HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call

HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call is a Horizon Europe cascade funding opportunity supporting technical solutions using immersive XR technologies for cultural heritage, offering stage-gated grants of up to €50,000 per project and technical mentoring for up to six months. The call will fund up to six projects from eligible SMEs, startups, NGOs or natural persons established in or demonstrating a local footprint in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye, with applications submitted via the FundingBox Platform. Funding is disbursed in three stages tied to deliverables (Plan, Development, Release) over a maximum six month implementation period. The single-stage application opens 25 August 2026 and the operative deadline is 27 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, with selection including eligibility checks, external expert evaluation and an online Jury Day pitch for top scorers.

Scope

What is funded

Grants for technical, immersive solutions using XR and related technologies to make cultural heritage more interactive, accessible and inclusive; projects must address specific challenges defined by the HERIFORGE hubs in Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye.

Funding and cohort size:Up to 6 projects will be selected; each successful applicant may receive up to €50,000. Total cascade funding available: €300,000.

1. 1Project duration: up to 6 months (three staged phases).
2. 2Stage 1 Plan Phase (up to 1 month): 20% payment after deliverable (up to €15,000).
3. 3Stage 2 Development Phase (3 months): 50% payment after Prototype Report (up to €25,000).
4. 4Stage 3 Release Phase (2 months): 30% payment after Demonstration Report (up to €15,000).

Eligible applicants:individual SMEs (including startups), natural persons, or NGOs (foundations or associations). Entities must be established in or demonstrate a local footprint in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye; applicants from other EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries are eligible only if they show local presence in the hubs' regions.

Key dates and how to apply:Opening date 25 August 2026. Application deadline 27 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission via the FundingBox Platform. Start application and find terms and conditions on the project website HERIFORGE or the portal EU Funding & Tenders Portal.

Basic facts

Call title:HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call. Project acronym: HERIFORGE. Full project name: Cultural heritage and immersive technologies for innovation forge. Grant agreement number: 101186573. Funding programme: HORIZON-WIDERA — Excellence Hubs (2021 2027). Opening date: 25 August 2026. Application deadline: 27 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage). Expected duration of participation: up to 6 months. Total funding available for this open call round: €300,000. Number of proposals to be funded: up to 6. Maximum grant per beneficiary: up to €50,000.

Objective and scope

HERIFORGE aims to build an interregional innovation ecosystem connecting three excellence hubs in Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye that combine XR technologies, advanced IT and digital humanities infrastructures with cultural heritage resources. The 2nd Open Call targets innovative technical solutions using immersive technologies to make cultural heritage more interactive, accessible and inclusive, and to address specific challenges defined by the national hubs in Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye.

What the grant supports

Cascade grant (sub-granting) to individual projects. Financial support and technical mentoring are combined: financial support up to €50,000 per selected proposal and technical mentoring over a maximum of 6 months. Funding is disbursed in three staged payments tied to deliverables across three project stages.

Payment and project stages:Stage 1 Plan Phase (up to 1 month): deliver Individual Mentoring Plan (design, challenges, planned activities and budget). Payment: 20% of the requested grant, up to €15,000. Stage 2 Development Phase (3 months): deliver Technical Report of Prototype Release (minimal requirement). Payment: 50% of the requested grant, up to €25,000. Stage 3 Release Phase (2 months): deliver Technical Report on Conducted Demonstration (minimal requirement). Payment: 30% of the requested grant, up to €15,000.

Eligibility and applicants

Eligible applicant types and establishment requirements are defined strictly. Applicants may be individual SMEs (including startups), natural persons or NGOs (foundations or associations). Entities must be located in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye or in EU Member States and its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) or in Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Crucially, entities must be established in one of the countries of the national Hubs ecosystem (Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye). Applicants from other EU Member States, OCTs or Associated Countries are eligible only if they demonstrate local footprint in one of the three hub regions (for example local staff or documented business record).

Eligible applicant types:SMEs including startups; NGOs (foundations, associations); natural persons (individuals) meeting the establishment/local footprint conditions. Universities, research institutes or large enterprises are not listed as eligible in the published information for this open call — applicants should consult the Terms and Conditions for clarifications.

