MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN - Open Call

The MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN open call provides cascade funding to manufacturing SMEs in the furniture and construction sectors to develop implementation-oriented design studies for energy and resource efficiency transitions. Total call budget is €370,000 with individual lump sums up to €10,000 covering up to 90% of eligible costs, requiring minimum 10% SME co-financing and at least 75% of the grant allocated to a mandated external solution provider. Projects must run 4–6 months, produce a Design Study with concrete implementation plans, and be completed before 30 November 2026. Applications in English must be submitted via EUSurvey by 17 April 2026 17:00 CET and include a signed Declaration of Honour and the mandatory SME–solution provider partnership.

What it funds

Design studies and implementation‑oriented transition plans to prepare adoption of advanced, energy‑efficient and digital technologies in manufacturing SMEs (focus: furniture and construction). Activities must produce a concrete DESIGN STUDY with implementation perspective (not only descriptive analysis).

Grant amounts and budget:Call budget €370,000; individual awards up to €10,000. Grant may cover up to 90% of project costs; SME must provide minimum 10% co‑financing and at least 75% of the grant must be allocated to the contracted Solution Provider ¹.

Who can apply

Single SMEs operating in the furniture or construction manufacturing sectors. Each SME may submit only one proposal. Applications require partnership with a Solution Provider (can be registered in the MANUFACTergy registry or proposed in the application).

Key dates & process

Opening date 10 February 2026. Deadline 17 April 2026, 17:00 CET (single‑stage). Expected participation duration 4–6 months. Proposals submitted electronically via EUSurvey (application form and signed Declaration of Honour).

Evaluation highlights

1. 1Eligibility check followed by quality evaluation (total 60 points, pass threshold 27.5).
2. 2Scoring covers relevance, technical quality (work plan), expected impact, capacity of SME and Solution Provider, and budget cost‑effectiveness.

Support and questions:info@hygia.ro. Follow official communications on the MANUFACTergy LinkedIn channel; applications must be in English.

Footnotes

1. 1See Project Guide (call rules, co‑financing and budget allocation details) available in the application package: MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN - Project Guide.

MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN is a cascade funding open call under the Single Market Programme Euroclusters action SMP-COSME, providing small grants to manufacturing SMEs in the furniture and construction sectors to prepare the adoption of advanced, energy-efficient, and digital technologies. Beneficiaries work with an external Solution Provider to produce a Design Study, an implementation-oriented plan that readies concrete technology or process adoption.

Who Should Apply and What Is Funded

This call targets manufacturing SMEs specifically in furniture and construction. Each SME partners with a Solution Provider to conduct a factory check-in process and deliver a Design Study that details solutions and a ready-to-implement transition plan for digitalization and energy/resource efficiency improvements.

• Designing a technology and innovation transition roadmap with clearly defined solutions for adopting digital and energy-efficient technologies.
• Assessing energy and resource consumption across operations and translating findings into concrete, prioritized improvement measures.
• Identifying inefficiencies, losses, and waste streams with corresponding technical or organizational solutions.
• Defining monitoring systems and baseline indicators linked to the proposed solutions and implementation steps.
• Identifying and prioritizing opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and sustainable production with justified intervention options.
• Developing a detailed transition and implementation plan for adopting advanced, energy-efficient, and digital technologies.

Only activities that clearly prepare the adoption of new processes or advanced technologies are eligible. Purely descriptive analyses without a clear implementation perspective are not eligible. The result must be a Design Study that is customized and implementation-oriented.

Eligibility and Participation

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs in the manufacturing sector, specifically in the furniture and construction industries. The SME must be the applicant and engage a Solution Provider for specialized services. Large enterprises, individuals, and entities outside the SME definition are not targeted by this call.

Consortium Requirement:Single SME applicant with a mandatory collaboration with one Solution Provider. The provider may be chosen from the MANUFACTergy Solutions Providers Registry or proposed by the SME and described in the application; registry use is encouraged but not compulsory.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The call operates under the Single Market Programme Euroclusters framework. While the excerpt lists clusters in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Romania, applicants should verify country eligibility in the Project Guide and the Euroclusters action rules before applying ¹.

