MANUFACTergy FACTORY CHECK-IN - Open Call

The overall objective of the FACTORY CHECK-IN call is to support SMEs in the manufacturing sector, namely furniture and construction, through a cascade funding mechanism. The call specifically targets SMEs operating in the sectors of furniture and construction. Eligible organizations will access funding by forming a partnership with a solution provider, either selected from the partnership network and membership base included in the MANUFACTergy SOLUTIONS PROVIDERS REGISTRY (not compulsory) or described in the template for application.

Non-exhaustive examples of eligible activities include:

1. designing a technology and innovation transition roadmap, including clearly defined solutions for the adoption of digital and energy-efficient technologies;
2. assessing energy and resource consumption across SME operations and translating findings into concrete improvement measures;
3. identifying inefficiencies, losses and waste streams together with targeted technical or organisational solutions to address them;
4. defining monitoring systems and baseline indicators linked to the proposed solutions and future implementation;
5. identifying and prioritising opportunities to enhance energy efficiency and sustainable production with clearly justified intervention options;
6. developing a detailed transition and implementation plan for the adoption of advanced, energy-efficient and digital technologies.

The result of the FACTORY CHECK-IN is the DESIGN STUDY, a customized, implementation-oriented solution/process plan for the adoption of innovation or new processes and advanced technologies. All eligible activities under FACTORY CHECK-IN must demonstrably contribute to the preparation of innovation and adoption of new processes or advanced technologies. Activities resulting solely in descriptive analyses without a clear implementation perspective will not be considered eligible. Applicants must contribute with at least 10% of co-financing of the total eligible costs.

FACTORY CHECK-IN call follows a single-staged application process. The submission period of proposals opens on 10 February 2026 at 10:00 CET and closes on 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the EUSurvey platform (EUSurvey) before the call deadline. The application procedure consists of the following two steps:

1. Completion and signature of the Declaration of Honour - ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS, using the template provided via the link in the GUIDE FOR APPLICANTS. The document must be signed by the legal representative of the SME Applicant and uploaded on the EUSurvey platform in the pdf format
2. Completion and submission of the APPLICATION FORM directly online on the EUSurvey platform: EUSurvey

All applications must be written in English. Only the sections submitted in English will be taken into consideration during the evaluation process. All the information provided should be complete and valid. An SME can submit only 1 proposal (as a single SME) under this open call. If more than one proposal is submitted by the same SME applicant, only the last proposal which has been submitted will be evaluated. Other proposals will be discarded.

EVALUATION:

Submitted applications will be evaluated in two evaluation steps. The evaluation will be performed by internal reviewers from the MANUFACTergy EVALUATION COMMISSION. The commission will be composed by 2 members of each project partner, allocated for the evaluation procedures of the open call.

1. FIRST STEP: eligibility check
2. SECOND STEP: quality evaluation. Total number of points are 60, with a minimum pass threshold of 27.5 points.

The quality evaluation is based on the following criteria:

1. Relevance & alignment (0-10 points): Extent to which the project aligns with the overall objectives of the call, providing a clear justification of its relevance, demonstrating how it addresses identified challenges and meeting the concrete needs of the organization.
2. Technical quality of the work plan (0-15 points): A clear and structured description of the proposed activities and their implementation methods, in line with the guidelines. The description should demonstrate a coherent methodology, ensure alignment with eligible activities, and confirm the feasibility of completing the project within the timeframe.
3. Expected impact (0-15 points): The expected long-term impact of the project, including clear direct outcomes, measurable KPIs, support for environmental and/or digital objectives, and clear long-term value beyond the project lifecycle.
4. Capacity of the SME and solution provider (0-15 points): Evaluation of the suitability and experience of the selected solution provider, including justification of their proposed services, the SME’s available resources and ability to cooperate with the provider and implement recommended actions effectively.
5. Budget and cost-effectiveness (0-5 points): Assessment of the project’s budget, including realistic and well planned cost estimates with clear justification, as well as adherence to the ≥75% rule for the solution provider.

If you have any questions, submit your request through this email: [email protected] OR directly towards the national/local contact points. Follow the official communication channel (LinkedIn): for news on the call, selection procedures and future events.

CALL BUDGET: € 370,000.00

BUDGET AWARDED/project: up to €10,000.00

CALL PUBLICATION DATE: 10.02.2026

CALL CLOSURE DATE: 17.04.2026