2nd Open Call for Followers Micro-Pilots

<img src="https://ats-public-files-production.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/round/68d129708d7e7a1b0d776c62/a11c71cb-e276-452f-8b40-d2e6658f6e9a-SMARTERA2.png" alt="SMART ERA Logo" style="height: 6.5rem; width: auto; max-width: 40%; flex-shrink: 0; object-fit: contain;"> <p><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: orange;"> WELCOME TO THE SMART ERA 2nd OPEN CALL!</span> <p style="margin-bottom: 15px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: black;">🍀Selecting up to 4 Proposals to establish 4 Followers Micro-Pilots.🍀</span> <br>These Micro-Pilots will replicate the SMART ERA methodology by identifying regional needs and co-designing new Smart Innovation Packages.</p> <p>💰 Funding available: Up to €90,000 per consortia (Up to €60,000 per individual beneficiary)<br>🛠 Support: Tailored 12-month Mentoring and Support Programme<br>📅 Application period: 12 June 2026 - 15 September 2026, 🕐 13:00 CEST</p>🚨<span style="color: red;"> Before starting the application</span> ➡️ read the <a href="https://ats-public-files-production.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/round/69e0cc798d7e7a35db6a8071/c8b25c68-e949-4806-a109-93ac831d42c5-SMART_ERA_2nd_OC_Guide_for_Applicants_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;"> Guide for Applicants.</span> </a></p> <p>💡<span style="font-weight:bold;"> Smart Innovation Packages (SIPs) </span>are dynamic, custom-built toolkits that bundle together digital technologies with vital non-technological strategies, such as innovative business and governance models. These packages are directly co-designed with rural communities to tackle their specific, pressing challenges. They create a powerful synergy where the collective, long-term impact on the territory is much higher than the sum of its individual parts. Check them: <br>▶️<a href="https://zenodo.org/records/15182976" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">SMART ERA Deliverable about Co-Design</span></a> <br>▶️<a href="https://smartera.smartcommunitylab.it/" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">SMART ERA Co-Design Tool</span> </a></p> <p>The Follower Micro-Pilots should be developed in Follower Regions. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Follower Regions </span>are rural regions located within one of the 4 EU macro-regional strategies (but outside of the original 6 SMART ERA Pilot Regions). <br>Check the 4 EU macro-regional strategies and the regions covered by them: <br>ℹ️<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/cooperation/macro-regional-strategies/alpine_en" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">Alpine</span></a> <br>ℹ️<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/cooperation/macro-regional-strategies/baltic-sea_en" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">Baltic Sea</span></a> <br>ℹ️<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/cooperation/macro-regional-strategies/adriatic-ionian_en" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">Adriatic-Ionian</span></a> <br>ℹ️<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/cooperation/macro-regional-strategies/danube_en" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">Danube</span></a> <p><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: black;">🌟Want to know more and build a winning Application?🌟</span><br><span style="color: purple;">SMART ERA 2nd Open Call Webinar 1: All you need to know about the Open Call and the Smart Innovation Packages </span><br>▶️ Watch the recording <a href=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfQqyxxtEVU" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;">here. </p> <p><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="color: orange;">📍 WOULD YOU HELP US?</span><br><a href="https://forms.office.com/e/6pXhDYhup7" target="_blank"><span style="color: green;"> This questionnaire</span></a>, part of the SMART ERA Project’s longitudinal research, gathers your insights to help shape more effective and locally tailored digital strategies. Please, fill it out.</p>