GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme

The GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme is an EU-funded cascade funding open call (SMP-COSME, Grant Agreement 101236363) targeting manufacturing and energy SMEs to develop TRL 6–8 Net-Zero technology projects. The first open call has a total budget of €1,000,000, opens 16 March 2026 and closes 20 May 2026 (Brussels time), funding at least 10 projects with up to €100,000 per project and a cap of €60,000 per SME. Eligible consortia must include at least two independent SMEs from different EU/associated countries and different sectors, projects last 9 months and require a minimum 20% private co-financing from SMEs. Funded activities cover development, prototyping, pilot testing, demonstration and integration into manufacturing, and beneficiaries must participate in mandatory non-financial support activities including training, an international mission and the GreenMantis Day event.

What it funds

Summary

Equity-free cascade grants to support collaborative SME-led projects (TRL 6–8) that develop, prototype, pilot-test or demonstrate Net-Zero technologies applied to manufacturing to improve energy efficiency and drive decarbonisation.

Funding & award structure:Total budget for this 1st open call €1,000,000; at least 10 projects to be funded; up to €100,000 per project; maximum €60,000 contribution per SME. Mandatory minimum private co-financing of 20% (cash; max 50% of that co-financing may be personnel costs). Project duration 9 months; eligible TRL 6–8. Apply via the EU Survey application link ¹.

1. 1Eligible applicants: SMEs (as per EU definition) only receive grant payments
2. 2Consortium requirement: at least 2 independent SMEs from two different EU Member States or SMP-COSME associated countries
3. 3Target sectors: manufacturing and energy activities (NACE code C or D) or firms in J or M with proven manufacturing-related activity
4. 4Larger companies or universities may participate but are not eligible to receive funding

Eligible activities are limited to technology development/prototyping, pilot testing/validation in operational environments, demonstrations, integration of Net-Zero tech into manufacturing processes, and business process innovation directly linked to technology adoption. Applicants must comply with mandatory participation activities (training, one international mission, GreenMantis Day); costs for those are not covered and count toward the 20% co-financing.

Footnotes

1. 1Application submission is done on the EU Survey platform: GreenMantis Application.

GreenMantis is an EU-funded Eurocluster initiative providing cascade funding and support services to cross-border, cross-sector SME consortia that advance Net-Zero technologies for manufacturing. The 1st Open Call finances TRL 6–8 lab-to-market projects focused on electricity grid technologies, energy system-related energy efficiency, and transformative industrial decarbonisation solutions. Only SMEs are financially supported; large companies and universities may participate without funding. Projects last 9 months and must deliver measurable energy efficiency gains, new-to-firm products or services, and process innovations tied to technology adoption. Application is via the EUSurvey platform, single-stage, with evaluation by independent experts based on a transparent scoring grid.

Official sources and documentation:Funding & Tenders listing: GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme EU Funding & Tenders Portal listing. Submission portal and materials: EUSurvey application workspace with Guidelines for Applicants and budget templates EUSurvey call page ¹.

Key call facts

Scope and eligible activities

• Electricity Grid Technologies: monitoring, control and optimization of energy flows to improve system resilience and reduce losses.
• Energy System-Related Energy Efficiency Technologies: technologies reducing energy needed for industrial processes via more efficient use.
• Transformative Industrial Technologies leading to Decarbonisation: solutions enabling carbon avoidance and higher process efficiency in industry.
• Eligible activities (strictly limited to): technology development and prototyping (TRL 6–8); pilot testing and validation in operational environments; demonstration; integration of Net-Zero technologies into manufacturing processes; business process innovation directly linked to technology adoption. Activities outside this list are not eligible.