Target Sector:Manufacturing with a focus on furniture and construction. Thematic priorities include energy efficiency, sustainability, resource efficiency, digital transformation, and adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies.

Mentioned Countries:Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania. These appear through references to cluster membership options in the application form.

Funding, Costs, and Co-financing

The call offers small grants via cascade funding to third parties (SMEs). Each project can request up to €10,000. The grant requested must represent a maximum of 90 percent of the total project budget, and the SME must contribute at least 10 percent as co-financing. At least 75 percent of the grant amount must be budgeted to the Solution Provider for delivery of specialized services essential to achieve the project objectives.

Application and Evaluation

Applications must be submitted in English via the EUSurvey platform before the deadline. An SME may submit only one proposal; if multiple are submitted, only the last one will be evaluated and others discarded.

1. 1Complete and sign the Declaration of Honour – Eligibility Conditions using the template linked in the Project Guide. Upload the signed PDF in EUSurvey.
2. 2Complete and submit the online Application Form on EUSurvey.

Evaluation is conducted by the MANUFACTergy Evaluation Commission, comprising two internal reviewers from each project partner. The process has two steps: eligibility check and quality evaluation. The quality evaluation totals 60 points with a pass threshold of 27.5 points.

• Relevance and alignment (0–10): Fit with call objectives and clarity of justification.
• Technical quality of the work plan (0–15): Methodology, structure, feasibility within timeframe, alignment with eligible activities.
• Expected impact (0–15): Long-term impact, measurable KPIs, contribution to environmental and/or digital objectives, value beyond project lifecycle.
• Capacity of the SME and solution provider (0–15): Suitability and experience of the provider, justification of services, SME resources and ability to implement.
• Budget and cost-effectiveness (0–5): Realistic, well-justified costs and compliance with the at least 75 percent allocation to the Solution Provider.

Required Outputs and Reporting

The principal output is a Design Study that is customized and implementation-oriented, culminating in a clear plan to adopt innovations or advanced technologies. Monitoring and reporting requirements are defined in the Project Guide; SMEs should expect to provide documentation that evidences activities, budget execution, and alignment with KPIs proposed in the application.

Templates and Application Structure

Applicants are guided by the Project Guide and an Application Template. The EUSurvey form is structured to mirror the evaluation criteria and budget rules, ensuring complete and comparable submissions.

Key documents and platforms:Project Guide PDF, Declaration of Honour template, and registry guidance are referenced from the Project Guide hub. Access the online application at the EUSurvey link; follow updates via LinkedIn; helpdesk: info@hygia.ro. The Solutions Providers Registry is maintained publicly and updated continuously until the deadline.

Categorization and Structured Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:SMEs in manufacturing, specifically furniture manufacturers and construction-sector manufacturing SMEs. The SME must engage a Solution Provider with relevant expertise. Solution Providers can be consulting firms, technology vendors, engineering firms, research or innovation service providers; they are not applicants but delivery partners receiving at least 75 percent of the grant amount through the SME’s budget.

Funding Type:Grant via cascade funding to third parties under the Euroclusters action.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant (one SME) with a mandatory collaboration with a Solution Provider. No multi-beneficiary consortium is required; use of the Solutions Providers Registry is optional but allowed.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Operates within the Single Market Programme Euroclusters framework. The excerpt does not explicitly enumerate eligible countries; applicants should verify eligibility in the Project Guide and Euroclusters participation rules before applying ¹.

Target Sector:Manufacturing with emphasis on furniture and construction; cross-cutting themes include energy efficiency, environment and sustainability, digital transformation/ICT, industrial processes, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

Mentioned Countries:Bulgaria; Czech Republic; Romania.

Project Stage:Preparation and validation stage leading to adoption. Focus on assessment, roadmap design, and implementation planning, culminating in a Design Study; not for full-scale technology deployment under this instrument.

Funding Amount:Total call budget €370,000; maximum €10,000 per project. Grant intensity up to 90 percent of total project budget; at least 10 percent co-financing by the SME; at least 75 percent of the grant amount allocated to the Solution Provider.

