CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE: Cultural Heritage Innovation Grants – STEP 2

CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE Step 2 funds collaborative SME-led projects in the Cultural Heritage Value Chain under two strands: Strand 1 Product Innovation and Strand 2 Process Innovation. Fixed lump-sum grants per awarded consortium are €120,000 for Strand 1 and €77,000 for Strand 2, with a maximum of €60,000 EU funding per SME and the grant covering up to 85% of project costs (minimum 15% co-financing required). Step 2 requires a consortium of at least two SMEs with the Lead Partner being a Step 1-selected SME that completed mandatory capacity building; project duration is fixed at 12 months and applicants must demonstrate use of EU-based digital solutions and/or engagement of Innovation Leaders. Applications must be submitted by the Lead Partner via the F6S platform by 31 August 2026 17:00 Brussels time using the mandatory annexes and supporting financial and legal documents.

What it funds

Collaborative innovation projects focused on the Cultural Heritage Value Chain that advance European strategic autonomy and the twin transition (green and digital). Two fixed lump sum strands: Product Innovation and Process Innovation. Projects must build on an idea selected in Step 1 and follow the same strand.

Fixed grant amounts:Strand 1 Product Innovation: €120,000 per project. Strand 2 Process Innovation: €77,000 per project. Each SME may receive up to €60,000. The EU grant covers up to 85% of project costs; consortia must provide at least 15% co-financing.

Who can apply

Consortia of at least two SMEs legally established in Single Market Programme participating countries. The Lead Partner must be a Step 1-selected SME that completed the mandatory capacity building and matchmaking activities. Project Partners may include other eligible SMEs; associated partners may join without EU funding.

1. 1Project duration: 12 months (fixed).
2. 2Applicants must demonstrate use of EU-based digital technologies and/or engagement of registered Innovation Leaders.
3. 3Budgets submitted in Step 2 must use Annex 5 or Annex 6 templates and reflect real costs; VAT is not eligible.
4. 4Maximum EU contribution per SME: €60,000; grant is managed as lump sums tied to milestones and reports.

Key deadlines and submission

Submission deadline:31 August 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Lead Partner submits the Step 2 application electronically via the F6S call page.

Only projects selected in Step 1 may apply to Step 2. Required annexes include the Step 2 application form, the Strand-specific budget template, financial viability self-assessments, legal registration documents and recent financial statements. Full Call Package and Step 1 results available online.

Apply and find documents:Full Call Package and Step 1 Results. Submission page: F6S Step 2 Application.

Opportunity summary

This is the Step 2 call of the CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE Cultural Heritage Innovation Grants, an EU-funded competitive multi-topic call under the Single Market Programme (SMP) targeting collaborative innovation projects in the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC). Only projects that successfully passed Step 1 evaluation (Step 1 Results) are eligible to submit a Step 2 proposal. Projects must target one of two strands: Strand 1 Product Innovation or Strand 2 Process Innovation, and must contribute to European strategic autonomy and the twin transition (green and digital). Project duration is fixed at 12 months. The call uses a lump-sum grant mechanism with fixed grant amounts per strand and requires consortium co-financing of at least 15% of the total project budget.

Deadlines and administrative details

Deadline for submission:31 August 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Project implementation is expected to start Autumn 2026 and run for 12 months. Lead Partner must submit the application electronically via the F6S call page at f6s.com. All applications must be written in English.

Who can apply and consortium rules

Only Step 1-selected applicants (SMEs) may act as Lead Partner. Step 2 proposals must be submitted by a consortium of at least two SMEs. Project Partners may include SMEs that were not selected in Step 1 as long as they meet the general eligibility conditions. Associated Partners (entities without EU funding) may be included but do not count towards the minimum eligible participants. A single SME may participate as applicant (Lead or Partner) in only one Step 2 proposal. Completion of the mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking activities (May–June 2026) by the Lead Partner is required prior to submission and will be verified.

