CR. EU. IN. HERITAGE: Cultural Heritage Innovation Grants

CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE funds SME-led collaborative innovation projects in the Cultural Heritage Value Chain to strengthen European strategic autonomy and support the green and digital transition. The total budget is €1,970,000 with fixed lump-sum grants of €120,000 for Strand 1 (product innovation) and €77,000 for Strand 2 (process innovation), a cap of €60,000 per SME, and a mandatory minimum 15% co-financing. The call follows a two-step process via F6S with a Step 1 concept note deadline of 20 April 2026, mandatory capacity building for selected SMEs, and a Step 2 full proposal deadline of 31 August 2026 for 12-month projects. Eligible applicants are SMEs established in SMP-eligible countries, consortia must include at least two SMEs at Step 2, and projects must comply with DNSH, GDPR, applicable AI rules and the requirement to apply EU-based digital technologies or engage validated Innovation Leaders.

What it funds

Scope and strands

Competitive cascade funding for collaborative SME innovation projects focused on the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC). Projects must contribute to European strategic autonomy and the twin transition (green and digital). Two funding strands: product innovation (new-to-the-firm products/services) and process innovation (new-to-the-firm business processes linked to green and digital transition).

Grant amounts and total budget:Strand 1 (Product Innovation): fixed lump sum €120,000 per project. Strand 2 (Process Innovation): fixed lump sum €77,000 per project. Total call budget €1,970,000. Maximum EU funding per SME €60,000. Minimum applicant co-financing 15% of total project budget. ¹

1. 1Who can apply: SMEs that meet the EU SME definition and are legally established in Single Market Programme (SMP) participating countries.
2. 2Consortium rules: Step 2 proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least two SMEs (one Lead Partner).
3. 3Two-step process: Step 1 concept note (selection), mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking programme (May–June 2026), then Step 2 full proposal for selected applicants.

Selection and payments:Step 1 selection does not award funding; only Step 2 awardees receive lump-sum grants. Payment schedule typically includes pre-financing and milestone-linked instalments; projects run for 12 months (implementation period). Travel to at least one EU networking event must be budgeted as co-financing.

Eligibility highlights:Applicants must: be SMEs (EU definition), be established in SMP participating countries, demonstrate financial viability (financial self-assessment required), comply with EU rules (DNSH, data protection, EU AI Act where relevant), and meet the EU-based technology or Innovation Leader engagement requirement.

1. 1Application language and portal: English; submit via F6S platform.
2. 2Step 1 requires a signed Step 1 form and financial viability self-assessment; selected Step 1 SMEs must complete the Capacity Building to proceed.
3. 3Fixed grant requests only: requesting any amount other than the strand lump sum makes the application ineligible.

Apply and find full call documentation, templates and national contact points in the official call document and annexes (call document linked below).

Footnotes

1. 1Full call text, annexes and templates are available in the official call document: Call document.

CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE is a cascade funding call under the Single Market Programme (SMP) Euroclusters action SMP-COSME. It finances collaborative innovation projects by SMEs active in or serving the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC), with a strict focus on strategic autonomy and the twin transition (green and digital). The call operates in two strands and two application steps, combining financial sub-grants with a mandatory capacity building and matchmaking programme. Official call documentation and submission portals are provided below.

• Official call document: CULTURAL HERITAGE INNOVATION GRANTS — Call Document (PDF)
• EU Funding & Tenders listing: EU F&T Portal competitive calls page
• Step 1 application page: F6S — Step 1 Concept Note
• Eligible SMP countries reference: EU SMP participating countries list (V13.0 – 15.07.2024)

Quick Facts

Scope and Objectives

The call targets SMEs innovating within the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC), spanning safeguarding, management, and valorisation of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. Projects must strengthen European strategic autonomy by prioritising EU-based digital solutions and/or engaging Innovation Leaders, and demonstrably contribute to the twin transition.

• Strand 1 — Product Innovation: New-to-the-firm products or services increasing competitiveness and sustainability while reducing dependency on critical external technologies. Fixed grant per project: €120,000.
• Strand 2 — Process Innovation: New-to-the-firm business process innovations linked to the adoption of green and digital technologies that improve operations and resilience. Fixed grant per project: €77,000.

