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EIT Health has launched its Innovation Validation Call 2027, offering grants of up to €850,000 per project to support innovative digital and AI-powered medical technologies approaching market launch. The programme aims to help healthcare innovators overcome the financial challenges associated with clinical validation, regulatory approval and commercialisation. Funding is designed for advanced medical technologies that require further clinical evidence, testing and regulatory preparation before entering the European healthcare market. Who Can Apply?The programme welcomes eligible organisations, including: Digital health and medical technology companies. AI-powered healthcare technology developers. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Research organisations and universities. Healthcare innovation partnerships. Applicants must meet the following requirements: Apply as a consortium of at least two organisations from different countries. Represent at least two areas of the Knowledge Triangle: industry, research and education. Be led by a commercialising company responsible for bringing the innovation to market. Develop a digital or AI-enabled medical device covered by MDR or IVDR regulations. Have a technology at Innovation Maturity Level (IML) 6, aiming to reach IML 7 by the end of the project. Meet the programme's geographical and organisational eligibility requirements. Important: This funding is intended for advanced healthcare innovations, rather than early-stage ideas or concepts. What Can the Funding Support?1. Clinical Validation and Testing Conducting pivotal clinical studies. Collecting evidence of product safety and effectiveness. Testing medical technologies in relevant healthcare environments. Demonstrating clinical performance and benefits. 2. Regulatory Approval Preparing documentation for regulatory submissions. Supporting CE-mark application dossiers. Demonstrating compliance with applicable medical device regulations. Strengthening evidence required for market approval. 3. Product Development and Finalisation Refining digital medical devices and AI-powered healthcare technologies. Addressing technical and clinical development requirements. Preparing products for commercial deployment. 4. Commercialisation and Market Readiness Developing commercial strategies and market-entry plans. Preparing for product launch. Identifying opportunities for adoption across European healthcare systems. Strengthening long-term business sustainability. Funding AvailableGrant Amount: Up to €850,000 per project. Funding Rate: Up to 50% of the total project budget. Applicant Contribution: At least 50% of project costs must be covered through other sources. SME Funding Allocation: Where the commercialising company is a micro or small enterprise, it must receive between €400,000 and €500,000 of the grant. Funding Type: Collaborative healthcare innovation grant. Application Status: Open. Application Deadline: 13 January 2027.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is offering up to €75,000 in funding through its Kick-starts Open Call to support businesses developing innovative products and services using space technology. Delivered through ESA's Business Applications and Space Solutions programme, the initiative helps entrepreneurs and businesses explore the technical feasibility, commercial potential and market demand for new space-enabled services. Successful applicants can receive funding covering up to 75% of eligible project costs to undertake a six-month feasibility study, helping transform innovative business ideas into commercially viable solutions. Who Can Apply?The programme welcomes eligible businesses that: Are established in a participating ESA Member State supported under the call. Are developing an innovative product or service using space technology or satellite data. Can demonstrate a clear commercial opportunity and potential customer demand. Have the technical and business capabilities to undertake a feasibility study. Can contribute the remaining 25% of eligible project costs. Meet the applicable national funding and ESA eligibility requirements. Important: The UK Space Agency is not currently supporting applications to the ESA Kick-starts Open Call. UK-based businesses should explore other ESA Business Applications funding opportunities. What Can the Funding Support?1. Space-Enabled Technology Development Exploring services using satellite communications. Developing applications using Earth observation data. Using satellite navigation and positioning technologies. Investigating innovative commercial applications of space-based infrastructure. 2. Technical Feasibility Studies Assessing whether proposed services are technically achievable. Designing technical service architectures. Identifying technical challenges and development requirements. Planning the next stages of product or service development. 3. Commercial Feasibility and Market Research Assessing market demand and commercial viability. Engaging with potential customers and industry partners. Identifying target markets and business opportunities. Developing and improving business models. 4. Business Planning and Commercialisation Strengthening business plans and growth strategies. Exploring potential revenue streams. Establishing development roadmaps. Preparing innovative concepts for future commercial development. Projects must incorporate at least one space-based asset, such as satellite communications, satellite Earth observation or satellite navigation. Funding AvailableGrant Amount: Up to €75,000 per project. Funding Rate: Up to 75% of eligible project costs. Maximum Project Cost: €100,000. Applicant Contribution: At least 25%. Project Duration: Six months. Funding Type: Co-funded feasibility study. Eligible Locations: Participating ESA Member States, subject to national funding support. Application Status: Open – rolling submissions with scheduled assessment cut-offs. Key DatesNext Application Cut-off: 26 February 2027 at 13:00 CET (12:00pm UK time). Further 2027 Cut-offs: 30 April 2027. 11 June 2027. 3 September 2027. 5 November 2027. Applications can be submitted throughout the year and are evaluated in batches according to the published schedule.

