SYSTEMEU - Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP)

SYSTEMEU Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is a cascade funding open call offering a total budget of €7.55 million to select five to eight cross-border projects in healthcare, energy and mobility. Projects must progress digital solutions from TRL 6 to TRL 8, run for 15 to 18 months and be delivered by consortia formed solely from the five eligible regions: Bavaria, Norte, Castile and León, Romania and Tuzla Canton. Three project sizes are available with maximum grants of €750,000 for Small, €1.1 million for Medium and €2.2 million for Flagship, and funding rates vary by beneficiary type with a per-organisation cap of €600,000 across SYSTEMEU calls. The single-stage call opens 15 September 2026 and closes 16 November 2026 (Brussels time), with evaluation by independent experts on excellence, impact and implementation followed by ethics checks and Final Evaluation Board validation.

What it funds

Scope and objectives

Supports cross-border collaborative experimental development projects advancing digital transformation in Healthcare, Energy or Mobility. Projects must be at TRL 6 to 8 and focus on bringing prototypes to market-ready systems.

Total budget and timeline:Total available: €7,550,000. Call opens 15 Sep 2026; single-stage deadline 16 Nov 2026 (Brussels time). Expected project duration: 15 to 18 months ¹.

Who can apply

Eligible consortia only from the five SYSTEMEU regions:Bavaria (DE), Norte (PT), Castile and León (ES), Romania (national), and Tuzla Canton (BiH). Consortia must follow a Triple Helix composition (academia/research, industry, public authorities) and include at least one for‑profit partner for most project types.

Grant sizes and eligibility by consortium size

Maximum funding per individual organisation across the SYSTEMEU calls:€600,000. Expected number of projects selected: 5 to 8.

Funding rates (typical)

1. 1Start-ups: 100% (Castile and León exception: 70%)
2. 2SMEs: 70% of eligible costs
3. 3Large enterprises: 50% ; Public sector/NGOs/research organisations: 100%

Evaluation includes eligibility check, expert assessment on excellence, impact and implementation (three experts), ethics/GDPR review, final validation by Final Evaluation Board and a 14-day appeal period for rejected applicants.

Where to find full call details:Official open call page and application instructions are on the SYSTEMEU Open Call portal Open Call Homepage ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Open Call homepage and detailed guidance: opportunities.getonepass.eu

Opportunity Summary

Purpose and scope

The SYSTEMEU Open Call 1 (OC1) will select and fund five to eight cross-border collaborative innovation projects that enable digital transformation in Healthcare, Energy and Mobility. Projects must target applied experimental development with Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) between 6 and 8 (prototype to market-ready system). The open call is delivered as Financial Support to Third Parties (cascade funding) under the SYSTEMEU project (Grant Agreement 101161224) and is part of the HORIZON-EIE action. Total budget available for this call is €7,550,000. Expected duration of funded projects is between 15 and 18 months.

Opening and submission:Opening date: 15 September 2026. Single-stage submission. Deadline (Brussels time): 16 November 2026, 23:59. Applications are submitted via the SYSTEMEU open call portal and official pages Open Call Homepage ¹.

Who can apply and geographic scope

This opportunity is restricted to consortia of eligible organisations established in the five participating SYSTEMEU regions only: Bavaria (Germany), Norte Region (Portugal), Castile and León (Spain), Romania (nationwide), and Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina). Eligible consortia must represent the Triple Helix model (academia/research, industry/business, and public authorities) with required partner composition depending on project size.

Eligible Applicant Types:Consortia composed of combinations of the following entity types: research and higher education organisations (universities, research & technology organisations), commercial companies (start-ups, SMEs, large enterprises), and public sector entities and authorities (municipalities, hospitals, public service providers). NGOs and non-profit research organisations are eligible where established in an eligible region. Individual applicants are not eligible; only legal entities in consortia with a registered PIC may apply.

Funding Type:The financial mechanism is grant-based Financial Support to Third Parties (cascade funding) from the SYSTEMEU project budget.

Consortium Requirement:Consortia are required. Depending on project size the required number of partners and regional coverage is: Small 2–3 partners from at least 2 eligible regions; Medium 3–5 partners from at least 3 eligible regions; Flagship 5–8 partners covering all 5 eligible regions. Single applicants are not permitted.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Restricted to organisations legally established in the five SYSTEMEU regions: Bavaria (DE), Norte (PT), Castile and León (ES), Romania (RO) nationwide, and Tuzla Canton (BiH).

Target Sector:Thematic focus areas are Healthcare (digital health and medtech), Energy (decentralized, clean and smart energy networks) and Mobility (intelligent transport systems and logistics). Projects must address digital transformation within these sectors.

Mentioned Countries:Germany, Portugal, Spain, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Project Stage:Expected maturity: applied experimental development with starting TRL 6 through TRL 8 (prototype validation, system integration, demonstration and readiness for market/system deployment).

