COPILOT Extra Call4Travel Vouchers - Open call 3 - Pitch Perfect

The COPILOT project is offering an extra Call4Travel Vouchers under Open Call 3, named Pitch Perfect. This initiative is designed to assist start-ups and SMEs in the bioeconomy sector to participate in the Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025 event, which will take place on November 24 and 25, 2025, at the Sheraton Brussels Airport. The program will provide thirty travel vouchers, each valued at €500, which can be used to cover travel or accommodation expenses related to the event.

The application process opens on August 11, 2025, and the deadline for submission is October 10, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total funding allocated for this call is €15,000. Eligible applicants include bioeconomy innovators such as start-ups, spin-offs, scale-ups, and SMEs located more than 300 km from Brussels. Crucially, applicants must also have a confirmed pitch slot at the event and cannot have received funding under previous COPILOT open calls.

The application process is competitive and will be conducted online through the COPILOT webpage. Following application submission, there will be eligibility and technical checks, an evaluation phase, and online interviews for the top-ranked candidates. Evaluation criteria will focus on the benefits of attending the event and the value of the COPILOT platform to applicant organizations, along with bonus points for applicants from Central and Eastern Europe and those who established their start-ups no earlier than 2020.

Successful applicants are required to present at the event, engage in a feedback survey, follow the COPILOT LinkedIn page, and submit a travel report post-event to receive reimbursement. The application must include all necessary documentation, and communication should be in English. Only one application per legal entity or individual will be accepted, with only the first submission considered if multiple applications are received.

Overall, this program aims to promote innovation and participation in the EU bioeconomy sector by alleviating financial barriers for emerging companies, particularly those situated far from the event's location.

The COPILOT project is offering an extra Call4-TRAVEL-VOUCHERS under Open Call 3 Pitch Perfect (OC3 PP). This initiative aims to facilitate the participation of start-ups and SMEs in the Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025 event, scheduled for November 24th and 25th, 2025, at the Sheraton Brussels Airport. Thirty travel vouchers, each worth 500 EUR, will be granted to selected applicants to cover travel and/or accommodation expenses.

The opening date for applications is August 11, 2025, and the deadline for submission is October 10, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time. The total funding available for this call is 15,000 EUR. The project acronym is COPILOT, and the full name of the EU-funded project is "CO-creating the next generation platform of PILOT and demo infrastructures, unlocking faster innovation and EU bioeconomy growth." The grant agreement number is 101157279. The topic is HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-S-01 - EU-wide network of pilot plants and testing facilities, improving SMEs and start-ups' access to scale-up.

The COPILOT webpage serves as the single entry point for all applications. The application process involves filling in and submitting the application form on the COPILOT webpage. The COPILOT Consortium will conduct eligibility and technical checks from October 13, 2025, to October 15, 2025. An evaluation board will review the applications, scoring them based on the evaluation criteria, and the top-ranked projects will be selected through online interviews from October 16, 2025, to October 18, 2025. All applicants will receive an email with the results, and successful applicants will begin the onboarding phase in the COPILOT Programme on October 20, 2025.

Applications must be submitted via https://copilot-project.eu/open-calls/. All mandatory questions must be answered, and all requested documents must be uploaded in PDF format without printing restrictions. Applicants must agree to the application's terms and conditions, and all applications and programme communication must be in English. A full list of applicants containing their basic information will be created for statistical and transparency purposes and shared with the European Commission. Only one application per applicant (legal entity or natural person) can be submitted to Open Call 3 PP. In the event of multiple submissions, only the first application received will be evaluated.

Eligible applicants are bioeconomy innovators, including start-ups, spin-offs, scale-ups, and SMEs. Applicants that received funding under the COPILOT OC1, OC2, and OC3 Part 1 are not eligible. Applicants can only receive/win one voucher. Only entities located more than 300 km from Brussels are eligible to apply. Applicants must have submitted and confirmed a pitch slot at the Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025 event.

The evaluation criteria include:

Criteria 1: The applicants applying to the Voucher Network Program will have to answer a set of questions associated with the proposed activity. Their applications will be selected following the (i) what is the benefit of attending the event “Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025” to your organisation / technology and (ii) what is the added value of Pilots4U powered by COPILOT platform and project activities for your organisation?