Eligible Applicant Types:Primary eligible applicants are SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) according to the EU SME definition (Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC). Eligible applicant roles include Lead Partner (must be a Step 1-selected SME) and Project Partners (SMEs). Associated Partners, Innovation Leaders, service providers, universities, research organisations, public authorities, cultural heritage institutions, clusters or NGOs may participate but will generally be associated partners or subcontractors and are not eligible for direct funding under the call unless they qualify as an SME requesting funding. Individual persons are not eligible as beneficiaries.

Funding Type:The primary financial mechanism is a Grant structured as a fixed lump sum. Payments are linked to milestone achievement and approval of technical reports; however, the Step 2 budget must be submitted using real-cost-based budget templates (Annex 5 for Strand 1 or Annex 6 for Strand 2) to allow evaluators to assess budget coherence and co-financing. VAT is not eligible.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium of at least two SMEs is required. The Lead Partner must be a Step 1-selected SME. Associated Partners may be added without receiving EU funding and do not count for the minimum participant requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Eligible organisations must be legally established in a Single Market Programme (SMP) participating country. This includes EU Member States and SMP associated countries (see SMP participating countries list). Participating EEA/EFTA countries include Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein. Several candidate and neighbouring countries are included in specific strands per the SMP participation list. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are ineligible.

Target Sector:Thematic sector targeted is Cultural Heritage, covering the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC). The call specifically addresses innovation in Cultural and Creative Industries with emphasis on digital and green twin transition technologies applied to heritage product innovation or process innovation.

Mentioned Countries:The call references participation by EU Member States and SMP participating countries. Explicitly mentioned countries and territories in the SMP participation context include Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and others as listed in the SMP participating countries document (see Annexes and SMP country list).

Project Stage:Projects are expected to be at a development or demonstration/commercial readiness stage. Strand 1 Product Innovation targets new-to-the-firm products or services (commercialisation development), while Strand 2 Process Innovation targets business process innovation aligned with green and digital transition. Projects should build on Step 1 validated ideas and present implementation-ready plans for a 12-month execution period.

Funding Amount:This call uses fixed lump-sum grant amounts by strand: Strand 1 Product Innovation: €120,000 per awarded consortium. Strand 2 Process Innovation: €77,000 per awarded consortium. The EU grant covers up to 85% of the total project budget. Each SME may request a maximum of €60,000 (including linked enterprises). Total call budget noted in metadata: €1,970,000.

Application Type:This is an open Step 2 competitive call for projects that passed Step 1; submission is through a single-stage application on the F6S platform (Lead Partner submits on behalf of the consortium). Only Step 1-selected applicants can act as Lead Partner. The process is not invitation-only beyond the Step 1 selection requirement.

Nature of Support:Financial support in the form of money (grant lump sums). Non-monetary support is also provided through mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking activities, access to Innovation Leaders catalogue, networking opportunities, investor match-making and additional business support offered by the CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE project partners.

Application Stages:Two-step application process overall: Step 1 selection (already completed for eligible applicants) and Step 2 full proposal submission and evaluation. Within Step 2 evaluation, the process includes eligibility checks, quality evaluation and scoring, and final selection/award decision. Therefore applicants must have passed Step 1 and will undergo one Step 2 evaluation stage leading to award and contracting.

Success Rates:No explicit success rate is published in the call text. Success rate depends on the number of Step 1-selected applicants that proceed to Step 2 and on available budget. The call budget (€1,970,000) divided by strand fixed amounts gives an approximate maximum number of awards: for Strand 1 (€120,000) and Strand 2 (€77,000) combined across the call, but exact award counts depend on strand allocation and evaluator decisions. Applicants should consult the call KPIs and call document for further information on expected number of awards.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Consortia must provide at least 15% co-financing of the total project budget because the EU grant covers up to 85% of eligible costs. Co-financing is mandatory for all participating SMEs and can be provided from SMEs' own resources or external private funding. Higher co-financing proportions may increase evaluation scores.