Mandatory Strand Deliverables:Strand 1: at least one new-to-the-firm product and/or service introduced/piloted/demonstrated for heritage uptake by project end. Strand 2: at least one new-to-the-firm business process put into use by project end, yielding measurable progress in sustainability/green transition and/or digitalisation.

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

Eligible Applicant Types

Eligible applicants are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as per Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, from any industrial ecosystem, legally established in an SMP participating country. Universities, research organisations, public bodies, clusters, and other entities may participate only as Associated Partners or Service Providers without receiving EU funding under this call.

Consortium Requirement

• Step 1: single SME or existing group of SMEs can submit a concept note.
• Step 2: mandatory consortium of at least two SMEs. The Lead Partner must be Step 1-selected and must have completed the mandatory capacity building and matchmaking activities (including the satisfaction questionnaire). Additional SMEs not selected in Step 1 may join if otherwise eligible. Associated Partners can be included but do not count toward the minimum consortium requirement and receive no EU funding.

Geographic Eligibility (Beneficiary Scope)

SMEs must be established in countries participating in the SMP Programme (EU Member States and associated countries per the latest Commission list). For the COSME strand, eligible non-EU participants include, inter alia, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Moldova, and Ukraine, subject to strand-specific participation set out by SMP agreements. Applicants must verify current eligibility against the official SMP list before submission ¹.

Compliance and Exclusions

• Financial capacity: applicants must pass a structured financial viability check (indicator-based) using the Commission’s LFV Simulation; minimum thresholds apply.
• Exclusion: no bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, grave professional misconduct, tax/social security non-compliance, or other exclusion grounds per Article 136 EU Financial Regulation.
• EU obligations: DNSH principle, GDPR, visibility of EU funding, compliance with the EU AI Act where applicable, and acceptance of checks/audits by the Commission, EISMEA, OLAF, and the European Court of Auditors.

Technology and Strategic Autonomy Requirements

Step 2 proposals must meet at least one of the following:(A) apply EU-based digital solutions/technologies; and/or (B) engage Innovation Leaders. EU-based solutions must cumulatively satisfy EU-based ownership/control of IP and decision-making, EU/SMP-based development and responsibility for supply and support, and data sovereignty with sensitive data hosted/processed within the EEA using European infrastructures. Innovation Leaders are vetted technology enablers or experts contributing to strategic autonomy through know-how, tools, validation, or services; they may join as applicant SMEs, Associated Partners, or Service Providers with appropriate letters/quotes. If using market-sourced tech, applicants must justify EU-based status and include supporting declarations.

Funding Model and Financial Conditions

• Instrument: Sub-grants (Financial Support to Third Parties) in the form of fixed lump sums.
• Per-project fixed grants: €120,000 for Strand 1; €77,000 for Strand 2.
• Per-beneficiary cap: maximum €60,000 per SME (including linked enterprises).
• Co-financing: minimum 15% of total project budget; higher co-financing yields bonus points in Step 2 evaluation. All funded SMEs in the consortium must contribute.
• Cost categories: Personnel; Subcontracting; Other costs (e.g., consumables, equipment rental); Travel. Note: travel to at least one European networking/business event is mandatory but not reimbursable by the EU grant and must be covered from co-financing.
• Ineligible: VAT is not eligible. Double funding is prohibited.
• Payments: 40% pre-financing after Sub-grant signature; 30% after Interim Report approval (month 6); 30% after Final Report approval (month 12). Payments may be suspended pending clarifications.

Application Process and Deadlines

1. 1Step 1 — Concept Note: Submit a concise project idea via F6S, selecting exactly one strand. No budget forecast required. Deadline: 20 April 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Selection for Step 1 confers no funding. Selected SMEs must complete capacity building/matchmaking in May–June 2026 to be eligible for Step 2.
2. 2Capacity Building and Matchmaking (mandatory for Step 2): 6–9 webinars (min. 3 required), 2 knowledge-sharing sessions (min. 1 required), and 1 matchmaking event (mandatory attendance). Focus: innovation/business skills, sustainability, investment readiness, industry 5.0 practices, partnership building.
3. 3Step 2 — Full Proposal: Only Step 1-selected Lead Partners that completed mandatory activities may submit a full collaborative project application via F6S with a consortium of at least 2 SMEs. Deadline: 31 August 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.

Submission Portals:Step 1: F6S Step 1 application. Step 2: link provided in the call document and on the F6S call page during the Step 2 window.

