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The new call for Euroclusters funded under the Single Market Programme (SMP) COSME section will remain open until 5 February 2025.

The main objective of the call, which built on the successful experience launched with a similar call in 2021, is to support innovation and adoption of new processes and advanced technologies for strategic autonomy, to build capacity in the most critical areas of the relevant ecosystem(s) and to strengthen the transformation into a greener, more digital and resilient economy.

Along with that, the call also contribute to other supporting objectives, which are the following:

• establish strategic networks and partnerships to improve the resilience of EU industrial ecosystems by developing and strengthening value chains in the Single Market;
• provide training to promote the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce and attract talent;
• promote internationalisation to facilitate access to global supply and value chains.

A project proposal must contribute to the priority objective and at least one secondary objective.

In project proposals, Euroclusters must explain how they intend to initiate, develop and maintain a long-term strategic partnership at European level between clusters from different states. They must also support SMEs and explain how they will organise this support in line with the overall long-term Eurocluster strategy. Finally, they must explain how they will collaborate effectively with other actors and support networks, such as the European Cluster Collaboration Platform, the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and the European Digital Innovation Hubs (EIDH).

The call is divided into 2 strands:

Strand 1: focuses on zero-emission technologies and critical raw materials. It covers value chains within an industrial ecosystem or between ecosystems, aiming to ensure access to a secure and sustainable supply of net-zero technologies;

Strand 2: covers value chains other than those of Strands 1.

Eligible applicants are entities with legal personality (public or private), established in one of the countries eligible for the Single Market Programme-COSME (EU Member States, including Overseas Countries and Territories, and other Programme Countries) that are clusters or representatives of a cluster, or other types of organisations supporting the green and digital transitions and contributing to the resilience of the EU, can submit a project proposal.

A project proposal must be submitted by a consortium of at least three partners that meets the following conditions:

• the three organisations or networks of clusters must be established in at least three different Member States;
• at least half of the partners in each consortium (Eurocluster) must be cluster organisations or cluster networks or that have submitted a registration to the ECCP by the deadline for submission of this call;
• the consortium must include at least one partner established in a less developed region of an EU Member State (i.e. where GDP per capita is less than 75%).

The call has a total budget of € 42 million. The maximum contribution per project will be approximately € 2,625,000.

Up to 16 projects will be funded (at least 8 falling under Strand 1). Projects should have a duration of between 30 and 36 months.

To illustrate the contents of the call, EISMEA together with DG GROW of the European Commission will organize an information session on November 14th. To participate, it is necessary to register by November 12th

More info and official documentation available here

Written by: Margherita Genua