SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027

The SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 (EIT Urban Mobility) provides cascade funding to commercially mature SMEs to test and demonstrate urban mobility solutions in collaboration with a committed public or private end client. The total call budget is €600,000 with approximately 10 awards and a fixed lump sum of up to €60,000 per selected SME. Applications are mono-beneficiary and must be submitted via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) by 1 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Projects are short-term (tentative 1 April–31 October 2027) and require evidence of market validation, a credible implementation plan and a signed End Client Commitment Letter.

What it funds

Scope

Supports SMEs to accelerate commercial deployment and scale market-validated, commercially mature products or services by entering new customer segments, sectors or geographical markets. Projects must include collaboration with an end client (public or private) committed to testing and demonstrating the solution.

Footnotes

1. 1SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 information and application materials: SME Market Expansion Call website.

Key facts and administrative data

Call title SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027. Project acronym EITUM-BP26-28. Full name of EU funded project EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028. Grant agreement number 101269525. Framework / identifier HORIZON-EIT. Call type Cascade funding (mono-beneficiary). Opening date 09 October 2026. Single-stage deadline 01 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Total funding available €600,000. Individual award cap up to €60,000 per selected SME. Expected project start 01 April 2027 (tentative) and tentative end 31 October 2027.

Purpose and scope of the Call

Objective The SME Market Expansion Open Call supports small and medium enterprises in accelerating commercial deployment and scaling of market-validated, commercially mature products or services by entering new customer segments, sectors or geographical markets. The Call aims to reduce risk for development and deployment, encourage replication and validation in real-world settings through collaboration with an end-client, and increase visibility and procurement credibility across European markets.

Nature of interventions This is a cascade funding action under the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028. Selected SMEs receive a fixed lump sum grant (flat-rate) payable as an EIT contribution to implement a market expansion pilot, demonstration or test with an end-client (public or private entity) who commits to testing and demonstrating the solution in a real-world environment.

Eligible Applicant Types

Primary targeted applicants Small and medium enterprises (SMEs). This is a mono-beneficiary call addressed to single SME entities. The SME must be supported by an end-client, which can be either a public entity (city, region, government body) or a private entity (company, operator) committed to testing and demonstrating the solution. Other entity types (universities, research organisations, large enterprises, NGOs) are not the primary addressees for this specific cascade action unless participating as the end-client; the applicant itself must be an SME.

Funding Type and Financial Modalities

Primary funding mechanism Cascade funding via lump sum grant. Each awarded SME will receive a fixed lump sum grant of €60,000. Total call budget €600,000, with around 10 SMEs expected to be funded. The call uses EIT funding as the financial instrument. Financial Support Agreement (FSA) and subgrant templates are provided through the call documentation.

Consortium Requirement

This is a mono-beneficiary call. Submissions must be presented by a single SME applicant. Collaboration with an end-client is required but the end-client is not a co-beneficiary in a multi-partner consortium; rather the SME must present a Commitment Letter from the end-client (template provided).

Beneficiary Geographic Scope (Eligibility)

Geographic eligibility is European in scope as part of the EIT Urban Mobility programme under Horizon Europe (Programme period 2021-2027). The call targets SMEs that intend to scale within European markets and requires registration in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (PIC). The listing and guidance point to EU participation processes. No explicit non-EU or international beneficiaries are identified as eligible applicants for the SME applicant role in the provided material; the end-client may be a public or private entity in relevant jurisdictions aligned with the project objectives.

Target Sectors and Topics

Sectors targeted The Call focuses on accelerating market uptake of innovations in urban mobility. The specific 2027 edition focuses on five topics; the public description explicitly lists Electrification of transport and alternative fuels as one of the topics. The Call generally supports solutions that address city needs, procurement readiness and real-world demonstration for sectors including but not limited to electrification, alternative fuels, shared mobility, smart traffic management, and other urban mobility innovations. Applicants should consult the Call Manual and topic descriptions for the full list of five topics and their detailed scopes.

Project Stage and Expected Maturity

Targeted maturity The Call targets commercially mature, market-validated solutions ready to scale. Expected project stage is commercialization, demonstration and scale-up: SMEs should present solutions that have already passed validation in initial markets or pilots and now require support to enter new customer segments, sectors or geographic markets and to demonstrate adoption with an end-client.