Technical, financial and administrative requirements

Step 2 requires submission of mandatory annexes and adherence to legal, financial and exclusion criteria. Applications must show application of EU-based digital solutions/technologies and/or engagement of Innovation Leaders. The grant is managed as a lump sum with milestone-linked payments; budgets must nevertheless be submitted as real-cost breakdowns for assessment using the mandatory budget templates. VAT is not eligible.

1. 1Mandatory annexes to submit with Step 2 application: Annex 4 Step 2 Application Form (duly completed and signed by all applicants, includes Declaration of Honour signed by legal representative of each SME requesting funding).
2. 2Annex 5 or Annex 6 Step 2 Budget Template: use Annex 5 for Strand 1 and Annex 6 for Strand 2; budget must be prepared on a real-cost basis for evaluators although final award is a lump sum.
3. 3Financial viability self-assessment: complete the EU self-assessment tool (ec.europa.eu), print and sign for each SME requesting funding; follow Annex 2 instructions.
4. 4Proof of legal registration for each SME requesting funding (company register extract, certificate of incorporation or equivalent) with English translation where applicable.
5. 5Balance sheet and profit & loss account for the last two closed financial years for each SME requesting funding, with English translations where applicable.
6. 6Mandatory questionnaire: Single Market Programme Feedback Survey (complete via ec.europa.eu) filled in by the Lead Partner and saved as PDF.

Technology and Innovation Leader requirements

Projects must demonstrate the application of EU-based digital solutions and/or technologies (Option A) and/or the engagement of Innovation Leaders (Option B). Innovation Leaders are registered stakeholders in an official catalogue; they can be part of the consortium if they qualify as SMEs, or engaged externally as Associated Partners or Service Providers. Applicants must consult the Innovation Leaders catalogue and may engage Innovation Leaders to strengthen technology inputs and market-readiness.

Evaluation and award process

Step 2 evaluation follows the call document's Step 2 Evaluation and Selection criteria (Section 5.4). The evaluation includes eligibility checks, quality scoring according to published criteria, and final selection. Payments will be governed by a Sub-Grant Agreement signed between awarded consortium members and the Authority. Monitoring, reporting, milestone deliverables and participation in at least one European networking/business event are mandatory outputs. The call document describes the scoring approach, evaluation principles, redress procedures and timelines in detail.

Submission procedure and templates

Lead Partner submits the Step 2 application electronically via the F6S Platform at the call for proposals page. Applicants must use the mandatory Annex templates available in the Call Annexes folder: Annex 4 Step 2 Application Form (Word), Annex 5 Step 2 - Strand1 Budget Template (Excel), Annex 6 Step 2 - Strand2 Budget Template (Excel), Annex 2 Financial Viability Check Instructions (PDF), Annex 7 Sub-grant agreement template (PDF). Applicants must combine the application form and all mandatory annexes into the submission as specified in the Call for Proposals document.

1. 1Download full Call Package and annexes from the call links (Call for Proposals document and Call annexes).
2. 2Complete Annex 4 Step 2 Application Form and secure Declaration of Honour signatures for each SME requesting funding.
3. 3Prepare budget in Annex 5 (Strand 1) or Annex 6 (Strand 2) showing real-cost breakdown and planned co-financing sources.
4. 4Complete the Financial Viability Self-Assessment using the EU tool, print and sign for each SME requesting funding (follow Annex 2 instructions).
5. 5Gather proof of legal registration and financial statements (balance sheet and P&L for last two closed years) for each SME requesting funding, with English translations if applicable.
6. 6Lead Partner completes mandatory Single Market Programme Feedback Survey and saves PDF to include in submission.
7. 7Submit final application through F6S before the deadline.

