Open Call: Open Horizons Programme

The project connects startups with leading corporations through an open innovation process to help them scale and gain market traction. Open Horizons offers €1.2 million in funding, distributed through three Open Calls, to support the development and piloting of innovative solutions by selected startups.

Challenges

• As part of the Open Horizons programme, selected startups will address specific challenges defined by participating corporate partners. These challenges reflect real world industry needs and are designed to foster the co-development of innovative, market-ready solutions.
• Each challenge is framed by a corporate partner looking for cutting-edge solutions in the digital or deep-tech space. Startups are expected to propose how their technology or solution can respond to one or more of these challenges.
• Applicants must clearly indicate which challenge they are addressing in their proposal (only 1).

Programme Phases

• The programme is structured in three key phases:
  • Inception Stage: A 1-month collaborative phase where selected start-ups work closely with a corporate partner to explore potential pilot ideas.
  • Piloting Stage: A 5-month phase dedicated to the technical implementation of the pilot project with the corporate partner

Funding Information

• For the first Open Call (OC#1), Open Horizons has allocated a budget of €335,000. Funding will be awarded to 11 startups, with grants provided in tranches based on the achievement of milestones and successful completion of pilot projects, ensuring progress-driven support throughout the programme.
• Up to €55,000 per start-up:
  • Inception Stage (1 month): up to €10,000
  • Piloting Stage (5 months): up to €45,000 (in 3 instalments)
• Under Open Horizons Open Call #1 (OC#1), funding will be awarded to 11 women-led start-ups that are in the inception stage. Out of these, 5 start-ups will be selected to move forward to the piloting stage

Benefits

• Selected start-ups will benefit from a comprehensive support package, including:
  • Tailored training and mentoring
  • Opportunities for networking with corporates and investors
  • Participation in a high-visibility Demo Day
  • Visibility and promotion through the Open Horizons consortium network

Who can apply for the Open Horizons?

• Open Horizons is open to early-stage digital or deep-tech startups founded or cofounded by women in top management roles (e.g., CEO, CTO). Eligible companies must be registered in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country for at least 6 months and no more than 6 years at the time of application. Startups must meet Horizon Europe’s SME definition, be autonomous, and have raised less than €1M in equity. Proposals must be unique and must not have received funding from Women TechEU, EmpoWomen, or similar initiatives. Any conflict of interest with consortium partners or failure to meet these criteria will result in ineligibility.
• The company needs to be legally registered and officially recorded in a government business registry or database at least six months before the submission of the application and a maximum 6 years.
• A woman founder or co-founder must hold an executive role (CEO, CTO, etc.) and own at least 25% of the company shares. Both cis and trans women who are legally recognised as women are eligible.
• A deep-tech company is one that builds on scientific research or disruptive technological innovation. Digital start-ups use existing technologies (software, apps, etc.) as the core of their business model.
  • Under Horizon Europe, a start-up is understood as a small or medium-sized enterprise (SME) in the early stages of its life cycle. This includes newly established companies, particularly those created as spin-offs from university research activities, that aim to deliver innovative solutions and develop scalable business models. Such entities must be autonomous within the meaning of Article 3 of the Annex to Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
  • In addition, start-ups must meet the criteria of an SME as defined in Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC, namely:
    • Employing fewer than 250 persons (measured in Annual Work Units – AWU);
    • Having an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million, or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million.

For more information, visit Open Horizons.