SMART ERA 2nd Open Call for Followers Micro-Pilots

Description

SMART ERA is an EU-funded project that aims to transform rural areas by addressing their socio-economic and environmental challenges through advanced technology and innovative solutions. SMART ERA impacts will span across technology, governance, business, society, and policymaking, fostering sustainable development and growth. The six (6) Pilot Regions leading the way are: Val di Sole/Trentino, Italy Tramuntana/Sóller, Spain  Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland Trebinje/East Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina Šmarje-Padna, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia Devetaki Plateau, Bulgaria They will become smart villages through the application of Smart Innovation Packages (SIPs) co-designed and validated with local communities. Joint efforts can revitalize rural communities, combat depopulation, and create resilient, vibrant societies. The SMART ERA consortium brings together 25 organisations from 10 countries, counting with the adequate resources for achieving the project objectives.  With this 2nd Open Call for Followers Micro-Pilots, SMART ERA aims to transfer the project's results, methodology, and validation strategies to four (4) new "Follower Regions", engaging new local communities to prove the replicability and impact potential of the SMART ERA approach. The SMART ERA 2nd Open Call for Followers Micro-Pilots will select up to 4 Proposals to establish 4 Followers Micro-Pilots. These Micro-Pilots will replicate the SMART ERA methodology by identifying regional needs and co-designing new Smart Innovation Packages (SIP).  The total maximum funding for one Follower Micro-Pilot depends on the application format:  If applying as a Consortium total lump sum up to €90,000, distributed as follows: Community Activator: Up to €30,000. Pilot Orchestrator (Technical Provider): Up to €60,000. If applying as an Individual (covering both roles): Total lump sum: Up to €60,000. Each team selected under the SMART ERA 2nd Open Call will join a 12-month Support Programme with the mentoring from SMART ERA Technical Partners.  The Support Programme includes the following stages: Stage 1: On-boarding Stage, during which the beneficiary should deliver an Individual Mentoring Plan (including planned activities, KPIs, milestones and budget). The duration of this stage is up to 2 months. Stage 2: Mobilisation Stage, during which the Report on Community Engagement should be delivered. The duration of this stage is up to 3 months. Stage 3: Deployment Stage, which should lead to a Technical Solution Completed. The duration of this stage is up to 7 months. At the end of the Support Programme, the selected teams will have developed: A design for a Smart Innovation Package A technological solution, as the center of the SIP, developed and tested.

Beneficiary & submission

Submission through the application form available on: OC application form The selection of the Open Call proposals will be carried out in a four-step process:  Step 1 will check the proposals against eligibility criteria. Step 2 (if necessary) will perform a pre-scoring process.  Step 3 will involve experts’ evaluation to assess the proposal according to the criteria.  Step 4 when the Selection Committee will decide the “provisional list of FSTP recipients” during the Final Consensus Meeting after the Pitching Days. For further information see the Guide of Applicants section 4.

Further information

● The Guide for Applicants is the main document including the most important requirements that must be met by applicants. ● SMART ERA application system: SMART ERA 2nd OC ● If you have any technical problems or doubts when filling in the online Application Form, tell us directly at: SMARTERA.help@fundingbox.com, or post your questions in the SMART ERA Helpdesk in Discord. Here you can find out how to access the Community. Some webinars about the OC will be organized and announced throughout the Community.