Cascade Funding Open Calls

Cascade Funding Open Calls

Explore the cascade funding open calls available now, learn what cascade funding is and who can benefit from it.

What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding is an innovative funding model designed to make European funding more accessible for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and other organisations. This decentralised approach delegates the distribution of funds to consortia, such as research centres or innovation clusters, which act as intermediaries.

The primary goal is to simplify the funding process, reduce administrative hurdles, and accelerate innovation, especially in key areas like sustainability, digitalisation, and the circular economy.


Who can benefit from cascade funding open calls?

Cascade funding open calls are tailored to support a variety of organisations, including:

  • Startups and SMEs: Particularly those working on disruptive, innovative technologies.
  • Research centres and universities: Focused on collaboration and advancing cutting-edge solutions.
  • Social enterprises: Driving green and digital transitions.
  • Sector-specific clusters: Coordinating networks of companies and innovators.
  • Local governments and public bodies: Developing impactful regional projects.

For instance, Open Call 2: Financial Support for Ukrainian Tech Start-ups focuses on integrating Ukrainian startups into the EU market, while SKI.F.T. Skills for Transition aids social enterprises implementing sustainability models.


Why participate in cascade funding open calls?

Participating in cascade funding open calls offers several key advantages:

  • Access to non-repayable grants: Most cascade funding does not require repayment, easing financial burdens.
  • Streamlined application processes: Administrative requirements are often simpler compared to other EU programmes like Horizon Europe.
  • Networking opportunities: These calls provide a chance to collaborate with international partners and increase visibility in the European innovation ecosystem.

By targeting specific sectors and themes, cascade funding open calls allow organisations to align their projects with strategic priorities, improving their chances of success.


Download the calendar of cascade funding open calls

To help you take advantage of these opportunities, we’ve created a downloadable calendar with all the key dates for currently available cascade funding open calls. This calendar includes application deadlines, eligibility details, and links to apply.

👉 Download the calendar of cascade funding open calls here and start planning your participation today.

cascade funding

List of cascade funding open calls

Explore the current cascade funding open calls, download the calendar, and take the first step towards transforming your ideas into reality.