Geographic and beneficiary scope

Primary hub countries:Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye. Additional geographic eligibility: applicants established in any EU Member State and its Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT) or in Horizon Europe Associated Countries may apply provided they demonstrate a local footprint in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye (e.g. local staff, operational presence or business record). The call is therefore regionally focused on the three hub countries while allowing participation from wider EU/Associated Country applicants who can evidence local operations in the hub territories.

Selection and submission process

Applications must be submitted through the FundingBox Platform using the open call application form. The selection is carried out as a six-step process: Step 1 eligibility check; Step 2 alignment check with project objectives and scope (if necessary); Step 3 evaluation by independent experts according to the Terms and Conditions; Step 4 invitation of top scorers to pitch at an online Jury Day; Step 5 final selection by the HERIFORGE consortium taking into account external evaluation, pitch results and project objectives; Step 6 legal document review before signature of the Sub Grant Agreement. Applicants should read the Terms and Conditions carefully and may contact the helpdesk at heriforge.help@fundingbox.com.

Application portal and support:Submit via FundingBox Platform (application form available there). OC helpdesk email: heriforge.help@fundingbox.com. Project website: heriforge.eu ¹

Evaluation, deliverables and monitoring

Evaluation criteria are defined in the Open Call Terms and Conditions (applicants must consult that document). Selected projects are expected to deliver the outputs tied to each stage: Individual Mentoring Plan at Stage 1; Technical Report documenting the Prototype Release at Stage 2; Technical Report documenting the Conducted Demonstration at Stage 3. Mentoring and technical support are provided through the project hubs. A pitch (Jury Day) is part of the selection for top-scoring applicants.

Funding type, co-funding and contractual model

This opportunity is cascade funding delivered as sub-grants (grant to selected beneficiaries). The public documentation does not state an applicant co-funding requirement for the awarded €50,000; payments are structured and conditional on stage deliverables. Applicants should check the Terms and Conditions for final information on eligible costs and any co-funding obligations. Sub Grant Agreement signature is required for contract award.

Co-funding

The public call text does not explicitly require co-funding to be provided by applicants for the sub-grant; funding is presented as up to €50,000 per selected proposal disbursed in staged payments. Applicants must consult the Terms and Conditions to confirm whether own contribution is required for specific cost categories or activities.

Who should apply and project maturity

Target applicants are innovation-driven SMEs, startups, natural persons and NGOs working on immersive XR/extended reality, advanced IT, digital humanities or related solutions for cultural heritage. Desired project maturity: solutions at development through demonstration stages — proposals should produce a prototype (Stage 2) and a demonstrable release (Stage 3). Suitable for teams with a working prototype or clear plan to build and demonstrate a prototype within the 6-month period.

Target sectors and technology areas

Primary thematic sectors:cultural heritage, immersive technologies, XR (virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality), advanced IT, digital humanities infrastructures, creative industries, cultural and creative technology for inclusion, accessibility and interactive visitor experiences. Technology focus areas include XR content and platforms, interactive storytelling, 3D scanning and reconstruction, digital twins for heritage sites, accessibility tools, multimodal interfaces, AR/VR applications, cloud-based delivery or edge computing for immersive experiences, and integration with digital humanities datasets and standards.

Mentioned countries

Explicitly mentioned countries and regions:Cyprus, Poland, Türkiye. Broader eligibility references: European Union Member States and their Overseas Countries and Territories (OCT), Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Funding amounts and budgetary details

Maximum per-project grant:up to €50,000. Total open call budget for this round: €300,000. Number of awards: up to 6 proposals. Stage payment caps: Stage 1 up to €15,000 (20%), Stage 2 up to €25,000 (50%), Stage 3 up to €15,000 (30%).

Application type, timeline and process specifics

Application type:open call, single-stage submission. Submission method: online via FundingBox Platform application form. Selection process includes external expert evaluation and a pitching online Jury Day for shortlisted top scoring applicants. Legal checks and Sub Grant Agreement signature follow selection. Webinars are scheduled to support applicants (publicised dates: 9 September 2026 and 6 October 2026 in the published notes).

Selection stages and required documentation

Selection involves six steps (eligibility check, alignment check if needed, external expert evaluation, Jury Day pitching for top scorers, consortium final selection, legal checks). Project implementation requires deliverables at each of the three operational stages as described earlier. Applicants must provide an Individual Mentoring Plan at submission and demonstrate local footprint evidence if not established in the hub country.