Evaluation and Selection

Both steps apply eligibility checks and quality evaluation on three criteria:Relevance, Quality, Impact, with thresholds per step. Two independent evaluators review each application; an Evaluation Committee validates results. Step 2 adds bonus points for cross-nationality, inclusivity (EU-13/less-developed regions and non-partner countries), cross-sectoriality (different industrial ecosystems), cross-level cooperation (research/public authorities as Associated Partners), higher co-financing, and investor engagement.

Mandatory Deliverables and Reporting

• Interim Report (Month 6): progress, milestones, Project Communication Kit (branding/logo and public summary).
• Final Report (Month 12): activities, KPIs, impact, dissemination; at least one multimedia asset (video/infographic/photography).
• Surveys: completion of the Single Market Programme feedback survey is mandatory, including as a condition for final payment.
• Visibility: use EU emblem, CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE logo, and official funding statement on all communications and funded assets.

Structured Answers to Categorisation Questions

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs only as beneficiaries. Specifically: startup, SME, scale-up-sized SMEs, micro-enterprises, and medium-sized companies that qualify under the EU SME definition. Other entities such as universities, research institutes, large enterprises, nonprofits, NGOs, public authorities, and clusters can contribute as Associated Partners or Service Providers but cannot receive sub-grant funding and do not count toward consortium minima.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties) awarded as fixed lump sums per project under the SMP Euroclusters action.

Consortium Requirement:Step 2 requires a consortium of at least two SMEs. Step 1 allows single SME or an existing group of SMEs to submit a concept note. Associated Partners may join without funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):SMP participating countries for the COSME strand. This includes all EU Member States and SMP-associated countries as per the latest Commission list. Non-EU examples explicitly covered for COSME include Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Moldova, and Ukraine. Applicants must confirm strand-specific participation and latest status in the SMP countries list before applying ¹.

Target Sector:Cultural Heritage Value Chain across Cultural and Creative Industries and related ecosystems. Emphasis on digital technologies and green transition for heritage safeguarding, management, and valorisation. Cross-sector participation is encouraged, linking heritage with ICT/software, AI, XR/immersive media, digitisation, data, photonics/optics, advanced materials and conservation, sustainable tourism, manufacturing of heritage-related equipment, and other industrial ecosystems.

Mentioned Countries:Countries explicitly appearing in the material include the SMP eligible non-EU groupings and partner locations. Explicitly mentioned SMP participants: Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Moldova, Ukraine. Partner countries in the CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE consortium: Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, France, Spain, Germany. The regional eligibility is SMP countries.

Project Stage:Development, validation, and demonstration. The call does not fund basic research; technologies should be at a maturity compatible with implementation and validation within 12 months. TRL/CRL progression and readiness for uptake in real heritage use cases are expected by project end.

Funding Amount:Per project: €120,000 (Strand 1) or €77,000 (Strand 2), fixed lump sum. Per SME cap: €60,000. Total call budget: €1,970,000. Co-financing: minimum 15% of total budget.

Application Type:Open call, two-step process: Step 1 concept note (no funding), mandatory capacity building/matchmaking, then Step 2 full proposal for funding. Electronic submission via F6S.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of sub-grants to SMEs, plus structured non-monetary services through the mandatory capacity building and matchmaking programme.

Application Stages:2 stages: Step 1 concept note selection; Step 2 full proposal evaluation and award.

Success Rates:Not disclosed in the call materials. Selection is competitive per strand with quality thresholds and ranking until strand budgets are exhausted.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Minimum 15% of the total project budget from applicants, mandatory for all participating SMEs. Higher co-financing yields bonus points. Travel to at least one European networking/business event must be covered by co-financing. VAT is not eligible.

Templates and Application Form Structure

Step 1 — Application Package

• Online fields on F6S with project acronym/title and selected strand.
• Annex 3 — Step 1 Application Form: Part A project info (acronym, title, strand), applicants’ info (Lead Partner SME; optional Partner SMEs if applying as a group), Part B project idea (max 2,500 characters outlining challenge, objectives, CHVC link), strand-specific short section (critical technologies for Strand 1; critical green/digital needs for Strand 2), optional future collaboration needs, and Declarations (SME status, SMP eligibility, exclusion, financial capacity, commitment to capacity building, DNSH and EU AI Act compliance, verification acceptance).
• Financial viability self-assessment: LFV Simulation PDF printed and signed for each SME in the idea (all applicants in a group must submit).