The European Commission has launched its Creative Europe MEDIA – Video Games and Immersive Content Development 2027 funding opportunity, offering grants of up to €200,000 per project to support innovative video games and interactive immersive experiences. With a total funding budget of €13.5 million, the programme aims to strengthen Europe's video game and immersive content industries by helping developers create original, commercially viable projects with international appeal. Funding supports the early development and pre-production stages, enabling companies to develop creative concepts, innovative gameplay and prototypes before moving into full production. Who Can Apply?The programme welcomes eligible organisations, including: European video game development and production companies. Extended Reality (XR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) studios. Audiovisual production companies developing interactive immersive experiences. Eligible companies working independently or in partnerships. Applicants must: Be established in a country fully participating in the Creative Europe MEDIA programme. Meet European ownership and control requirements. Demonstrate relevant experience in video game or immersive content production. Have commercially distributed an eligible video game or immersive experience between 1 January 2024 and the application deadline, with evidence of sales. Hold the required intellectual property rights for the proposed project. Important: This funding is aimed at established developers with relevant commercial experience, rather than individuals developing their first game. What Can the Funding Support?1. Video Game Development Developing original narrative-driven video game concepts. Creating innovative gameplay mechanics and interactive experiences. Developing characters, storylines and game environments. Preparing playable prototypes and demonstrations. 2. Immersive Content Development Developing interactive VR, AR and XR experiences. Creating immersive storytelling projects. Exploring innovative technologies and creative approaches. Designing interactive experiences with international commercial potential. 3. Creative and Technical Development Concept development and pre-production planning. Scriptwriting, storyboarding and character development. Game design and visual development. Technical planning and prototype creation. 4. Commercial and Market Development Preparing financing and distribution strategies. Developing marketing and audience engagement plans. Exploring international market opportunities. Strengthening intellectual property ownership and commercial potential. Please note: Funding covers eligible development and pre-production activities, not the full production or commercial launch of a finished game. Funding AvailableGrant Amount: Up to €200,000 per project. Total Funding Budget: €13.5 million. Funding Rate: Up to 60% of the estimated eligible project budget. Funding Type: Lump-sum grant. Project Duration: Normally up to 36 months. Eligible Applicants: Video game developers, XR studios and audiovisual production companies. Application Status: Open. Application Deadline: 2 February 2027 at 17:00 CET (4pm UK time).

