Discover 22 Cascade Funding Opportunities for your April 2025 success!
Get ready to supercharge your innovative ideas with Cascade Funding, the game-changing instrument of the European Commission! April 2025 is packed with 22 funding opportunities that are tailor-made for SMEs, startups, universities, researchers and local authorities.
Don’t miss out on this chance to take your ideas to the next level and make a lasting impact on the world of research and innovation.
CASCADE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES - APRIL 2025
NGI Zero Commons Fund – 6th Open Call. Create, mature and grow internet commons.
The NGI Zero Commons Fund Open Call 6, focuses on creating and scaling open internet solutions across all areas of technology, from hardware and infrastructure to end-user applications, while promoting public ownership and collaboration to tackle today’s digital challenges.
Max Funding: €50,000
Deadline: 01/04
NGI TALER – 6th Open Call. Contributions to help reshape the state of play of digitial payment systems, to help create an open, trustworthy and reliable internet for all
Call to select projects to deliver potential break-through contributions to the objectives of NGI TALER and the introduction of privacy-preserving and libre digital payment methods at internet scale.
Max Funding: €50,000
Deadline: 01/04
NGI Fediversity 4th Open Call. Call for proposals that provide an idea that contributes to the vision of the Next Generation Internet, seeking to advance free and open-source mobile platforms, applications, and frameworks.
Max Funding: €50,000
Deadline: 01/04
EIT Jumpstarter 2025. Want to turn your innovative idea into a successful start-up?
This open accelerator call is for funding and supporting citizen science initiatives, where citizen science is defined as the public participating “in scientific research activities, when citizens actively contribute to science either with their intellectual effort or surrounding knowledge or with their tools and resources”.
Max Funding: €10,000
Deadline: 02/04
iMERMAID Extended Demonstration of the iMERMAID solutions in new associated regions. Funding opportunity for local/regional authorities to demonstrate and scale up iMERMAID solutions for chemical pollution prevention and remediation in new associated regions.
The iMERMAID Open Call #2 invites new ‘associated regions’ to join efforts in preventing, eliminating, and remediating water pollution from chemicals. Selected regions will receive funding and technical support to develop plans and projects that align with iMERMAID’s goals of addressing Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CoEC) in the Mediterranean. Proposals can replicate existing solutions in new regions and must adhere to iMERMAID’s objectives and processes.
Total Funding:€100,000
Deadline: 03/04
PartArt4OW First Call. Participatory Art for Society Engagement with Ocean and Water: engage local communities for protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems and biodiversity.
The PartArt4OW Open Call supports participatory art initiatives that engage local communities in protecting and restoring marine and freshwater ecosystems. It seeks interdisciplinary projects blending art, science, and civic participation to enhance ocean literacy, raise awareness of environmental challenges, and mobilize citizens for action. Priority is given to inclusive projects that involve underrepresented groups and address local societal and ecological issues. Selected participants will join a six-month accelerator with mentoring and training while committing to sustainability and carbon neutrality.
Max Funding:€50,000
Deadline: 03/04
CYSSDE Penetration Test and Vulnerability Assessment. CYSSDE’s open call seeks penetration testing organizations to enhance cybersecurity resilience for Essential Service Operators and SMEs across Member States, aligning with NIS2 and Cyber Resilience Act requirements.
The POLREC Networking Open Call is designed for SMEs in the plastics, rubber, and composites industries, helping them to develop international strategies and expand into new markets beyond their national scope through participation in business fairs, exhibitions, and matchmaking events.
Max Funding:€200,000
Deadline: 07/04
EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative. Funding opportunity for organisations to develop deep tech training programmes across Europe, supporting the upskilling of at least 300 talents in emerging technologies.
The EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative has opened its Call for Training Proposals 2025, inviting organizations to enhance or expand deep tech training programs. The initiative aims to bridge the deep tech skills gap in Europe by fostering an inclusive, well-trained workforce that drives innovation in key technological areas. By supporting collaborative and forward-thinking training methodologies, it seeks to position Europe as a global leader in deep tech talent development, strengthening competitiveness and contributing to the digital and green transitions.