1. 1Step 1: Eligibility check against criteria specified in the Terms and Conditions.
2. 2Step 2: Alignment check with HERIFORGE objectives and scope (if necessary).
3. 3Step 3: Evaluation by independent external experts according to evaluation criteria.
4. 4Step 4: Invitation of top-scoring applicants to an online Jury Day to pitch their project.
5. 5Step 5: HERIFORGE consortium makes final selection using evaluation results and alignment with project objectives.
6. 6Step 6: Review of legal documentation and signature of Sub Grant Agreement.

Application templates and recommended structure

The official application form is hosted on the FundingBox Platform. The call Terms and Conditions and Guide for Applicants contain the formal submission template and evaluation criteria. The public call text does not reproduce the full form fields. Based on the call requirements and the staged deliverables, applicants should structure their submission to include the following sections to match evaluation expectations and to simplify transfer into the FundingBox form:

1. 1Administrative data: legal name, legal status, registration country, contact details, VAT/registration numbers, bank details to be provided at contracting stage.
2. 2Local footprint evidence: proof of establishment in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye or documentation of local staff/business record in those hub countries (for applicants from other EU/Associated Countries).
3. 3Executive summary: short description of the project, objectives, target users and impact on cultural heritage accessibility and inclusivity.
4. 4Technical description: detailed technical solution, technologies used (XR platforms, 3D scanning, game engines, backend/cloud components, standards for metadata and interoperability), expected deliverables (prototype and demonstration), and technical risks and mitigation measures.
5. 5Work plan and milestones: breakdown by the three stages (Plan, Development, Release) with timelines, measurable outputs and the Individual Mentoring Plan content.
6. 6Consortium and team: key personnel, roles, CV summaries, relevant experience in XR, digital heritage or creative industries, partnerships with heritage institutions if applicable.
7. 7Budget: requested grant amount up to €50,000 with detailed cost categories mapped to stages, justification of costs, and any additional funding sources or in-kind contributions (if applicable).
8. 8Exploitation and sustainability plan: route to market, further funding needs, IP and licensing strategy, target users and business model or public value case.
9. 9Impact and dissemination: how the solution improves access, inclusion, engagement with cultural heritage, plans for demonstration events, outreach and evaluation metrics.
10. 10Ethics and data protection: if applicable, compliance with GDPR, handling of personal data for immersive experiences, and any ethical considerations for cultural heritage content.
11. 11Supporting documents: letters of support from local heritage institutions or partners, screenshots or demos of existing prototypes, and any prior deliverables.

Application stages that applicants must pass

Selection process stages:6 (see selection steps listing). Project implementation stages: 3 (Plan, Development, Release) with stage-gated payments tied to deliverables. Hence applicants must pass eligibility checks and external evaluation, pitch at Jury Day if shortlisted, contract signature, and then successfully complete the three implementation stages to receive the whole grant.

Success rates

The call will fund up to 6 proposals. The portal does not publish expected number of applications, so a numerical success rate cannot be derived from the published materials. Applicants should treat the competition as selective and prepare strong alignment with hub challenges and clear evidence of feasibility and local footprint. Historical success rates for similar cascade calls vary widely; HERIFORGE does not specify a target success rate in the public call text.

Risks, compliance and contracting

Award is conditional on passing legal reviews and signing a Sub Grant Agreement. Payments are conditional on delivering the stage outputs and meeting the quality requirements as assessed by the HERIFORGE consortium and experts. Applicants must comply with the Terms and Conditions, EU rules applicable to the parent grant, and any reporting, IP and publicity requirements set out in the Sub Grant Agreement.

Practical next steps for applicants

1. 1Read the HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call Terms and Conditions and the Guide for Applicants available on the FundingBox Platform and the HERIFORGE website.
2. 2Prepare evidence of local footprint in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye if your organisation is established outside those hub countries.
3. 3Draft a clear Individual Mentoring Plan, technical plan for prototype delivery and a realistic budget split by the three stages.
4. 4Register and complete the application on the FundingBox Platform before 27 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time.
5. 5Register to attend the informational webinars (dates publicised) and use the helpdesk for clarifications at heriforge.help@fundingbox.com.