Funding Amount and Allocation

Total available funding €600,000. Individual award fixed lump sum up to €60,000 per selected SME. Approximately 10 SMEs expected to be funded.

Application Type and Submission Process

Open call, single-stage submission. Applicants must register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain or confirm their PIC and then register in the EIT UM Programmes Portal (NetSuite). The application form, templates and required documents are available in NetSuite under the call. The submission deadline is 01 December 2026 at 17:00 CET (Brussels time).

Nature of Support to Beneficiaries

Financial support is monetary via fixed lump sum grants of €60,000 per SME. Non-financial support includes visibility, connection to end-clients, access to EIT Urban Mobility innovation hubs, potential matchmaking with cities and procurement processes, and participation in info sessions and webinars. Templates, guidance documents and a helpdesk are provided to applicants.

Application Stages, Evaluation and Timeline

Overview of procedural stages Applicants must register (EU Portal and NetSuite), submit via NetSuite, pass eligibility and admissibility checks, undergo evaluation, attend a remote panel hearing (if shortlisted), receive communication of results, complete conditions clearance and sign subgrant agreements before project start. The principal steps and estimated schedule for this call are provided below.

Stages to pass and number of selection stages

Success Rates

No explicit historical success rate is published in the provided material. Based on the call budget (10 awards anticipated) and typical open call applicant volumes for EIT cascade calls, success rates are commonly single-digit to low double-digit percentages depending on the number of applications. Applicants should not assume any guaranteed success and should prepare competitive, well-documented proposals.

Co-funding and Financial Contributions

The documentation does not explicitly require co-funding from the SME applicant. The call provides a fixed lump sum grant of €60,000 per selected SME. Applicants should consult the Financial Support Agreement (FSA) template and the Call Manual for details on eligible costs, reimbursement, reporting obligations and any expected contribution to EIT Urban Mobility's financial sustainability. The end-client involvement is mandatory as a non-financial commitment to test and demonstrate the solution.

Templates and Required Documents

Application and supporting document templates available on NetSuite and the Call webpage include: the application form (NetSuite), Partner Information Form (PIF) for NetSuite registration, End-client Commitment Letter templates (public entity and private entity versions), pitch deck template, Financial Support Agreement (FSA) / subgrant agreement template, EIT Impact Framework, EIT Urban Mobility Strategic Agenda 2021-2027, and the Project Implementation Handbook. Applicants must upload the application form, a signed End-client Commitment Letter using the provided template, and a pitch deck following the call template.

Mentioned Countries and Jurisdictions

The call materials centre on European / EIT participation. No specific eligible list of countries is provided in the scraped content beyond the EU / EIT context. The website footer contains names of remote territories which are not relevant to eligibility; applicants should rely on official Call Manual and EIT Urban Mobility guidance for precise eligibility by country and for clarifications on non-EU entities.

Contact, Info Sessions and Support

Evaluation and Selection Criteria (summary)

Proposals will be evaluated following the predefined evaluation criteria and the evaluation procedure described in Chapter 6 Evaluation procedure of the Call Manual. While the scraped text does not reproduce the evaluation criteria in full, applicants should expect assessment of: relevance and fit to call topics, maturity and market-readiness, quality of the business and market expansion plan, strength and commitment of the end-client, impact potential, financial feasibility and scalability, and quality of the implementation plan and KPIs.

Templates: Application form structure and supporting documents

Application form and templates are provided in NetSuite. Required submission items indicated in the call include: application form, End-client Commitment Letter (template for public or private end-client), pitch deck (template), and any additional documents specified in the NetSuite application. The Partner Information Form (PIF) is required for NetSuite registration for applicants not yet registered in the EIT UM Programmes Portal. The Financial Support Agreement template will be used for successful applicants.

Suggested structure applicants should prepare to populate (based on common NetSuite cascade templates): 1 Executive summary and project title, 2 Applicant profile and SME status (company registration, PIC), 3 Description of solution and evidence of market validation, 4 Market expansion objective and target markets/sectors/customers, 5 Description of the end-client and signed Commitment Letter, 6 Work plan and activities for the pilot/demonstration, 7 Deliverables, KPIs and impact metrics, 8 Budget justification and use of the €60,000 lump sum, 9 Risks and mitigation, 10 Attachments: pitch deck, letters, legal documents.

