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EIT Urban Mobility has launched its SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027, offering a total funding budget of €600,000 to support European SMEs seeking to expand their innovative urban mobility solutions into new markets. The programme aims to accelerate the commercial adoption of proven technologies by supporting businesses in testing, demonstrating and deploying their solutions in new geographical regions, sectors or customer segments.
Approximately 10 SMEs will receive a fixed grant of €60,000 each, helping them reduce the risks associated with entering new markets and build stronger relationships with potential customers.
Unlike traditional research and development funding, this call focuses on commercially mature solutions that have already demonstrated their effectiveness and are ready for wider market adoption.
What Are the Objectives of the Call?
The SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 aims to support the growth of innovative businesses while improving the sustainability, efficiency and accessibility of urban transport systems.
The programme seeks to:
Projects must demonstrate a genuine market expansion opportunity and provide evidence of their potential for future commercial growth.
What Types of Projects Are Eligible?
The competition supports innovative urban mobility solutions across five priority areas.
1. Public and Shared Transport
Projects can focus on improving the efficiency, accessibility and integration of public and shared transport services.
Examples include multimodal transport platforms, shared mobility services, passenger accessibility solutions and technologies that improve transport planning and operations.
2. Urban Logistics
This area supports innovations that improve the movement and delivery of goods within cities.
Projects may address last-mile delivery, freight optimisation, reverse logistics and solutions that reduce traffic congestion, emissions and other environmental impacts associated with urban freight transport.
3. Electrification of Transport and Alternative Fuels
The programme supports technologies that accelerate the transition towards cleaner transport systems.
Eligible solutions may include electric mobility technologies, battery and energy storage systems, charging infrastructure, grid integration and hydrogen-based mobility applications.
4. Mobility Data Management
This theme focuses on digital technologies that improve transport planning, operations and decision-making.
Projects may involve mobility data platforms, integrated transport management systems, interoperable digital solutions and data-driven tools that improve the efficiency of urban transport networks.
5. Health and Mobility
Projects can address the relationship between urban transport, public health and environmental quality.
Examples include technologies supporting active mobility, walking and cycling safety, road safety, pollution reduction and healthier urban environments.
Applicants must address at least one of these five topics and clearly explain how their solution contributes to the selected area.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) legally established in:
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
SMEs that received funding under the 2026 SME Market Expansion Open Call are not eligible for the 2027 edition.
End-Client Requirements
Although the application must be submitted by a single SME, each project must involve a committed end client.
The end client can be a public or private organisation willing to test and demonstrate the proposed solution in a real operational environment.
The applicant must provide a signed commitment letter confirming the end client's participation.
The SME and end client must be independent legal entities without shareholding relationships between them.
Consortium applications are not eligible, and the end client does not receive grant funding as a consortium partner.
Funding Available
EIT Urban Mobility has allocated an indicative total budget of €600,000, with approximately 10 projects expected to receive funding.
Each successful SME will receive a fixed lump-sum grant of €60,000.
There is no minimum co-funding percentage required under the call. However, applicants must present a realistic and justified project budget.
Project Duration and Key Dates
Projects can last up to seven months, with implementation provisionally scheduled from 1 April 2027 to 31 October 2027.
Opens: 9 October 2026
Closes: 1 December 2026
Technology Readiness and Market Expansion Requirements
The call specifically targets commercially mature solutions rather than early-stage research.
Applicants must demonstrate that their technology has reached TRL 7 or above, meaning the solution has already been demonstrated in an operational environment.
Projects should focus on adapting, validating and demonstrating an existing solution for a new market rather than developing a technology from the beginning.
Expected Project Outcomes
Funded projects must demonstrate measurable commercial progress and complete the mandatory deliverables within the approved project period.
1. Real-World Testing and Demonstration
The SME must test and demonstrate its solution with the committed end client in a relevant operational environment.
2. Commercial Market Entry
Projects must achieve the mandatory EITHE02.4 performance indicator, requiring at least one marketed innovation generating documented sales revenue of €10,000 or more.
3. Project Deliverables
Successful applicants must complete the required reporting and impact assessment activities, including:
4. Future Commercial Growth
Projects should provide evidence of their potential for replication, scaling and continued commercial adoption beyond the funded period.
These outcomes are intended to demonstrate that the innovation has progressed beyond testing and established a credible commercial presence in its target market.
How Inventya Can Help
Expanding an innovative urban mobility solution into a new market requires a clear commercial strategy, a committed end client and evidence that the technology is ready for deployment.
Inventya can support SMEs throughout the EIT Urban Mobility SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027 application process, helping them develop proposals that demonstrate commercial potential and align with the programme's requirements.
Our support includes:
With experience supporting innovative businesses across transport, energy, digital technologies and sustainability, Inventya can help SMEs prepare competitive applications and strengthen their market expansion strategies.
Contact Inventya to discuss your eligibility and explore how we can support your application for the EIT Urban Mobility SME Market Expansion Open Call 2027.