Max Funding:€60,000
Deadline: 08/04
StandICT.eu 8th Open Call. Obtain Financial Support for your activities on ICT Standards.
StandICT.eu 2026’s principal goal is to strengthen its global reach in the European ICT Standardisation Ecosystem. StandICT.eu will provide € 2,925,000 of crucial funding to support the participation of European standardisation specialists in key international and global SDOs. Through nine open calls this funding will enable the specialists to contribute to and help create a fully integrated European Standardisation Ecosystem, thereby strengthening Europe’s position in global standardisation initiatives.
Max Funding:€10,000
Deadline: 11/04
EIT Culture and Creativity: Short Innovation Projects 2025 – Segment 2. A funding opportunity for short-term innovation projects (up to 6 months) in the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries (CCSI). Segment 2 is for consortium applications.
EIT Culture & Creativity is calling for proposals for the 2025 Innovation Programme, focused on supporting innovative projects in the Cultural and Creative Sectors, including Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming. The aim is to address challenges like globalization, digital transformation, emerging technologies (e.g., AI), and environmental sustainability. Selected projects will be part of a high-impact portfolio, gaining access to market support, investor pitching, networking, and opportunities for long-term collaboration with the EIT community.
Max Funding:€120,000
Deadline: 11/04
EIT Culture and Creativity -Innovation Call: Main Innovation Projects 2025. Funding opportunity for innovation projects advancing cultural and creative sector technologies from TRL 6 to TRL 9, with up to €350,000 per project.
EIT Culture & Creativity is calling for proposals for the 2025 Innovation Programme, focused on supporting innovative projects in the Cultural and Creative Sectors, including Fashion, Architecture, Cultural Heritage, Audio-Visual Media, and Gaming. The aim is to address challenges like globalization, digital transformation, emerging technologies (e.g., AI), and environmental sustainability. Selected projects will be part of a high-impact portfolio, gaining access to market support, investor pitching, networking, and opportunities for long-term collaboration with the EIT community.
Max Funding: €350,000
Deadline: 11/04
INSHAPE Open Call. European cross regional innovation for Sports & Active Healthy Lifestyle.
The I3-INSHAPE project aims to strengthen the European digital economy by creating a competence centre to support SME initiatives in sports and vitality. Part of the INSHAPE Network of Innovation Hubs, it enables innovative solutions to be developed, funded, and brought to market through interregional collaboration among SMEs. Eligible SMEs from specific regions in the Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, and Spain can submit proposals in consortia of two to three SMEs from at least two different countries. Proposals should focus on advancing solutions from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL9.
Max Funding:€91,500
Deadline: 14/04
EIT Manufacturing: Accelerate. Funding opportunity for European start-ups and scale-ups with innovative manufacturing solutions to accelerate growth and market expansion.
EIT Manufacturing Accelerate is an open call designed to support and scale startups and scale-ups in the European manufacturing sector. The program provides financing and tailored support to companies with innovative solutions addressing critical challenges in digitalization, automation, net-zero industry, renewable energy, and circular economy. The goal is to help these startups enhance product development, market capabilities, and contribute to a more efficient, resilient, green, and competitive European manufacturing ecosystem.
Max Funding:€500,000
Deadline: 21/04
CoARA Second Call for Cascade Funding. Aims to enhance institutional change and target pilot and exchange-of-knowledge initiatives.
The initiative will support over 25 projects aimed at promoting knowledge transfer, piloting innovative initiatives, and fostering enduring institutional changes. CoARA motivates research organizations to explore and implement effective practices in real-life scenarios, emphasizing the exchange and adaptation of successful practices, the transformation of research assessment methods, and the development of novel research assessment approaches.
Max Funding:€60,000
Deadline: 21/04
Enhance New European Bauhaus Call for Partners 2025. Scaling up impactful projects from Connect NEB and Co-create NEB.
The Enhance New European Bauhaus Call for Partners 2025 offers a chance for past recipients of Connect NEB and Co-create NEB funding to expand their impact. This initiative helps projects either deepen their implementation in their initial location or apply their solutions in new settings. Selected participants will play a role in advancing the New European Bauhaus (NEB) movement by integrating its fundamental principles of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion into their work.