Criteria 2: 1 bonus point will be awarded to applicants based in Central and Eastern Europe.

Criteria 3: 1 bonus point will be awarded to applicants that represent start-ups founded at the latest in 2020.

Mandatory tasks include:

Attend and pitch at the event Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025 and participate in the feedback survey/evaluate the event.

Follow the LinkedIn page Pilots4U powered by COPILOT and create one post about your pitch with the support of the COPILOT funding.

Provide a travel report 10 working days after the event (Annex 5 to sub-grant agreement - Travel Report).

Payment will be made after successful review of the travel report and within 5 working days (Annex 6 to sub-grant agreement - Payment Request).

In summary, this opportunity provides travel vouchers for bioeconomy startups and SMEs to attend and pitch at the "Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025" event in Brussels. The COPILOT project aims to support the participation of these entities by covering their travel and accommodation costs, fostering innovation and growth within the EU bioeconomy. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being located more than 300km from Brussels, having a confirmed pitch slot at the event, and fulfilling mandatory tasks such as attending the event, participating in a feedback survey, and providing a travel report. Bonus points are awarded to applicants from Central and Eastern Europe and startups founded in 2020 or later. The application process is online, with a deadline of October 10, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are bioeconomy innovators, specifically start-ups, spin-offs, scale-ups, and SMEs. Natural persons are also eligible.

Funding Type: The funding type is a voucher. Specifically, it is a travel voucher.

Consortium Requirement: A single applicant is required. Only one application per legal entity or natural person can be submitted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated as EU or EEA. However, applicants must be located more than 300 km from Brussels. Bonus points are awarded to applicants based in Central and Eastern Europe.

Target Sector: The target sector is the bioeconomy.

Mentioned Countries: Belgium (Brussels is mentioned as a point of reference for distance), Central and Eastern Europe (region).

Project Stage: The project stage is likely validation, demonstration, or commercialization, as the voucher supports attendance and pitching at an event. The companies should have a technology ready to be pitched. Start-ups founded at the latest in 2020 are eligible, suggesting the project stage is beyond the initial idea phase.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is under €50k. Specifically, the call grants thirty travel vouchers, each worth €500, making the total funding available €15,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive non-monetary services in the form of a travel voucher.

Application Stages: The application process appears to have four stages: Application submission, Eligibility & Technical check, Application evaluation (including online interviews), and Announcement of results.

Success Rates: The success rate can be estimated. Thirty vouchers are available, and the call is competitive. Without knowing the number of applications, it's impossible to give a precise success rate, but it is likely to be in the 10 to 39% range or below 10%, depending on the application volume.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned. The voucher covers travel and/or accommodation, suggesting that applicants may need to cover costs exceeding the €500 voucher value.

Summary:

The COPILOT project is offering travel vouchers to start-ups, spin-offs, scale-ups, and SMEs in the bioeconomy sector. This is an open call (Open Call 3 - Pitch Perfect) where thirty travel vouchers, each worth €500, are available to help these entities attend and pitch their technologies at the "Pitch Perfect and Boost the European Bioeconomy 2025" event in Brussels. The voucher can be used for travel and/or accommodation expenses.

To be eligible, applicants must be bioeconomy innovators (start-ups, spin-offs, scale-ups, or SMEs) located more than 300 km from Brussels. They also need to have a confirmed pitch slot at the event. Applicants who have already received funding under COPILOT OC1, OC2, or OC3 Part 1 are not eligible. The application process involves submitting an application form via the COPILOT webpage, followed by eligibility and technical checks, evaluation by a board, and online interviews for top-ranked projects.

Bonus points are awarded to applicants based in Central and Eastern Europe and to start-ups founded no earlier than 2020. Successful applicants must attend and pitch at the event, participate in a feedback survey, follow the Pilots4U powered by COPILOT LinkedIn page, create a post about their pitch, and provide a travel report after the event to receive payment. The application deadline is October 10, 2025. The total funding available for this call is €15,000. The project aims to support the EU bioeconomy growth by improving SMEs and start-ups' access to scale-up opportunities.