Application Type:Open call; single-stage submission via EUSurvey with two procedural steps: Declaration of Honour upload and online Application Form completion.

Nature of Support:Money in the form of small grants (cascade funding). Non-financial support elements include access to a Solutions Providers Registry and guidance via the Project Guide and communication channels.

Application Stages:1 stage for submission; evaluation comprises 2 steps: eligibility check followed by a quality evaluation scored out of 60 with a 27.5-point threshold.

Success Rates:Not disclosed in the available materials.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes. The SME must contribute a minimum of 10 percent of the total eligible project costs. The grant requested may cover up to 90 percent. Additionally, at least 75 percent of the grant amount must be allocated to the Solution Provider.

Evaluation Details and Scoring

Key Compliance Rules

• Language: Applications must be in English. Only English sections are evaluated.
• Single submission rule: One proposal per SME; if multiple are submitted, only the last one is evaluated.
• Budget rules: Grant requested up to €10,000 and up to 90 percent of total project budget; minimum 10 percent SME co-financing; at least 75 percent of the grant amount must be allocated to the Solution Provider.
• Design Study requirement: Outputs must be implementation-oriented with clear adoption steps and monitoring baselines; purely descriptive analyses are ineligible.
• Eligible timeline: 4–6 months implementation window.
• Submission channel and format: EUSurvey with mandatory Declaration of Honour PDF upload and completed online form.

Contacts and Official Resources

• Call listing on EU Funding & Tenders Portal: Call listing
• Application form on EUSurvey: EUSurvey application form
• Official communication channel: LinkedIn channel
• Helpdesk and questions: info@hygia.ro

Summary and Explanation

The MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN open call is a short, implementation-preparatory funding instrument for manufacturing SMEs in furniture and construction. With a maximum award of €10,000 per project and a 4–6 month participation window, it finances specialized external services to diagnose operational, energy, digital, and organizational shortcomings and to design a practical, ready-to-execute plan to adopt advanced technologies and more efficient processes. The SME applies as a single beneficiary and partners with a Solution Provider, to whom at least 75 percent of the grant amount must be allocated, ensuring expert delivery is central to the project. The co-financing requirement of at least 10 percent by the SME strengthens commitment and feasibility. Applications are concise yet rigorous, centered on relevance, technical quality, measurable impact, capacities of both SME and provider, and budget efficiency. Evaluation is two-step, with transparent scoring criteria and a defined threshold. The call is managed under the Euroclusters action and uses the EUSurvey platform for submissions, supported by a Project Guide, a public Solutions Providers Registry, and a dedicated helpdesk and LinkedIn channel for updates. For SMEs seeking to de-risk and accelerate their transition to energy-efficient, digitalized, and resilient production, FACTORY CHECK-IN provides focused financial support to turn needs assessments into actionable implementation roadmaps and KPIs, laying the groundwork for subsequent investment and deployment.

Footnotes

1. 1Applicants should verify eligible countries and detailed participation rules in the MANUFACTergy Project Guide and the governing Euroclusters action. See the call page Call listing, the EUSurvey application EUSurvey application form, and the communication channel LinkedIn channel.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN is a cascade funding initiative supporting manufacturing SMEs in the furniture and construction sectors to develop design studies for energy-efficient transition. The call operates through a mandatory partnership model between a single SME applicant and one independent solution provider (energy, digital, research or technology expert). Applicants must create a customised, implementation-oriented transition plan focused on improving energy and resource efficiency while preparing for adoption of advanced, energy-efficient and digital technologies.

Call Status and Timeline:Opening date: 10 February 2026. Deadline: 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time). Applications must be submitted electronically via the EUSurvey platform before the deadline; proposals received after this time will not be evaluated.

Eligibility Criteria

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants must be legal SMEs under EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC, meeting the following criteria: fewer than 250 Annual Work Units (AWU), annual turnover not exceeding €50 million or balance sheet total not exceeding €43 million (including partner or linked enterprises). Applicants must be established in an EU Member State (including Overseas Countries and Territories - OCTs) or in a non-EU country participating in the Single Market Programme. The SME must actively operate as a manufacturer in the targeted sectors of furniture manufacturing or manufacturing of building components and construction-related products. Each SME may submit only one proposal; if multiple proposals are submitted by the same applicant, only the most recently submitted proposal will be evaluated.

