Calling all manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps! These 7 open calls could be for you
Are you a manufacturing SME or mid-cap, that is looking for technological and financial support to conduct experiments to test digital innovations in your business? Then you are in luck! i4ms is about to open 7 different open calls for its projects.
Did you know that 59% of all enterprises within the European manufacturing sector are SMEs, and that these companies generate about 45% of the total added manufacturing value? For Europe to remain competitive internationally, these companies must be able to benefit from digital opportunities. For this reason, i4ms is accelerating the uptake of digital technologies for manufacturing SMEs and mid-caps, and is now launching 7 different open calls with relevant digitalisation opportunities for European manufacturing companies.
Let’s take a look at the opportunities available (in chronological order), and see if anything of them could benefit you:
- Pulsate
PULSATE is the new PAN-European Network designed to boost the adoption of laser-based advanced and additive manufacturing (LBAAM) technology to empower SMEs and Slightly Bigger companies’ digital competences.
Apply to the Adopters Use Cases by 31 March (to receive up to €25K funding and 3-months mentorship), or the 13-month Technology Transfer Experiments which open in April (technical and business support, €150k funding, media exposure, etc.).
More info here – Apply by 31 March 2022 (Adopters Use Cases) and June (Technology Transfer Experiments).[
- DIGITbrain
DIGITbrain aims to benefit small and medium-sized European manufacturing companies with AI-based Manufacturing-as-a-Service, or Digital Twin (the virtual representation of a product, system or process that simulates its physical attributes in the real-world in real time).
The second open call is looking for third parties, such as manufacturing and ISV SMEs and mid-caps, to perform experiments to make SMEs more competitive by transferring innovative solutions into the wider manufacturing community (with up to €60K in support available for each).
More info here – Apply by 31 May 2022, 17:00 (CEST)
- KITT4SME
Focusing on AI, KITT4SME provides up to €100k funding and technical support for AI solution providers to integrate their solutions for SMEs in the manufacturing sector. The next open call will invite small Consortia (teams of approx. 2-3 partners) which include at least one solution provider and at least one manufacturing end-user.
More info here – Apply when it opens in April 2022
- VOJEXT
The VOJEXT project will design, develop, and demonstrate affordable, market-oriented, multipurpose and easy-to-repurpose robotic systems. For this end, VOJECT will soon be looking for innovators (SMEs and mid-caps) in cognitive autonomous systems for human-robot interaction and artists to stimulate the creation of new products in different contexts.
More info here – Apply when it opens in Q2 2022
- DIH-World
DIH-World supports 45 SME-driven experiments from industries that traditionally have lagged behind on various aspects of digitalization, and will target SMEs and DIHs from regions which historically have experienced low DIH presence and digitalization rates. The second open call will be launched in April.
More info here – Apply when it opens in April 2022
- Better Factory
Better Factory provides a methodology for manufacturing SMEs to collaborate with artists and technology providers to develop new and personalised products. In order to take part, you first submit an Expression of Interest, and then are matched into a team of one artist, one technology provider and one SME, before submitting a proposal together for your experiment.
More info here – Apply when it opens in May 2022
- Change2Twin
Change2Twin offers European manufacturing SMEs and midcaps (i.e. companies with up to 3000 employees) funding to get a digital twin. For this purpose, Change2Twin will organise rounds of open calls where companies can apply for funding: i) Assessment voucher – Up to €10K; ii) Deployment voucher – Up to €90K.
The next deployment voucher is opening soon in June 2022.
