VInnovate Call 2026
The targeted projects
Targeted Beneficiaries
Who Can Apply?
Consortium Requirements
Each VInnovate project must include:
- At least one SME (as defined by the European Commission)
- At least 2 organisations located in at least 2 distinct VInnovate member regions/states AND at least 2 distinct countries — ensuring both interregional and international cooperation.
Eligible regions/states: East NL (Gelderland and Overijssel), Norte (pending formal confirmation), Noord Brabant, North East Romania, Galicia, Lower Saxony, Lower Austria, Wales, Basque Country.
Eligible countries: Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Wales, Romania, and Portugal.
All beneficiaries must be located in a VInnovate Call 2026 member region/country and comply with both the regional instrument requirements and the VInnovate eligibility criteria described below.
Who else can join?
In addition to SMEs, a VInnovate consortium may include:
- Large Companies
- Universities
- Research or Facility Centres
- Research and Technology Infrastructures
Associated Partners
The consortium can also include associated partners who will not receive funding through the VInnovate 2026 instruments. These partners must secure alternative funding sources (private, regional, or other).
Scope of the Call
Each project will aim at developing solution(s) that will support at least one of the following transitions:
A smarter industry that leverages advanced and digital technologies to transform industrial processes and value chains, boosting efficiency, productivity, and innovation.
A more sustainable industry — advancing towards climate neutrality through improved energy efficiency and cleaner industrial processes.
A more autonomous industry — reducing Europe’s dependency on other regions for deep-tech innovations and strategically critical services.
Eligible VInnovate 2026 projects must be thematically linked to at least one of the 6 VI Pilots. If you are unsure whether your project idea aligns with a specific pilot’s scope, you are welcome to contact the relevant VI Pilot leads.
All relevant information about the scope of each pilot, on eligible and targeted project types as well as contact details of VI Pilot leads can be found in the Guide for Applicants (PDF).
Supported Activities
Project Specifications
| Criteria | Requirement |
|---|---|
| TRL scope | TRL 6, 7 and/or 8 (post-prototyping activities) |
| Minimum project costs | €100,000 per project |
| Maximum duration | 30 months |
All VInnovate applicants must comply with the requirements of the regional/national funding instrument they are applying to.
Eligible costs
The following types of costs may be eligible for funding: personnel costs, subcontracting, purchase costs (travel, equipment, consumables), and indirect costs. Please verify eligible costs in the regional instrument descriptions.
For more information on the application process, visit the How to Apply page.
