By adopting eco-friendly and digital solutions across production, operations, administration, marketing, and sales, businesses can reduce their environmental impact while enhancing and market appeal. Embrace these efficiency strategies to position your company at the forefront of the green economy. Embrace these strategies to position your company at the forefront of the green economy.
OUTBOUND LOGISTICS
Activities involved in converting the inputs into finished products and services. This includes manufacturing, assembling, packaging and testing.
Testbed & Pilot Project Grants provide funding for SMEs to develop, test and refine new technologies, products and services in controlled or real-world environments before commercial deployment. These grants aim to bridge the gap between research and market implementation, enabling businesses to experiment with innovative solutions, validate their feasibility and scale up successful concepts.
Governments and the EU support testbeds and pilot projects to foster technological advancement, sustainability and digital transformation. These grants are particularly valuable for SMEs working in deep tech, renewable energy, AI, smart manufacturing and circular economy sectors. By leveraging Testbed & Pilot Project Grants, SMEs can validate their innovations in a controlled environment, attract investors and accelerate their growth, ensuring a smoother transition from research to market-ready solutions.
How do these Grants Benefit SMEs?
Test beds offer businesses access to state-of-the-art testing environments without the high infrastructure costs, reducing the risks associated with scaling up innovation through financial support. They also enable collaboration with research institutions, corporates and industry leaders, accelerating the development process and allowing for faster market entry of breakthrough technologies.
Where to Find Testbed & Pilot Project ?
These grants are typically provided through EU initiatives, national innovation programs and industry-specific testbed networks. Key sources include European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs; funding for testing digital solutions), Horizon Europe & EIC programs (grants for pilot projects and technology validation), National & regional testbed initiatives (support for country-specific pilot projects) and Sector-specific testbeds (e.g., energy, AI, biotech, smart cities; access to specialized facilities).
How to Access Testbeds & Pilot Project Grants?
To leverage Testbed and Pilot Project Grants, SMEs should regularly check EU funding portals such as Horizon Europe, the European Innovation Council (EIC), and European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) for open calls. Exploring national innovation agencies can reveal country-specific testbed funding opportunities, while engaging with Smart Specialisation Platforms helps identify sector-specific testbeds and collaborative funding options. Partnering with universities, R&D centers, and corporates further enhances access to collaborative funding. These grants enable SMEs to de-risk innovation, build credibility, and accelerate their path to market, securing a competitive advantage in their industry.
EDIHs provide funding, testbed access, and technical support for SMEs adopting AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and digital transformation. These hubs connect SMEs with cutting-edge facilities to test and refine new technologies.
Horizon Europe – Innovation Testbed & Pilot Project Grants
Horizon Europe funds pilot projects and large-scale demonstrators in sectors like green energy, digital innovation, and healthcare. SMEs can apply for funding to test prototypes in real-world conditions before commercialization.
European Innovation Council (EIC) – Transition & Accelerator Grants
The EIC Transition program helps SMEs move from research to pilot project testing, while the EIC Accelerator offers grants and equity funding for scaling up innovations. These funds support high-risk, high-impact technological advancements.
National Testbed & Innovation Grants (Example: Sweden’s Innovation Agency)
Many EU countries offer national testbed funding programs. Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency, provides grants for SMEs to develop and test new solutions in real-world environments, focusing on sustainable technology, AI, and smart industries. Similar programs exist in Germany (Fraunhofer Testbeds), France (Bpifrance), and the Netherlands (TNO Testbeds).
The Smart Specialisation Platform (S3) supports SMEs with sector-specific testbeds and pilot projects in areas like energy, mobility, digitalization, and manufacturing. These EU-supported initiatives connect SMEs with regional innovation clusters and test facilities
