Open call of 40k for up to 6-Month VR/AR Co-Creation with Leading European SMEs
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Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), coordinator of the VR Health Champions project, has launched a cascade funding Open Call offering up to €40,000 for SMEs developing Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) solutions for the healthcare sector. The initiative seeks dynamic companies to join forces with five flagship European SMEs in an up to six-month co-creation process for cutting-edge XR technologies and integrate into a growing ecosystem of digital health innovation. Selected applicants will benefit from funding, collaboration opportunities, and access to a broad network of industry and research partners across Europe.
VR Health Champions is a three-year EU-funded initiative under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument of the European Regional Development Fund, with a total budget of €7.8 million. The project brings together 18 partners across eight EU Member States and is focused on strengthening the uptake of VR/AR technologies in healthcare—especially in less-developed European regions.
Objectives of the Open Call:
• Identify and fund SMEs with expertise in areas such as AR sensors, AI-based virtual agents, market research in VR, clinical XR risk frameworks, or regulatory documentation.
• Provide up to €40,000 in funding per selected SME to support collaborative development efforts during up to six-month project duration.
• Enhance interregional knowledge transfer and integrate new players into existing healthcare innovation value chains.
Why apply?
Selected SMEs will benefit from:
• Direct financial support for targeted innovation activities.
• Hands-on collaboration with leading European VR/AR health tech SMEs.
• Access to the VR Health Champions ecosystem, including connections to EIT Health, XR4Europe, and Medtronic.
• Opportunities to scale across regions and increase international visibility.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Be an SME as defined by the EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
• Be legally established in one of the participating regions,
Deadline for applications: June 23, 2025
For detailed information on the expression of interest, eligibility and application, visit the VR Health Champions website: https://vrhealthchampions.eu/get-involved/
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), coordinator of the VR Health Champions project, has launched a cascade funding Open Call offering up to €40,000 for SMEs developing Virtual Reality (VR) or Augmented Reality (AR) solutions for the healthcare sector. The initiative seeks dynamic companies to join forces with five flagship European SMEs in an up to six-month co-creation process for cutting-edge XR technologies and integrate into a growing ecosystem of digital health innovation. Selected applicants will benefit from funding, collaboration opportunities, and access to a broad network of industry and research partners across Europe.
VR Health Champions is a three-year EU-funded initiative under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument of the European Regional Development Fund, with a total budget of €7.8 million. The project brings together 18 partners across eight EU Member States and is focused on strengthening the uptake of VR/AR technologies in healthcare—especially in less-developed European regions.
Objectives of the Open Call:
• Identify and fund SMEs with expertise in areas such as AR sensors, AI-based virtual agents, market research in VR, clinical XR risk frameworks, or regulatory documentation.
• Provide up to €40,000 in funding per selected SME to support collaborative development efforts during up to six-month project duration.
• Enhance interregional knowledge transfer and integrate new players into existing healthcare innovation value chains.
Why apply?
Selected SMEs will benefit from:
• Direct financial support for targeted innovation activities.
• Hands-on collaboration with leading European VR/AR health tech SMEs.
• Access to the VR Health Champions ecosystem, including connections to EIT Health, XR4Europe, and Medtronic.
• Opportunities to scale across regions and increase international visibility.
Eligibility Criteria:
• Be an SME as defined by the EU Recommendation 2003/361/EC.
• Be legally established in one of the participating regions,
o A region covered by the VR Health Champions consortium:
Belgium: Brussels Capital region
Germany: Oberbayern region
Hungary: Budapest region
Italy: Trento region
Latvia
Poland: Malopolska region, Lodzkie region
Portugal: Centro region, Grande Lisboa
Spain: Madrid
Germany: Oberbayern region
Hungary: Budapest region
Italy: Trento region
Latvia
Poland: Malopolska region, Lodzkie region
Portugal: Centro region, Grande Lisboa
Spain: Madrid
o A less developed region in the EU
o An outermost region of the EU
• Have at least one year of registered business or professional activity.
Deadline for applications: June 23, 2025
For detailed information on the expression of interest, eligibility and application, visit the VR Health Champions website: https://vrhealthchampions.eu/get-involved/
