[European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en)

June 23, 2025 (23:59 Brussels time)

Up to €40,000 per SME (lump sum); total call budget €200,000; project duration 4–6 months

Funds SMEs to accelerate VR/AR healthcare innovation and cross-sector knowledge transfer in less developed European regions.

Only five SMEs will be funded (one per challenge); proposals must match a specific flagship SME's challenge.

--- ## Description This open call supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working in the field of Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) healthcare technologies. The initiative is part of a broader European project aimed at disrupting healthcare systems through the adoption and advancement of XR (extended reality) solutions, especially in less developed regions of Central Eastern and Southern Europe. Selected SMEs will be strategically matched with one of five flagship SMEs (Lightspace, MEEVA, MedApp, Metaskills, Virtuleap) to address specific challenges such as AR sensors, AI-driven virtual agents, VR market research, XR clinical risk frameworks, or regulatory documentation. The goal is to foster cross-sector knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and to strengthen the interregional value chain in the VR/AR healthcare sector. Projects must be completed within 4–6 months and should deliver strategic outcomes like market readiness, regulatory alignment, commercial partnerships, or prototype validation. --- ## Due Dates - Application deadline: June 23, 2025 (23:59 Brussels time) - Projects are expected to last 4–6 months --- ## Funding Amount - Total available funding: €200,000 - Maximum funding per SME: up to €40,000 (lump sum, up to 100% of eligible costs) - Up to five SMEs will be funded (one per challenge) - Projects must be completed within 4–6 months --- ## Eligibility - Applicants must be SMEs as defined by the European Commission ([SME definition](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/smes/sme-fundamentals/sme-definition_en)); confirmation of SME status is required. - Applicants must be legally established in: - A region covered by the VR Health Champions consortium, **or** - A less developed region within the European Union ([definition](https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/how/is-my-region-covered_en)), **or** - An outermost region of the European Union ([see Article 349 TFEU](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/outermost-regions.html)) - Only one SME per challenge will be selected; if no suitable SME is identified for a challenge, funding may not be awarded for that challenge. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted electronically via the [VR Health Champions website](https://vrhealthchampions.eu/get-involved/). - Submissions must be in English and use the official templates provided. - Proposals must address a specific challenge defined by one of the flagship SMEs. - The process is single-stage with a two-step evaluation: 1. Formal eligibility and admissibility check. 2. Evaluation by a committee of independent experts. - The top three proposals will be invited to a hearing; final selection is made by a jury of consortium subject matter experts. - Evaluation criteria: - Relevance and experience (25%) - Methodology and work plan (25%) - Feasibility and risk management (25%) - Impact and value creation (25%) --- ## Additional Information - Funded activities may include market research, business model validation, technical development, regulatory documentation, risk management, partnership building, and prototype testing. - SMEs are expected to collaborate actively with the flagship SME and contribute to interregional value chain development. - The grant is provided as a lump sum and may cover up to 100% of eligible costs (up to €40,000). - All required documents and templates are available on the [VR Health Champions website](https://vrhealthchampions.eu/get-involved/). --- ## External Links - [Call details and submission portal](https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/10501?isExactMatch=true&status=31094501,31094502&order=DESC&pageNumber=13&pageSize=50&sortBy=startDate) - [VR Health Champions application page](https://vrhealthchampions.eu/get-involved/) - [European Commission SME definition](https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/smes/sme-fundamentals/sme-definition_en) - [Less developed EU regions](https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/policy/how/is-my-region-covered_en) - [Outermost EU regions (Article 349 TFEU)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/EN/legal-content/glossary/outermost-regions.html) --- ## Contact Information | Contact Type | Details | |----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Funder Website | [European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/index_en) | | General Inquiries | [Contact the European Commission](https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact_en) | | Phone | +32 2 299 11 11 |

VR Health Champions Open Call 2025

Sign in to see full grant listing