Sector Coverage

The call specifically targets two manufacturing sectors:furniture manufacturing and manufacturing of building components and construction-related products. Applicants must have active production units and operate within these defined value chains.

Partnership Requirements

Applications must include a mandatory partnership between the SME applicant and exactly one independent solution provider. Solution providers must be energy, digital, research or technology experts capable of delivering consultancy services. While the MANUFACTergy project maintains a Solutions Providers Registry from which providers may be selected, registration is not compulsory; applicants may identify and describe alternative solution providers in their application template.

Funding Amounts and Financial Terms

Total Budget Envelope:Total funding available: €370,000. Expected number of funded projects: maximum 37 projects ¹.

Per-Project Funding:Maximum grant per project: €10,000. Funding rate: up to 90 percent of total eligible project costs ².

Co-Financing Requirements:Applicants must contribute a minimum of 10 percent co-financing of total eligible project costs as direct financial resources invested in the project. This demonstrates SME commitment and financial responsibility. The grant requested must represent a maximum of 90 percent of the total project budget ².

Solution Provider Budget Allocation:Minimum 75 percent of the approved grant amount must be allocated to the selected solution provider for delivery of specialized consultancy services essential to achieving project objectives ².

Payment Terms:100 percent of the approved lump sum is paid after approval of the Final Technical Report ³.

Project Duration and Deliverables

Project duration must be between a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 6 months. All projects must be completed before 30 November 2026 ³.

The primary deliverable is a DESIGN STUDY:a customized, implementation-oriented transition plan and solution/process plan for adoption of innovation, new processes or advanced technologies. All funded activities must demonstrably contribute to preparation of innovation and adoption of new processes or advanced technologies. Activities resulting solely in descriptive analyses without clear implementation perspectives are not eligible.

Eligible Activities

The call provides non-exhaustive examples of activities that contribute to developing the design study:

• Designing a technology and innovation transition roadmap including clearly defined solutions for adoption of digital and energy-efficient technologies
• Assessing energy and resource consumption across SME operations and translating findings into concrete improvement measures
• Identifying inefficiencies, losses and waste streams together with targeted technical or organisational solutions to address them
• Defining monitoring systems and baseline indicators linked to proposed solutions and future implementation
• Identifying and prioritising opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and sustainable production with clearly justified intervention options
• Developing detailed transition and implementation plan for adoption of advanced, energy-efficient and digital technologies

Application Process

Submission Method and Requirements

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EUSurvey platform (ec.europa.eu) before the call deadline of 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET. The application procedure consists of two mandatory steps:

1. 1Completion and signature of the Declaration of Honour - Eligibility Conditions using the template provided in the Project Guide. The document must be signed by the legal representative of the SME applicant and uploaded to the EUSurvey platform in PDF format.
2. 2Completion and submission of the Application Form directly online on the EUSurvey platform containing project description, identified needs, proposed activities, and planned collaboration details.

All applications must be written in English. Only sections submitted in English will be considered during evaluation. All information must be complete and valid. The EUSurvey platform allows applicants to save draft versions; regular saving of progress is recommended with final review and submission before the deadline.

Application Form Structure

The online application form requires information across five main sections aligned with evaluation criteria: Relevance and Alignment (describing current operational, technical, energy-related, digital or organisational deficiencies and project alignment with call objectives); Technical Quality of Work Plan (outlining methodology, objectives, and 2-4 main implementation activities); Expected Impact (describing measurable improvements in energy consumption, production costs, productivity, efficiency, waste reduction and long-term value); Capacity of SME and Solution Provider (evaluating solution provider expertise and SME internal resources); and Budget and Cost-Effectiveness (demonstrating realistic costing with clear justification and compliance with budget allocation rules).

