will be rejected. Personal and industrial data will be processed through F6S and project repositories in compliance with GDPR; F6S (F6S Network Ireland Limited) acts as Data Controller for F6S submissions.

Consortium requirements and project stage expectations

Consortium Requirement:single legal entity for initial application (Stage 1 and 2). Stage 3 requires a consortium led by the AI Provider (the same legal entity that conducted Stages 1–2) in partnership with at least one AI Adopter. Project Stage / expected maturity: solutions must be at development/validation/demonstration maturity (TRL 7 or above). The programme supports integration, demonstration and commercialization steps (integration into a platform, pilot deployments with adopters, and market uptake).

Project stage expected from applicants:Research completed; mature product ready for system-level demonstration in operational environments (TRL 7+). Applicants should be prepared to integrate, beta-test and deploy in real-world settings.

Success rates and selection numbers

The Open Call selection funnel provides indicative acceptance numbers:up to 50 selected for Stage 1, up to 20 proceed to Stage 2, and up to 10 consortia proceed to Stage 3. Exact success rates depend on the number of eligible applications received; historically funnel calls have competitive selection ratios but no fixed success rate is guaranteed by the Guide. Applicants not selected for Stage 1 or 2 are not eligible to join Stage 3.

Co-funding and eligible costs

Co-funding requirement:none explicitly requested as monetary co-funding; the total amount requested must represent 100% of the project costs in the application justification. The scheme is lump-sum based and beneficiaries are not required to provide detailed cost invoices. Eligible cost categories for justification include project management, research and technical development, testing and piloting, communication/exploitation, and travel. Subcontracting is not eligible.

Application form and templates — practical guidance

Use the Annex 2 Technical & Business Proposal template available at aiodp.ai and follow its structure strictly. Ensure: cover page contains title, acronym, full legal name of applicant and country, and the challenge/track code; adhere to page and formatting limits; include containerisation and deployment documentation; complete Ethics Self-Assessment (Annex); provide team table, person-months table, and cost justification tables (Stages 1–3). Proposals not following the template will be disqualified. Upload final proposal in PDF format via F6S.

1. 1Cover page: title, acronym, applicant legal name and country, challenge title and code (see Annex 1).
2. 2Section 1 Summary (max 1 page): public summary including AI product name, short description, target users, objectives in DeployAI.
3. 3Section 2 AI Product & Technical Readiness (max 2 pages): functional description, main technologies, openness level, TRL evidence (pilot, deployment proof).
4. 4Section 3 Market Potential & Impact (max 3 pages): business concept, validation, traction, revenue/projections, EU27 readiness plan.
5. 5Section 4 Alignment with AIoD Platform (max 2 pages): integration plan, core components to use, technical requirements (RAM/CPU/GPU/storage), containerisation approach.
6. 6Section 5 Implementation Plan (max 3 pages): activities and milestone tables for Stages 1–3, risks and mitigations.
7. 7Section 6 Responsible AI, Compliance & EU Sovereignty (max 2 pages): GDPR, EU AI Act risk classification, transparency, bias mitigation, data governance, cloud/infrastructure ownership.
8. 8Section 7 Team Skills & Expertise (max 2 pages): team table with roles, LinkedIn profiles, experience, gender balance justification.
9. 9Section 8 Resources & Funding Use (max 3 pages): person-months table, costs table per Stage, justification aligned with lump sums.
10. 10Annex: Ethics self-assessment (no page limit) and any supporting evidence required for TRL claims and container images.

Mentioned countries and geography

Explicitly mentioned:European Union Member States and DIGITAL Europe associated countries. No individual Member States are singled out in the Guide; the region is EU / associated countries as per DIGITAL Programme eligibility rules.

How many application stages and nature of support

Application Stages:3 sequential programme stages (Pitch & Select, Integration, Deployment) each associated with deliverables, reviews, and lump sum payments. Nature of Support: monetary (lump-sum grants) plus non-monetary services including technical resources (access to AIoD core components and HPC/cloud resources where applicable), structured mentorship, marketplace visibility and curated matchmaking with potential adopters; beneficiaries act as platform beta-testers and receive strategic guidance.

Consortium requirement summary:Single legal entity required for application (Stages 1–2). Stage 3 requires a consortium led by the AI Provider (the same single legal entity that completed Stages 1–2) together with one or more AI Adopters (private sector end-users).

Risks, checks and audits

DeployAI Consortium and the European Commission can request clarifications during selection and perform checks during implementation and up to five years after project completion. Audits and reviews will focus on technical implementation rather than cost documentation due to the lump-sum model. Ethical issues, data protection and conflicts of interest will be assessed. Failure to complete contracting or to provide KYC and requested documentation on time will lead to rejection.

Contact and further resources

Application portal:f6s.com. AIoD Open Calls information: aiodp.ai. Email for call management: aiod.opencalls@f6s.com. F6S platform support: support@f6s.com. Refer to Annex 1 Guide for Applicants and Annex 2 Technical & Business Proposal template for full details.

Note:Applicants should consult the full Guide for Applicants, Annex 2 Proposal Template and Annex 1 definitions and rules to ensure compliance with eligibility, format, timelines and deliverable requirements. The Guide contains the complete evaluation criteria, contract documentation requirements, security and ethics checklists and legal obligations.

For one-line reference to the funding ceiling and stage distribution:maximum €60,000 per AI Provider across stages (€5,000 + €35,000 + €20,000) and up to €15,000 for AI Adopter in Stage 3 ¹.