Application templates: structure and guidance

Annex 4 Step 2 Application Form is the core narrative and administrative form. It must be completed and signed by all applicant SMEs. The form includes sections for project description, workplan, milestones/deliverables, impact, exploitation/commercialisation pathway, consortium description and roles, requested funding per SME and Declaration of Honour. Annex 5 and Annex 6 are Excel budget templates specific to each strand and require a detailed cost breakdown by cost category (staff, subcontracting/service providers, equipment, travel, other direct costs) and indication of total eligible costs, EU requested amount and co-financing contributions. Annex 2 provides instructions for completing the financial viability self-assessment and the use of the EU simulation tool.

1. 1Annex 4 contents: administrative details, abstract, technical description, workplan with milestones, impact and exploitation, consortium composition, Declaration of Honour and signatures.
2. 2Annex 5 / Annex 6 contents: cost categories with line items, cost justification columns, summary totals, EU funding requested and co-financing amounts per SME.
3. 3Annex 2 contents: step-by-step instructions for Financial Viability check and link to the self-assessment simulation tool.

Contacts, guidance and additional resources

Applicants should consult the full Call Package, Frequently Asked Questions, Innovation Leaders catalogue, and national Contact Points listed in the call document for clarifications. Innovation Leaders and Private Investors are being registered through separate Calls for Expression of Interest and their registers will be continuously updated until the end of 2027. Selected Step 1 applicants and registered Innovation Leaders/Investors will be invited to dedicated F6S private groups prior to Step 2 launch.

Relevant links and documents:Full Call Package and annexes: Call Package - Cultural Heritage Innovation Grants; Step 1 Results: Step 1 Results; Call annexes folder: Call annexes; Annex 4 Application Form: Annex 4; Submit application via F6S: F6S Step 2 Apply.

Important:consult Section 3.2 and Section 5.4 of the Call document for Step 2-specific submission requirements and evaluation criteria. Ensure all SMEs requesting funding complete the financial viability self-assessment, provide required financial documents, and that the consortium respects the maximum funding per SME rule (€60,000).

What this opportunity is about and how to explain it

The CR.EU.IN.HERITAGE Step 2 call finances collaborative, SME-led projects that turn Step 1 validated ideas into implemented innovation in the Cultural Heritage Value Chain. It provides targeted lump-sum grants to consortia of at least two SMEs for either product-level innovation (new services or products for the heritage sector) or process-level innovation (business processes enabling green and digital transitions). The call emphasises use of EU-based digital solutions and access to recognised Innovation Leaders to reinforce technological and market readiness. Funding is fixed per strand but requires demonstration of real-cost budgeting and a mandatory co-financing contribution of at least 15%. Applicants must be legally established in SMP participating countries and meet SME, financial viability and exclusion criteria. The process includes mandatory capacity building and matchmaking activities, a strict administrative and financial annex package, and milestone-linked payments via a sub-grant agreement. The opportunity aims to accelerate commercialisation and systemic modernisation of heritage-related products and processes across Europe while promoting strategic autonomy and the twin green/digital transition.

Footnotes

1. 1For the full Call for Proposals document, annexes, and the Step 1 Results, see the Call Package and annex folders linked above. Applicants must follow the detailed instructions and templates provided in the Call Package.

Who Should Apply

Eligibility Highlights

Eligible applicants are **SMEs** (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) according to the EU definition (Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC), legally established in countries participating in the **Single Market Programme (SMP)** ¹. Step 2 requires a **consortium of at least two SMEs**, where the **Lead Partner must be an SME selected in Step 1** ². Project Partners may include SMEs not selected in Step 1 if they meet general eligibility criteria. Associated Partners (e.g., universities, cultural institutions) can be added without EU funding and do not count toward the minimum consortium requirement ³.

Funding Amounts:The call offers two fixed lump sum grants per consortium: **Strand 1 (Product Innovation): €120,000** and **Strand 2 (Process Innovation): €77,000** ⁴. The maximum EU funding per individual SME is **€60,000** ⁵.

