FutureProofTextiles - 1st Open Call round

FutureProofTextiles - 1st Open Call round
Grants for European textile SMEs to develop digital innovation or green transition projects that improve resilience, efficiency and sustainability.

This FutureProofTextiles Open Call provides financial support to SMEs in the European textile sector to implement digital innovation or green transition projects. The aim is to help textile SMEs overcome resource limitations, adopt advanced digital and sustainable technologies, reduce waste, improve efficiency and strengthen resilience across the textile value chain.

Type of projects to be funded: Individual SME projects in the textile sector addressing either Green Initiatives or Digital Innovations. Green Initiatives cover sustainable practices, circular economy, energy-efficient production methods, responsible disposal of textile waste, waste reduction and resource efficiency. Digital Innovations cover the adoption of advanced digital technologies, digital tools, automation technologies and data-driven decision-making capabilities to improve efficiency and productivity in the textile sector.

Sectors / domain: Textile sector and textile value chain, including complementary sectors where the proposed innovation directly contributes to the textile value chain.

Individual or consortium: Each applicant must represent a single SME. Consortia of multiple SMEs are not eligible. Clusters and intermediary organisations are not eligible, even if they are SMEs.

Specific eligibility requirements: Applicants must be SMEs according to the European Commission SME definition, legally established in countries participating in the Single Market Programme, and operating in the textile value chain or in a complementary sector directly contributing to it. Activities must align with relevant NACE codes: C13.1, C13.2, C13.3, C13.9; C14.1, C14.3; C15.12, C22.19; C38; J62, J63; and C28.94. Applicants must have at least one English-speaking staff member actively involved in implementation. Proposals must be submitted in English and must demonstrate a Technology Readiness Level of 5 or higher.

Specific topics or challenges: The call is structured around two funding schemes: Green Initiatives (promote sustainabl practices and circular economy practies) and Digital Innovations (adopt advanced digital technologies to improve efficiency and productivity in the textile sector). Applicants must address the sector needs identified in the “Needs of the SMEs in the Textile Sector” document.

Projects duration: 9 months.

Budget, funding rates and payment conditions:
Funding rate: Not specified in the call guidelines.
Budget conditions / limitations: €50,000 lump-sum grant per SME, with a minimum €10,000 self-funding contribution required. The total FSTP budget allocated is €2,000,000, supporting 40 SME projects in total, 20 for Green Initiatives and 20 for Digital Innovations.
Payments: The grant is distributed across three milestone-based payments: 40% upon achieving the first milestones, 40% upon achieving mid-term milestones, and 20% upon project completion and impact assessment, alongside submission of the mandatory SMP feedback survey.
Closes
18/09/2026
Max funding per project
50.000€
https://profile.clustercollaboration.eu/profile/cluster-partnership-initiative/c9fcd533-bf23-4b23-bd18-adb2e57b37a4