Consortium and applicant eligibility

• Minimum consortium: at least 2 independent SMEs in two different eligible countries (EU Member States or SMP-COSME associated countries) and from two different sectors (NACE C, D, or J/M with proven manufacturing-related activities).
• Only SMEs receive funding. Larger companies and universities may join consortia without funding.
• SME status per EU definition required and financial viability checks apply; SMEs in difficulty under Commission Regulation No 651/2014 art. 2.18 are ineligible.
• Each SME may submit only one application to this call. An SME may participate again in the second GreenMantis call (planned 2027) but total support across calls cannot exceed €60,000 per SME. No double funding of the same activities or costs.

Costs, funding rates, co-funding and payment model

• Funding instrument: lump-sum grant to each beneficiary SME (no detailed cost reporting during the project, but records must be kept for audits).
• Funding rates for eligible costs: 100% for personnel, purchase costs (equipment, materials), travel costs related to technical implementation (excluding mandatory GreenMantis mission/day), and subcontracting (capped at max 20% of total project budget and must be justified).
• Mandatory private co-funding: at least 20% of total project costs per SME, from private sources (debt or own resources). In-kind contributions are not accepted. Within the 20% co-funding, a maximum of 50% can be personnel costs. Travel, accommodation and subsistence for mandatory participation (training sessions, one international mission, GreenMantis Day) are not eligible for EU support and may count toward the 20% private co-funding.
• Payment tranches: 50% after SGA signature; 40% after approval of final report and completion of actions; final 10% after participation in mandatory international mission and GreenMantis Day.
• Currency: EUR; payments by bank transfer to each beneficiary separately. Only project-period costs are eligible. No double funding.

Mandatory participation activities for beneficiaries

• Training: four 2-hour live sessions covering funding opportunities for SMEs, hydrogen production technologies, decarbonising manufacturing technologies in Europe, and 3D printing/digital tools for sustainable manufacturing. At least one representative from each SME must participate.
• International mission: participation in at least one of two missions organised by GreenMantis. Planned destinations and timing: Canada (2027) and Japan (2028). At least one representative from one SME in the consortium must attend one mission. Costs are not eligible and may count toward private co-funding. Preparatory support includes market study, mission booklet, mentoring webinar, and partner mentoring.
• GreenMantis Day: end-of-project event in Barcelona for result presentations and matchmaking. Attendance by at least one consortium representative is mandatory. Costs are not eligible and may count toward private co-funding.

Evaluation process and criteria

Applications undergo an administrative eligibility check followed by remote evaluation by external experts. A preliminary ranking is produced, with a final ranking and reserve list confirmed by the Internal Supervision Committee (one representative per partner). The evaluation should be completed within two months of the call closure. Top-ranked applications proceed to Sub-Grant Agreement (SGA) signature within about one month. Ties are resolved by prioritising consortia including a partner from a country outside those represented by GreenMantis partners (France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia) and then by gender balance within the team.

Principles applied include transparency, equal treatment and non-discrimination, confidentiality, and absence of conflicts of interest. Results are communicated approximately four weeks after the deadline, with Evaluation Summary Reports sent by email and public communication of awarded projects on GreenMantis channels.

Implementation timeline

Reporting, obligations, and audits

• Follow-up plan with three mandatory meetings: kick-off, mid-term, and final.
• Two mandatory deliverables: interim report and final report. Final report must include evidence of the 20% private co-funding, with accounting documents linked to project activities.
• Record-keeping: beneficiaries must keep adequate records for at least 3 years after project end; confidentiality obligations apply for at least 5 years.
• Ethics and EU values compliance required.
• IPR: results remain with the consortium; GreenMantis may use non-sensitive information for dissemination and reporting purposes under specified terms.
• Checks and audits: GreenMantis, OLAF, EPPO, and ECA may perform checks/reviews/audits. Non-compliance can lead to cost rejection, grant reduction, and potential legal consequences.
• Visibility: EU emblem and funding statement must be displayed in all related communication, as well as GreenMantis and Eurocluster logos.