Funding Amount:Total call budget: €7,550,000. Individual project funding bands: Flagship up to €2,200,000; Medium (Innovation Projects) up to €1,100,000; Small (Feasibility and Integration Projects) up to €750,000. Maximum funding per individual organisation across all SYSTEMEU calls: €600,000.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via the SYSTEMEU open call portal. Applicants must be registered with a Participant Identification Code (PIC) and submit proposals through the designated submission system before the deadline.

Nature of Support:Monetary grants to consortia (financial contributions to third parties). Projects will receive cash funding according to the awarded grant amount and applicable funding rates per organisation type.

Application Stages:The evaluation process includes at least three sequential stages: 1) Eligibility check (formal review), 2) Expert evaluation (three independent experts assessing excellence, impact and implementation), 3) Ethics check (GDPR, medical ethics, etc.), followed by Final Evaluation Board validation, ranking and a 14-day appeal period for rejected applicants.

Success Rates:The call targets selection of 5 to 8 projects from all eligible submissions. Exact success rate will depend on the number of valid applications; no official acceptance rate is published. Given the limited target number and the total budget, competition is expected to be strong.

Co-funding Requirement:Co-funding obligations depend on the funding rate per beneficiary type rather than an explicit co-financing percentage required from applicants. Funding rates specified per beneficiary type apply to eligible costs: Start-ups 100% funding (exception: organisations in Castile and León 70%); SMEs 70%; Large enterprises 50%; Public sector/NGOs/research organisations 100%.

Project sizes, partner composition and budget table

Funding rates and per-partner limits

Funding rates are applied to eligible costs by beneficiary type. Start-ups:100% (except entities in Castile and León: 70%). SMEs: 70%. Large enterprises: 50%. Public sector, NGOs and research organisations: 100%. Note: Maximum funding per individual organisation across the entire SYSTEMEU programme is €600,000.

Evaluation and selection process

Submitted proposals pass a formal eligibility check. Eligible proposals are evaluated by three independent experts against criteria grouped under excellence, impact and implementation. Successful proposals undergo an ethics check for GDPR and medical ethics compliance where relevant. Final selection and ranking are validated by the Final Evaluation Board (FEB). A 14-day appeal period follows any rejection notification.

Application templates and structure guidance

Applicants must register with a PIC and use the SYSTEMEU open call submission portal. The call documentation and application forms are provided via the open call homepage and include guidance on required sections. Typical application structure (summary of expected sections based on public call materials):

1. 1Administrative data: PICs for each partner, legal names, contact details, declarations and signed statements as required by the portal.
2. 2Consortium description: partner roles, legal status, region of establishment, and evidence of complementary capacity across academia, industry and public authorities.
3. 3Technical proposal: problem statement, objectives, innovation and excellence relative to state of the art, technology description, TRL starting point (6-8), and development plan to reach targeted TRL and market/system readiness.
4. 4Work plan and methodology: work packages, deliverables, milestones, timeline (15-18 months), risk assessment and mitigation measures.
5. 5Impact: expected market/societal/sectoral impact, replication and scalability across SYSTEMEU regions, exploitation and dissemination plan.
6. 6Implementation and budget: detailed budget per partner, justification of costs, funding rates applied by organisation type, and confirmation that no single partner exceeds €600,000 cumulative SYSTEMEU funding.
7. 7Ethics and data protection: GDPR compliance, medical ethics approvals if applicable, data management plan and consent procedures.
8. 8Letters of support and evidence: public authority commitments, access to facilities, or pilot sites (hospitals, grid operators, transport authorities) where required for demonstration.

Applicants should consult the official call documentation and templates available on the SYSTEMEU Open Call homepage to obtain the exact submission template fields, evaluation forms and required annexes. The portal will enforce mandatory fields and provide submission checklists Open Call Homepage ¹.

Important constraints, compliance and practical notes

1. 1Geographic restriction: Only organisations established in the five listed SYSTEMEU regions may be funded; consortia must include partners from the required minimum number of regions depending on project size.
2. 2Triple Helix composition: proposals should demonstrate collaboration across academia/research, industry and public authorities; Flagship projects require explicit inclusion of a public service delivery entity.
3. 3Maximum per-organisation cap: €600,000 across all SYSTEMEU calls; proposals must ensure requested amounts respect this cap.
4. 4TRL requirement: proposals must start at TRL 6 and target progression up to TRL 8; activity types should be experimental development, integration, validation and demonstration rather than basic research.
5. 5Funding rates vary by beneficiary type and are applied to eligible costs; applicants must account for these rates in their budget breakdowns.
6. 6Ethics and data protection: GDPR and sector-specific ethics (especially for digital health/medtech) will be checked and may affect eligibility and final selection.

