FutureProofTextiles launches 1st Open Call Round Supporting SMEs in the Textile Sector towards Digital and Green Transition

Bulgarian Digital Cluster participates in the launch of the first FutureProofTextiles Open Call, a landmark initiative co-funded by the European Union’s Single Market Programme (SMP).

The textile industry is at a crossroads, facing high investment costs and a pressing need for digital and green skills. This project provides the financial "lump sum" support and technical guidance necessary for SMEs to modernize their operations without the usual financial risks.

Open Call objective: Empowering 40 SMEs in the textile sector to successfully navigate the "twin transitions" of digital transformation and green sustainability.

Support: Beyond the €50,000 grant, FutureProofTextiles offers extensive capacity-building and networking resources to help build a connected SME ecosystem:

• Tailored Training: An average of 40 hours per SME focusing on digital transformation, circular economy principles, and sustainable production.

• Dedicated Mentoring: Custom technical consulting and mentoring sessions for up to 6 selected SMEs based on specific needs.

• Open-Access Materials: Production of 100 hours of scalable training curricula and best-practice guides for the broader textile sector.

• Cross-Border Networking: Facilitation of international collaboration to foster an innovative textile ecosystem.

Link to the online Application Portal: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/FutureProofTextiles-1st-OpenCall

Who can apply: 

Company size

• Applicants must fall under the category of SME, according to European Commission Recommendation 2003/361/EC*

Partnerships

• Clusters and intermediary organisations are not eligible even if they are SMEs.

• Each applicant should represent a single SME, not a consortia of multiple SMEs.

Industry

• Applicants must be SMEs operating in the textile value chain. SMEs from complementary sectors (e.g., tech, machinery) are also eligible, provided their proposed innovation directly contributes to the textile value chain. Activities must align with a relevant NACE code (or national equivalent), such as:

  • Textile manufacturing: C13.1, C13.2, C13.3, C13.9

  • Apparel manufacturing: C14.1, C14.3

  • Textile-based products and technical textiles: C15.12, C22.19

  • Textile recycling and circularity: C38

  • Digital and innovative solutions for the textile sector: J62, J63

  • Manufacture of machinery for textile, apparel and leather production: C 28.94

Location

• Only SMEs legally established in countries participating in the Single Market Programme (SMP) are eligible to apply. This includes EU Member States and any other country formally associated with the SMP. A full list of participating countries is published here: List of participating countries in the Single Market Programme (SMP)

Language

• The applicant SME must have at least one staff member who speaks English and will be actively involved in the implementation process, handling all communication needs with the consortium.

Submission Rules:

Platform

• Proposal submitted online on the EU Survey Platform. Any other means will not be accepted. Application Form

Language

• Proposals must be written in English. Submissions done in any other language will not be evaluated. 

Submission Limit

• Applicant SMEs may submit up to two proposals per Open Call round (one under Green Transition and one under Digital Innovations). Despite this, each SME is eligible to receive a maximum of one grant award across the entire program.

Proposal Requirements

• The proposal must demonstrate a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 or higher.

Compliance & Ethics

Applicants must confirm their full compliance with all rules, including absence of double funding, and conflict of interest, by reviewing and signing the mandatory forms included in the application:

• Funding eligibility and absence of conflict of interest declaration form

• SME and Eligibility declaration form

Step by Step Guide 

Applicants may submit one proposal for a Green Transition project and one for a Digital Innovation project. Please note that a separate application must be submitted for each.

Link to the online Application Portal: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/FutureProofTextiles-1st-OpenCall

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

Review the eligibility requirements thoroughly to ensure your organization and project qualify for funding.

Step 2: Concept & Budgeting

• Check out “Exhaustive List of Eligible Activities and Eligible Costs” document. 

• Check out “Needs of the SMEs in the Textile Sector” document, which helps the brainstorming process.

• Brainstorm your proposal. When brainstorming, keep in mind that the project implementation period is 9months. 

• Compose an initial draft, and develop a comprehensive budget based on eligible costs. Clearly define your objectives by establishing specific milestones.

Step 3: Draft Responses

• Prepare your answers for each section of the “Standardized Application Form Template” document,  before starting the online submission.

Step 4: Prepare Mandatory Documents

Complete and sign the following required forms:

• Complete the “Tables with Activities, Budget, Milestones, and Risks” document. Please note that milestones may be subject to negotiation if the proposal is selected, and applicants will not be evaluated based on the proposed milestones

• Fill in the “SME and Eligibility Declaration form”.

• Fill in the “Funding eligibility and absence of conflict of interest declaration form”.

Step 5: Complete the Online Form 

Access the online portal – EU Survey to input your responses. We recommend using a stable internet connection to prevent data loss.

Step 6: Upload Attachments

Attach all mandatory documents from Step 4 into their respective upload fields within the form.

You can also contact: fpt.eu.helpdesk@gmail.com