Call for Proposals: 37th IraSME Call for International R&D Project Proposals

What This Opportunity Is About

The 37th IraSME Call invites small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and research and technology organisations (RTOs) to collaborate on international research, technology development and innovation (RTDI) projects that develop new or significantly improved products, processes or technical services with strong commercial potential. IraSME is a strategic initiative designed to strengthen the innovation capacity and global competitiveness of SMEs through structured, cross-border R&D collaboration.

This call represents a unique funding opportunity for SMEs and research organizations that want to accelerate innovation, reduce technical and market risks, and scale commercially viable solutions through international partnerships. By bringing together expertise, resources and networks across multiple countries and regions, IraSME enables smaller enterprises to operate like global innovators, accessing knowledge and capabilities that would be difficult or impossible to develop independently.

The programme recognizes that breakthrough innovation increasingly requires international collaboration—combining diverse expertise, technology platforms, and market insights across borders. IraSME removes barriers to this collaboration by providing structured funding, governance frameworks and support for cross-border R&D teams.

What the Call Funds

The 37th IraSME Call supports international RTDI projects that:

Product, Process and Service Innovation:

• Development of new products or services that represent genuine innovation beyond current market offerings
• Significantly improved products, processes or services that advance the state of the art in their field
• Products, processes or services that incorporate new technologies, novel combinations of existing technologies, or innovative applications
• Solutions addressing market gaps or customer needs not currently served

Innovation with Commercial Viability:

• Projects demonstrating clear market potential and realistic commercial opportunities
• Solutions with proven demand signals or pre-market validation
• Business models that show pathway to profitability and scalability
• Products/services positioned for specific, identifiable market segments
• Value propositions that differentiate the solution from existing alternatives

Technical Innovation and Risk:

• Projects that tackle genuine technical challenges or technical risks requiring research and development
• Solutions requiring substantial R&D investment to move from concept to market-ready state
• Projects where technical complexity justifies the need for public funding
• Innovation that requires expertise beyond single organization or country

International Cooperation Benefits:

• Projects demonstrating how international collaboration enhances innovation quality, reduces development risks, and accelerates commercialization
• Partnerships that combine complementary expertise and capabilities from different regions
• Cross-border initiatives that expand market reach and competitive advantage
• Projects utilizing diverse knowledge bases, technology platforms or supply chains across participating countries

Eligible Project Themes:
While IraSME is sector-agnostic and technology-neutral, typical areas include:

• Advanced manufacturing and Industry 4.0
• Biotechnology and life sciences applications
• Green technology and sustainable solutions
• Digital and software innovation
• Materials science and advanced materials
• Medical devices and health technology
• Agri-tech and food technology
• Energy technology and resource efficiency
• Circular economy and waste reduction solutions
• Any other innovative technology with market potential

Participating Countries and Regions

The 37th IraSME Call brings together an expanded international network of funding agencies across:

• Brazil
• Czech Republic
• Flanders (Flemish Region of Belgium)
• Germany
• Luxembourg
• Türkiye (Turkey)
• Wallonia (French-speaking Region of Belgium)

Project Consortium Requirements:

• Must include partners from at least two different participating countries or regions
• Can involve additional international partners beyond the participating regions listed
• Consortia typically include a mix of SMEs (project leads) and research and technology organizations
• International consortia strengthen by combining expertise, technology platforms, and market access across borders

Other partners (large companies, other SMEs, RTOs, etc.) from other countries which do not take part in this call or partners from the participating countries/regions that cannot be funded in the respective national/regional programmes may be part of the project consortium if their contribution is essential to reach the project goals. However, funding will usually not be available for them

Key Concept: Financial Additionality

A critical principle underlying IraSME is financial additionality the concept that public funding should only be provided where truly necessary for project success. Applicants must demonstrate that at least ONE of the following conditions applies to their project:

1. Project Cannot Proceed Without Public Funding

• The project is financially unfeasible without public support
• Private sector actors will not fund the project due to high technical or market risk
• The innovation is too early-stage or speculative for commercial investment alone
• Example: A SME developing a novel biotechnology process that requires 3 years of R&D before commercial viability

2. Project Would Be Significantly Limited in Scope Without Funding

• The project would proceed but at reduced scope, scale or ambition
• Without funding, the team could only address part of the innovation challenge
• Geographic reach, market testing or product development depth would be constrained
• Example: A consortium that could develop a basic product but needs funding to create multiple product variants or market versions

3. Project Would Face Significant Delays Without Support

• Public funding accelerates a project that would otherwise proceed more slowly
• Timing is critical for market window, competitive positioning or technology opportunity
• Delays would reduce commercial viability or competitive advantage
• Example: A technology that must reach market within 18 months to capture market opportunity, requiring accelerated development

Critical Requirement: Applicants must provide clear, compelling justification for why public funding is essential. Weak additionality arguments are a common reason for proposal rejection.

Who Is Eligible

Eligible Applicant Types:

1. Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)

• Organizations meeting the SME definition for their country/region (typically < 250 employees, <€50M annual turnover)
• Preferably from participating countries/regions
• Should demonstrate innovation track record or growth potential
• Private for-profit companies with clear business model
• Can serve as project coordinator or consortium partner
• Must be legally registered and operational

2. Research and Technology Organizations (RTOs)

• Universities and university research centers
• Public research institutions and government laboratories
• Non-profit research organizations and technology centers
• Organizations with mission focused on research and technology development
• Must collaborate with SMEs (cannot lead consortium without SME partners)
• Should contribute research expertise and technical capabilities

3. International Consortia

• Must include partners from at least two participating countries/regions
• Typical consortium size: 2-5 organizations (depending on project complexity)
• Mix of SMEs and RTOs strengthens proposals
• All partners must be from participating countries (with some flexibility for strategic partners)
• Consortia with diverse expertise and complementary capabilities perform better

Participation Rules:

• Each participating country/region has specific eligibility criteria and funding rules (must be reviewed in national/regional guidelines)
• All consortium partners must sign the proposal and acknowledge their roles
• A draft consortium agreement must be submitted with the proposal, outlining:
  • Roles and responsibilities of each partner
  • IP rights and ownership of results
  • Financial arrangements and cost-sharing
  • Governance and decision-making processes
  • Confidentiality and publication policies
  • Dispute resolution mechanisms

Project Duration:

• Minimum: 12 months
• Maximum: 36 months
• Projects must balance innovation ambition with realistic timelines for technical development and market validation

Ineligibility Criteria:

Organizations and projects that do NOT qualify:

• Projects from non-participating countries (unless as additional partners without funding)
• Consortia with fewer than two partners from different participating regions
• Projects consisting of routine improvements or incremental innovation without genuine technical advancement
• Projects lacking clear market potential or commercial viability
• Projects where the lead partner is not an SME or RTO
• Projects that cannot justify financial additionality
• R&D projects with no clear path to commercialization or product/service development
• Proposals failing to meet national or regional eligibility criteria

Funding and Budget Details

Typical Funding Structure:

• While specific funding amounts are not detailed in the provided materials, IraSME typically provides:
  • Funding per project: typically €150,000-€500,000 (varies by country/region and project scope)
  • Funding rate: typically 50-70% of eligible project costs (remainder covered by consortium co-funding)
  • Co-funding: Consortium partners contribute 30-50% from own resources

Eligible Project Costs:

• Personnel costs (researchers, engineers, project management)
• Equipment and instrumentation for R&D
• Materials and consumables
• Subcontracting and external expertise
• Travel and mobility
• Dissemination and knowledge transfer activities
• Overhead costs (typically 10-15% of eligible direct costs)

Budget Preparation:

