Joint Cluster Initiatives (EUROCLUSTERS) for Europe’s recovery

Eligibility Conditions Step 2:

Applicants must meet all legal, financial, and compliance requirements to be considered. Here summarized:

General eligibility conditions

1. SME Status: Applicants must qualify as an SME according to the EU SME definition (Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC). This covers headcount, turnover, and balance sheet totals, taking into account any linked enterprises.
2. Geographical Eligibility: Organizations must be legally established in a Single Market Programme (SMP) participating country, including EU Member States and SMP associated countries.
3. Financial Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate the financial viability to manage and sustain project activities, verified via an indicator-based assessment.
4. Exclusion Criteria: Applicants must not be in any exclusion situations (e.g., bankruptcy, fraud, or corruption) as defined in Article 136 of the EU Financial Regulation.
5. EU Compliance: Projects must adhere to standard EU obligations, including conflict of interest avoidance, confidentiality, data protection, DNSH (Do No Significant Harm) principle, compliance with the EU AI Act (where applicable), EU funding visibility and cooperation with checks/audits.

Step 2 specific requirements

1. Project focus: proposals must build on a Step 1-selected idea, clearly focused on Cultural Heritage Value Chain (CHVC) and targeting one single strand (Strand 1 – Product Innovation or Strand 2 – Process Innovation). Check Step 1-selected ideas at the following rankings document: Step 1 Results.
2. Participation limits: a single SME may participate as applicant in only one (1) proposal, whether as Lead Partner or as Project Partner.
3. Consortium composition: projects must include at least two (2) applicant SMEs.
4. Lead Partner: must be a Step 1-selected SME (check Step 1 Results), must have completed the mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking activities (May–June 2026), and must have filled the satisfaction questionnaire. Completion of the mandatory Capacity Building and Matchmaking sessions can be checked here: Attendance CBP.
5. Mandatory deliverables: projects should include strand mandatory deliverables, and the participation to at least one European networking/business event.
6. Application of EU-based technologies and/or engagement of Innovation Leaders: applicants must demonstrate that their project will apply EU-based digital solutions and/or technologies and/or engage EU-based Innovation Leaders.
7. Financial requirements: the requested EU grant must correspond to the fixed strand grant amount (€120,000.00 for Strand 1 / €77,000.00 for Strand 2). Each single SME may request maximum €60,000.00, including linked enterprises. The EU Grant covers up to 85% of the total project budget; consortia must provide at least 15% co-financing.
8. Applications must be written in English and submitted electronically through the following link by the set deadline.

For all the details on Step-2 specific requirements, check the Call document, Section 3.2, Step 2-specific submission requirements and procedure and Section 5.4, Step 2 Evaluation and selection criteria.

The Call offers financial support through two distinct strands:

1. Strand 1 - Product Innovation: Directed at the development of new-to-the-firm products or services (Grant amount: €120,000.00 fixed lump sum for consortia of at least 2 SMEs).
2. Strand 2 - Process Innovation: Directed at business process innovation linked to green and digital transition (Grant amount: €77,000.00 fixed lump sum for consortia of at least 2 SMEs).

The maximum amount that will be granted to each SME is € 60,000.00.

The submission procedure

Step 2 applications must be submitted by the Lead Partner electronically through the F6S Platform via the Call for Proposals page at the following link:

https://www.f6s.com/cultural-heritage-grants-step-2/apply

Deadline: 31 August 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels time)

Important: Selected projects of Step 1 are eligible to apply to Step 2. Results of Step 1 are available at the following link: Step 1 Results.

Detailed information about Step 2 can be found in the Call documents (full Call Package):

1. Call for Proposals document
2. Call annexes

Find more information about the call, including details about Step 2, downloading the full Call Package.

National Contact Points (NCPs): For enquiries, please contact the National Contact points at least 10 working days prior to the Call the deadline. A full list of National Contacts Points email addresses is available in the call document.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Applicants can consult Frequently Asked Questions at the following link. Applicants are advised to consult them regularly, as the document is continuously updated.

Innovation Leaders: the Innovation Catalog (the official register of Innovation Leaders) is accessible at this link.

Innovation Leaders are selected through a Call for Expression of Interest. Interested organizations may apply via this link. The register will be continuously updated until the end of 2027, therefore applicants are encouraged to check the link regularly. Before the launch of Step 2, registered Innovation Leaders will be invited to a dedicated private group on the F6S platform alongside Step 1-selected applicants and private investors.

Private Investors: a register of Private Investors interested in the cultural heritage sector will soon be available at this link. Private Investors are identified through a Call for Expression of Interest. Interested investors may apply via this link. The register will be continuously updated until the end of 2027, therefore applicants are encouraged to check the link regularly. Before the launch of Step 2, registered Private Investors will be invited to a dedicated private group on the F6S platform alongside Step 1-selected applicants and Innovation Leaders.