Step 2 — Application Package

• Online fields on F6S with project data and strand selection.
• Annex 4 — Step 2 Application Form (max 20 pages):
• Part A: Project identification; consortium composition table (Lead Partner and all Project Partners requesting EU funding, with grant and co-financing amounts per SME, max €60,000 each); Associated Partners table (with letters of support).
• Part A: Consortium setup and cooperation narrative, including partner roles, complementarity, industrial ecosystem mapping for cross-sectoriality, and roles of Associated Partners.
• Part B: Background and CHVC relevance across safeguarding, management, or valorisation; objectives; innovation concept vs state of the art; methodology and implementation including open standards, reusable components, and interoperability; financial solidity and co-financing plan including any investor engagement; strategic autonomy section with Option A and/or B plus required justifications and supporting letters/quotes; impact, exploitation, TRL/CRL readiness and validation plan, visibility strategy, and IP/patenting intentions; DNSH and EU AI Act compliance plan.
• Activities and deliverables: list of main activities including mandatory Communication Kit; mandatory EU-level networking/business event plan and budget tick-box; strand-specific mandatory deliverables table; optional additional deliverables.
• Work plan: 12-month timetable; milestones table aligned to reporting periods (month 6 and month 12) with means of verification.
• Declarations: signed by the legal representative of each applicant SME confirming SME status, SMP eligibility, single participation rule at Step 2, financial capacity, DNSH and AI Act compliance, and no double funding.
• Annex 5 or 6 — Budget Template (per strand): partner sheets itemising Personnel, Subcontracting, Other costs, and Travel (travel not eligible for EU funding); automatic roll-up to budget overview with control cells. Remember: fixed project grant and per-SME caps must be respected; co-financing minimum 15%.
• Financial viability self-assessment: LFV Simulation PDF per SME, printed and signed.
• Proof of legal registration per SME and financial statements (balance sheet and P&L for last two closed financial years), with simple English translations of key items if needed.

Sub-grant Agreement — Key Clauses

• Lump sum amount per project; per-SME cap €60,000.
• 12-month implementation; 40/30/30 payment schedule contingent on Interim and Final report approvals.
• Obligations: DNSH, GDPR, EU AI Act, visibility, no double funding, conflict of interest avoidance, record keeping, acceptance of checks/audits.
• Ownership: beneficiaries retain IPR; non-exclusive, royalty-free worldwide license for the Authority to use results for monitoring, reporting, and dissemination.
• Termination, recovery, and financial corrections clauses in case of breach.

Who Should Apply and Example Activities

SMEs that develop or adopt EU-based digital technologies and green processes for cultural heritage challenges. This includes firms offering or integrating solutions such as digitisation and 3D/photogrammetry workflows, data platforms with EEA data hosting, AI-enabled but EU-governed analytics tools that comply with the EU AI Act, XR/immersive heritage experiences built on EU-owned tech stacks, energy-efficient climate control and monitoring for museum/storage environments with EU-based IoT clouds, conservation materials/process monitoring, or sustainable visitor flow and ticketing under EU-managed platforms. Cross-sector consortia pairing heritage domain expertise with EU-owned tech providers are strongly encouraged.

Timeline and Key Milestones

• 19 Feb 2026: Call opens (Step 1).
• 17 Mar 2026: Call presentation webinar, online registration only.
• 20 Apr 2026, 17:00 CET: Step 1 deadline.
• May–June 2026: Mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking Programme.
• 30 Jun 2026: Step 2 opens.
• 31 Aug 2026, 17:00 CET: Step 2 deadline.
• Sept–Oct 2026: Evaluation and selection.
• Oct 2026: Results published and Sub-grant Agreements signed.
• Nov 2026: Project start date for awarded consortia.

Contact and Support

Queries must be submitted by email to National Contact Points (NCPs) at least 5 working days before the relevant deadline. Only written FAQs and formal updates are binding. Contact details are listed in the call document. Technical submission support is available from F6S at support@f6s.com.

