ELIAS Open Call for SMEs, Startups & NGOs
Collaborate with leading European AI researchers to bring sustainable and responsible AI solutions into real-world applications.
The ELIAS initiative connects research and industry to address climate change, societal challenges, and the energy crisis through responsible AI. Selected organisations will collaborate with the ELIAS network to develop methods, software, and benchmarks with measurable real-world impact.
Overview
Advancing sustainable and trustworthy AI through collaboration between research and industry.
ELIAS aims to reduce computational costs, model societal impacts, and support policy decisions while integrating academic discoveries with real industrial needs.
- Methods and algorithms for sustainable AI.
- Software tools and infrastructure.
- Benchmarks, datasets, and evaluation frameworks.
- Applications addressing societal, environmental, or economic challenges.
Selected projects will work with the ELIAS ecosystem to translate research results into deployable solutions and services.
What we offer
- Up to €60,000 lump sum funding per project.
- Participation in a 6-month EU-funded innovation programme.
- Visibility through ELIAS events, dissemination, and community channels.
- Payment after validation and publication of project results.
Priority use cases
Who can apply
- SMEs, startups, and NGOs legally established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
- Projects at minimum TRL 5 validated in an industrially relevant environment.
- Entities not affiliated with the ELIAS consortium and eligible for EU funding.
Timeline
- Call opening: February 2026
- Submission deadline: 31 May 2026
- Evaluation: June–July 2026
- Project start: after agreement signature (2026)
Evaluation criteria
| Criterion | Description |
|---|---|
| Excellence | Innovation, ambition beyond state-of-the-art, and technical feasibility. |
| Impact | Contribution to sustainable AI, competitiveness, and societal/economic benefits. |
| Implementation | Team capability, resources, and feasibility of the work plan. |
How to apply
Step 1
Read the guidelines and confirm eligibility.
Step 2
Prepare your proposal in English using the official template.
Step 3
Submit via the online form before 31 May 2026.
Downloadable Resources
All official documents for preparing your proposal.
Announcements
Announcements
Latest updates related to the ELIAS Open Call.