Deadline Date: April 27, 2026
The Excel4Pro Open Call invites startups and SMEs in Türkiye, Greece, and Ukraine specializing in innovative technologies or solutions in the alternative plant-based protein sector for the agri-food industry to submit proposals.
The Open Call focuses on three main objectives: innovation within Excel4Pro Focus Areas, enhancing the Excel4Pro Excellence Hub, and integrating new solutions into the regional agri-food sector. The Focus Areas include Protein Structure-Function Relations, Nutritional Quality, and Process Design. Priority is given to developing prototypes, enabling lab-scale tests, executing real-world pilots, improving functional properties of plant proteins, optimizing nutritional profiles, implementing sustainable processing technologies, and contributing to the circular economy. Applicants must also actively collaborate across Türkiye, Greece, and Ukraine, address regional challenges, share knowledge within the hub, and ensure their projects reach at least Technology Readiness Level 5.
Selected projects will receive funding to innovate, test, validate, or implement breakthroughs within the Excel4Pro Focus Areas, with the total Open Call budget reaching €360,000. Each successful applicant can receive a maximum of €40,000, with three sub-projects funded per country. The funding is provided as a lump sum tied to specific milestones over a 15-month implementation period divided into three phases: Design, Development, and Validation. Phase 1 covers the activity plan, Phase 2 focuses on results and outcomes, and Phase 3 concludes with final reports on community-associated activities.
Eligible applicants must be legal entities established in Türkiye, be startups or SMEs within the agrifood sector, submit only one proposal per entity, use the official Excel4Pro templates, and carry out new work that has not yet been accomplished. Existing Excel4Pro consortium members or affiliates are not eligible. All applicants must have a valid VAT number or equivalent registration in accordance with national legislation. The proposals must be submitted via the opencalls.fund platform by April 27th, 2026, 17:00 CET.
This Open Call presents a unique opportunity for regional startups and SMEs to accelerate innovation in plant-based proteins, contribute to sustainable food systems, and strengthen collaboration within the Türkiye, Greece, and Ukraine agri-food ecosystems.
For more information, visit Excel4Pro.