How to apply

• Submission exclusively via EUSurvey during the call window; applications must be in English.
• Upload all required documents: completed application form (core sections, max 15 pages), Annex 1 Budget workbook, SME self-evaluation tool results for each SME seeking funding, EU financial viability LFV simulation for each SME seeking funding.
• Only the first complete submission per SME received before the deadline is considered if multiples occur.
• After closure, no additional documents are accepted unless requested by evaluators.
• Contact for queries: x.alberola@alpha-rlh.com (consult Q&A first).

Templates and application structure

Applicants must use the dedicated forms. The application core should not exceed 15 pages; administrative cover pages and designated last pages do not count. The budget must be completed in the provided Annex 1 workbook, per partner and work package, and include the consolidated project budget and the declaration and breakdown of the mandatory 20% private co-funding, with the condition that no more than 50% of co-funding is personnel costs. Travel for mandatory activities (international mission and GreenMantis Day) must be listed in the private co-funding section. Use the EU travel cost simulator references included in the budget template to estimate mission costs. Below is an outline of the templates to support applicants.

Administrative and legal information (per SME applicant):Legal name; country of registration; VAT; organisation type; sector of activity; NACE code; number of employees; turnover; address and website; contact person details. Repeat for each SME; if more than two partners, replicate the section.

Public project information:Tag line; selected Net-Zero technology focus area(s); manufacturing sector addressed; NACE codes; 500-character brief description.

Core application (max 15 pages):Relevance: alignment with the three Net-Zero technology themes, target manufacturing application, technical quality, innovation potential. Impact: expected organisational, economic, social impacts; new-to-firm products/services; business process innovation tied to adoption; energy efficiency gains (targets outlined in the form and guidelines); cross-sector perspectives. Implementation: WPs, tasks, roles, timeline, milestones/deliverables; risks and mitigation; team expertise; KPIs including mandatory ones; cost efficiency narrative.

KPIs (mandatory baseline set in forms):Energy consumption reduction (minimum 5% in the application form, with guidance elsewhere targeting 10%); at least 1 new-to-firm product/service; at least 1 business process innovation tied to technological adoption for sustainability and/or higher digitalisation; CO2 reduction (minimum 2% where specified); plus additional project-specific KPIs.

Budget Annex 1 workbook (per WP and consolidated):For each partner and each work package: detail personnel, subcontracting, travel (technical implementation only), and purchase costs. Subcontracting must not exceed 20% of the total budget. Provide a consolidated project budget. Declare and explain the 20% private co-funding, ensuring no more than 50% of the co-funding is personnel costs. Include mandatory travel for the GreenMantis international mission and GreenMantis Day as private co-funding, with indicative unit costs and references provided in the template. Provide explanations and supporting document types for private co-funding items (e.g., invoices, timesheets, payslips).

Categorisation and structured answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible for funding: SMEs only, as per the EU SME definition, operating under NACE code C (manufacturing) or D (energy). SMEs under NACE J or M are eligible if they can prove activities related to manufacturing. May participate without funding: large enterprises, universities, and other organisations. Research institutes may join if categorised under universities or other organisations but will not receive funding.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties, equity-free), lump-sum model.

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required: at least two independent SMEs from two different eligible countries and two different sectors. Additional partners allowed without funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and countries associated to the SMP-COSME programme. Applicants must be established in these countries.

Target Sector:Manufacturing and energy, with emphasis on cleantech and industrial decarbonisation. Cross-cutting digital/ICT elements are relevant where they enable energy efficiency and process integration (e.g., smart grids, digital twins, 3D printing, automation, data systems). Sub-sectors include electricity grid technologies, energy efficiency for industrial systems, and advanced low-carbon industrial processes.

Mentioned Countries:EU-13 referenced for bonus points: Hungary, Czechia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Poland, Lithuania, Malta, Latvia, Slovakia, Estonia, Slovenia, Romania. Partner countries mentioned: France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia. International mission destinations: Canada and Japan. Event location: Barcelona, Spain.

