Funding for Innovation Development: Open Call for EEN Local Nodes

The EEN2EIC project is launching Call 2 for Local Nodes, offering support vouchers to facilitate the submission of proposals under the EIC Accelerator program. This call specifically targets SMEs from widening and associated countries, as well as women-led SMEs from all countries eligible under the EIC program.

Through this initiative, Local Nodes within the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) will have the opportunity to provide direct support to SMEs, contributing to the improvement of proposal quality and an increase in funded projects.

 

Who can apply and what are the responsibilities of Local Nodes?

All partner organizations within an existing EEN consortium at the time of submitting the funding request are eligible for this call (see Section 2.3.1 of the Guide for Applicants for more details).

The role of Local Nodes within EEN2EIC is to directly support SMEs in the EIC Accelerator application process, contributing to the improvement of proposal quality and the increase in funded projects.

Local Nodes will work alongside the Consortium Innovation Leader (CIL) to identify and select the most promising SMEs, providing customized support in areas such as:

  • Technology and innovation assessment
  • Commercialization strategies and partnerships
  • Risk assessment and market projections

 

What benefits does this call offer for Local Nodes?

Local Nodes can receive up to €3,700 for each eligible SME they support in the EIC Accelerator application process, in the form of two types of vouchers:

  • €1,300 – for supporting SMEs applying for the EIC Short Proposal (EEN2EIC Group A Voucher) – see Section 2.5.1 of the Guide for Applicants.
  • €2,400 – for supporting SMEs applying for the EIC Full Proposal (EEN2EIC Group B Voucher) – see Section 2.5.2 of the Guide for Applicants.

 

Application process and deadlines

  • Applications must be submitted online through the project’s official IT Tool.
  • Applications can be submitted throughout the project’s duration, but no later than March 31, 2025, 17:00 (Brussels time).

 

CITI Cluster assists local and central public organizations in establishing public-private partnerships, provides consultancy for identifying non-reimbursable funding sources, and supports the development of applications and solutions in the smart city domain. For more details or assistance in the application process, we invite you to contact us.