Open Call: SILEO Advanced Technology Uptake Projects for SMEs

The main goal of this Open Call is to leverage the latest innovations, advanced technologies, ideas, and insights to support lighting and furniture SMEs in developing strategic products and services, improving their existing processes and methodologies, and uncovering new growth opportunities, from a digital and circular perspective. However, before diving in headfirst, SMEs must test the technology on a small scale to determine its level of success and growth potential. This SILEO Call offers this chance through financial support (lump sum) for prototyping and/or pilot applications.

Advanced Technologies and Digital Solutions

• The following advanced technologies (not an exhaustive list) have been individuated as of paramount importance for lighting and furniture SMEs:
  • Additive Manufacturing (AM) – 3D printing
  • Augmented and Virtual Reality (VR)
  • Big Data & Analytics
  • Cybersecurity
  • Industrial IoT (IIoT) & sensors
  • Robotics
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Digitalisation of marketing and online trading
  • Image scripting technologies
  • Web-based Augmented Reality (WebAR)
  • Machine learning

Funding Information

• The SILEO Consortium will select 25 projects (= 25 beneficiary SMEs) that successfully pass the eligibility and technical evaluation phase. The final number of projects selected under this Open Call will depend on the overall quality of the proposals and the available budget.
• Awarded SMEs will have from 3 to 6 months to implement expert consultancy selected and receive:
  • Up to € 10.500 per 1 Advanced Technology Uptake Project.
• The maximum amount per project must not exceed 10.500 EUR (lump sum).

Eligible Activities

• The 2nd Open Call for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects is a unique opportunity for lighting and furniture SMEs to effectively uptake the selected advanced technologies (or digital/circular solutions) into their business through the following activities:
  • Prototyping of new products or services
    • Support lighting and furniture SMEs in the prototyping of new product(s) or service(s) using advanced technology(ies) or digital solution(s) considered strategic for business development. The technology provider(s) shall support the SME to bridge the gap between the concept and reality, as prototyping is a vital step in transforming the idea into a functional product or service design.
    • The following aspects must be respected:
      • The prototyping process must be executed using advanced technology(ies) and/or digital innovations (i.e. 3D printing-enabled rapid prototyping, the Internet of Things, generative design, augmented and virtual reality platforms, interactive prototyping, other) AND/OR must be focused on development/design of a new product/service prototype with embedded advanced technologies or digital solutions not present in the company current product portfolio.
      • The prototyping processes shall include the development of the proof of concept to test the idea and then creating a model of the product/service to test functionality and desirability.
      • The background qualitative and quantitative research should have already been executed, to have an idea of consumer desirability, manufacturability, marketability, competition, pricing sweet spots, margin opportunities, etc.
      • The prototyping project can start both from the development of initial specifications and drawings or detailed designs if the preliminary activities have already been executed.
      • It shall include specific evaluation phases to gather feedback and assess the prototype product or service functionality, appearance and other features and the subsequent improvement phase.
      • The prototyping project shall end with the final phase of the prototype product or service. It shall include the specifications for its pilot testing, application or demonstration, i.e. for setting a pilot production line or pilot service activities (test bed).
  • Pilot application 
    • Pilot application project shall be aimed at testing whether the new prototyped product/service AND/OR selected advanced technology/digital solution for business operations is working as it was designed and can meet a given set of business requirements in terms of advanced technology uptake. Pilot application project shall identify whether the prototype or technology to be integrated is a viable option for the SME path forward towards more digital and green business growth.
    • Pilot application project can consider the following activities:
      • Testing, validation and demonstration of the new prototyped product(s) or service(s), developed with the use of advanced technologies or digital solutions, in an industry-relevant (operational) environment, including test beds and small pilot production lines; and/or
      • Integration, testing and validation of the selected advanced technology(ies) and/or digital solution(s) application within a specific production, manufacturing, commercial, or operations management process/phases in order to significantly renew, upgrade and /or make them more sustainable and circular.
  • Prototyping + Pilot application 
    • This type of project combines prototyping and pilot application phases (A + B, as described above) in one project. All the specifications and requirements described in the above-listed project typologies (A and B) must be observed.

Eligibility Criteria

• They are looking for project applications submitted by a single SME operating in the lighting and furniture industry and located in the EU Member States or countries associated with the Single Market Programme.

For more information, visit EC.