OPEN CALL FOR FSTP

Submissions for the Open Call will be open between 15 September and 16 November 2026, with deadline 16 November 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

Apply here!

All relevant information and the application portal are available at this link.

SYSTEMEU provides Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to fund interregional collaborative projects focused on digital transformation in Healthcare, Energy, and Mobility. The support is addressed to consortia composed of research organizations, companies, and public entities from the five SYSTEMEU regions, and projects must be implemented and tested in real-world environments.

During the implementation of the SYSTEMEU action plan, five to eight interregional projects will be selected to form a portfolio of innovative initiatives. The objective is to foster interregional collaboration, promote knowledge and resource sharing, and ensure that the solutions developed are scalable, impactful, and capable of delivering measurable results in operational settings.

To achieve this, SYSTEMEU has earmarked €7.55 million, representing 50.8% of the total action plan budget, to financially support the selected consortia in the development, testing, and validation of innovative digital solutions in the targeted sectors.

What can you Apply For?

SYSTEMEU funds interregional projects that develop, test, and validate innovative digital solutions in real-world environments — across three sectors.

FIND POTENTIAL PARTNERS FOR YOUR CONSORTIUM

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CALL DETAILS

DURATION

From min 15 to maximum of 18 months.

SCOPE OF
TOPICS

Innovation Action: share resources and test breakthrough technologies in real environments — Healthcare, Energy and Mobility.

Innovation Action. Sharing of resources, assets, capacities and knowledge across regions for the development, testing and/or deployment of breakthrough technologies and/or disruptive innovations in real environment contexts, including prototyping, responding to digital transformation challenges identified by SYSTEMEU in one of the following areas — Healthcare, Energy and Mobility.

Topics will be launched as broader challenges with examples of possible projects in brackets - allowing flexibility to applying consortia.

FSTP
RECIPIENTS

Consortia of R&I actors from Bavaria, Romania, Spain, BiH and Portugal — Small (750k EUR), Medium (1.1M EUR) or Flagship (2.2M EUR).

Beneficiaries have to be consortia composed by research and innovation actors of any type (profit and non-profit) located in one of the five regions participating in SYSTEMEU:

  • Bavaria (Germany)
  • Romania (NUTS-0 RO — whole country)
  • Castilla y León (Spain)
  • Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina)
  • Norte Region (Portugal)

Requirement of consortia in terms of regional coverage and type of actors involved varies depending of the project’s coverage ambition:

For small to medium-sized projects (5–8 projects) two options apply:

Option 1 (Small): 2–3 independent legal entities from minimum two regions of SYSTEMEU, out of which at least one must be a for-profit company that is a Startup or SME, with a maximum allocated budget of 750.000 EUR.
Option 2 (Medium): 3–5 independent entities from at least 3 different participating regions, including at least one research organisation (RTO, university) and one for-profit company. Maximum funding of 1.100.000 EUR per project, in any of the three topics of SYSTEMEU.
Flagship — full-range project: 5–8 independent entities covering all the 5 participating regions and representing the triple helix: at least one research organisation (RTO, university), one company and one public authority/public sector entity. Maximum funding of 2.200.000 EUR.

Funding rates 50–100% depending on entity type (see Funding Amount & Rate).

If no flagship project is selected, the remaining €2.2M will be redistributed among 2–3 additional mid-sized projects (max €1.1M each).

FUNDING SUPPORT TO
BE RECEIVED

Small up to 750.000 EUR; Medium up to 1.1M EUR; Flagship up to 2.2M EUR. Min 50.000 EUR per partner; max 600.000 EUR per Third Party.

Maximum funding depending on the project’s coverage ambition:

• Small projects: up to 750.000 EUR
• Medium projects: up to 1.100.000 EUR
• Flagship (full-range) projects: up to 2.200.000 EUR

Minimum amount per partner: 50.000 EUR

Maximum amount to be granted per individual Third Party (in one or more interregional projects): 600.000 EUR

Funding rates 50–100% depending on entity type (see Funding Amount & Rate).

