SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons

The SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons is an EU-funded initiative aimed at transforming rural areas through the development of innovative solutions addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges. The program is tailored for individual entities acting as Technology/Solution Providers, which may include startups, SMEs, large enterprises, or research institutes. The call specifically invites solutions for one of six predefined pilot regions within the European Union.

Funding for this opportunity consists of grants totaling up to €60,000 per selected applicant, disbursed in two stages: €10,000 during the onboarding phase and €50,000 upon successful completion of the deployment phase. The call does not require a consortium; it is open to single applicants only.

Eligible applicants must focus on the six pilot regions and are expected to address specific challenges outlined by the SMART ERA Consortium. While the explicit list of countries is not detailed, eligibility is implied to be within the EU due to the nature of the project. The targeted sectors for this call encompass rural development and digital transformation, including areas like agriculture and environmental technology.

The project involves two main stages: a two-month onboarding phase, where the selected entity must provide an Individual Mentoring Plan and a Design Report, followed by a seven-month deployment phase aimed at delivering a completed Technical Solution. The application's evaluation process includes five steps: verification of eligibility, alignment with project objectives, pre-scoring if necessary, expert evaluation, and final selection by a committee.

The expected duration of participation is nine months, and the total funding amount is capped at €60,000. This initiative is part of the Horizon Europe program, with the project identified by grant agreement number 101084160. The opening date for submissions is set for August 28, 2025, and the deadline for proposals is November 4, 2025, at 15:00 Brussels time.

In summary, the SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons provides significant financial support and mentoring to facilitate innovative technological solutions that cater to the unique challenges faced by rural communities in Europe, promoting sustainable development and community resilience.

The SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons is an EU-funded initiative designed to transform rural areas by tackling their socio-economic and environmental challenges through the implementation of advanced technology and innovative solutions. The project anticipates impacts across technology, governance, business, society, and policymaking, with the goal of fostering sustainable development and growth in these regions.

The opening date for this call is August 28, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is November 4, 2025, at 15:00 (Brussels time). This is a single-stage submission process. The expected duration of participation is 9 months. A total funding of 60,000.00 EUR is available. The project acronym is SMART ERA. The full name of the EU-funded project is SMART community-led transition for Europe's Rural Areas. The grant agreement number is 101084160. The topic is HORIZON-CL6-2022-COMMUNITIES-02-01-two-stage - Smart solutions for smart rural communities: empowering rural communities and smart villages to innovate for societal change.

The call aims to select up to 11 individual entities, specifically Technology/Solution Providers, to develop innovative solutions within one of the six Pilot Regions of the SMART ERA Project. Applicants are required to address one of the specific challenges defined by the SMART ERA Consortium for these six Pilot Regions.

Each selected Solution Provider will receive up to 60,000 EUR and will participate in a 9-month Support Programme that includes mentoring from SMART ERA Technical Partners. The Support Programme is structured in two stages:

Stage 1: On-boarding Phase, lasting up to 2 months. During this phase, the beneficiary must deliver an Individual Mentoring Plan (including planned activities, KPIs, milestones, and budget) and a Design Report. Upon completion of this stage, the beneficiary will receive up to 10,000 EUR.

Stage 2: Deployment Phase, lasting up to 7 months. This phase should result in a completed Technical Solution. Upon completion of this stage, the beneficiary will receive up to 50,000 EUR.

The selection process for the Open Call proposals involves five steps:

Step 1: Verification of proposals against eligibility criteria.
Step 2: (If necessary) Alignment check of the proposal with the project objectives and scope.
Step 3: (If necessary) Pre-scoring process.
Step 4: Evaluation by experts to assess the proposal according to specific criteria.
Step 5: The Selection Committee will decide on the "provisional list of FSTP recipients" during the Final Consensus Meeting after the Pitching Days.

The application must be submitted through the application form available online. Further information can be found in Section 4 of the Guide of Applicants. Additional resources include the OC application form, the OC helpdesk email, and the project website.

In summary, the SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons offers funding and support for technology and solution providers to develop and implement innovative solutions addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges in selected rural pilot regions within Europe. The program provides financial support, mentoring, and a structured development process to help these providers create impactful solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities. The call is targeted at entities capable of delivering technology-driven solutions that align with the specific challenges identified in the SMART ERA project's pilot regions.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type is individual entities acting as Technology/Solution Providers. Up to 11 individual entities will be selected.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: A single applicant is required. The call is for individual entities, not consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The applicants must develop innovative solutions in one of the 6 Pilot Regions of the SMART ERA Project, implying eligibility is tied to those specific regions, although the document does not explicitly state the geographic location of these regions. It is implied that the regions are within the EU, as the project is EU-funded and aims to transform Europe's Rural Areas.

Target Sector: The target sector is focused on transforming rural areas through advanced technology and innovative solutions, addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges. This encompasses several sub-sectors, including technology, governance, business, society, and policymaking, with a focus on sustainable development and smart solutions for rural communities. It falls under the broader categories of innovation, rural development, and potentially cleantech or environmental technologies depending on the specific solutions proposed.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the project focuses on Europe's Rural Areas, implying the opportunity is targeted towards regions within the European Union.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on development and piloting, as the call is for "Pilots Add-ons." Applicants are expected to develop and deploy technical solutions.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is up to €60,000 per selected entity. This is divided into two stages: up to €10,000 after the On-boarding Phase and up to €50,000 after the Deployment Phase.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive both money (grants) and non-monetary services (a 9-month Support Programme with mentoring from SMART ERA Technical Partners).

Application Stages: There are five stages in the selection process: eligibility check, alignment with project objectives and scope, pre-scoring process, expert evaluation, and final decision by the Selection Committee after Pitching Days.

Success Rates: The success rate cannot be determined from the provided information. The document states that up to 11 entities will be selected, but the total number of applications is unknown.

Co-funding Requirement: The document does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The SMART ERA 1st Open Call for Pilots Add-ons is an EU-funded opportunity providing up to €60,000 in cascade funding and a 9-month support program to individual Technology/Solution Providers. The goal is to develop and implement innovative solutions addressing socio-economic and environmental challenges in one of the six SMART ERA Pilot Regions, contributing to the transformation of rural areas. The call is open to individual entities, not consortia, and focuses on development and piloting of solutions. The application process involves five stages, starting with an eligibility check and culminating in a final decision after expert evaluation and Pitching Days. The selected entities will receive mentoring from SMART ERA Technical Partners and funding in two phases: an initial payment after the On-boarding Phase and the remaining amount after the Deployment Phase, upon completion of a Technical Solution. The project aims to foster sustainable development and growth in rural communities through technology, governance, business, society, and policymaking advancements. The opening date is August 28, 2025, and the deadline is November 4, 2025, at 15:00 Brussels time.