Coherence checks and ineligibilities

SMEs funded in the SME Market Expansion Open Call 2026 are explicitly ineligible for this 2027 edition to ensure portfolio balance. Applicants must ensure the end-client Commitment Letter follows the provided templates and is signed by the relevant authority in the end-client organisation. Other ineligibility criteria and formal admissibility rules are detailed in the Call Manual available on the call page and in NetSuite.

Summary and practical advice

What this opportunity is about The SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 by EIT Urban Mobility is a cascade funding action designed to accelerate commercial deployment and market expansion of commercially mature, market-validated urban mobility solutions. It funds single-SME pilots or demonstrations in collaboration with a public or private end-client, enabling entrance into new customer segments, sectors or geographic markets across Europe. The call offers fixed lump sum grants of €60,000 per SME, targeting around 10 SMEs with a total budget of €600,000. Applications must be submitted via the EIT UM NetSuite portal by 01 December 2026 17:00 CET. The selection process involves eligibility checks, evaluation, a remote panel hearing and contracting, with projects expected to start in April 2027 and run until October 2027. Applicants should prepare the application form, a signed End-client Commitment Letter (template), and a pitch deck, and consult the Call Manual for full evaluation criteria and guidance 1.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and documentation available at the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: ec.europa.eu and EIT Urban Mobility call page: eiturbanmobility.eu.

Executive summary

The SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 is an EIT Urban Mobility cascade funding opportunity under the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026 to 2028. It is intended for SMEs with commercially mature, market validated urban mobility products, services or solutions that are ready to enter a new customer segment, industry sector or geographical market. Selected SMEs will work with a committed public or private end client to test and demonstrate the solution in a real world setting.12

The call has an estimated total budget of €600,000 and is expected to support approximately 10 projects. Each selected SME may receive a fixed lump sum grant of €60,000. The call is mono-beneficiary, meaning that the SME applies as the sole beneficiary, while an end client supports the proposal and participates as the testing or demonstration counterpart.3

Opportunity profile

Purpose and scope

The call is designed to accelerate commercial deployment rather than fund early stage research. It supports SMEs that need to replicate or scale an existing solution in a new market, sector, customer group or geographical area. Eligible activities may involve adapting an existing product or service to a new market, demonstrating the solution with an end client, validating operational performance, building commercial relationships and reducing the risk faced by prospective procurers.24

The opportunity is particularly relevant to companies whose solution has already progressed beyond concept development and has a credible route to commercial uptake. Applicants should be able to show evidence of market validation, a clear expansion opportunity, a defined end client and a realistic implementation plan that can be delivered within the project period.

The call focuses on urban mobility innovation. The supplied call information identifies electrification of transport and alternative fuels as a focus topic. Applicants should verify the complete list of topics and any topic specific requirements in the final Call Manual and application form before preparing the proposal.

Eligible applicants

The primary applicant must be a small or medium sized enterprise established as a legal entity in an EU Member State or in a third country associated with Horizon Europe.5 Startups may qualify where they meet the applicable SME definition and have a sufficiently mature and market validated solution.

The call is addressed to a single SME beneficiary. A consortium is not required and the end client does not appear to receive the grant as a co-beneficiary. The end client is instead expected to support the SME, commit to testing or demonstrating the solution and provide the practical environment needed for market validation.

Universities may participate where they act through a university affiliated commercial entity that owns or controls the relevant intellectual property and value. Public authorities, cities, regions, transport providers and private companies may act as end clients where they are able to support testing and demonstration of the proposed solution.4

SMEs selected under the previous SME Market Expansion Open Call 2026 are not eligible to apply to this 2027 call, according to the supplied call page. This exclusion should be checked against the final Call Manual because it may apply to the legal entity, the previous project or both.

Expected applicant profile

A strong applicant is likely to demonstrate all of the following:

Funding and financial conditions

Each selected entity may receive a fixed lump sum of €60,000. The total estimated call budget is €600,000, which indicates an indicative portfolio of about 10 awards. The call information does not state a percentage funding rate, a co-financing rate or a separate reimbursement mechanism. Applicants should therefore treat the €60,000 as a fixed grant amount subject to the conditions of the Financial Support Agreement and not as an automatically reimbursed cost budget.3

Because the award is described as a lump sum, the applicant should focus on demonstrating completion of the agreed activities, deliverables, milestones and results rather than presenting a conventional cost claim. The precise payment schedule, eligible cost treatment, reporting obligations, audit rights, recovery provisions and conditions for payment must be confirmed in the Financial Support Agreement template and final Call Manual.