Technology Readiness Levels
(trl)

Projects start at least at TRL 6 and must reach TRL 8 — across Healthcare, Energy and Mobility.

TRL starting: Minimum TRL for starting the project is TRL 6 across the verticals (Healthcare, Energy, Mobility).

TRL ending: TRL 8.

ADDITIONAL
CONDITIONS

Dissemination and exploitation of results; at least one project per sector; cascade funding with prefinancing (25%), interim (50%) and final (25%) tranches.

Interregional projects will dedicate efforts for the dissemination and exploitation of results.

*Minimum 1 project per sector: Healthcare, Energy, Mobility.

Each ecosystem leader, represented by government, (or other type of entity which on its budget has cascade funding) will directly finance the grantee from their own region following the jointly agreed scheme:

25% Prefinancing
Within 30 days of bilateral agreement + Individual Follow-Up Plan.
50% Interim financing
Midway upon Technical Interim Report approval by PMG (Month 9 or 10).
25% Final financing
After final report (Month 16 or 19) signed off by the monitoring team and EC.

PROJECT
EVALUATION

3 independent experts (1 Partner + 2 External); Excellence 30%, Impact 40%, Implementation 30%; threshold 3.0/5 each; overall ≥10/15.

Each proposal will be evaluated by 3 independent experts: 1 Partner expert + 2 External experts. All must sign NDA / Conflict of Interest statements before starting the evaluation.

1 Partner expert. From a SYSTEMEU partner organisation, independent from the applicants, and not part of the core SYSTEMEU project group. Expertise must match the proposal domain (innovation and/or sector).
2 External experts. Drawn from an external expert database, with expertise in deep-tech, commercialization and/or cross-border collaboration. Independent from applicants and not Consortium partner employees.
Scoring: Excellence 30%, Impact 40%, Implementation 30%. Threshold 3.0/5 on each criterion; overall score at least ≥10/15.

IMPORTANT
DATES

Launch 15 Sep 2026; deadline 16 Nov 2026 (17:00 Brussels); results 20 Jan 2027; projects start 1 Mar 2027; end by 31 Aug 2028 (15–18 months).

Open Call launch: 15 September 2026
Deadline: 16 November 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Evaluation: 17 November – 20 December 2026
Communication of results: 20 January 2027
Appeal / Redress: 14 calendar days (21 January – 4 February 2027)
Grant Agreement preparation: 4 February – 1 March 2027
Signing of agreements: 1 March 2027
Project start: 1 March 2027
Latest project end: 31 August 2028
Duration: 15 to 18 months

PROJECT
MONITORING

PMG of 3–5 Project Officers from regions with active funded partners — independent technical auditor and strategic mentor.

Each funded project will receive a Project Monitoring Group (PMG) from SYSTEMEU:

Project Monitoring Group: Consists of three to five Project Officers representing regions with active funded partners in the project. The PMG is independent of the funded entities and acts as both technical auditor and strategic mentor.

FUNDING
ALLOCATION

Castilla y León 2.000.000 EUR; Romania 1.650.000 EUR; Tuzla Canton 1.650.000 EUR; Norte 1.300.000 EUR; Bavaria 950.000 EUR.

Distribution of support to FSTP recipients located in the following regions:

Castilla y León (Spain): 2.000.000 EUR
Romania: 1.650.000 EUR
Tuzla Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina): 1.650.000 EUR
Norte Region (Portugal): 1.300.000 EUR
Bavaria (Germany): 950.000 EUR

TYPE OF
BENEFICIARIES

Research & Higher Education (RTOs, universities); Startups, SMEs, Large Enterprises; Public Sector & Authorities; Hospitals and NGOs.

The eligible entity types are:

Research & Higher Education: RTOs, universities, research centres.
Commercial: Startups (100% funding; Castilla y León capped at 70%), SMEs, Large Enterprises.
Public Sector & Authorities: Public authorities and public-sector bodies involved in innovation or digital transformation — including Hospitals and NGOs where applicable.

COMPOSITION OF
CONSORTIA

Small (Option B): 2–3 entities, ≥2 regions; Medium (Option A): 3–5, ≥3 regions; Flagship: 5–8, all 5 regions, triple helix. Lead Partner rules apply.