The FFplus (Fortissimo Plus) Project has announced its third open call for Business Experiments, offering a total funding budget of €4 million to help European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) adopt high-performance computing (HPC) technologies. The programme supports businesses with little or no previous experience using supercomputing services, helping them explore how advanced computing technologies can solve commercial challenges, improve efficiency and strengthen competitiveness. Successful applicants will receive funding to carry out practical business experiments demonstrating the benefits of high-performance computing. Who Can Apply?The programme welcomes eligible businesses that: Qualify as SMEs under the European Commission definition. Are established in an EU Member State or eligible country associated with the Digital Europe Programme. Have no previous business use of high-performance computing services. Can identify a genuine commercial challenge that requires advanced computing resources. Demonstrate clear business benefits and innovation potential. Have the technical expertise needed to deliver the proposed experiment, either independently or with supporting partners. Startups can also apply, provided they meet the SME eligibility requirements. What Can the Funding Support?1. High-Performance Computing Adoption Introducing supercomputing technologies into business operations. Using advanced computing resources to solve complex commercial challenges. Developing computational models and simulations. Improving existing products, processes and services. 2. Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Applying AI technologies to business challenges. Using advanced data analytics to improve decision-making. Developing computational solutions that require HPC infrastructure. 3. Business Innovation and Development Testing innovative technologies and business applications. Improving operational efficiency and competitiveness. Developing new products or enhancing existing services. Demonstrating measurable commercial benefits. 4. Technical Collaboration Working with specialist HPC providers and technology partners. Accessing relevant supercomputing infrastructure. Developing and testing computational solutions. All proposed activities must demonstrate a genuine requirement for high-performance computing and comply with the programme's funding conditions. Funding AvailableTotal Funding Budget: €4 million across successful projects. Funding Type: Financial support for eligible HPC business experiments. Project Duration: Up to 15 months. Eligible Applicants: SMEs and qualifying startups with no previous business use of HPC. Location: EU Member States and eligible Digital Europe associated countries. Application Status: Announced – applications not yet open. Key DatesApplications Open: 14 January 2027 at 10:00 CET (9:00am UK time). Application Deadline: 20 January 2027 at 17:00 CET (4:00pm UK time).

The European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) has launched a €20 million funding opportunity through the Digital Europe Programme, offering grants of €3 million to €5 million per project to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities among European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The initiative, titled Strengthening Cybersecurity Capacities of European SMEs with Cybersecure AI-Powered Solutions, aims to support the development, adoption and deployment of innovative artificial intelligence technologies that help businesses protect themselves against cyber threats. Approximately five projects are expected to receive funding, helping European businesses improve digital security, detect cyberattacks and respond more effectively to emerging cybersecurity risks. Who Can Apply?The programme welcomes eligible organisations, including: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Cybersecurity technology developers and service providers. Research and innovation organisations. Public and private organisations supporting cybersecurity adoption. Industry associations and organisations working with SMEs. Consortia developing and deploying AI-powered cybersecurity solutions. Applicants must: Be established and controlled in an eligible EU or European Economic Area (EEA) country. Demonstrate the ability to develop or deploy innovative cybersecurity technologies. Meet the programme's technical, financial and security requirements. Propose solutions that strengthen cybersecurity resilience among European SMEs. Important: UK-only organisations are not eligible to receive funding under this call. What Can the Funding Support?1. AI-Powered Cybersecurity Solutions Development and deployment of innovative AI-based cybersecurity tools. Automated threat detection and vulnerability identification. AI-powered risk assessment and management systems. Technologies supporting cyberattack prevention and mitigation. 2. Cybersecurity Protection for SMEs User-friendly cybersecurity tools designed for smaller businesses. Solutions helping SMEs identify and respond to security threats. Improved incident reporting and notification systems. Technologies strengthening the security of business ICT infrastructure. 3. Cybersecurity Training and Awareness Innovative approaches to training employees in AI-powered cybersecurity. Support for businesses adopting new cybersecurity technologies. Tools improving cybersecurity knowledge and preparedness. 4. Technology Development and Deployment Adapting existing AI-powered cybersecurity solutions for wider commercial use. Testing and validating innovative cybersecurity technologies. Supporting market adoption of research and innovation outcomes. Developing practical solutions that improve cyber resilience across European businesses. Funding AvailableGrant Amount: €3 million–€5 million per project. Total Funding Budget: €20 million. Expected Number of Projects: Approximately five. Funding Rate: Up to 75% of eligible costs for SMEs and 50% for other eligible organisations. Eligible Locations: EU Member States and eligible EEA countries. Application Status: Open. Application Deadline: 14 January 2027 at 17:00 CET (4pm UK time).