The available information does not specify whether VAT, indirect costs, subcontracting, equipment purchases or in-kind contributions are separately eligible. These matters should not be assumed and must be checked in the call documents before budgeting or committing expenditure.

End client requirement

An end client is a central feature of the opportunity. The end client may be a public entity or a private entity and must be committed to testing and demonstrating the SME solution in a real or representative operational environment.

The application is expected to include an End Client Commitment Letter using the applicable template. The letter should demonstrate that the end client understands the proposed solution, accepts its role in the project, has a relevant operational need and is willing to provide access, cooperation, data or facilities required for the demonstration.

The end client relationship should be substantive rather than merely supportive. Applicants should explain the end client problem, the proposed intervention, the testing location or use case, responsibilities of each party, expected users or beneficiaries, success indicators and the route from demonstration to procurement, replication or wider commercial deployment.

Duration and implementation timetable

The timetable is indicative except for the stated submission deadline. Applicants should plan for possible clarification requests, conditions clearance and agreement preparation after selection. The expected implementation period is short, so procurement, technical adaptation, access permissions, data arrangements and end client availability should be secured before submission.

Application process

Required application components

The supplied call information identifies the application form, an End Client Commitment Letter and a pitch deck as key submission documents. Applicants should also review the Call Manual, Project Implementation Handbook, Financial Support Agreement template, EIT Urban Mobility Strategic Agenda 2021 to 2027 and EIT Impact Framework 2022 to 2027.3

The proposal should present a coherent commercialisation case covering the baseline solution, evidence of market validation, the target expansion market, the end client, implementation activities, expected results, impact, risks, resources and the route to continued uptake after the grant ends.

Evaluation considerations

The portal states that proposals will be assessed against predefined evaluation criteria and according to the evaluation procedure in Chapter 6 of the Call Manual. The supplied material does not reproduce the individual scoring thresholds or weighting, so applicants should not rely on an assumed scoring system.3

Based on the stated purpose and required documents, the proposal should be prepared to demonstrate the following evaluation dimensions:

Strategic fit

The call aligns with EIT Urban Mobility objectives to accelerate the transition to sustainable urban mobility and to help innovative solutions overcome barriers associated with market entry, procurement and compliance. The programme specifically seeks to connect SMEs with cities, transport providers and other mobility stakeholders so that solutions can be tested and translated into commercial relationships.24

Applications will be stronger where they show a direct and measurable contribution to urban mobility challenges such as emissions reduction, electrification, alternative fuels, operational efficiency, accessibility, safety, modal shift, public transport performance or improved use of mobility infrastructure. The application should quantify the expected change wherever possible.

Key risks and conditions

Applicant preparation checklist

Overall assessment

This is a targeted commercialisation and market entry opportunity rather than a general research grant. It is most suitable for an SME that already has a proven or substantially validated urban mobility solution, has identified a concrete expansion opportunity and can secure an end client willing to host or support a demonstration.

The €60,000 fixed lump sum is relatively focused and should be viewed as catalytic funding for a defined market expansion project. The strongest applications are likely to combine a credible operational demonstration with a clear post-project route to procurement, replication, investment, sales or wider deployment. Applicants should prioritise the end client relationship, measurable market outcomes and implementation readiness over broad research ambitions.

Source note

The analysis uses the supplied European Commission Funding and Tenders Portal record as the primary opportunity record and the EIT Urban Mobility call information and programme materials as supporting sources. The official call documents should be checked immediately before submission because dates, templates and detailed eligibility or evaluation conditions may be updated.

Footnotes

1. 1EIT Urban Mobility, SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 information, including purpose, end client model, budget, indicative project portfolio, application steps and implementation timetable.
2. 2EIT Urban Mobility, SME Market Expansion Call programme description, including the market expansion objective, SME focus, end client pilot model and projects of up to eight months.
3. 3European Commission Funding and Tenders Portal opportunity record for SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027, including the €600,000 total budget, €60,000 maximum award, single-stage deadline and NetSuite submission route.
4. 4EIT Urban Mobility programme materials describing support for market uptake, collaboration with cities and businesses, and commercial deployment of urban mobility innovations.
5. 5EIT Urban Mobility call programme material identifying startups and SMEs established in an EU Member State or a third country associated with Horizon Europe as the applicant category.