Minimum requirements for independent entities participating in the call. Partners must be legally independent.

Small (Option B): 2–3 entities from at least 2 regions, including at least one Startup or SME for-profit company.
Medium (Option A): 3–5 entities from at least 3 regions, including at least one RTO / University and one for-profit company.
Flagship: 5–8 entities covering all 5 regions, representing the triple helix (RTO/University + company + public authority).

Lead Partner must be a startup, SME, University/RTO or NGO, established in a SYSTEMEU Funding Agency region.

FUNDING
AMOUNT & RATE

Max 600.000 EUR per entity; min 50.000 EUR per partner; min 60% to startups/SMEs/public/NGOs/universities/RTOs. Rates 50–100% by entity type.

Maximum FSTP per individual entity: 600.000 EUR across all projects combined.

Minimum amount per partner: 50.000 EUR.

Minimum 60% of the project budget must go to startups, SMEs, public authorities, NGOs, universities and/or RTOs (not large corporates).

Funding rates by entity type:

Startups: 100% (Castilla y León: 70%)
Non-profit Universities / RTOs: 100%
SMEs: 70%
Large Enterprises: 50%
Public Authorities / NGOs: 100%

PARTICIPATION IN
MULTIPLE PROJECTS

One entity may join several projects at once; total funding per entity across all projects cannot exceed 600,000 EUR.

One entity (applicant) can be part of multiple projects at the same time.

Budget Limit: The overall budget per entity across all projects cannot exceed 600,000 EUR.

Success Cases and Project Examples.

Real case studies from SYSTEMEU partner regions — showing how interregional co-creation turns startup innovations into scalable, compliant European products.

The Challenge

Rail infrastructure operators rely on manual, high-risk pantograph inspections that are costly, infrequent, and increasingly misaligned with regulatory requirements. The question was not just gathering data but fulfilling officially required inspections through automated, digital means.

The Solution

Through intensive Co-Creation Workshops with HGK AG (Cologne), PANTOhealth pivoted from sensor data collection to a Regulatory Compliance Solution: hardware robust enough for permanent commercial operation, replacing manual inspections with automated, legally valid digital processes.

The Utrecht Scale-Up

Because the product was hardened and compliance-ready through the HGK project, PANTOhealth won Utrecht Tram (Netherlands) as a new customer — proving that co-creation creates a blueprint for international scaling. The lessons from Germany directly improved the Dutch deployment.

Results & Global Impact

  • 20 customers across 15+ countries, including major urban networks
  • Product redefined as a "must-have", not a "nice-to-have" — regulatory leadership
  • Significant funding round closed on the back of commercial momentum
  • SCE Projects validated as "Translator" reducing corporate risk while accelerating startup readiness

"Co-creation is more than a pilot; it is a product development engine. By focusing on regulatory pain points and cross-border feedback loops, we transformed a startup innovation into a global industry standard."

PANTOhealth (Bavaria) · SCE Projects — SYSTEMEU Bavarian Case Study

Consortium Partners

DE PANTOhealth (Bavaria) — Innovator DE HGK AG (Cologne) — First Mover / Real-World Lab NL Utrecht Tram (Netherlands) — Scale-Up Customer DE SCE Projects — Co-Creation Architect

The Challenge

The healthcare sector requires next-generation medical adhesives capable of ensuring strong adhesion while protecting skin integrity. Conventional medical adhesives cause significant skin damage — especially for elderly, neonatal or dermatologically fragile patients.

The Solution

BestHealth4U developed a bio-based medical adhesive technology that interacts with the natural structure of human skin rather than relying on aggressive chemical glues. The platform was extended into smart dressings with AI-enabled wound monitoring capabilities.