Comprehensive summary

This opportunity is an EU-funded cascade open call managed by the DeployAI project to bring mature European AI solutions into the AI-on-Demand Platform, accelerate market uptake, and demonstrate real-world deployments. It is targetted at AI Providers that are startups, SMEs, or research organisations based in EU Member States or eligible associated countries and who have AI products at TRL 7 or above and containerised for integration. The programme runs as a three-stage funnel: Stage 1 (Pitch & Select) selects up to 50 providers to refine proposals and pitch; Stage 2 (Integration) selects up to 20 providers to integrate their solutions into the AIoD Platform and serve as beta-testers with mentor support; Stage 3 (Deployment) selects up to 10 consortia (AI Provider + AI Adopter) to deploy solutions in real-world adopters. Financial support is provided as lump sums conditional on deliverables: up to €60,000 per AI Provider (staged) and up to €15,000 for AI Adopters in Stage 3. Applications must be submitted via F6S and use the exact Technical & Business Proposal template. Evaluation combines expert reviews and live pitching; mandatory in-person events occur during the programme. The call emphasises responsible and trustworthy AI, GDPR compliance, European digital sovereignty and open standards for interoperability. Applicants should follow the Guide for Applicants and Annex templates precisely and ensure registration on the AIoD Platform before applying.

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed funding breakdown and payment conditions are described in the AIoD OC1-PrivateSector Guide for Applicants and Annex 2 Technical & Business Proposal available at aiodp.ai and in the Open Call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Opportunity Overview

The AIoD OC1-Private Sector is a cascade funding open call under the DeployAI project (Grant Agreement 101146490), funded by the EU Digital Europe Programme. It aims to accelerate integration, market uptake, adoption, and real-world deployment of mature European AI solutions (TRL 7 or above) into the AI-on-Demand (AIoD) Platform's Marketplace and Business Navigator. Selected AI Providers act as beta-testers, form consortia with AI Adopters for deployment, and receive mentoring from DeployAI Consortium partners. Total funding available: €1,300,000.

Applications open 8 April 2026, deadline 8 June 2026 at 16:00 Brussels time. Submit exclusively via F6S Application. Programme duration up to 8 months across three stages, starting September 2026.

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Eligible Applicants

• Stages 1-2: Single legal entities (startups, SMEs, research organisations/RTOs/academia) established in EU Member States or DIGITAL Europe associated countries, with valid VAT and PIC number.
• Stage 3: Consortia led by Stage 2 AI Provider, partnered with private sector AI Adopter (businesses, institutions, associations).
• AI Products must be at TRL 7+ (system prototype in operational environment), containerized (e.g., Docker), interoperable, generalizable, and aligned with EU digital sovereignty (open standards, no vendor lock-in).
• Must register on AIoD Platform and Business Navigator before applying. Maximum 1 application per applicant.

Entities from countries under EU sanctions are ineligible. Subcontracting not allowed.

Funding Details

Maximum per AI Provider:€60,000 lump sum (Stage 1: €5,000; Stage 2: €35,000; Stage 3: €20,000), disbursed upon milestone achievement.

AI Adopter (Stage 3 only):€15,000 per consortium.

Funds cover project management, R&D, testing, communication, travel. 100% of project costs (incl. indirect). Justification required in proposal. Payments post-review.

Programme Structure and Stages

1. 1Stage 1 - Pitch & Select (1 month, up to 50 selected, Sep 2026): Attend 2 webinars, refine Technical & Business Proposal, onboard to AIoD, provide feedback, pitch at Event 1.
2. 2Stage 2 - Integration (3 months, 20 selected, Oct-Dec 2026): Full integration into AIoD (Marketplace, Business Navigator, core components), beta-testing, implement business plan, submit Stage 3 sub-project with AI Adopter, pitch at Event 2.
3. 3Stage 3 - Deployment (3 months, 10 consortia, Jan-Apr 2027): Deploy solution with AI Adopter, beta-testing, mentoring, pitch at Event 3, submit use case.

In-person Events 1-3 mandatory (Europe locations, details post-selection). Continuous mentoring provided.

Application and Evaluation Process

Submit via F6S:Application form + Technical & Business Proposal (18-page limit, English, PDF, Annex 2 templateGuide for Applicants). Include Ethics Self-Assessment (Annex). Prior AIoD registration required.

• Evaluation 1 (Stage 1): Eligibility check + external experts score C1 Tech/Concept, C2 Team, C3 Implementation, C4 Ambition/Scalability (min 6/10 per criterion, 18/30 overall). Top 50 ranked, tie-breakers: impact, implementation, team, female leadership.
• Evaluation 2 (Stage 2): 50% revised proposal + 50% Event 1 pitch.
• Evaluation 3 (Stage 3): 40% sub-project + 30% integration + 30% Event 2 pitch.
• Post-selection: KYC, Declarations of Honour/SME, legal proofs, sub-grant agreement signature.

Appeals within 3 working days to aiod.opencalls@f6s.com¹.

Key Requirements and Conditions

• Demonstrate market potential, EU27 readiness, Responsible AI (GDPR, EU AI Act, bias mitigation, data governance), team expertise (gender balance tie-breaker).
• IPR: Applicants retain ownership.
• Ethics/Security: Self-assessment mandatory; issues may require remediation.
• Visibility: Promote EU funding, participate in communication.
• Checks: EC audits possible up to 5 years post-project.

Additional Resources

Official portal:EU Funding Portal. AIoD site: AIoD Open Calls. Q&A: F6S Discuss. Contact: aiod.opencalls@f6s.com.

Footnotes

1. 1Appeals focus on procedure, not merits; sent by legal representative.