Summary: What This Opportunity Is About

CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE funds SME-led, cross-border, and cross-sector innovation within the Cultural Heritage Value Chain that strengthens European strategic autonomy while advancing green and digital transitions. The instrument provides fixed lump-sum sub-grants per project, with two thematic strands: new-to-the-firm products/services and new-to-the-firm business process innovations. Funding is conditional on a two-step selection, a mandatory capacity building and matchmaking programme, and compliance with EU-based technology requirements or engagement of vetted Innovation Leaders. Consortia of at least two SMEs implement 12-month projects culminating in concrete deliverables: either market-ready or piloted heritage products/services, or fully adopted processes yielding measurable sustainability and digitalisation gains. The call prioritises EU ownership and control of key digital assets, EEA data sovereignty, interoperability, and reusability, and it incentivises cross-national, inclusive, and cross-level collaborations. This is a strong fit for EU SMEs that can rapidly validate and demonstrate solutions for safeguarding, managing, or valorising cultural heritage, and that can co-finance at least 15% of the budget while leveraging European technologies, standards, and infrastructures. Applicants apply via F6S in two steps, respect strict templates and thresholds, and receive payments in 40/30/30 tranches upon reporting. If your SME is ready to deploy or adopt EU-owned digital and green solutions for cultural heritage with tangible results within 12 months, this opportunity provides both funding and structured support to build a high-impact consortium and deliver at European scale.

Footnotes

1. 1Refer to the official SMP participating countries list and strand-specific eligibility before applying: SMP countries list (V13.0 – 15.07.2024). Always consult the latest version and the call document for updates.

Funding Opportunity Overview

CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE is a European funding initiative designed to support innovation in the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC) through collaborative projects carried out by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Funded under the Single Market Programme (SMP-COSME) Euroclusters strand, this call supports innovative projects aligned with the green and digital transition while strengthening Europe's strategic autonomy in the cultural sector. The initiative follows a two-step approach: an initial concept note submission followed by mandatory capacity building activities and a full project proposal phase for selected applicants. ¹

Key Funding Details

Total Available Budget:€1,970,000 across both funding strands, with approximately €1,200,000 for Strand 1 (Product Innovation) and €770,000 for Strand 2 (Process Innovation).

Grant Amounts per Project:Strand 1 projects receive €120,000 as a fixed lump sum per consortium; Strand 2 projects receive €77,000 as a fixed lump sum per consortium. Maximum amount per individual SME is €60,000. All amounts are fixed and cannot be adjusted.

Co-financing Requirements:Minimum 15 percent co-financing of the total project budget is mandatory, contributed by all participating SMEs. Higher co-financing rates (above 15%) receive additional evaluation points, with bonus scoring for contributions above 20% and above 30%.

Eligibility and Applicant Profile

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) as defined by Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, based on staff headcount, annual turnover, and annual balance sheet total. Applicants must be legally established in countries participating in the Single Market Programme. For Step 2 (full project proposals), a consortium of at least two SMEs is mandatory, with one SME acting as Lead Partner. Associated Partners such as universities, research organizations, public authorities, cultural heritage institutions, and Innovation Leaders may participate without receiving EU funding.

Eligible Countries

All EU Member States are eligible. EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) participate in the SMP COSME strand. Additional eligible countries include Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine, though with varying scope depending on bilateral agreements.

Financial and Legal Requirements

• Financial soundness verified through a structured, indicator-based financial viability assessment
• No exclusion situations as defined in Article 136 of the EU Financial Regulation, including bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, or serious professional misconduct
• Compliance with Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) principle ensuring no damage to cultural heritage assets
• Compliance with EU AI Act where applicable, particularly regarding transparency for AI-generated content
• Full compliance with GDPR and data protection obligations
• Compliance with EU funding visibility rules and acknowledgment requirements

Funding Strands and Project Focus

Strand 1: Product Innovation:This strand supports the development of new-to-the-firm products or services that address critical dependencies on external technologies and reduce reliance on non-EU suppliers. Projects must introduce innovative solutions that improve competitiveness and sustainability within the Cultural Heritage Value Chain. Expected output: 10 projects with €120,000 per consortium.

Strand 2: Process Innovation:This strand supports business process innovation linked to technological adoption that enables SMEs to advance their green and digital transition. Projects must demonstrate measurable progress in sustainability and digitalization through new-to-the-firm business processes. Expected output: 10 projects with €77,000 per consortium.

