Open call · ELIAS – European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability

ELIAS Open Call for SMEs, Startups & NGOs

Supporting methods, software solutions, and benchmarks that advance sustainable and trustworthy AI in Europe.

Call status: closed Deadline: 31 May 2026, 23:59 CET Funding per project: up to €60,000

About the ELIAS Open Call

The ELIAS Open Call supports innovative organisations developing methods, tools, or applications that advance sustainable and trustworthy AI in Europe.

The European Lighthouse of AI for Sustainability (ELIAS) unites top artificial intelligence researchers and innovators to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our time, including climate and societal changes and the energy crisis. Recognizing AI as both a powerful tool and a discipline with profound ethical and societal implications, ELIAS is committed to advancing responsible AI research and applications.

Our mission is twofold: to drive fundamental research addressing how AI can reduce computational costs, model societal impacts, and support policy decisions, and to integrate academic discoveries with industry needs. This fusion enables us to create AI solutions that are as effective as they are sustainable and socially conscious. We are now looking for SMEs/startups/NGOs to collaborate on methods, software solutions, or benchmarks into applications and services, bringing them into industrial use.

The first Open Call has been successfully completed. We are proud to present the selected projects below. A second Open Call will be launched soon.

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Meet the Winners of the 1st ELIAS Open Call

The 1st ELIAS Open Call closed on April 30, 2025, with over 200 proposals from 32 countries. After a rigorous evaluation process, four pioneering projects were selected for funding for their potential to deliver real-world, AI-driven solutions for a more sustainable and resilient Europe.

LUCIA

EWALA IT Services · Spain

An open-source, AI-powered platform that optimises energy use in smart buildings using lightweight, privacy-preserving self-learning agents. Fully aligned with GAIA-X and ELIAS principles.

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PINNSSHS

Valence Technologies · Belgium

Combining physics-informed neural networks with self-healing polymer technology, PINNSSHS accelerates the design of durable, recyclable materials, supporting circularity across applications such as tires, soft robotics, and packaging.

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TENSORIA

Multiverse Computing · Spain

A lightweight, interpretable, and energy-efficient AI system for real-time cybersecurity. TENSORIA reduces model size by 85%, cuts energy consumption by 50%, and doubles inference speed using quantum-inspired CompactifAI compression.

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AI-REFRAME

Athens Technology Center · Greece

An AI toolkit that detects and counters misinformation about migrants and refugees. AI-REFRAME supports journalists, policymakers, and educators by analysing online content and generating evidence-based counter-narratives for a more inclusive information ecosystem.

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News & Announcements

News & Announcements

Stay updated with the latest milestones and announcements from the ELIAS Open Call.

May 2025

ELIAS Reveals the Winners of Its First Open Call

ELIAS has announced the four selected projects from its first Open Call, chosen from over 200 proposals submitted across 32 countries. These initiatives demonstrate strong potential to advance sustainable and trustworthy AI across Europe.

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April 2025

Open Call Q&A Session

ELIAS hosted an online Q&A session to support applicants preparing their proposals. The session covered eligibility, scope, evaluation criteria, and practical submission guidance.

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March 2025

1st ELIAS Open Call – Submission Details

The first ELIAS Open Call invited organisations to propose innovative AI solutions aligned with sustainability, trustworthiness, and societal impact. The call attracted strong interest from industry, research, and civil society.

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