Summary and closing explanation

HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call is a targeted cascade funding opportunity under the Excellence Hubs action that supports innovation projects applying immersive XR and digital technologies to cultural heritage challenges in the Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye hub ecosystem. It offers stage-gated grants of up to €50,000 and tailored technical mentoring over up to six months. The call is single-stage to submit via FundingBox, uses a six-step selection process culminating in a pitching Jury Day, and funds up to six projects from eligible SMEs, NGOs or individuals that demonstrably operate in or have local presence in one of the hub countries. Applicants should prepare a clear Individual Mentoring Plan, a technical deliverable roadmap to produce a prototype and demonstration, and evidence of local footprint where required. See the Terms and Conditions and the application form on FundingBox for full mandatory rules and the evaluation criteria before applying ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page and application details are available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the HERIFORGE project website: heriforge.eu and via the FundingBox Platform where the application form and Terms and Conditions are published.

HERIFORGE 2nd Open Call is a cascade funding, multi-topic open call under Horizon Europe that supports innovative technical solutions using immersive technologies for cultural heritage. The call finances up to 6 projects with up to €50,000 per project and provides technical mentoring for up to 6 months. The project website is HERIFORGE.

Key facts

What the funding supports

The call targets innovative projects that develop technical solutions using XR and other immersive technologies in the cultural heritage field. Proposals are expected to address specific challenges defined by the HERIFORGE hubs in Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye and to show clear added value beyond the current state of the art. The available information points to solutions such as software applications, museum or art installations, data interoperability tools, automation, integration and related digital heritage technologies.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are individual SMEs, including startups, NGOs and natural persons. Applicants must be located in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye, or in an EU Member State, an Overseas Country or Territory, or a Horizon Europe Associated Country, provided they can demonstrate a local footprint in Cyprus, Poland or Türkiye such as local staff or a business record. The call therefore favors applicants with a real operational link to the hub ecosystem rather than purely remote proposals.

Funding amount and support structure

Successful applicants can receive up to €50,000 in financial support and technical mentoring for a maximum of 6 months. No separate co-financing rate is specified in the available information; the support is described as grant funding released against stage deliverables.

1. 1Stage 1 Plan Phase, up to 1 month. The beneficiary must deliver an Individual Mentoring Plan covering the design, challenges, planned activities and budget. Completion triggers payment of 20 percent of the requested grant, up to €15,000.
2. 2Stage 2 Development Phase, 3 months. The beneficiary must deliver a Technical Report of the Prototype Release as the minimum requirement. Completion triggers payment of 50 percent of the requested grant, up to €25,000.
3. 3Stage 3 Release Phase, 2 months. The beneficiary must deliver a Technical Report on the Conducted Demonstration as the minimum requirement. Completion triggers payment of 30 percent of the requested grant, up to €15,000.

Submission and evaluation process

Applications must be submitted through the application form on the FundingBox Platform. The selection process is a six-step procedure covering eligibility screening, scope alignment where needed, external expert evaluation, an online Jury Day pitch for top scorers, final consortium selection and legal review before signing the Sub Grant Agreement.

1. 1Step 1 Eligibility check against the call rules.
2. 2Step 2 Alignment check with project objectives and scope, if necessary.
3. 3Step 3 Independent expert evaluation according to the Terms and Conditions.
4. 4Step 4 Invitation of top-scoring applicants to an online Jury Day pitch.
5. 5Step 5 Final selection by the HERIFORGE consortium based on evaluation results, the pitch and project objectives.
6. 6Step 6 Review of legal documents before signature of the Sub Grant Agreement.

What applicants should pay attention to

• The proposal should be tightly linked to one of the hub-defined challenges and clearly describe the immersive or XR-based innovation.
• The application should show why the solution is technically credible and how it improves access, interactivity or inclusion in cultural heritage.
• Applicants outside Cyprus, Poland and Türkiye should prepare evidence of local footprint, because this is a core eligibility point.
• The funding and mentoring schedule is milestone-based, so the workplan and budget should be aligned with the three-stage structure.
• The project page also advertises applicant webinars and FAQ support, which may be useful for clarifying the call rules before submission.

Important note on the published dates

The portal data contains an inconsistent extracted closing-date field, but the call page and the call description consistently indicate the operative deadline as 27 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Applicants should rely on the deadline shown in the call page and Terms and Conditions rather than on any conflicting scraped metadata.