SMEs in Romania can obtain funding of up to €120,000 per project under the new call launched by the CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE Eurocluster, dedicated to innovation in cultural heritage.
Each SME participating in the project can receive up to €60,000 in non-repayable funding, within projects developed in partnership with other European companies. The call supports initiatives that bring new, digital and sustainable solutions, developed in the area of cultural heritage.
Projects can be submitted in two directions:
- Product innovation – grant of €120,000 / project
- Process innovation – grant of €77,000 / project
The minimum co-financing is 15%, and European funding can cover up to 85% of the total project budget. In total, at least 20 European projects will be financed, involving a minimum of 40 SMEs.
In this context, Digital Innovation Zone is an associated partner, offering support to SMEs in the region that want to implement modern technologies in the cultural field.
Application procedure – two mandatory stages
The application process follows a two-stage approach:
Stage 1 – Project concept submission
Applicants (individual SMEs or already formed groups) must submit a concise description of the project concept and select the direction for which they are applying: Product Innovation or Process Innovation. At this stage, it is NOT necessary to submit an estimated budget.
The application form for Stage 1 is available HERE. Deadline: April 20, 2026. Selection in Stage 1 does NOT imply the award of funding. Only SMEs selected in Stage 2 will benefit from the grant.
Stage 2 – Full collaborative project
Stage 2 involves the submission of a detailed collaborative project. The call for Phase 2 will open in June 2026. Deadline for Phase 2: 31 August 2026.
Full information on the requirements for Phase 2 is available in the official call document.
Call budget
The total budget allocated to this call is €1,970,000, distributed as follows:
- €1,200,000 for projects with a main objective of product innovation
- €770,000 for projects with a main objective of process innovation
Funding is provided in the form of a fixed grant per project, and the selection will be made through a competitive, two-stage process.
Application forms are available HERE, and after filling them out, they are uploaded to the official application platform available. Interested SMEs can consult the call guide HERE.
Who can apply?
The call is addressed to SMEs from Romania and other European countries that want to develop innovative projects in the field of cultural heritage.
Partnerships between companies from different fields, which can bring technological, digital or sustainable expertise to projects with real impact, are encouraged.
Projects must clearly demonstrate added value, innovative character and contribution to the development of the sector, implicitly of cultural heritage.
Eligibility criteria, complete documentation and application form are available HERE.
Register for the online webinar presenting the call!
The call will be officially presented during the online webinar “Culture as an Economic Driver in the New AgoraEU Programme”, organized on March 17, 2026, between 13:00 and 15:00 CET, in English.
Interested SMEs will be able to find out details about the eligibility conditions, the application process and the evaluation criteria, as well as ask questions directly to the organizers. Registration for the webinar is done HERE.
Who is OpenHub?
In Romania, the CR.EU.IN Heritage project is represented by OpenHub, an organization active in supporting entrepreneurship and innovation. OpenHub offers support to SMEs interested in applying, through information, clarifications and facilitating connections with European partners.
Interested companies can request details at: projects@openhub.ro
What is CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE?
CR.EU.IN. HERITAGE is a European project funded by the SMP-COSME-2024-CLUSTER program, with a total budget of €2,625,000.
The project aims to support innovation, digitalization and European collaboration in the field of cultural heritage, by financing projects developed by SMEs and by developing the skills necessary for the green and digital transition.
Project co-financed by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and the Executive Agency for SMEs (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the funding authority can be held responsible for them.