Project Stage:Development, validation, demonstration, and integration at TRL 6–8. The call targets lab-to-market activities including prototyping, piloting in operational environments, and demonstrations.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €1,000,000. Up to €100,000 per project. Up to €60,000 per SME (cumulative across all GreenMantis calls). Mandatory private co-funding of at least 20% from SMEs; co-funding personnel portion capped at 50%.

Application Type:Open call; single-stage submission via EUSurvey with mandatory annexes.

Nature of Support:Money: equity-free cascade grants. Non-monetary services: training and internationalisation support (missions, mentoring, market studies, networking). Both financial and service support are provided.

Application Stages:1 stage for submission. Post-submission steps include eligibility check, remote expert evaluation, supervision committee harmonisation, award, and SGA signature.

Success Rates:Not specified. The call indicates at least 10 projects funded and at least 20 SMEs supported but does not provide expected or historical success rates.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. Minimum 20% private co-funding per SME, from private sources (debt or own funds). In-kind contributions are not accepted. Within the co-funding, no more than 50% can be personnel costs. Travel and subsistence for mandatory activities are ineligible for EU support and can count toward the 20% co-funding.

Compliance notes and ineligibilities

• Ineligible costs: travel/accommodation for mandatory training, international mission, GreenMantis Day; personnel time for mandatory participation; costs outside project period; any costs already publicly funded.
• Subcontracting above 20% of project budget is ineligible; all subcontracting must be justified.
• Proposals must be complete, in English, and submitted before the deadline; otherwise, they are rejected.
• Organisations in difficulty or excluded under EU/national provisions are ineligible.
• Double funding of same activities/costs is prohibited.

Contact and support

Email:x.alberola@alpha-rlh.com. Applicants should consult the Guidelines for Applicants and Q&A on the EUSurvey page prior to contacting support.

Long summary: what this opportunity is about

The GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme is a cascade funding opportunity under the EU’s Euroclusters framework to accelerate adoption and scale-up of Net-Zero technologies in European manufacturing. It finances short, focused TRL 6–8 projects delivered by cross-border, cross-sector SME consortia. Projects must integrate one or more of the following: smart electricity grid technologies, energy system-related efficiency technologies, and transformative low-carbon industrial processes. The scheme provides equity-free grants up to €100,000 per project (max €60,000 per SME), with a mandatory 20% private co-funding contribution. Eligible activities are strictly defined and include prototyping, piloting in operational settings, demonstrations, process integration, and business process innovation directly linked to technology deployment. Proposers must demonstrate tangible outcomes such as new-to-firm offerings, measurable energy efficiency improvements, CO2 reductions, and organisational process changes that enable sustainability and digitalisation. Applicants apply via EUSurvey in a single stage, undergo eligibility checks and expert evaluation against a detailed scoring grid, and then enter a Sub-Grant Agreement with milestone-based payments (50/40/10). Beneficiaries also receive structured non-financial support including training and internationalisation activities, with mandatory participation in one international mission (Canada 2027 or Japan 2028) and the GreenMantis Day event in Barcelona. The call is open to SMEs in EU Member States and SMP-COSME associated countries, with consortia requiring at least two SMEs from different countries and sectors. Larger companies and universities can join but are not funded. This opportunity is best suited to manufacturing and energy SMEs ready to validate and demonstrate near-to-market solutions that deliver quick, quantifiable energy efficiency and decarbonisation impacts in industrial environments, while strengthening cross-border supply chains and market readiness.

Footnotes

1. 1Guidelines for Applicants, application form, and budget templates are accessible via the EUSurvey page: GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme EUSurvey call page.

The GreenMantis Innovation Support Scheme is an EU-funded cascade funding opportunity under the SMP-COSME programme (Grant Agreement 101236363). It targets manufacturing and energy SMEs developing innovative projects in Net-Zero Technologies to enhance sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience. The scheme supports cross-national, cross-sectoral consortia with financial grants, training, and internationalisation activities.

Key Dates and Budget

Opening Date:16 March 2026 at 08:00 CET.

Deadline:20 May 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time), single-stage submission.

