Innowwide 2026: €60,000 for innovative SMEs testing markets outside Europe

Innowwide 2026: who can apply and what can €60,000 fund?

The fifth Innowwide call is open from 1 October until 1 December 2026 at 14:00 CET. Managed by Eureka and co-funded under Horizon Europe, it supports 70 six-month market feasibility projects. The total call budget is €4.2 million.

Each selected company receives a fixed €60,000 grant towards a project with at least €86,000 in eligible costs. That means the company must cover at least €26,000 itself. Payment is split into €42,000 at the start and €18,000 after an accepted final report. The award is linked to project deliverables, with regular accounting obligations and possible checks; it is not unrestricted cash.

Who is eligible?

An applicant must be an SME established as a legal entity in an EU country, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Switzerland, Türkiye or the United Kingdom, and must have been legally established on or before 1 December 2024. Companies previously funded by Innowwide in 2022–2025 cannot apply again.

Eligible sectors are broad, including AI, software, medical technology, clean technology, industrial processes, biotech and other innovative products and services. There is no sector-specific call theme. A sole trader acting as a natural person is not eligible.

The proposed innovative solution must already have reached TRL 4 by the application deadline. In its target market it must not exceed TRL 8. An idea alone, without evidence of technical validation, is not enough. A patent is not a general eligibility requirement, but applicants must show what is new, how the solution works and what evidence supports the claims.

Where can the project take place?

The project must focus on one target country in Africa, the Americas, Asia or Oceania. A feasibility study focused on another European country is not the purpose of this call.

You must have an independent local counterpart in the target country, acting as a subcontractor. This could be a prospective customer, research organisation, supplier or technical partner. The local counterpart must accept the commitment in Eureka's SmartSimple application system before submission.

What can be funded?

This is a structured six-month feasibility project rather than a general sales campaign, export trip or unrestricted commercial launch. Eligible work can address technical feasibility, customer and market validation, local regulation and standards, product adaptation, competitive conditions, business models and cooperation with a local counterpart. At least three eligible technical and market assessment activities must be included; work packages and outputs must be realistic for six months.

Eligible budget categories include personnel, subcontracting, travel and subsistence, relevant equipment depreciation, other goods and services, and eligible indirect costs. Subcontracting costs must be above zero.

Example: medical AI entering Singapore

An established European SME has a diagnostic AI solution already technically validated. It works with an independent Singaporean clinical or research partner to examine local regulatory pathways, validate technical fit and investigate hospital purchasing requirements. Its six-month output is evidence about commercial and technical viability, not a claim that the grant pays for an entire foreign launch.

Is it competitive?

Yes. Eureka expects more than 900 applications for around 70 awards in this call. Eligibility does not guarantee selection. A strong proposal makes clear the innovation's maturity, target-market problem, evidence gaps, local partner's contribution, achievable deliverables and credible follow-on route.

How to apply

Apply in English through the Eureka SmartSimple platform. The application includes the online form, a workplan annex, declarations and the local counterpart's commitment. Deadline: 1 December 2026, 14:00 CET.

Official call: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programmes-and-calls/innowwide/5th-innowwide-call-for-market-feasibility-projects-autumn-2026/

Official FAQ: https://www.eurekanetwork.org/programme-resources/innowwide-frequently-asked-questions/

How European Funding Agency can help

We first assess the company's legal and technical eligibility, current TRL, target-market case, counterpart readiness and financing capacity. Where Innowwide is genuinely a fit, we can scope proposal strategy, work packages, partner coordination and the application as a separate assignment.

Start with a €99 Funding Opportunity Review to make an informed go/no-go decision. For companies weighing Innowwide against other grants and international expansion funding, our €499 Funding Strategy & Roadmap covers a broader 12-month plan.

Explore European Funding Agency's funding options

Verified against Eureka's official 2026 call and FAQ on 24 October 2026. Always check the official guidelines before filing.