Max Funding:€45,000
Deadline: 22/04
NebulOuS Open Call 2. A meta operating system for brokering hyper-distributed applications on cloud computing continuums.
Open Call 2 invites applicants to propose innovative pilot projects that support the platform’s mission and align with Europe’s priorities for digital transformation and eco-friendly computing. The goal is to test and validate the NebulOuS Meta OS platform by exploring new ways it can be used beyond the current pilots. Key objectives include proving that the platform can be adapted to different scenarios, increasing awareness, involving key stakeholders, and encouraging its adoption in the market.
Max Funding:€150,000
Deadline: 23/04
AUTOASSESS Open Call for Tech Solutions. AUTOASSESS seeks startups and SMEs to propose tech solutions for specific use-case challenges.
AUTOASSESS is seeking innovative tech solutions from SMEs and startups to enhance autonomous vessel inspection using robotics and AI, focusing on five specific challenges related to drone navigation, communication, and AI-driven inspection tools, with a €500,000 budget to fund five projects for six months.
Max Funding:€100,000
Deadline: 24/04
RDA TIGER Cascade Grant Call for Adoption Grants. Cascade Funding Grants to boost Open Science and EOSC interoperability.
RDA Europe, through the RDA TIGER project, is running an open call for Cascading Grant proposals aimed at promoting the adoption and development of RDA Working Group outputs that advance Open Science and enhance interoperability within the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC). Unlike standard RDA TIGER support, these grants offer higher funding—up to €50k—and are open not only to RDA Working Groups but also to external organisations such as research institutes and private companies. Eligible applicants include any entity able to receive Horizon Europe funding, excluding RDA TIGER consortium members.
Max Funding:€16,666
Deadline: 27/04
EU-LAC Digital Accelerator Open Call 3. Partnerships between large corporations and start-ups or innovative SMEs from the European Union, Latin America, or the Caribbean.
This programme accelerates digital transformation by fostering successful partnerships between corporates and startups or SMEs across Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Aimed at overcoming the high failure rate of such collaborations, it supports EU-LAC partnerships that address digital transformation challenges through Open Innovation. Eligible partnerships must involve at least one corporate and one startup or SME, include partners from at least two of the regions (EU, Latin America, or the Caribbean), and have a signed partnership agreement or plan to formalize one before the acceleration process begins.
Max Funding:€40,000
Deadline: 30/04
ELIAS- European Lighthouse of AI for sustainability- 1st Open Call. Funding opportunity for SMEs and startups to develop AI-based applications addressing sustainability challenges.
The ELIAS project, funded under Horizon Europe, is launching an open call for SMEs and startups developing AI applications for sustainability. Selected projects will receive financial support and visibility within the European AI ecosystem.
Max Funding:€60,000
Deadline: 30/04
PIANOFORTE Open Call 2025. Multidisciplinary research projects addressing innovative approaches to radiation protection.
AIRISE helps European SMEs and mid-caps integrate AI into manufacturing by supporting projects from idea to real-world testing. AI applications must enhance sustainability, improve process resilience, or make manufacturing jobs more inclusive and user-friendly.
Max Funding:€1,500,000
Deadline: 30/04
Up2Circ – Second Open Call. Get up to €50K to move your business towards circularity.
The Up2Circ Accelerator’s second open call will support up to 40 projects in adopting circular business models through two funding tracks. Small-scale projects, focused on feasibility studies, will receive €15,000 for six months to explore at least one circular business model, such as circular supply chains, product life extension, or the sharing economy. Up to 28 projects will be funded. Large-scale projects, aimed at piloting and demonstration, will receive €50,000 for 12 months to implement circular transition measures, including technology adoption, circular product design, or introducing new circular products, processes, or services. Up to 12 projects will be supported.
Max Funding:€50,000
Deadline: 30/04
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- Tags: April 2025, cascade funding, Cascade Funding Opportunities, FSTP
- Categories: Open Calls