Open Calls

HERIFORGE Launches First Open Call For Immersive Technologies In Cultural Heritage

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

HERIFORGE has launched its first Open Call to fund innovative projects that merge immersive technologies with cultural heritage. The initiative is part of a broader mission to transform how cultural heritage is experienced, preserved, and reused across Europe. With a total budget of €300,000, the initiative will fund up to six projects, each eligible for a grant of up to €50,000, alongside a six-month mentoring and support programme.

Overview

The call invites SMEs, startups, NGOs, foundations, associations, and individuals (particularly those based in Cyprus, Poland, and Türkiye) to propose bold ideas that harness immersive tools such as AR/VR, XR, gamification, and digital twins. Applicants from other EU Member States or Horizon Europe–associated countries are also eligible, provided they can demonstrate a local presence in one of the three partner countries.

Up to six projects will be selected, each receiving:

  • Funding of up to €50,000
  • Six months of tailored mentoring and technical support from experts in immersive tech, cultural heritage, and business development

How to Apply

  • Applications must be submitted through the HERIFORGE Open Call page
  • Deadline: 27 October 2025, 17:00 CET
  • All proposals should clearly demonstrate how immersive technologies can create sustainable impact in cultural heritage preservation, engagement, or reuse.
  • Each applicant may submit up to two proposals, provided they address different areas of the call. Only the highest-scoring proposal per applicant will be funded.
  • Proposals must be submitted in English.

Programme Objectives

Cultural heritage is increasingly being recognized as a resource for identity, cohesion, and sustainable development, rather than simply an archive of the past. Yet many digital collections remain fragmented, project results are rarely reused beyond their initial scope, and collaboration between cultural organisations and technology players is often weak.

HERIFORGE aims to overcome these barriers by supporting place-based innovation ecosystems in Cyprus, Poland, and Türkiye. The programme’s objectives are to link cultural institutions with immersive technology solutions, support creative experimentation, and build models of digital heritage innovation that can be scaled across Europe.

About HERIFORGE

HERIFORGE is a European initiative bringing together leading organizations from the cultural heritage and digital technology sectors. Its goal is to support cross-border collaboration, leverage creative experimentation, and demonstrate new models for the digital transformation of cultural heritage.

RESIST II Opens €800,000 Funding Call For Process Innovation In Mobility And Transport

by News Editor

Overview

RESIST II Eurocluster has opened its Process Innovation Open Call, offering cascade funding to SMEs in the Mobility, Transport and Automotive ecosystem. The call supports companies seeking to improve their manufacturing or industrial processes by making their current operations more digital, greener and more resilient.

The call sits under RESIST II’s wider €1.6 million funding package for SMEs developing innovation projects linked to net-zero technologies and critical raw materials. The Process Innovation call itself has a budget of €800,000.

Benefits

Selected SMEs can receive lump-sum grants of:

  • Up to €20,000 for individual SME projects
  • Up to €30,000 per SME for consortium projects
  • Up to €60,000 per SME across RESIST II open calls

Beneficiaries will also have access to a pool of experts, coaching and mentoring, international market opportunities, online training for upskilling and reskilling, and technical support provided by CTAG.

Projects require 10% private co-financing from the beneficiary SMEs. Across the two cut-offs, RESIST II expects to support around 15 to 20 projects and fund around 25 to 30 SMEs.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to SMEs established in an EU Member State or a country participating in the Single Market Programme.

Applicants must be active in the ecosystem, either by working in sectors such as automotive, rail, waterborne and cycling, or by being a member of a cluster linked to the Mobility, Transport and Automotive ecosystem.

Criteria

Projects may be submitted by a single SME or by a consortium of two or three SMEs. Consortium projects must involve SMEs from different NUTS2 regions.

Submitted projects should address one or more of RESIST II’s four innovation pillars:

  • Net-Zero Manufacturing & Industrial Decarbonisation
  • Circular Critical Raw Materials & Resource Efficiency
  • Digital Mobility & Smart Industrial Systems
  • Resilient Mobility Value Chains

Projects funded under the first cut-off are expected to run for up to nine months, from October 2026 to June 2027.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted electronically through the RESIST II platform. The first cut-off opened on 13 May 2026 and closes on 13 July 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. A second cut-off is planned for May 2027.

About RESIST II

RESIST II Eurocluster supports European SMEs working in the Mobility, Transport and Automotive ecosystem, helping them advance their twin transition and strengthen resilience against market shifts and unexpected disruptions.

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