SMART ERA open call to encourage innovation in rural regions – apply by 4 November 2025
The SMART ERA project has opened its first call inviting up to 11 innovators to tackle rural innovation challenges across the project’s six pilot regions. Successful applicants will receive EUR 60 000 and a tailored nine-month mentorship aimed at piloting solutions adapted to local rural realities. The deadline for submissions is 4 November 2025.
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The call is open to individual legal entities, including start-ups and SMEs, which work to address rural innovation challenges across the six SMART ERA pilot regions located in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. For rural communities, the open call represents an opportunity to test and scale locally relevant technological or service innovations.
The SMART ERA project (Smart Rural Innovation Ecosystems), co-funded by the European Union, aims to build stronger innovation capacities in rural areas by addressing locally rooted challenges in the six pilot regions. The project seeks to empower rural ecosystems – especially small businesses and public authorities – to develop solutions that enhance resilience, sustainability, and digital readiness.
Read the guide for applicants and apply by 4 November!