• Each country/region may have different cost eligibility rules applicants must check national guidelines
• Budgets must be realistic and cost-effective
• Detailed justification required for major cost items
• Cross-border projects require clear cost allocation to each partner

Application Process and Timeline

Step 1: Understand the Guidelines

• Read thoroughly: Guidelines for Applicants (PDF) available at https://www.ira-sme.net/services/current-call
• Key information: Each consortium member must review and understand their country/region's specific rules
• Clarification: Contact info@ira-sme.net if you have questions about the global call; contact your national funding agency for country-specific rules

Step 2: Form an International Consortium

• Identify potential partners from at least two participating countries/regions
• Ensure complementary expertise and capabilities
• Confirm partners' interest and commitment
• Agree on project objectives, roles and co-funding commitments
• Designate a project coordinator (typically the SME lead)

Step 3: Define Your Project

• Innovation focus: Clearly articulate what is new or significantly improved
• Technical challenge: Describe the technical risks or challenges to be solved
• Market opportunity: Demonstrate market potential and commercial viability
• International cooperation benefit: Explain how cross-border collaboration enhances the project
• Financial additionality: Justify why public funding is essential

Step 4: Prepare National/Regional Application Documents

• Each partner prepares documents according to their country's specific rules and templates
• National funding agencies have different forms, budget templates and supporting document requirements
• Critical: Check with your national funding agency (e.g., in Germany, Czech Republic, etc.) for their specific requirements
• Coordinate across consortium to ensure consistency

Step 5: Draft Consortium Agreement

• Mandatory requirement: Must submit with proposal
• Should be in draft form at submission (can be finalized if project is selected)
• Must address:
  • Partner roles, responsibilities and decision-making
  • Intellectual property (IP) ownership and access rights
  • Financial contributions and cost allocation
  • Liability and insurance
  • Confidentiality and publication policies
  • Dispute resolution
  • Termination and exit procedures

Step 6: Complete the IraSME Application Form

• Form availability: Send an empty email to get.irasme@aif-projekt-gmbh.de and the form will be sent to you automatically within minutes
• Language: Complete in English
• Content requirements:
  • Project title, summary and objectives
  • Detailed technical description and work plan
  • Innovation and technical risk assessment
  • Market analysis and commercial viability
  • Expected outcomes and deliverables
  • Project timeline and milestones
  • Consortium composition and partner roles
  • Budget overview and cost breakdown
  • Financial additionality justification
  • Risk mitigation strategies
  • Dissemination and exploitation plans

Step 7: Coordinate and Finalize

• Share draft proposal with all consortium partners for review and feedback
• Ensure all partners agree with project description, objectives and roles
• Verify all required attachments are included
• Critical: Obtain signatures from all consortium partners before submission
• Final quality check for completeness and consistency

Step 8: Submit Proposal

• Submission method: Email to info@ira-sme.net
• Subject line: "37th IraSME Call Proposal – [Consortium Name] – [Project Title]"
• Deadline: 25 March 2026 (hard deadline; no extensions)
• Time zone: Check submission time requirements (typically midnight CET)
• File format: Complete application package including:
  • Completed IraSME Application Form
  • Draft consortium agreement
  • National/regional application documents from each partner
  • Supporting documents (CVs, organizational information, references)
  • Budget templates and justifications

Step 9: Evaluation and Selection

• Evaluation period: April–June 2026 (estimated)
• Evaluation criteria:
  • Innovation quality and technical advancement (40%)
  • Market potential and commercial viability (25%)
  • Consortium quality and capacity (20%)
  • Technical risk assessment and risk mitigation (10%)
  • International cooperation added value (5%)
• Panel: Expert evaluators from participating countries/regions
• Selection process: Competitive ranking and funding decision

Step 10: Grant Award and Project Start

• Notification: Selected and non-selected applicants notified (June–July 2026 estimated)
• Grant agreement signing: July–August 2026 (estimated)
• Project implementation: Typically begins September 2026 onwards