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.
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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.
