Open Call for European SMEs – I3-INSHAPE Project

Through this Open Call, SMEs can submit their own projects, services, or innovative solutions that address key challenges in the sports and vitality sectors. Each application will undergo a thorough evaluation, and selected SMEs will be awarded Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).

This support is provided through a cascade funding mechanism, whereby the project consortium, funded by the European Commission, distributes funds to successful applicants. The Open Call is managed by the I3-INSHAPE project consortium and is designed to encourage impactful, scalable solutions in sports & vitality, empowering SMEs to make a real difference in the European digital economy.

Targeted Areas

• The I3-INSHAPE project invites SME consortia to participate in the Open Call to address specific challenges within the Sports & Vitality sector. This Open Call provides a unique opportunity for SMEs to showcase innovative solutions with the potential to transform the sports industry and enhance the physical well-being of EU citizens.
• By submitting their applications, SMEs can contribute fresh ideas and cutting-edge technology to meet critical needs in sports and health. Successful applicants will have the chance to receive Financial Support from the EU, enabling them to bring impactful solutions to life and drive meaningful progress in Europe’s sports and vitality landscape.
• The Open Call addresses 17 different challenges in 4 main areas:
  • @work
    • Promotion of emotional and physical health as a tool to reduce sedentarism through technological innovations ​
      • This might include inclusive physical programs, mental health support, neurodiversity directed activities and sport activities that encourage a healthy work-life balance or others. Inactivity is a big issue when trying to balance work and daily life, so to fight against sedentary life, applications might help to overcome and help employees to be active.
    • Corporate games to enhance human relations within the workplace
      • Innovative applications that might help of the organisation of sport games between companies to enhance workplace community and at the same time practice sport the use of fit tokens or fit coins.
    • Environments, products and technology to enhance active workplaces​
      • The importance of creating work environments, using technology that encourage movement and physical activity in the workplace, such as fitness challenges, fit tokens or wearable devices that track health metrics. These approaches aim to make workplaces more dynamic, active and health conscious.
  • @school
    • Promotion of healthy lifestyles and nutrition habits amongst youngsters
      • Through technology promote healthy activity and nutrition habits among young people, aiming to encourage a balanced and active lifestyle from an early age.
    • Retention in sports participation, through new concepts and approaches based on technology and/or videogames focusing on specific ages and genders
      • Focuses on retaining sports participation by introducing innovative concepts and approaches, such as using technology or video games, tailored to specific age groups and genders. These strategies aim to keep young people engaged in sports long-term by making activities more appealing and relevant to their interests.
  • @public space: outdoor physical activity
    • Digitalisation of the accessibility of sports in cities, engaging diverse communities and promoting user retention​
      • Using digital tools to improve access to sports in cities, regions or outdoor public spaces. For example, apps that map sports facilities or offer real-time activity booking, find people to practice your sport, manage competitions. As a result, might increase accessibility of the sport facilities and user retention.
    • ​Innovative and sustainable sports and physical activity concepts ​
      • Sports spaces or eco-friendly sport infrastructures. Proposals for innovative and sustainable sports and physical activity concepts that promote health and environmental responsibility. Projects should incorporate new approaches to active lifestyles while emphasizing eco-friendly practices and long-term viability.
    • Gamification of urban sports allowing online community building and competition
      • The innovative proposals should integrate digital platforms with physical activities, enabling participants to track progress, engage in challenges, and connect with others globally. Gamification, like city-wide fitness challenges via mobile apps, sport urban events that can build online communities and promote healthy competition.
    • IOT solutions for sport data gathering and data enabled services for smart active cities​
      • Solutions to gather sports data in cities, such as wearables tracking performance, enabling smart services in cities that support active lifestyles, like personalized fitness recommendations or monitoring the usage of public sports equipment.
    • Technological innovations to promote Active tourism
      • They are seeking proposals for active tourism experiences that integrate technology and innovation. Projects should combine physical activities with digital tools such as apps, immersive technologies, etc.
  • @sport
    • Digital tools and solutions to improve the performance of sports clubs and federations.
      • Help sports clubs and federations enhance their operations, such as software for managing memberships or performance tracking systems for athletes, talent development and carbon print/enhancing sustainability.
    • Analytics in various sports modalities to improve performance and track training indicators. Bio analytics tracking indicators to improve athlete performance.
      • Analytics in different sports to monitor and improve athlete performance. For instance, bio analytics that can track training metrics like heart rate or muscle recovery to optimize training plans or performance.
    • Data and analytics for fan engagement across various sports modalities, aimed at engaging communities of all ages.
      • Examples could include personalised content, real-time game statistics, or interactive fan experiences through mobile apps.
    • Sport rehabilitation. Innovative solutions allowing to control and engage in rehabilitation programmes.
      • Innovative sport rehabilitation using technologies like virtual reality, sensors, and wearables. These solutions could allow athletes to follow rehab programs (physical or mental) remotely while monitoring progress, ensuring engagement and safety during recovery.
    • Exergaming, active gaming, phygital games and innovative solutions to increase sport participation among non-practitioners.
      • Using exergaming (exercise-based video games), active gaming, and phygital games (blending physical and digital experiences) to engage people (elderly, kids, other groups) who don’t usually participate in sports. For example, interactive fitness games motivate non-athletes to get moving in fun ways, getting people to be more familiar with sports via games etc.
    • Innovative solutions for fitness centres offering a richer experience to increase sports participation
      • Immersive experiences. These technologies can enhance workout sessions, such as VR-guided exercises or wearables that track real-time performance data, increasing member engagement and participation.  These innovations are ideal for both sport and fitness centres, as well as home-based physical activities.
    • Promoting healthy habits: nutrition (healthy diets and hydration), rest and recovery, and physical activity
      • Healthy habits, including balanced nutrition, hydration, rest, and physical activity, with solutions like meal-planning apps, recovery-focused workouts, and wearable trackers monitoring overall well-being to improve health outcomes.

Funding Information

• The estimated available call budget is 732.000€. However, if there were insufficient proposals not meeting the minimum overall and individual thresholds of the award criteria, the available funds might not be fully allocated.
• Up to 24 SMEs will be selected and will receive Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTP), under this call for proposals. Depending on the size and composition of the consortia, between 8 and 12 projects are expected to be funded.
• The maximum grant amount is expected to be up to 61.000€ in case of a consortium of two applicants and up to 91.500€ in the case of a consortium made up of three applicants. The grant has a co-financing rate of 100%, thus it does not require any additional own contribution. The grant awarded may be lower than the amount requested if the budget includes ineligible expenses or there is any budget line considered excessively over budgeted.
• Each successful applicant SME may receive financial support up to the sum of 30.500€.

Eligibility Criteria

• Consortia of 2 or 3 SMEs located in a minimum of 2 different regions of the I3-INSHAPE project – South Netherlands, Lapland, Kainuu, Päijät-Häme, Hungary (except Budapest), Catalunya, Valencia – that want to accelerate the development of their proposed solution from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL9. You can form your consortium by finding a suitable SME in the desired cooperation area.

For more information, visit EC.