The Innowwide Autumn 2026 call offers innovative SMEs up to €60,000 for six-month market feasibility projects in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Oceania. Apply by 1 December 2026.
Background & Funding Programme Description
The Eureka Network’s Innowwide Autumn 2026 Call for Market Feasibility Projects is inviting applications from innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking to explore international markets and assess the commercial potential of their innovations.
Funded by the European Union through the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, the programme supports businesses seeking to evaluate whether an innovative product, process or service can succeed in a selected international market.
Successful applicants can receive €60,000 per project to carry out a six-month market feasibility study in collaboration with a local organisation in a target country in Africa, the Americas, Asia or Oceania.
The call has a total budget of €4.2 million and aims to support 70 market feasibility projects. It is intended to strengthen international business collaboration, encourage knowledge exchange and help innovative solutions reach new markets.
Important: This opportunity is intended for eligible SMEs based in participating European and associated countries, not individual applicants or businesses based solely in the target markets. Organisations in target countries may participate as local subcontractors.
Programme Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | Innowwide |
| Funding call | Fifth Call – Autumn 2026 |
| Funding provider | European Union through the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs |
| Total call budget | €4.2 million |
| Number of projects targeted | 70 |
| Maximum grant per project | €60,000 |
| Project duration | 6 months |
| Target markets | Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania |
| Application opening date | 1 October 2026 |
| Application deadline | 1 December 2026, 14:00 CET |
| Official programme website | Eureka Network |
What the Funding Covers
Innowwide supports market feasibility projects that help eligible SMEs determine whether their innovations can be introduced successfully into international markets.
Projects may assess technical, commercial, legal and socioeconomic conditions in a selected target country. Activities may include market research, analysis of local requirements, engagement with potential customers and assessment of the opportunities and risks associated with introducing an innovative solution.
Eligible project costs include personnel, subcontracting, travel and subsistence, equipment depreciation, other goods and services, and applicable indirect costs.
Funding Amount and Payment Structure
The programme provides a fixed grant of €60,000 per successful project, representing a maximum funding rate of 70% of eligible project costs.
Applicants must have total eligible project costs of at least €86,000 and cover costs exceeding the €60,000 grant themselves.
Payments are structured as follows:
- 70% pre-financing: €42,000 at the beginning of project implementation.
- Final payment: €18,000 after completion of the six-month project and acceptance of the final report.
The final payment depends on satisfactory completion and acceptance of the required reporting obligations.
Qualifications and Eligibility
The programme is designed for innovative SMEs that meet the call’s eligibility requirements.
Applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
- Be a legally constituted SME based in an eligible participating country: an EU Member State, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye or the United Kingdom.
- Have been legally established for at least two years by the application deadline. For this call, the company must have been established on or before 1 December 2024.
- Not have received funding under a previous Innowwide call in 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025.
- Identify an independent local subcontractor in the selected target country.
- Propose a project focused exclusively on civil applications.
- Plan a six-month market feasibility project with at least €86,000 in total eligible costs.
- Include eligible subcontracting costs and a combination of eligible project activities.
- Submit the complete application in English, including the required work plan and declarations.
The proposed innovation must have reached at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and must not exceed TRL 8 in the target country. The project should investigate the potential for developing a product, process or service in the selected market.
The programme also requires participating organisations to meet the specified financial, legal and ethical conditions.
Can African SMEs Apply Directly?
The call focuses on helping eligible SMEs from participating European and associated countries investigate markets in regions including Africa.
African organisations may participate as local subcontractors, such as suppliers, customers, end users, research providers or complementary technology developers. However, a business based only in an African target country does not qualify as the main applicant under the stated country eligibility rules.
Additional Information
Applications opened on 1 October 2026 and must be submitted by 1 December 2026 at 14:00 Central European Time (CET).
How to Apply
Eligible businesses should complete the following steps:
- Register on the programme’s SmartSimple application platform.
- Complete the application form in English.
- Identify and invite the local subcontractor to provide the required commitment through the platform.
- Upload the work plan using the mandatory template.
- Complete all declarations and submit the application before the deadline.
Applications must be submitted by someone legally authorised to represent the applicant SME. Each company may submit only one application.
Proposals will be evaluated on excellence, impact, and the quality and efficiency of implementation. The programme intends to communicate evaluation results during the first quarter of 2027.
For full requirements and application instructions, visit the Eureka Network website and find the Innowwide fifth call for market feasibility projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Innowwide Autumn 2026 funding call?
It is a programme supporting eligible innovative SMEs to assess the feasibility of introducing their products, processes or services into international markets.
2. How much funding is available?
Successful applicants can receive a fixed grant of €60,000 per market feasibility project.
3. How long does a funded project last?
Each funded market feasibility project lasts six months.
4. What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 1 December 2026 at 14:00 CET.
5. Can businesses in Africa apply directly?
Businesses based only in African target countries are not eligible as main applicants under this call. Eligible SMEs from participating European and associated countries can collaborate with organisations in Africa as local subcontractors.
6. What types of projects qualify?
Projects should assess the technical, commercial, legal or socioeconomic feasibility of introducing an innovative product, process or service into a selected target market. Only civil applications are eligible.
7. Must an applicant already have an established company?
Yes. The applicant must be a legally constituted SME in an eligible country and must have been established for at least two years by the deadline.
8. Does the grant cover all project expenses?
Not necessarily. The grant covers up to 70% of eligible project costs, with a maximum of €60,000. Applicants must cover any eligible project costs beyond the grant amount.
9. Is a local partner required?
Yes. The project must include an independent local counterpart in the chosen target country, acting as the main subcontractor.
10. How can I apply?
Register and submit an application through the SmartSimple platform using the instructions provided on the official Innowwide call page on the Eureka Network website.
Opportunities Feed Assessment
The Innowwide Autumn 2026 call is relevant to eligible SMEs seeking to expand internationally, test innovative business solutions and establish relationships with local organisations in new markets. The €60,000 grant can support a structured six-month feasibility project, but applicants must satisfy the country, company-age, partnership and co-funding requirements.
Businesses should review the official call guidelines carefully before preparing their applications.
Disclaimer: Opportunities Feed shares funding and business development opportunities for informational purposes. It is not affiliated with Eureka or the European Union and does not administer the funding. Applicants should confirm all eligibility criteria, funding conditions and submission instructions through the official programme website.
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