Both strands require projects to demonstrate clear contribution to strengthening the Cultural Heritage Value Chain, enhancing European strategic autonomy, and supporting the twin green and digital transition. Projects must integrate EU-based digital technologies and/or engage Innovation Leaders to reduce dependency on non-European providers.

Application Timeline and Deadlines

Applications must be submitted in English through the F6S platform. Step 1 does not require a detailed budget or provide direct funding. Only SMEs selected at Step 1 and successfully completing mandatory capacity building activities are eligible to submit full proposals at Step 2. Participation in capacity building is a strict prerequisite for Step 2 eligibility.

Application Requirements and Process

Step 1: Concept Note Submission

At Step 1, applicants submit a project idea as individual SMEs or existing groups of SMEs. The concept note must clearly describe the innovation concept, the challenge being addressed, and expected contribution to the Cultural Heritage Value Chain. Applicants must select one strand only (Strand 1 or Strand 2). No budget is required at this stage. Mandatory annexes include the completed Step 1 Application Form (signed) and a financial viability self-assessment (signed). A single SME may participate in only one project proposal at each step.

Capacity Building and Matchmaking Program

All Step 1 selected SMEs must participate in the mandatory Innovation Capacity Building and Matchmaking Program conducted between May and June 2026. The program includes webinar series on business skills and innovation (minimum 3 sessions), knowledge-sharing sessions on sustainability and digital transformation (minimum 1 session), and a mandatory matchmaking event for partner identification and cross-sectoral collaboration. Completion is obligatory to access Step 2 funding, and applicants must complete a satisfaction questionnaire. ²

Step 2: Full Project Proposal

Step 2 applications must be submitted by consortia of at least two SMEs, with one designated as Lead Partner. The Lead Partner must be a Step 1-selected SME that has completed mandatory capacity building activities. Project Partners may include SMEs not selected in Step 1 if they meet all general eligibility criteria. Associated Partners may be added without EU funding. Proposals must build on the Step 1-selected idea and demonstrate detailed project activities, methodologies, deliverables, milestones, and implementation approach.

Mandatory Technical Requirements for Step 2

• Projects must apply EU-based digital solutions/technologies and/or engage Innovation Leaders to qualify. EU-based means the solution is owned/controlled and primarily developed within the EU or SMP-eligible country, with data hosted and processed in the European Economic Area.
• For Strand 1, at least one new-to-the-firm product or service must be developed and ready for uptake by project end, differing significantly from the SME's previous offerings.
• For Strand 2, at least one new-to-the-firm business process innovation linked to both green and digital transition must be implemented by project end, demonstrating measurable progress in sustainability and digitalization.
• All proposals must budget for mandatory participation in at least one European networking or business event, though travel costs must be covered through SME co-financing, not the EU grant.
• Projects must produce communication materials including project branding/logo (by month 6), public summary maximum 1,500 characters (by month 6), and multimedia assets such as video or infographic (by month 12).
• Cross-sectoral cooperation is strongly encouraged, with bonus points awarded for projects involving SMEs from different industrial ecosystems, different countries, or less-developed regions.

Budget Structure and Eligible Costs

Projects follow a fixed lump sum funding model. The total requested EU funding must exactly match the strand amount (€120,000 for Strand 1; €77,000 for Strand 2). Each participating SME cannot receive more than €60,000. The total project budget comprises the EU grant plus mandatory co-financing (minimum 15%). Eligible cost categories include personnel costs, subcontracting costs, and other costs (consumables, equipment rental). Travel costs to EU-level events are eligible only as co-financing, not covered by the EU grant. Value Added Tax (VAT) is not eligible for EU funding.

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation follows two phases:eligibility check (pass/fail) and quality assessment. Applications undergo individual assessment by two independent evaluators using criteria based on Relevance, Quality, and Impact, each scored 0-5 with half-point increments. An Evaluation Committee validates results and resolves scoring discrepancies. For Step 2, additional bonus points (up to 16 total) are awarded for cross-nationality, inclusivity (EU-13 or underrepresented regions), cross-sectoriality, cross-level cooperation, higher co-financing rates, and private capital engagement. Applications must achieve minimum quality thresholds: Relevance 30/50 (Step 1) or 25/40 (Step 2); Quality 20/30 (both steps); Impact 10/20 (Step 1) or 20/30 (Step 2). Overall minimum: 60/100 (Step 1) or 65/100 (Step 2 without bonuses).