Key public information sources and portals for full application materials and FAQs include the SYSTEMEU website, the SYSTEMEU open call homepage and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants are recommended to attend information sessions listed on the SYSTEMEU pages and to use the official portal for submission SystemEU Website Open Call Homepage ¹.

Comprehensive summary

SYSTEMEU FSTP OC1 is a cascade funding open call targeting cross-border interregional projects that accelerate digital transformation in Healthcare, Energy and Mobility. It provides grants to consortia formed by academic/research organisations, companies (including start-ups and SMEs) and public sector entities established in Bavaria (DE), Norte (PT), Castile and León (ES), Romania (RO) and Tuzla Canton (BiH). Projects must operate at TRL 6–8 and aim for experimental development, integration, demonstration and market/system readiness over 15–18 months. Funding bands are tiered by project size: Small up to €750,000, Medium up to €1,100,000, and Flagship up to €2,200,000, with a total call budget of €7,550,000 and a per-organisation cap of €600,000 across all SYSTEMEU calls. The call is competitive, single-stage, evaluated by independent experts on excellence, impact and implementation, and includes ethics and GDPR checks. Applicants must follow the provided application templates, respect partner and regional composition rules, and align budgets with beneficiary-specific funding rates. The open call opens on 15 September 2026 and closes 16 November 2026 (Brussels time).

Footnotes

1. 1Open Call homepage and documentation for SYSTEMEU Financial Support to Third Parties (OC1) are published at the SYSTEMEU portal: opportunities.getonepass.eu. Consult this link for application forms, templates, eligibility checklists and submission instructions.

SYSTEMEU is a cascade funding opportunity that will support cross-border innovation projects in healthcare, energy and mobility, with projects expected to advance digital solutions from TRL 6 to TRL 8 and to be tested in real-world environments. The opportunity is restricted to organisations established in Bavaria, Norte Region, Castile and León, Romania and Tuzla Canton, and the total funding envelope is €7.55 million with support expected for five to eight projects.¹²

What the funding is for

The call supports collaborative interregional projects that develop, test and validate innovative digital solutions for the healthcare, energy and mobility sectors. The focus is on implementation and market readiness rather than early-stage research, and the expected project duration is between 15 and 18 months.¹²

Who can apply

Eligible consortia must be composed of independent legal entities from the five SYSTEMEU regions only, and the scheme is designed around a triple helix mix of academia, business and public authorities. Consortium size and the required regional coverage depend on the project category, and every project category requires at least one company partner, with additional sector composition rules for flagship projects.¹²

Funding rates and financial terms

Funding intensity depends on the type of beneficiary. Startups can receive 100 percent, except those in Castile and León which receive 70 percent. SMEs receive 70 percent, large enterprises receive 50 percent, and public sector bodies, NGOs and research organisations receive 100 percent. No single entity can receive more than €600,000 across all SYSTEMEU calls. The official info session also states that payments are made in three tranches, 25 percent pre financing, 50 percent interim and 25 percent final, subject to reporting.³

The info session further describes startups as innovative and scalable entities under 7 years old with independent turnover below €10 million.³

Timeline and selection process

1. 1Opening date: 15 September 2026.¹²
2. 2Deadline model: single stage.²
3. 3Deadline date: the official call page states 16 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, while the portal metadata shows 16 November 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time, so applicants should verify the final submission time in the call documents before submitting.¹²
4. 4Eligibility check, then expert evaluation by three independent experts against excellence, impact and implementation, then an ethics check covering GDPR and medical ethics.¹²
5. 5Final selection is confirmed by the Final Evaluation Board, followed by ranking and a 14 day appeal period in case of rejection.¹²

Practical applicant takeaways

Strong applications will demonstrate a credible cross-border partnership, a clear pathway from TRL 6 prototype validation to TRL 8 market readiness, and a concrete use case that can be implemented in operational settings within healthcare, energy or mobility. Proposals that lack regional balance, a qualifying company partner, or readiness on ethics and data protection are likely to face eligibility or scoring risks.¹²

Primary call page:SYSTEMEU FSTP Open Call

Portal entry:EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Footnotes

1. 1Official SYSTEMEU open call page. It states that submissions are open from 15 September 2026 to 16 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, and that the call funds interregional collaborative projects in healthcare, energy and mobility with project categories Small up to €750,000, Medium up to €1.1 million and Flagship up to €2.2 million. SYSTEMEU FSTP Open Call
2. 2EU Funding and Tenders Portal metadata for the opportunity. It lists the project identifier 101161224, the total budget of €7.55 million, the expected duration of 15 to 18 months, the single stage deadline model, and the deadline timestamp of 16 November 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. EU Funding and Tenders Portal
3. 3SYSTEMEU information session page. It states the funding rates by beneficiary type, the €600,000 cap per entity across all calls, the three tranche payment structure and the startup definition used for the call. INFO-SESSION SYSTEMEU