Co-Creation Journey

  • Development of proprietary bio-adhesive technology platforms
  • Collaboration with INL (nanotechnology), CeNTI (smart materials), i3S (biomedical) and Health Cluster Portugal
  • Participation in European health innovation programs and accelerators
  • Venture investment from Lince Capital to accelerate commercialisation
  • European Innovation Council Accelerator funding to scale market deployment

Results & Impact

  • Safer medical adhesives for fragile and sensitive skin
  • AI-enabled wound monitoring solutions deployed
  • Next-generation smart medical dressings in development
  • Strengthening the European MedTech innovation ecosystem through research-industry collaboration

"By combining biomaterials science, digital health technologies and sustainable innovation, BestHealth4U is redefining how medical devices interact with the skin — improving patient outcomes while advancing the future of patient-centric healthcare."

BestHealth4U (Norte, Portugal) — SYSTEMEU Norte of Portugal Case Study

Consortium Partners

PT BestHealth4U — MedTech Innovator PT INL — Nanotechnology Research PT CeNTI — Smart Materials PT i3S — Biomedical Research PT Health Cluster Portugal 🇪🇺 European Innovation Council (EIC) Lince Capital — Strategic Investor

The Challenge

The agri-food sector requires alternative proteins with a lower environmental footprint and scalable industrial production. Global demand for sustainable protein was growing, but insect-based biotechnology lacked industrial-scale validation and investment confidence.

The Solution

Tebrio developed proprietary technology for breeding and processing Tenebrio molitor (mealworms) at industrial scale — producing sustainable proteins for animal nutrition, lipids, and biofertilizers, responding to growing demand across agriculture and biotechnology sectors.

The Growth Journey

  • Proprietary insect-breeding and processing technology
  • Supported by a €30M investment round (Santander Bank, Sodical, GPC Consulting, CDTI Innvierte)
  • Construction of a 90,000 m² industrial facility in Salamanca
  • Scientific R&D with CETIM Technology Centre and IRNASA–CSIC
  • Awarded "Best Deal" at Startup Olé 2022

Results & Impact

  • >100,000 tonnes/year production capacity
  • Global leadership in insect-based biotechnology
  • Supports sustainable bioeconomy, circular agriculture and food resilience
  • Strengthens Spain (Castilla y León) as a biotech innovation hub
  • Strong public–private collaboration model

"Biotechnology and industrial innovation can transform sustainable agriculture. By scaling insect-based production systems, Tebrio is helping build a more resilient and environmentally responsible global food ecosystem."

Tebrio (Salamanca, Castilla y León) — SYSTEMEU USAL Case Study

Consortium Partners

ES Tebrio — Innovator (Salamanca) ES Santander Bank — Financial Partner ES Sodical — Regional Investor (CyL) ES CDTI Innvierte — Public Innovation ES CETIM Technology Centre — R&D ES IRNASA–CSIC — Scientific Research

The Challenge

The industrial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina faces a low level of automation, shortage of skilled labour, outdated production technologies, and limited productivity. SMEs lack the resources to test new technologies before committing capital investment.

The Solution: "Test Before Invest"

Industrial Hub Tuzla operates as a Digital Innovation Hub (DIH) providing companies with access to modern equipment, industrial robots, and expert knowledge. Through the "test before invest" approach, companies can test new technologies, analyse production processes and assess investment feasibility before committing.

Mission

To support the digital transformation and growth of SMEs by promoting the use of industrial robotics, automation and advanced manufacturing technologies — with direct access to international innovation ecosystems via SCE Munich and European networks.

Results (2 Years of Operation)

  • 30+ individuals educated in industrial automation and robotics
  • 7 companies actively supported through the DIH
  • 5 international projects completed or underway
  • 20+ international events participated in
  • Proven public–private–research collaboration model replicable across SYSTEMEU regions

"Industrial Hub Tuzla demonstrates how collaboration between industry, public institutions, and innovation organisations can accelerate the digital transformation of manufacturing and create new opportunities for the growth of SMEs."

Industrial Hub Tuzla (Tuzla Canton, BiH) — SYSTEMEU Tuzla Canton Case Study

Consortium Partners

BA Industrial Automation Tuzla BA Ministry of Economy, Tuzla Canton DE SCE — Strascheg Center for Entrepreneurship (Munich) BA FITT — Foundation for Innovation & Technology Transfer BA CRP — Center for Development and Support

The project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101161224

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

 

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