EU “Integrator” Call: Grants from 300,000 to 820,000 EUR

Project proposals can be submitted from 5 May 2026 at 11:00 (CET) until the available budget is exhausted, following the “first come, first served” principle.

Within the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027, the call for project proposals “INTEGRATOR” (Call ID: PK.1.3.08) has been officially published.

Objective of the Call

Projects must be implemented through a partnership, consisting of at least two partners, all of which must be micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The total budget allocation for this call amounts to €13,868,360, while individual grants range from €300,000 up to €820,000.

Who Can Apply?

Eligible applicants and partners are micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises registered in Croatia, operating within one of the S3 thematic priority areas, such as health, smart energy, smart mobility, security, food and bioeconomy, wood, digital products, and digital platforms.

Each consortium must consist of at least three independent SMEs. Linked or partner companies within the same corporate group are not allowed to form a consortium together.

Applicants must:

be registered for at least 12 months prior to submission,
employ at least one full-time equivalent (FTE),
have a positive EBITDA in the year preceding the application,
ensure that project costs are not double-financed from other EU or national public sources.

Timeline and Project Duration

Applications can be submitted from 5 May 2026 at 11:00 until the available budget is exhausted, and no later than 31 December 2026 at 11:00, following the “first come, first served” approach.

This means that timely preparation is crucial. Even high-quality project proposals submitted too late may remain unfunded if the allocation is already exhausted.

The maximum project duration is 36 months, and project activities must not start before the application is submitted. Applicants are also required to ensure the sustainability of project results for at least three years after project completion.

Eligible Activities and Costs

The core of the call focuses on process and organisational innovation within consortium members, supported by activities aimed at adapting innovative products or services to market requirements.

Main Activity Groups

Innovation of business organisation and/or processes within SMEs
(mandatory core activity, TRL 7 or higher)
Market adaptation of innovative products or services with a high level of technological readiness
(supporting activity)
Other supporting project activities, such as promotion, horizontal principles, project management, and market analyses

If a product does not reach TRL 7 at the time of application, development up to that level must be financed by the applicant’s own resources. Only activities from TRL 7 onwards are eligible for co-financing under this call.

Eligible Cost Categories

Eligible costs include:

personnel costs (salaries of project staff),
depreciation of equipment and infrastructure,
contracted research, know-how, and patents
(up to 20% of total project value for contracted research),
indirect costs up to 15% of eligible direct personnel costs,
patent-related costs, innovation consultancy services, and services provided by research and innovation organisations,
de minimis costs related to project management, application preparation (up to €50,000), marketing, testing, design, promotion and visibility, and activities related to horizontal principles.

The maximum aid intensity amounts to:

up to 50% of eligible costs for process and organisational innovation,
up to 50% for SME innovation activities,
with additional de minimis support of up to 75% of eligible costs for specific activities.

Key Benefits for Potential Applicants

The “Integrator” call is particularly relevant for companies that already have a developed or nearly market-ready innovative product or service and are seeking entry into larger value chains.

Instead of the traditional “one company – one project” approach, this call promotes the creation of consortium-based ecosystems that are attractive to medium-sized and large integrators, both domestically and internationally.

For SMEs, this means:

co-financing of strategic transformation of business processes and organisation
(digitalisation, automation, lean processes, certification, etc.),
strengthening market position through long-term supplier contracts with integrators,
access to new markets and scalable sales through existing integrator channels,
reduced commercialisation risk for innovations, supported by a significant share of non-repayable funding.

For medium-sized and large companies acting as integrators, the call represents a tool for partner-based solution development with SMEs and for strengthening their own value chains through innovative and often more agile suppliers.

How Can Omnia Solutions Help?

Omnia Solutions d.o.o. advises companies on the preparation and implementation of complex innovation projects financed through EU funds. In the context of the Integrator call, our support includes:

eligibility assessment and positioning of project ideas within relevant S3 priority areas,
development of the innovation concept,
preparation of complete project documentation
(narrative sections, budget, indicators, implementation plan, risk management),
advisory support during project implementation, reporting, and change management.

Given the “first come, first served” modality and the complexity of consortium-based projects, early preparation is critical. Companies considering applying should already at the beginning of 2026 clearly define the consortium structure, partner roles, and relationships with potential integrators, in order to be ready to submit a high-quality proposal on time.

For timely and professional project preparation, contact us at:
info@omniasolutions.hr