This pages outlines the most frequently asked questions regarding the application processes for the Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs, the Expression of Interest for tech-savvy SMEs, and the Call for External Evaluators. Applicants are encouraged to consult the detailed guidelines provided on each dedicated page for more comprehensive information. Should any questions remain unanswered after reviewing the available materials, applicants are invited to contact the MANTRA team directly at info@mantra-project.eu.
If you’re a traditional manufacturing SME, you can apply via the Open Call for Manufacturing SMEs on the MANTRA webpage.
If you’re a tech‑savvy SME, submit your Expression of Interest for the solution‑provider pool through the dedicated Tech‑Savvy SMEs portal.
If you’d like to serve as an external evaluator, apply via the Call for Evaluators link. For stakeholders—such as chambers of commerce, innovation hubs, or other supportive entities—interested in joining the MANTRA journey, there is a specific link to register. All open calls are running from 16 June to 15 September 2025.
All applications must fall within these core sectors—submissions from other industries will not be accepted.
Only companies registered and operating in an EU Member State are eligible to apply—no Horizon Europe Associated Countries are accepted. SMEs must have their legal and operational headquarters within the EU at the time of application
No, participation in the MANTRA Project is limited to individuals, SMEs, and stakeholders located within the 27 European Union Member States. Expressions of Interest from those based in Horizon Europe associated countries are not eligible.
No, there is no advantage to registering in a particular country.
We remain strictly impartial to ensure fairness to all applicants—thus, we’re not permitted to offer comments, guidance, individual assessments, or advice on your application or idea. All proposals will be evaluated objectively by independent experts.
Unfortunately, you cannot submit applications to both the Traditional SME and Tech‑Savvy SME tracks simultaneously—you must choose the one that best aligns with your business profile and submit only to that specific open call.
No, joining the MANTRA community does not entitle members to direct financial support. However, by becoming part of the MANTRA community, you gain access to a wide network of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), offering opportunities to present your services, collaborate, and build valuable business relationships.
As an SME, how can I receive financial support through the MANTRA Project?
The MANTRA Project offers a grant of €50,000 in financial support to selected SMEs. This funding must be allocated to services provided by various European support networks, such as the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), and others. The aim is to help SMEs access high-quality services that foster innovation, internationalization, and growth.
The objectives outlined in the MANTRA Journey Plan will be verified through periodic progress reports submitted by the participating SMEs. These reports must detail the implementation steps taken, outcomes achieved, and alignment with the original transformation goals. Verification will also include documentation of services procured.
Yes, a final report is planned at the conclusion of the project. This will involve a review of each SME’s progress against their MANTRA Journey Plan, including the impact of the transformation activities, sustainability improvements, and adoption of advanced technologies. Final reports and supporting documentation will be required to validate the outcomes.
Modifications to the initial commitments may be considered under exceptional circumstances. Any changes must be formally requested and justified by the SME, and will be subject to approval by the MANTRA Project Coordination Team. The goal is to maintain flexibility while ensuring that the core objectives of sustainability, innovation, and impact are preserved.
Yes, the proposal will be evaluated both for environmental and social approach, if a proposal meets more than one environmental and one socio-economic impact, they’ll receive an higher score.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
SECPhO is a cluster based on Spain that brings together more than 180 organisations that promote technological innovation through deep tech in all sectors of our economy. They contribute to the assessment and advisory services for SME’s, including due diligence assessments, matchmaking non-tech SMEs with tech SMEs, co-creation labs, and tailored, value-added advisory services.
Rina-C is a global network specializing in energy transition, ESG, and digitalisation, based in Italy. They are responsible for providing assessment and advisory services to the selected SMEs undergoing digital and technological transformation. This includes due diligence assessments, matchmaking tech-savvy and traditional SMEs, share best practices in co-creation labs, and offering tailored solutions and recommendations for practical implementation as part of the advisory services.
Babele is a social enterprise based in Romania, that acts as a catalyst for systemic innovation, uniting a global network of universities, corporations, NGOs, and social entrepreneurs to co-create impactful solutions to address global issues such as climate change and poverty, while fostering resilience in the face of its effects. They are responsible for developing, building, and managing the digital platform for SME recruitment, overseeing the capacity-building and support program, and connecting innovation communities, EU networks, and SME support initiatives. The platform will function as a hub for knowledge exchange and a community of practice.
Greenovate! Europe is a not-for-profit network of organisations dedicated to sustainable innovation. It develops sustainability projects and provides innovation support to researchers, companies and policymakers. The project partner based in Belgium, is responsible for the communication and dissemination activities of the MANTRA project. Their goal is to maximize the project’s impact by raising awareness, building a stakeholder community, and sharing open project results in a way that ensures they are actionable and exploitable by stakeholders.
INES TEC is a research & development institute located on the campus of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, located in Portugal. They oversee the role of identifying the needs and barriers of SMEs to create the most favorable capacity-building support services. They will connect European specialised business support structures, networks, and organizations to build-up an innovative value-added support ecosystem for SMEs.
EIT Manufacturing is a public-private partnership located in Italy, co-funded by the European Union and established in 2019 that connects manufacturing players by promoting talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovation in Europe. They provide coaching programs and capacity-building support to enhance the competitiveness and innovation of SMEs. Building on the SME Alliance projects and EITM initiatives, they oversee the SME ecosystem, facilitating the exchange of best practices, and enable that traditional SMEs gain from dedicated peer-learning activities, learning directly from leaders in their sector.
EIT Manufacturing is a public-private partnership located in Italy, co-funded by the European Union and established in 2019 that connects manufacturing players by promoting talent and entrepreneurship to accelerate sustainable innovation in Europe.
They provide coaching programs and capacity-building support to enhance the competitiveness and innovation of SMEs. Building on the SME Alliance projects and EITM initiatives, they oversee the SME ecosystem, facilitating the exchange of best practices, and enable that traditional SMEs gain from dedicated peer-learning activities, learning directly from leaders in their sector.
Cetim is a technological accelerator dedicated to industrial transformation. It brings the best of research to French industries and offers a comprehensive solution combining consulting and engineering services. They contribute to the assessment and advisory services for SME’s, including due diligence assessments, matchmaking non-tech SMEs with tech SMEs, co-creation labs, and tailored, value-added advisory services.
Zabala Innovation is an international consultancy firm specialising in consultancy services for both R&D and Innovation management, based in Spain. As project coordinators for MANTRA, Zabala ensures smooth project management and defines the criteria to select and prioritise the manufacturing SME projects that will be funded through the project to unlock their digital and technological potential and build sustainable business models.
