Process Innovation in S3 Areas: grants of up to EUR 450,000 for manufacturing
Updated 22 October 2026. The call was published on 10 July 2026 and is open until 31 December 2026 at the latest. We described the conditions, costs and deadlines of the published call in the article Process Innovation in S3 Areas (Inovacije procesa u S3 područjima, PK.1.3.11).
Do you have a production facility and an innovative idea waiting for the right moment? The call “Process Innovation in S3 Areas” is a new call under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027 that provides micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in manufacturing with EUR 150,000 to 450,000 in grants for process and organisational innovation. The funds are intended for the commercialisation of products or services that are new to the market, with a mandatory digitalisation or green transition component, and the call is expected to open in June/July 2026. Omnia Solutions takes your project from idea to contract signature, and below we set out all the information currently available about this call.
Key information at a glance
| Call name | Process Innovation in S3 Areas |
| Call code | PK.1.3.11. |
| Programme | Competitiveness and Cohesion 2021–2027 (PKK) |
| Total allocation | EUR 17,188,524.40 (ERDF) |
| Grant amount | EUR 150,000 to 450,000 per project |
| Eligible applicants | Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, sector C (NKD 2025) |
| Technology readiness level | TRL 7 and above |
| E-consultation | 3 to 19 April 2026 (esavjetovanja.gov.hr) |
| Call opening | Indicative: June/July 2026, open continuously until the allocation is exhausted |
| Project duration | Up to 24 months from the start of implementation |
| Sustainability of results | 3 years after project completion |
| Partnership | Not allowed, applicants apply on their own only |
| Number of applications | 1 project proposal per applicant |
What is the “Process Innovation in S3 Areas” call?
It is a new call under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027 that supports micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in sector C, that is, in manufacturing. The focus is on process and organisational innovation, and the ultimate goal is the commercialisation of products or services that are new to the market and belong to one of the seven S3 thematic priority areas. The e-consultation on the draft call was open from 3 to 19 April 2026 on the esavjetovanja.gov.hr portal, while the call itself is expected to open in June or July 2026.
Moreover, this call is particularly interesting because it combines three aid lines, namely aid for process innovation, aid for SME innovation and de minimis aid. This covers a wide range of costs, from staff and equipment to advisory services, marketing and employee training.
How much are the grants and what are the aid intensities?
Grants range from a minimum of EUR 150,000 to a maximum of EUR 450,000 per project. The amount and structure of the aid depend on the three funding lines, which are combined with each other, and the applicable intensities are as follows.
| Type of aid | Aid intensity |
|---|---|
| Aid for process innovation | 50% |
| Aid for SME innovation | 50% |
| De minimis aid | 75% |
This combination allows a single project to cover a range of different cost categories, from salaries and equipment to advisory and marketing services, which makes the call flexible for entrepreneurs at different stages of development.
Who can apply for the call?
Eligible applicants are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises registered in sector C, manufacturing, according to NKD 2025, which have been operating for at least 12 months and have at least one employee. The applicant must show a positive EBITDA for the previous year, and its total revenue must be at least 30% of the total project value. It should also be stressed that partnerships are not allowed, which means that applicants apply on their own only.
Which S3 thematic priority areas are eligible?
To be eligible, a project must fit into at least one of the seven thematic priority areas of the Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3), which are the following:
- Personalised healthcare
- Smart and clean energy
- Smart and green transport
- Security and dual use
- Sustainable and circular food
- Customised and integrated wood products
- Digital products and platforms
What can be financed?
Eligible activities start from technology readiness level TRL 7 and above and must include at least one process innovation related to digitalisation or the green transition. In practice, this means that you cannot apply with a project that deals exclusively with organisational innovation without a digital or green component. The project must contain at least one concrete process innovation, for example the introduction of digital tools in production, automation, IoT solutions, emission reductions, energy efficiency or elements of the circular economy.
Eligible costs cover salaries, equipment, contract research, patents, advisory services, project management services, employee training and marketing, as well as the purchase of new machinery and ICT solutions. Supporting activities may account for no more than 30% of total eligible costs.
What are the key deadlines and conditions?
- The e-consultation was open from 3 to 19 April 2026 on the esavjetovanja.gov.hr portal.
- The call is expected to open in June/July 2026 and will remain continuously open until the allocation is exhausted.
- The project duration is up to 24 months from the start of implementation.
- The sustainability of results must be ensured for 3 years after project completion.
- The financial structure is closed with a bank loan or own funds, but not with a combination of these two sources.
- Only one project proposal per applicant is allowed.
Why entrust project preparation to Omnia Solutions?
Omnia Solutions is a consultancy specialising in the preparation and implementation of EU projects for Croatian entrepreneurs. Our team of experienced experts guides you through every step, from checking eligibility and developing the project idea, through preparing the complete documentation, to monitoring implementation and reporting after the contract is signed.
We believe that getting involved early in project preparation is largely decisive for success. Although the call is not yet open, its structure is known from the e-consultation, so now is the ideal time to develop your idea and secure all the prerequisites for a timely application.
Prepare your project in time
Contact the Omnia Solutions team for a free eligibility check and a conversation about your project idea. You can send your enquiry to info@omniasolutions.hr.
Frequently asked questions
Can a sole proprietorship (obrt) apply for the call?
Yes, if the sole proprietorship is classified as a micro, small or medium-sized enterprise in sector C, manufacturing. Flat-rate sole proprietorships (paušalni obrt) are not eligible.
Until when is the “Process Innovation in S3 Areas” call open?
The call is expected to open in June/July 2026. It is a continuously open call that remains active until the planned allocation of funds is exhausted.
Can I apply in partnership with another company?
No, partnerships are not allowed. Applicants apply to this call on their own only.
What does it mean that the project must have at least one process innovation related to digitalisation or the green transition?
At least one process innovation must be related to digitalisation, for example introducing software to automate production, digitalising document flows, implementing or upgrading an ERP system, or introducing IoT sensors into the production or maintenance process. Alternatively, the innovation can be related to the green transition, for example optimising energy consumption through an energy efficiency system, introducing circular processes and recycling by-products, switching to more environmentally friendly production technologies, or introducing electric and hybrid vehicles into logistics processes. Process innovations that combine digitalisation and the green transition are also eligible, such as smart energy management systems or automated waste management.
What if my product is still at TRL 5 or TRL 6?
You must finance activities up to TRL 7 from your own funds, since co-financing covers only activities from TRL 7 upwards.
Can I combine a bank loan and own funds?
No, the financial structure must be closed in only one of these two ways, either with a bank loan or with own funds.
How long does it take to prepare a project?
Good preparation usually takes 4 to 8 weeks, which is why we recommend contacting us as early as possible so that you can develop your idea and prepare the documentation in time.
The content of this article is based on the draft Guidelines for Applicants from the e-consultation (3 to 19 April 2026), published under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027. Final conditions may differ.