The SECURE (Strengthening EU SMEs Cyber Resilience) Project has launched its second open call, offering grants of up to €30,000 to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) strengthen their cybersecurity and meet European regulatory requirements. Funded by the European Union through the Digital Europe Programme, the initiative has allocated a total budget of €11.5 million to support businesses improving their cybersecurity practices and compliance with the EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA). The programme aims to help smaller businesses address cybersecurity risks, improve digital resilience and implement practical security improvements. Who Can Apply?The programme is aimed at businesses that: Qualify as micro, small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Are established in an eligible European Union country. Are working towards compliance with the EU Cyber Resilience Act. Can demonstrate a clear need for cybersecurity improvements. Have a realistic project plan and budget. Can contribute the required 50% of eligible project costs. Applicants should review the official guidelines to confirm their eligibility before applying. What Can the Funding Support?The funding is intended to support projects that improve cybersecurity resilience and compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act. Potential activities may include: Cybersecurity assessments and identifying security vulnerabilities. Improvements to security processes and risk management. Technical measures supporting Cyber Resilience Act compliance. Security testing and vulnerability management. Specialist cybersecurity advice and services. Implementation of eligible cybersecurity tools and solutions. All proposed activities and costs must meet the programme's official eligibility requirements. Funding AvailableGrant Amount: Up to €30,000 per successful business. Total Funding Available: €11.5 million. Co-financing Rate: 50% of eligible project costs. Eligible Applicants: Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Location: Eligible European Union countries. Application Status: Open. Application Deadline: 11 December 2026.

The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) is offering businesses access to advanced European supercomputing resources through its AI Factories Large Scale Access Programme. The initiative supports companies developing innovative artificial intelligence technologies that require significant computing power for research, training, testing and development. Successful applicants can access more than 50,000 GPU hours, alongside data storage and technical support services, helping businesses accelerate AI innovation without having to build their own large-scale computing infrastructure. Who Can Apply?The programme is designed for industrial users, including businesses that: Are developing innovative artificial intelligence applications or technologies. Require more than 50,000 GPU hours for their proposed project. Can demonstrate significant research, innovation or commercial potential. Have the technical capacity to use large-scale computing resources effectively. Can justify their computing, data storage and support requirements. Meet EuroHPC's geographical and access eligibility requirements. The programme is particularly relevant to AI-focused startups, SMEs and established technology companies working on computationally intensive projects. Academic and public-sector applicants are directed towards a separate EuroHPC access programme. What Support Is Available?1. Advanced Supercomputing Resources Allocations exceeding 50,000 GPU hours. Access to participating European AI supercomputing systems. High-performance infrastructure for computationally intensive AI projects. Resources for developing, training and testing advanced AI models. 2. Data Storage and Technical Support Access to relevant data storage resources. Technical support services associated with allocated computing systems. Infrastructure to support large-scale AI research and development. 3. Flexible Project Durations Successful applicants can receive computing allocations lasting: Three months. Six months. Twelve months. The duration depends on the project's requirements and available computing capacity. 4. Accelerated Application Assessment Applications are reviewed through technical and peer-review evaluations. Successful proposals can receive approval within 10 working days of the relevant cut-off date. Multiple application cut-off dates are available throughout the year. Programme DetailsSupport Available: More than 50,000 GPU hours, plus associated computing, storage and support services. Funding Type: Access to supercomputing infrastructure rather than a cash grant. Programme Duration: Three, six or twelve months. Sector: Artificial Intelligence, Technology and Industrial Innovation. Application Status: Open – multiple cut-off dates. Next Application Cut-off: 13 November 2026 at 10:00 CET (9:00am UK time). Further Cut-off Dates: 30 November and 15 December 2026, with additional dates scheduled for 2027.