Description

This Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA) supports the development and piloting of multi-site access schemes to technology infrastructures for startups, scaleups, and innovative SMEs across Europe. The aim is to address barriers such as complexity and high costs associated with accessing state-of-the-art research and technology facilities, equipment, and expertise—resources essential for testing, upscaling, and validating new products and technologies.

Funded projects are expected to:

• Build on existing initiatives (e.g., Open Innovation Test Beds or similar integrated networks) to rapidly deploy common access schemes.
• Establish a centrally managed and funded pilot access programme with simplified and standardized conditions, coordinated at the EU level.
• Expand the user base of technology infrastructures, especially targeting startups and scaleups lacking local access.
• Enhance the visibility and uptake of technology infrastructure services across the EU.
• Foster transnational and multisite collaboration among technology infrastructure operators, supporting the creation of innovation ecosystems and sharing best practices and resources.
• Focus on priority areas such as advanced materials, clean energy, health, and biotechnology, but are not limited to these sectors.

The action is designed to strengthen the innovation and technology development capacity of European SMEs, startups, and scaleups by improving their access to critical infrastructure for development, testing, and deployment.