We are excited to announce a fantastic opportunity through the SMART ERA initiative – a community-driven transition program aimed at Europe’s rural regions. Funded by the EU, this project supports rural communities in adopting sustainable changes and encourages collaboration among European regions to tackle social, economic, environmental, and demographic issues. SMART ERA unites 25 partners from 10 European countries, including members of EUSAIR, to rejuvenate rural areas by implementing innovative smart solutions. The initiative’s goal is to counteract population decline, attract new talent and investments, and reinforce rural territories by minimizing their vulnerabilities. Notably, the European Commission recognized SMART ERA as a best practice in its 2025 report on EU macro-regional strategies.
The first Open Call for Pilot Add-ons is currently open, seeking up to 11 innovators to tackle major rural challenges within six vibrant Pilot Regions. Selected participants will benefit from:

Up to €60,000 in non-dilutive funding
A customized 9-month Mentoring Program offering expert advice and technical assistance

Applications are accepted until 4 November 2025, 15:00 CET. Submissions from startups, SMEs, and other legally established organizations ready to contribute to rural innovation are encouraged.

Don’t miss the SMART ERA Webinar on Thursday, 18 September at 11:00 CEST to get detailed information about the application process and the specific challenges to be addressed: Zoom Link

For comprehensive information and to apply, visit: https://bit.ly/45Fxpqvhttps://bit.ly/45Fxpqv

Additionally, the SMART ERA project will be showcased at the 10th anniversary of the Mediterranean Coast and Macro-Regional Strategies Week in Izola, Slovenia, from 15 to 17 September 2025. We invite you to join the session on 17 September titled “Horizon project ‘SmartEra’ – a concrete approach for smart rural transformation and its policy implementation from a cross-macroregional perspective.”