  1. Open Call for Financial Support to Third Parties: Increases the number of rural-urban enablers available to end-users.
  2. BEFuture Acceleration Programme: Promotes innovative projects aimed at enhancing sustainability and resilience in the tourism sector.
  3. Penetration Test and Vulnerability Assessment: Provides funding for penetration testing and vulnerability assessment in critical infrastructures.
  4. euROBIN: 3rd Open Call for Technology Exchange Programme: Supports transferable technological solutions for a European repository.
  5. Fourth REINFORCING Open Call on “Responsible Digitalization”: Encourages responsible research focusing on sustainable digitalisation.
  6. SKI.F.T. Skills for Transition: Helps social enterprises implement green transition models.
  7. Open Call 2: Financial Support for Ukrainian Tech Start-ups: Supports the integration and expansion of Ukrainian tech start-ups into the EU.
  8. OFFERR Call: Facilitates international cooperation in nuclear research by providing access to key infrastructures.
  9. AGRARIAN – Open Call #1: Seeks IoT and AI applications for sustainable agriculture in Europe.
  10. Integrating Environmental, Economic, and Social Perspectives in Agroecology: Evaluates agroecological impacts from a holistic perspective.
  11. Driving Urban Transitions (DUT) Call 2024: Supports transnational projects addressing urban challenges through sustainable strategies like “15-minute cities” and circular urban economies.
  12. International Travel FSTP: Funds projects that facilitate international mobility in the context of technological innovation.
  13. European Partnership on Innovative SMEs/Eurostars: Joint call for transnational proposals to strengthen innovation in SMEs.
  14. NGI Fediversity Open Call: Explores innovative solutions to diversify and improve Internet networks.
  15. Biodiversity and Transformative Change: Promotes research on biodiversity and transformative change in resource management.
  16. euROBIN 1st Open Call for Collaborative Projects: Supports collaborative projects delivering innovative technological solutions in robotics.
  17. Call for Marine Biodiversity (Monitoring) Data: Encourages collection and analysis of marine biodiversity data for sustainability.
  18. STAGE Sustainability Transition Programme: Provides support for projects driving sustainability in business transition.
  19. CircInWater Internationalisation Lump Sum – 2nd Round: Facilitates the internationalisation of circular water-related solutions.
  20. DeremCo – Second Open Call: Funds projects developing disruptive solutions in the circular economy.
  21. Open Call for Local Nodes: Invites local entities to foster innovation and collaboration initiatives.
  22. GOBEYOND Innovation: Supports innovative projects to overcome barriers in emerging industries.
  23. Blockchain Solutions for Monitoring Multifunctionality in Forests: Utilises blockchain to monitor key forest functions in Europe.
  24. NGI Mobifree Open Call: Focuses on projects promoting free and accessible mobility in next-generation networks.
  25. EIT RawMaterials Booster Call 2024-2025: Provides support for start-ups and SMEs developing innovative materials.
  26. SpongeWorks Open Call for Associated Regions: Encourages regional collaboration for water sustainability projects.
  27. Competence Hub Long-term Open Call: Open call for long-term skill development in innovation.
  28. NGI Zero Commons Fund: Funds initiatives strengthening digital commons and Internet sustainability.
  29. NGI Local for Local Currency Ecosystem: Develops local ecosystems using community digital currencies.
  30. Permanently Open Call for Targeted Innovation Projects: Permanent call for innovation projects with strategic impact.
  31. Business Bridge – Ukraine-Ready4EU: Financial and technical support for Ukrainian SMEs aiming to enter the EU single market.
  32. dAIEDGE 2nd Open Call: Collaborative projects promoting AI in distributed systems.
  33. Nuclear Education Mobilities: Educational mobilities to build capacity in nuclear research.
  34. EIT Food Impact Funding Framework: Strengthens innovation in the European food system.
  35. Transforming Food Systems: Projects focused on redesigning food system interactions for sustainability.
  36. VILNIUS TECH MERIT Project Targeted Scholarship Call: Scholarships for outstanding students in technology-related projects.
  37. Fostering Pragmatic Comparative-Effectiveness Trials in Non-communicable Diseases (EffecTrial): Supports clinical trials comparing treatments for non-communicable diseases.
  38. Training Program for Journalist and Editors on Youth-Driven Community Journalism: Trains journalists and editors in youth-led community journalism.
  39. Call for Applications: FRONTIERS Science Journalism Residency Program: Residency for science journalists focused on innovation.
  40. Characterisation of European Forest Disturbances: Projects evaluating and mitigating forest disturbances in Europe.
  41. NGI TALER Open Call: Solutions enhancing sustainable and digital economies.
  42. Call for Pilots within the European Data Space for Smart Communities: Funds pilot projects in the European data space for smart communities.
  43. Open Call: Textile and Clothing Industry Facilitators in Athens and Rotterdam: Supports textile facilitators in Athens and Rotterdam.
  44. EIT RawMaterials KAVA Call 13 – UPSCALING: Projects scaling up innovative solutions in the materials industry.
  45. EP PerMed Fast Track: Funding for personalised medicine projects in Europe.
  46. Call for Social Economy Enterprises to Receive Financial Support for Green Transition: Support for social enterprises acquiring services to drive green transition.
  47. Support to Green Upskilling & Training and Advisory Services: Final places available for training and advice on green transition.
  48. Call for Providers: SKIFT Project Registry for Social Economy Providers: Registry for social economy service providers.
  49. RURACTIVE Open Call for Innovators: Invites rural innovators to foster sustainable solutions.
  50. Science-Policy-Society Interface (SPSI) Initiatives: Capacity-building at the interface of science, policy, and society.
  51. STARHAUS Open Call on Open Innovation and Creativity | #3 – BUSINESS FOR COMMUNITY: Projects fostering open innovation and creativity in business communities.
  52. INDUSAC Open Call for Students and Researchers: Supports students and researchers in emerging industrial sectors.
  53. 3rd 6G-XR Open Call – Vertical Replicability Enablers: Innovations in 6G and extended reality technologies.
  54. ERDERA Joint Transnational Call 2025: Preclinical studies on therapies for rare diseases.
  55. Water for Circular Economy: Promotes solutions for water-related circular economy.
  56. INGENIOUS Training Grants: Provides training in emerging fields.
  57. VILNIUS TECH MERIT Excellence Scholarship and Mobility Grant Award: Excellence and mobility scholarships in technology.
  58. CETPartnership Joint Call 2024: Transnational projects for sustainable energy transitions.
  59. Better Care Closer to Home: Improves local primary and community healthcare.
  60. Open Call for the FU-TOURISM Accelerator Programme: Supports start-ups in the tourism sector.
  61. XR2Industry 2nd Open Call for Software Integration: XR software integration for industrial applications.
  62. Support for SMEs in Circular Agrifood Solutions: Circular solutions for the agrifood sector.
  63. EENergy 2nd Call: Innovative energy projects within the European framework.
  64. Pharmacogenomic Strategies for Personalised Medicine Approaches (PGxPM2025): Personalised medicine based on pharmacogenomics.
  65. 2nd POLREC Training Open Call on Polymer Recycling: Training in polymer recycling.
  66. CIRCULOOS Open Call #1 – Expression of Interest: Innovative solutions addressing circular challenges.
  67. Culture Helps: Mental Health Grants: Individual grants for mental health and culture projects.
  68. IMPETUS Citizen Science Challenge 2025: Challenges promoting citizen science.
  69. RAPTOR 2025 Call: Innovations in fast and sustainable mobility.
  70. Call for Applications: 2025 Catalyse NEB: Projects catalysing the development of new ventures.
  71. INCiTiS-FOOD Open Call for Local Innovation Hubs: Encourages local food innovation hubs.
  72. ProCleanLakes Call for Associated Regions: Projects improving lake sustainability.
  73. Understanding Cardiovascular Interactions – InterHeart: Analyses cardiovascular diseases and comorbidities.
  74. ProEuropeanValuesAT ReGranting 2025: Funds projects promoting European values.
  75. SEEBRIDGE OPEN CALL 2: Support for SMEs in energy-intensive industries.
  76. EIT Manufacturing Teaching Factories Competition 2025: Competition for students and companies.
  77. European Union Prize for Citizen Science 2025: Awards for notable citizen science initiatives.
  78. COROB 2nd Open Call: Innovative robotics and automation projects.

Conclusion

Cascade funding open calls represent a significant opportunity for organisations to access European funding, turn their innovative ideas into impactful solutions, and collaborate internationally. Whether your focus is sustainability, digital transformation, or scientific research, there’s likely an open call tailored to your goals.