1. 1Strand 1: Development of new-to-the-firm products or services focused on the Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC)
2. 2Strand 2: Business process innovation linked to green and digital transition within the CHVC
3. 3Mandatory application of EU-based digital solutions/technologies OR engagement of Innovation Leaders

Projects must contribute to **European strategic autonomy** and the **twin transition (green and digital)** while strengthening the **Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC)** ⁶. Proposals must build on a Step 1-selected idea and maintain the same strand. Applicants must demonstrate the application of **EU-based digital solutions/technologies** (Option A) or engagement of **Innovation Leaders** (Option B) ⁷. Innovation Leaders can participate as applicant SMEs (if eligible) or as external entities (Associated Partners or Service Providers).

Mandatory Annexes for Step 2:Applicants must submit: **Annex 4** (Step 2 Application Form signed by all applicants with Declaration of Honour), **Annex 5 or 6** (Budget Template based on selected strand), **Financial viability self-assessment** (signed per SME), **Proof of legal registration**, **Balance sheet and Profit/Loss account** for the last two years, and a completed **Mandatory questionnaire** (saved as PDF by Lead Partner) ⁸.

The EU Grant covers up to **85%** of the total project budget; consortia must provide at least **15% co-financing** from own resources or external private funding ⁹. While 15% is the minimum, providing a higher percentage yields additional evaluation points. The grant is managed as a **lump sum**, with payments linked to milestone achievement and technical report approval. In Step 2, budgets must be submitted based on **real costs** using mandatory templates (Annex 5/6) to allow evaluators to assess coherence and co-financing coverage ¹⁰. VAT is not eligible.

Applications must be submitted electronically by the **Lead Partner** via the **F6S Platform** at F6S Application Portal ¹¹. Selected Step 1 SMEs must complete mandatory **Capacity Building and Matchmaking activities** (May–June 2026) to access Step 2 funding ¹². For inquiries, contact **National Contact Points (NCPs)** at least 10 working days before the deadline; a full list is in the Call document ¹³.

Footnotes

1. 1SMP participating countries include EU Member States and associated countries such as Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia, and Moldova (see SMP country list) SMP Country List.
2. 2Step 2 eligibility requires a consortium of at least two SMEs, with the Lead Partner being a Step 1-selected SME that completed mandatory Capacity Building activities Call Document Section 3.2.
3. 3Associated Partners contribute expertise without EU funding and do not count toward the minimum consortium requirement Call Document Glossary.
4. 4Fixed grant amounts: €120,000 for Strand 1 and €77,000 for Strand 2 per consortium of at least 2 SMEs Venetian Cluster Call Page.
5. 5Maximum EU funding per SME is €60,000, including linked enterprises Call Document Section 3.2.
6. 6Projects must strengthen the CHVC, contribute to the twin transition, and enhance European strategic autonomy Call Document Section 2.1.
7. 7Applicants must demonstrate application of EU-based digital solutions/technologies or engagement of Innovation Leaders (see Innovation Leaders catalogue) Innovation Leaders Catalogue.
8. 8Mandatory annexes include Annex 4, Annex 5/6, Financial viability self-assessment, Proof of legal registration, Balance sheet/Profit/Loss, and Mandatory questionnaire Call Annexes Folder.
9. 9EU Grant covers up to 85% of total budget; minimum 15% co-financing required from SMEs Call Document Section 3.2.
10. 10Lump sum grant managed via milestones; Step 2 budgets submitted based on real costs using Annex 5/6 templates Call Document Section 3.2.
11. 11Step 2 applications submitted via F6S Platform at F6S Application Portal Call Document Section 3.2.
12. 12Mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking activities (May–June 2026) required for Step 1-selected SMEs to access Step 2 funding Call Document Section 4.
13. 13Contact National Contact Points (NCPs) at least 10 working days before deadline; full list in Call document Call Document Section 8.