MANTRA First Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs

The MANTRA First Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs is a funding opportunity initiated by the European Union under the Horizon Europe program. The goal is to support the sustainable and innovative transformation of manufacturing SMEs across Europe through digital, green, and social initiatives. The call is open for proposals aimed at SMEs in specific sectors, including machinery, electronics, food, textiles, plastics, metals, and ceramics.

Eligible applicants are specifically manufacturing SMEs across the EU, with a separate focus on women-led SMEs receiving bonus points during the evaluation process. The funding type is a grant, providing financial support of up to EUR 50,000 per SME, with a total budget of EUR 1.25 million available for up to 25 SMEs. The application process is structured as a single-stage open call, with a submission deadline set for September 15, 2025, at 17:00 Brussels time.

Project proposals should focus on realistic and impactful transformation initiatives that integrate advanced technologies and contribute to the SME’s long-term sustainability strategies. The support encompasses both financial grants and non-monetary advisory services, allowing SMEs to collaborate with tech-savvy companies and access specialized business support networks.

Projects must demonstrate a development or validation stage, specifically implementing strategies that enhance sustainability. While the call does not require a formal consortium, collaboration with tech-experts is encouraged. There is no co-funding requirement for applicants, making the support fully covered by the grant. However, potential applicants should note that the success rate for this call is unspecified, with evaluation criteria emphasizing the quality and relevance of proposals.

In summary, the MANTRA First Open Call positions itself as a critical initiative for manufacturing SMEs aiming to integrate sustainable practices into their operations, fostering innovation and resilience through financial and advisory support.

The MANTRA First Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs is an EU funding opportunity designed to support the sustainable and innovative transformation of manufacturing SMEs through digital, green, and social initiatives.

General Information:

Opening Date: 17 June 2025
Deadline: 15 September 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time)
Deadline Model: Single-stage
Status: Open for Submission
Expected Duration of Participation: Six months
Total Funding Available: 1,250,000.00 EUR
Project Acronym: MANTRA
Full Name of the EU Funded Project: SUSTAINABLE AND INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURING BY ENSURING DIGITAL, GREEN AND SOCIAL SME TRANSFORMATION
Grant Agreement Number: 101178023
Topic: HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01-41 - 'Innovate to transform' support for SME's sustainability transition (CSA)

Task Description:

The primary objective of this call is to select manufacturing SMEs that will receive support to define and implement their "MANTRA Journey" plan. This plan aims to enhance the SME's sustainability and innovation. The initiative focuses on improving the capacity of selected SMEs to adopt advanced technologies and social innovation for sustainability. This will be achieved through collaboration with tech-savvy SMEs and by providing access to services from EU specialized business support networks and organizations. Financial support of up to EUR 50,000 per SME will be available to implement the recommended transformation.

Proposals should outline a transformation project that is realistic, impactful, and aligned with the SME’s long-term strategy for sustainability and growth through the adoption of advanced technologies. The proposed concept must contribute to the green and digital transformation of the SME, ensuring a reduction in environmental impacts while enhancing the business's competitiveness and resilience. Projects should adhere to circular economy principles and incorporate inclusive, socially responsible practices.

The process begins by joining the MANTRA Community, which provides access to resources, peer learning, and the application process.

Submission & Evaluation Process:

The MANTRA project invites manufacturing SMEs across the EU, particularly those in the plastics, machinery, ceramics, metals, textiles, and food sectors, to participate. The project promotes sustainable and innovative manufacturing through digital, green, and social transformation.

Application Preparation: Applicants should follow the Guidelines for Applicants. The application documents must include a self-assessment and a signed Declaration of Honour.

Submission: Proposals must be submitted via the MANTRA platform, which is the sole channel for submission. Once submitted, proposals cannot be modified. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Evaluation: Proposals will be evaluated across five key areas, each scored from 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent):

Project execution and the relevance of the requested MANTRA support
Digital approach
Business approach
Environmental approach
Social approach

Bonus Points: Bonus points may be awarded for outstanding elements, such as:

A high level of innovation
A mature transformation plan
Comprehensive and high-quality supporting documentation
Gender representation, particularly women-led SMEs

Further Information:

Details of the application and evaluation procedures can be found in the guidelines for applicants available on the MANTRA project webpage. For inquiries, contact info@mantra-project.eu.

In summary, the MANTRA First Open Call is a funding opportunity for manufacturing SMEs in the EU to receive up to 50,000 EUR to support their digital, green, and social transformation. The call aims to help SMEs become more sustainable and innovative by adopting advanced technologies and socially responsible practices. The application process involves submitting a proposal through the MANTRA platform, which will be evaluated based on project execution, digital, business, environmental, and social approaches. Bonus points are available for innovation, a mature transformation plan, comprehensive documentation, and gender representation. The call is specifically targeted at SMEs in sectors like plastics, machinery, ceramics, metals, textiles, and food. The selected SMEs will define and implement a "MANTRA Journey" plan to enhance their sustainability and competitiveness.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type for this opportunity is manufacturing SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises). The call specifically targets SMEs across the EU. There is also mention of women-led SMEs receiving bonus points.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding. The call provides financial support to selected SMEs.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state that a consortium is required. However, it mentions collaboration with tech-savvy SMEs, suggesting that while a single applicant is possible, collaboration is encouraged. Therefore, it is likely that either a single applicant or a small informal consortium is acceptable.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is EU (European Union). The call explicitly invites manufacturing SMEs across the EU to participate.

Target Sector: The target sectors are manufacturing, with a particular focus on plastics, machinery, ceramics, metals, textiles, and food sectors. The program also targets digital, green, and social transformation within these sectors. The call aims to promote sustainable and innovative manufacturing through the adoption of advanced technologies and social innovation.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the call is open to SMEs across the EU (European Union).

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is development and implementation. The call aims to support SMEs in defining and implementing their "MANTRA Journey plan," which implies moving beyond the initial idea stage towards a more concrete transformation project. The projects should be realistic, impactful, and embedded in the SME's strategy.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to EUR 50,000 per SME. The total funding available for the call is EUR 1,250,000.00.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. The call is referred to as the "MANTRA First Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs." The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money. Financial support of up to EUR 50,000 per SME will be available to implement the recommended transformation.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "Deadline model single-stage" information.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

The MANTRA project's First Open Call is a funding opportunity for manufacturing SMEs located within the European Union. The project aims to foster sustainable and innovative manufacturing practices through digital, green, and social transformation. The call is particularly relevant for SMEs in the plastics, machinery, ceramics, metals, textiles, and food sectors. Selected SMEs will receive up to EUR 50,000 to implement their "MANTRA Journey plan," which involves adopting advanced technologies and social innovation to enhance sustainability, reduce environmental impact, and improve competitiveness. The total funding available for this call is EUR 1,250,000. The application process is single-stage, with a deadline of September 15, 2025. Proposals will be evaluated based on project execution, digital approach, business approach, environmental approach, and social approach. Bonus points will be awarded for innovation, a mature transformation plan, high-quality documentation, and gender representation, especially women-led SMEs. Applicants are required to submit their proposals via the MANTRA platform, including a self-assessment and a signed Declaration of Honour. Joining the MANTRA Community is recommended to access resources, peer learning, and the application process. The call falls under the Horizon Europe program, specifically addressing the topic of 'Innovate to transform' support for SME's sustainability transition. The expected duration of participation for selected projects is six months.