European calls for cascade funding. April 2026
European calls for cascade funding of interest to startups in April 2026.
The most interesting calls for proposals selected in April.
CYSSDE OC3
Description: CYSSDE Open Call 3 supports projects that provide advanced cybersecurity services to end users, particularly penetration testing and vulnerability assessments for organizations subject to the NIS2 Directive. Eligible activities include the provision of services, testing tools, specialized personnel, threat intelligence, and advisory services related to the NIS2 Directive.
Applicants must also demonstrate the technical capability to conduct at least 10 penetration tests or vulnerability assessments, proven experience in offensive security services, the use of recognized methodologies and tools, and the ability to work with real clients rather than solely in laboratory environments.
Eligibility and Consortia: Applicants may be companies, technology centers, universities, or public agencies. Proposals may be submitted by a single entity or by a consortium of up to two entities.
Maximum amount per proposal: EUR 200,000 per project (lump sum). The grant covers up to 50% of the project’s eligible costs.
Deadline: April 28, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Brussels time.
Website: https://cyssde.eu/open-call-3/#beforeapplying
ELIAS OC2
Description: This call for proposals supports SMEs and startups developing innovative AI-based applications in the field of AI for sustainability. The call seeks projects in the categories of methodology, software/tools, and benchmarks that are relevant to ELIAS use cases and aimed at addressing high-impact social and economic challenges through machine learning. Selected applicants will join a 6-month program and receive funding, as well as visibility through ELIAS’s online channels and events. ELIAS plans to select 4 SMEs/start-ups under this call for proposals.
This open call supports SMEs and startups developing innovative AI-based applications in the field of AI for sustainability. The call seeks projects in the categories of methodology, software/tools, and benchmarks that are relevant to ELIAS use cases and aimed at addressing high-impact social and economic challenges through machine learning. Relevant use cases include: AI for building optimization, AI for virtual infrastructure monitoring, responsible and user-centered advertising, mitigating misperceptions of migrants in the EU, AI for vegetation condition prediction, materials discovery, and personalized co-piloting systems. Selected candidates will participate in a 6-month program and receive funding, as well as visibility through ELIAS’s online channels and events. ELIAS plans to select 4 SMEs/start-ups under this call.
Eligibility requirements and consortia: Eligible applicants are SMEs and startups (individual projects). Projects must have reached at least TRL 5 and demonstrate validation in an industrially relevant environment. Only one proposal may be submitted per applicant.
Maximum amount per proposal: Up to €60,000 as a lump sum.
Deadline: May 31, 2026, at midnight (Brussels time).
Website: https://elias-ai.eu/opportunities/elias-2nd-open-call/
GREEN MANTIS
Description: Green Mantis funds collaborative innovation projects by European SMEs in the manufacturing and energy sectors focused on net-zero emission technologies. Proposals must address one of these three areas: power grid technologies, energy efficiency technologies related to energy systems, or transformative industrial technologies that lead to decarbonization. Funded projects are expected to develop new products, services, or processes; foster innovation in business processes linked to technology adoption; and improve overall energy efficiency. Projects must be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to 8 and have a duration of 9 months. At least 10 projects will be selected.
Eligibility requirements and consortia: Applications must be submitted by a consortium of at least two European SMEs established in two different EU Member States or countries associated with the SMP-COSME program, and operating in two different sectors. Eligible sectors are identified by NACE codes C, D, or J, and M when manufacturing-related activities are demonstrated. Larger companies or universities may participate in the consortium, but they are not eligible for funding; only SMEs may receive it.
Maximum amount requested per proposal: Up to €100,000 per project, with a maximum of €60,000 per SME.
Deadline: May 20, 2026.
GRAPPA
Description: GRAPPA funds innovative projects that improve the value-added use of agri-food biomass and by-products. It is aimed at European SMEs that develop, adopt, and commercialize new recycled food ingredients and products, as well as business processes and technologies—including digital solutions—that contribute to a more sustainable, resilient, and circular agri-food sector. Projects must start at a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 6 or higher and must lead to the implementation of a new process, a new product, a new service, or a combination of these. The call is expected to fund approximately 35 innovation acceleration projects.
Eligibility requirements and consortia: Proposals may be submitted by a single SME or by a consortium of up to three SMEs. In collaborative projects, at least one SME must be engaged in food processing or production. Applicants must provide a private financial contribution of at least 15%.
· SMEs in the agri-food production and/or processing sector;
· SMEs in other sectors, such as cosmetics or nutraceuticals, that utilize biomass, byproducts, or secondary streams from the agri-food sector;
· Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in other sectors that utilize their own biomass, byproducts, or secondary streams for the agri-food sector;
· Small and medium-sized enterprises that offer solutions and/or technologies for the recovery of biomass, byproducts, or secondary streams from the agri-food sector.
Maximum amount per proposal:
Up to €60,000 for a project submitted by a single SME.
Up to €90,000 for a collaborative project involving 2 to 3 SMEs.
*In all cases, the maximum amount per SME is €60,000.
