Up to €90,000 available for new rural communities willing to drive innovation, sustainability and citizen-led transformation


Trento, 12 June 2026 – SMART ERA – SMART community-led transition for Europe's Rural Areas, a project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe programme, has officially launched its Second Open Call, inviting rural communities across Europe to become part of a growing movement for locally driven innovation and sustainable development.

The call will remain open from 12 June until 15 September 2026 (13:00 CEST) and will support up to four Follower Micro-Pilots willing to adopt and implement the methodologies, tools and approaches developed by SMART ERA.

Rural areas cover more than 80% of the European Union's territory and are home to around 30% of its population. Yet many regions continue to face significant challenges, including population decline, ageing demographics, reduced access to services and limited economic opportunities. SMART ERA addresses these challenges by placing local communities at the centre of the transition process and enabling citizens to actively shape the future of their territories.

Through this Second Open Call, selected regions will have the opportunity to apply SMART ERA's community-led innovation framework, engaging local stakeholders in co-creation processes and implementing Smart Innovation Packages (SIPs) designed to address real local needs through a combination of social, digital and organisational innovation.

Successful applicants may receive up to €90,000 in funding per project. Applications can be submitted by consortia bringing together a Community Activator, responsible for stakeholder engagement and community mobilisation, and a Pilot Orchestrator, typically an SME or technology developer leading the implementation of pilot activities.

The initiative represents a key step in scaling SMART ERA's impact beyond its original pilot regions and fostering a new generation of rural innovation ecosystems capable of delivering long-term economic, social and environmental benefits.

"Rural communities have tremendous innovation potential. Through this Open Call, SMART ERA aims to make proven methodologies, tools and knowledge available to new territories, enabling citizens and local stakeholders to lead meaningful and sustainable transformations tailored to their specific needs."

Applications must be submitted via the official SMART ERA platform. Full details, eligibility criteria and application guidelines are also available on the project website.


About SMART ERA

SMART ERA (SMART Community-Led Transition for Europe's Rural Areas) is a Horizon Europe project comprising 25 partners from 10 European countries. The project aims to strengthen the capacity for innovation in rural areas through co-creation methodologies, social innovation approaches, and digital solutions developed in collaboration with local communities.


Contacts:

Project coordinator:
Matteo Gerosa, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, gerosa@fbk.eu

Open Call Manager:
Yolanda Moreno, Funding Box, yolanda.moreno@fundingbox.com

Communication Manager:
Costanza Danovi, Fondazione ICONS costanza.danovi@icons.it

Project website: https://smartera-project.eu/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smart-era/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/SMART-ERA/61566678548553/