Payment Schedule and Reporting

All payments are made in Euros by bank transfer to the Lead Partner, who then distributes payments to other consortium members according to the approved budget. Payments may be suspended if documentation is incomplete, incorrect, or submitted late. The Lead Partner must submit interim and final reports using Authority templates. Completion of the mandatory Single Market Programme Feedback Survey is required as a condition for final payment. ³

Obligations and Compliance

Grantees must implement projects with highest professional standards in accordance with the approved proposal and all applicable EU and national laws. Projects must comply with the Do No Significant Harm principle, ensuring no damage to cultural heritage assets. Any AI applications must comply with the EU AI Act regarding transparency and data sources. Grantees must maintain records for verification and audits by the Authority, EISMEA, the European Commission, OLAF, or the European Court of Auditors. Personal data must be processed according to GDPR. All project results, communications, and dissemination must acknowledge EU funding using the mandatory disclaimer: 'Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or EISMEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.' Grantees retain ownership of project results and deliverables but grant the Authority a non-exclusive, royalty-free license for monitoring, evaluation, and dissemination purposes.

Key Evaluation Criteria

Step 1 Evaluation Criteria

• Relevance of the challenge/need to the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (10 points)
• Fit with selected strand and innovation objectives (10 points)
• Innovation ambition beyond current SME practice (10 points)
• Potential contribution to strengthening the CHVC (10 points)
• Clarity of strategic autonomy needs and dependencies (10 points)
• Clarity and coherence between challenge, idea, and objectives (10 points)
• Feasibility and credibility of developing into a Step 2 project (10 points)
• Completeness and adequacy of information (10 points)
• Expected CHVC impact (10 points)
• Collaboration and uptake potential (10 points)

Step 2 Additional Evaluation Criteria

• Deliverables quality and credibility (10 points)
• EU-based technologies and strategic autonomy approach (10 points)
• Methodology, implementation quality, and integration of open standards (10 points)
• Consortium quality, complementarity, and effective cooperation (10 points)
• Workplan quality and realism of 12-month timetable (10 points)
• Expected impact on applicant competitiveness and CHVC resilience (10 points)
• Exploitation, uptake pathways, and sustainability of results (10 points)
• Readiness progression and visibility strategy within European ecosystem (10 points)

Support and Contact Information

Applicants should contact National Contact Points for questions about the call, eligibility, and application process using the subject line 'CR. EU. IN. HERITAGE enquiry' at least 5 working days before submission deadlines. Contact points are available for each SMP-eligible country through partner organizations listed in the call documentation. Frequently Asked Questions are regularly updated on the call page and F6S platform and serve as the only binding clarification source. Technical support for the F6S platform is available at support@f6s.com. Complaints about evaluation outcomes must be submitted to Eurocluster@cr-eu.eu within 5 working days after results publication, with the Evaluation Committee responding within 20 working days. ⁴

Strategic Importance and Expected Outcomes

This initiative targets at least 20 collaborative innovation projects supporting at least 40 SMEs across Europe. Expected results include development of at least 10 new-to-the-firm products/services, adoption of at least 20 new-to-the-firm business processes linked to green and digital transition, 100 percent uptake of EU-based technologies or Innovation Leader engagement, participation of SMEs from at least 10 different SMP countries, and upskilling of 100 SMEs in sustainable business models and digital solutions relevant to the Cultural Heritage Value Chain. The call emphasizes cross-sectoral collaboration, cross-border partnerships, and leveraging EU innovation capacity to strengthen Europe's resilience and strategic autonomy in the cultural sector.

Footnotes

1. 1The call is implemented through the CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE project (101236464) running from October 2025 to March 2028, coordinated by a consortium of 10 European cluster organizations across Italy, Hungary, Belgium, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, France, Spain, and Germany.
2. 2The capacity building program includes webinars on business skills, innovation and market entry, sustainability practices, and investment readiness; knowledge-sharing sessions on digital transformation and green transition; and a matchmaking platform connecting SMEs with Innovation Leaders and ecosystem actors.
3. 3The feedback survey is mandatory for all recipients and must be completed as part of final reporting requirements. Failure to submit the survey will result in withholding of final payment.
4. 4Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. The F6S platform automatically closes at the exact deadline time (20 April 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time for Step 1; 31 August 2026 at 17:00 CET for Step 2).