SINGLE MARKET PROGRAMME (SMP) – Agri-food Biotech Scaling-up – 2026

Objectives

• To bring together biotech clusters from different countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP)
• To reach a critical mass and develop structured collaboration enabling to compete with global hubs
• To provide scale-up support tailored to SMEs’ needs to strengthen their pathway towards first commercial production

Priority

Advanced fermentation for food and feed applications in the agri-food sector

Among financed actions

• Strategy development
• Networking
• Support to SME’s

Eligibility

• Be legal entities (public or private bodies)
• Be established in one of the eligible countries:
  • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories)
  • Non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the Single Market Programme (list of participating countries)
• Beneficiaries and affiliated entities must register in the Participant Register before submitting the proposal
• Proposals must relate to activities taking place in the eligible countries
• A consortium composed of at least 3 applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from at least 2 different eligible countries must be constituted
• The applicants must comply with the following conditions:
  • at least two cluster organisations (see definition in the call document) or cluster networks from two different EU Member States that:
    • are registered or have a pending registration request to the ECCP by the submission deadline of this call for proposals
    • have a proven track record of at least three years in supporting biotech SMEs in the food and/or feed sector
  • any other relevant organisation(s) suitable for the implementation of the project

Additional information

• Initial duration of the action: 36 months

Extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment.

• Contact: EISMEA-SMP-COSME-ENQUIRIES@ec.europa.eu

Useful

• Guidelines: Click here
• Other call documents: Click here
• Executive Agency website: Click here
• More information: Click here

• Total budget of the call: 3 million euros
• Amount of the grant: around 1.500.00 euros per project

The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested.

• Funding rate: 90% of the total eligible costs