SmartAgriHubs’ Open call (RESTART & EXPAND)

In July 2020, SmartAgriHubs opened the RESTART and EXPAND open calls, assigning up to €5,000,000 funding for Digital Innovation Hubs that are supporting diverse stakeholders in the agri-food economy.

Why should the organic sector take part? 

Digital innovations implemented throughout the organic value chain have a huge potential to contribute to the current and future societal challenges.  

SmartAgriHubs’ open call is also a unique chance to connect with a wider community and exchange on latest knowledge and expertise.  

How to participate?

RESTART

This open call will focus on hackathon type of activities that will RESTART the economy around the agri-food related sectors and affected food systems. Its objective is to generate ideas for potential Innovation Experiments that can be realised by related teams and that go beyond initial conceptual implementations. 

Proposals could realise hackathons, challenges and datathons that have a direct as well as an indirect impact to mitigate effects of the corona/Covid-19 or similar (future) pandemics. Check the RESTART open call fiche for more information. 

EXPAND

The major amount of funding will be assigned to the implementation of programmes by DIHs to support the realisation of Innovation Experiments. This shall specifically contribute to the expansion of the network of DIHs and Competence Centres (CCs) as well as making new knowledge and results from digital innovation activities available. 

The EXPAND open call is specifically targeting at DIHs as the main proposers facilitating the realisation of innovation experiments. Check the EXPAND open call fiche for more information. 

Timeline and submission 

• Register to the SmartAgriHubs’ Innovation Portal. It will give you access to all information needed and direct communication to the community if any questions on the application arise;  
• After that, start applying;  
• RESTART Open Call deadline: 29^th September 2021
• EXPAND Open Call’s next evaluation batch: 29^th September 2021. EXPAND will close in June 2022.

Any questions about the Open Calls? 

• Read the call documents on the dedicated page of the SmartAgriHubs website; 
• Read the RESTART & EXPAND FAQ; 
• Watch the dedicated Q&A webinars on SmartAgriHubs’ YouTube channel.  

Notes

¹ Digital Innovation Hubs as defined on the Smart Agri Hubs website are public-private partnerships for innovation, providing a mix of different services to their clients. These include technology services such as R&D, provision of lab facilities, testing and validation are mainly the domain of the competence centres. Innovation ecosystem support services include community building lobbying, brokerage, knowledge sharing and advocacy.