Deadline: The call for applications has two deadlines:
May 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CET
October 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CET
Website: https://i4be.eu/grappa/
JARVIS OC2 – External Pilot Projects
Description: This call supports the development and validation of innovative human-robot interaction (HRI) solutions that integrate a JARVIS module into third-party systems in new operational contexts beyond the project’s main pilot projects. The call focuses on use cases in the industrial and public sectors and aims to demonstrate the applicability, usability, and operational value of JARVIS technologies in real-world environments. Funded projects must reach TRL 7 by the end of a 10-month program and will be implemented through three phases: Requirements, Development and Deployment, and Integration and Validation. The call is expected to fund five projects. The guidelines also state that applicants must submit their proposal for one of the five eligible challenges, which cover agile manufacturing, inspection and maintenance, and an open topic for emerging and strategic areas.
Eligibility and consortia: Eligible applicants are micro-consortia consisting of a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 3 legal entities.
Each consortium must include a technology developer, a technology integrator, and a use case provider, although these roles may be performed by two or three organizations. The technology developer and the use case provider must always be separate entities. The lead partner must be a technology startup or an SME, while the use case provider must be an industrial company or an infrastructure owner capable of providing the operational environment for testing and validation. An optional third partner may be a technology startup, an SME, or a research and technology organization (RTO) acting as an integrator.
SMEs and startups are eligible only if they have been in operation for at least one year prior to submission and meet the EU definition of an SME.
Maximum amount per proposal: Up to €130,000 per project.
Deadline: July 10, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CET (Brussels time). The submission period opens on April 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. CET.
Website: https://jarvis-project.eu/stream-2-external-pilots/
JARVIS 2 Open Call – Co-development Track
Description: At the same time, JARVIS is also launching this open call for proposals, which supports the development and integration of innovative human-robot interaction (HRI) technologies into the four main JARVIS pilot projects: aerospace manufacturing, automotive manufacturing, nuclear power plant decommissioning, and offshore inspection and maintenance. The call aims to create modules implementable in ROS2 or mechatronic components that expand the capabilities of existing JARVIS pilot projects, particularly in HRI, AI-based perception, cognitive robotics, and intelligent mechatronics. Selected projects are expected to reach TRL 6 and will be developed over a 9-month program structured in three phases: Requirements, Development and Implementation, and Integration and Validation. The call aims to fund eight projects. The document also indicates, in the summary diagram of topics on page 15, that applicants must choose from the specific co-development topics of the pilot projects within the four pilot areas.
Eligibility and consortia: Eligible applicants are individual organizations or micro-consortia consisting of two legal entities. To ensure an industry-driven approach, any consortium must be led by a technology startup or an SME. Eligible beneficiaries include SMEs, startups, or research and technology organizations (RTOs).
SMEs and startups are only eligible if they have been in operation for at least one year prior to submission and meet the EU’s definition of an SME.
The guidelines also stipulate that only one proposal per team is allowed; an organization may submit only one proposal across the two concurrent JARVIS OC2 calls for proposals.
Maximum amount per proposal: Up to €100,000 per project. The total budget allocated to the co-development track is €800,000.
Deadline: June 1, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. CET (Brussels time). The submission period opens on April 1, 2026, at 12:00 a.m. CET.
Website: https://jarvis-project.eu/stream-1-co-developers/
BlueActionAA OC1
Description: This call for proposals supports the development of transition agendas in the Atlantic and Arctic basins to help national, regional, and local stakeholders advance the objectives of the EU’s “Restore Our Oceans and Waters by 2030” mission. These agendas are expected to take the form of strategic roadmaps, policy recommendations, and/or proposals for regulatory innovation that support the deployment, scaling up, and long-term sustainability of innovative solutions related to ecosystem restoration, pollution reduction, and a circular, carbon-neutral blue economy. Projects must contribute to at least one objective of the Ocean Mission and are expected to last between 6 and 18 months.
Eligibility requirements and consortia: Regional and local public authorities, NGOs and foundations, SMEs and large companies, cultural and educational organizations, and research institutions or academic bodies. Applications may be submitted by a single entity or by a consortium of up to six partners. At least one member of the consortium must have an established link with the local or regional communities affected by the project.
Maximum amount per proposal: Up to €100,000 per project as a lump sum. The maximum amount per individual organization is €75,000, which means that projects with a single applicant cannot request more than €75,000.
Deadline: May 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Brussels time.
Website: https://blueactionaa.eu/transition-agenda-call-1/
ODEON
Description: ODEON supports the design, development, and validation of innovative data- and intelligence-driven energy services and applications built on the ODEON Cloud-Edge data and intelligence services platform. The call aims to facilitate the digital energy transition by enabling secure, federated data management and intelligence services that support the integration of renewable energy and distributed flexibility. Proposals must address one of the 13 predefined challenges, covering topics such as data flow monitoring and governance, federated edge AI, forecasting, flexibility profiling, smart charging, residential energy assets, and interoperability between data spaces. Selected projects will participate in a support program lasting up to 10 months, structured in three phases: Individual Mentoring Plan and Project Design, Energy Service Development, and User Validation and Impact Generation. ODEON plans to support up to 20 projects under this call for proposals.
Eligibility requirements and consortia: Only individual entities are eligible for funding. Applicants must be individual users or providers, particularly SMEs. Multiple submissions are permitted, with a maximum of three applications per applicant, provided that each application addresses a different challenge; however, no entity may receive funding more than once.
Maximum amount requested per proposal: Up to €60,000 per project, funded at 100% as a lump sum.
Deadline: July 9, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Brussels time.
Website: https://opportunities.getonepass.eu/open-opportunities/odeon/opencall