Evaluation and Selection

Evaluation Process

Submitted applications undergo a two-step evaluation process performed by internal reviewers from the MANUFACTergy Evaluation Commission, composed of 2 members from each project partner.

Step 1:Eligibility check verifies that applicants and proposals meet mandatory requirements including SME status, sector focus, partnership structure, and submission completeness.

Step 2:Quality evaluation assesses proposals against five criteria on a 60-point scale. Minimum passing threshold is 27.5 points ⁴.

Quality Evaluation Criteria

Total points available:60. Minimum pass threshold: 27.5 points ⁴.

Key Requirements and Restrictions

• Single SME applicant only: Each SME may submit only one proposal; multiple submissions from the same SME will result in evaluation of only the most recently submitted proposal with others discarded
• Mandatory solution provider: Partnership with exactly one independent solution provider is required
• Budget allocation rule: Minimum 75 percent of grant must be allocated to solution provider
• Co-financing commitment: Minimum 10 percent SME co-financing required
• Civil applications only: Military or defence-related applications are not eligible
• Implementation focus: Activities must have clear implementation perspective; descriptive analyses without implementation guidance are not eligible
• Language requirement: Applications in English only; non-English sections will not be evaluated
• Completion deadline: All projects must be completed before 30 November 2026

Support and Further Information

Helpdesk Contact:For questions regarding eligibility, application content or submission process, contact: info@hygia.ro

Official Communication Channel:Follow the GO Furniture Meta-Cluster account on LinkedIn for official updates, announcements and news about the invitation: linkedin.com

Application Platform and Guidance:Apply online: ec.europa.eu. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Project Guide and FAQs document before submitting proposals. Solution Providers Registry is available and continuously updated, with registration deadline of 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Cluster Membership Option:Applicants may indicate membership in clusters within the MANUFACTergy consortium, including Bulgarian Furniture Cluster, Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, Transylvania Energy Cluster or Transylvanian Furniture Cluster.

Contextual Background

MANUFACTergy is the full project acronym for Manufacturing and enERGY Synergies for Sustainable Operations, Resource Efficiency and Resilient Factories (Grant Agreement 101236675). The Factory Check-In call is implemented under the SMP-COSME Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) programme for Europe's recovery. The initiative operates under cascade funding mechanisms, where the European Commission provides funding through project partners to final beneficiaries, enabling direct support to manufacturing SMEs for transition to sustainable and energy-efficient operations.

The project addresses critical challenges in European manufacturing by facilitating the adoption of advanced energy solutions, digital technologies and circular economy practices. Through structured design studies developed in collaboration with specialised solution providers, participating SMEs prepare concrete implementation roadmaps for operational transformation. This approach bridges the gap between assessment and implementation, reducing barriers to technology adoption among smaller manufacturers in furniture and construction sectors that are essential to European industrial competitiveness and sustainability goals ⁵.

Footnotes

1. 1Maximum 37 projects expected to be funded under total budget of €370,000. Source: Cascade Funding website and EU Funding Portal documentation.
2. 2Funding rate up to 90 percent of total eligible project costs with maximum €10,000 lump sum per project. At least 10 percent co-financing by SME required as direct financial resources invested in projects. Minimum 75 percent of grant must be allocated to solution provider for delivery of specialized services. Source: Cascade Funding website and EU Funding Portal.
3. 3Project duration 4-6 months, must be completed before 30 November 2026. 100 percent of approved lump sum paid after approval of Final Technical Report. Source: EU Funding Portal documentation.
4. 4Quality evaluation based on 60 total points with minimum pass threshold of 27.5 points. Five evaluation criteria: Relevance and Alignment (0-10 points), Technical Quality of Work Plan (0-15 points), Expected Impact (0-15 points), Capacity of SME and Solution Provider (0-15 points), Budget and Cost-Effectiveness (0-5 points). Source: EU Funding Portal.
5. 5MANUFACTergy addresses manufacturing SME transition through cascade funding mechanism supporting design studies for energy efficiency and technology adoption preparation. The initiative operates under SMP-COSME Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe's recovery, targeting furniture and construction manufacturing sectors. Source: EU Funding Portal and project documentation.