Total Budget:€1,000,000 for this 1st Open Call, aiming to fund at least 10 projects and 20 SMEs.

Project Funding:Up to €100,000 per project (equity-free), with max €60,000 per SME. Mandatory 20% private co-financing from SMEs (debt or own resources, no in-kind; max 50% personnel costs in co-financing).

Objectives and Scope

Projects must focus on at least one of three Net-Zero Technologies:Electricity Grid Technologies (smart energy flow monitoring), Energy System-Related Energy Efficiency Technologies (reduced energy use in processes), or Transformative Industrial Technologies leading to Decarbonisation (carbon avoidance in manufacturing). Activities aim to develop new-to-firm products/services/processes, business process innovations, and improve energy efficiency (target: 10% reduction, min 5%; CO2 reduction target 5%, min 2%).

Eligible Activities (TRL 6-8, 9 months duration)

• Technology development and prototyping (TRL 6-8)
• Pilot testing and validation in operational environments
• Demonstration activities
• Integration of Net-Zero technologies into manufacturing processes
• Business process innovation directly linked to technological adoption

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Only SMEs (per EU definition) located in EU Member States or SMP-COSME Associated Countries receive funding. Consortium must include at least 2 independent SMEs from 2 different EU/Associated Countries and 2 different sectors (NACE C: Manufacturing, D: Energy, or J/M with proven manufacturing activities). Larger companies or universities may join but receive no funding. Each SME limited to €60,000 total across all GreenMantis calls. No multiple applications per SME per call; first complete submission considered.

Financial Viability

SMEs must pass SME self-assessment, EU LFV Simulation (no 'in difficulty' per Regulation 651/2014 Art. 2.18), and provide proof of financial stability.

Funding Rates and Eligible Costs

Ineligible:Costs outside project period, double-funded, or for mandatory activities (training, international mission, GreenMantis Day). Lump-sum mechanism; keep records for 3 years for audits.

Mandatory Non-Financial Support

• Training: 4 live sessions (2h each) on funding applications, hydrogen tech, decarbonisation, 3D printing/digital tools. At least 1 rep per SME.
• International Mission: 1 of 2 (Canada 2027 or Japan 2028, ~5 days around a fair; market study, webinar, mentoring). At least 1 rep from consortium.
• GreenMantis Day: End-of-project networking in Barcelona. At least 1 rep.

Costs for these count towards 20% private co-financing (use EU travel simulator for estimates).

Application Process

Submit via EUSurvey:EUSurvey. Required: Application form (max 15 pages core), Annex 1 Budget Excel, SME self-assessments, LFV results (all SMEs). English only. Administrative check, then expert evaluation.

Evaluation Criteria (50 points total)

Extra points:>30% private funding (+2), EU-13 partner excl. Croatia (+2). Min thresholds per sub-criteria. Results ~1 month post-deadline; top-ranked enter Sub-Grant Agreement (SGA). Payments: 50% start, 40% post-final report, 10% post-mandatory activities.

Key Performance Indicators (Mandatory Minimums)

• Energy efficiency improvement: min 5% (target 10%)
• New-to-firm products/services: at least 1
• CO2 emissions reduction: min 2% (target 5%)
• Business process innovations (green transition/sustainability): at least 1
• Business process innovations (digitalisation): at least 1
• Private funding %

Obligations and Rights

Reporting:Interim/final reports, KPIs via surveys. IPR: Consortium owns results; GreenMantis may use non-sensitive info for dissemination. Visibility: EU flag, GreenMantis/Eurocluster logos required. Audits possible by GreenMantis/OLAF/EPPO/ECA. Disputes under French law, Bordeaux courts. Redress: 7 days for admin complaints.

Resources

Primary Portal:EU Funding Portal. Guidelines: Available via EUSurvey. Contact: x.alberola@alpha-rlh.com. GreenMantis LinkedIn/ECCP for updates.

Footnotes

1. 1Data sourced from official EU portal, Guidelines for Applicants v1.1 (Feb 2026), and call documents.