The SILEO Eurocluster project, co-financed by the EU’s Single Market Programme (SMP/COSME Pillar), aims to support European Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the lighting and furniture sectors to recover from the COVID-19 crisis, enhance their resilient, foster sustainable practices and strengthen connections with industrial and technological ecosystems.

The SILEO Open Calls for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects successfully supported SMEs in the lighting and furniture sectors in integrating cutting-edge technologies and digital solutions into their business operations. The main goal of the SILEO Open Calls was to leverage advanced technologies and digital solutions to help SMEs develop new strategic products and services, improve existing processes, and identify new growth opportunities within a digital and circular economy framework. Before committing to large-scale transformation, it was crucial for SMEs to test and validate these technologies on a small scale to assess their feasibility and long-term potential. 

The Open Call provided funding (up to € 10.500) for the practical implementation of new technologies through the following activities implemented in collaboration with technology providers: 

• Prototyping of new products or services: this activity helped SMEs develop prototypes of new products or services using advanced technologies or digital solutions that were strategic for business growth. Technology providers assisted SMEs in bridging the gap between concept and reality, ensuring that innovative ideas were successfully transformed into functional prototypes.
• Pilot application: This phase focused on testing and validating new prototypes or advanced technologies to confirm their effectiveness and potential for full-scale implementation. The goal was to ensure that the technology aligned with business objectives and contributed to digital and green business growth.
• Combined prototyping and pilot application: this category merged prototyping and pilot application phases, allowing SMEs to develop a prototype and test its integration into real business operations simultaneously. The SILEO Consortium provided a maximum funding amount of € 10.500 per project. Each SME could undertake one project under this initiative. The activities were delivered in collaboration with technology providers selected from the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators.

For more detailed information and access to all SILEO public deliverables, click here.