AmCham Slovakia

Grant Opportunities for AmCham members

AmCham members have several exciting grant opportunities to consider, ranging from social innovation initiatives to support for startups and industrial research. Below is a summary of the latest available programs:

New Advanced Tools and Processes for Operational Cybersecurity

  • Eligibility: Businesses, academia, NGOs, public administration, and state institutions from EU or Horizon Europe-associated countries
  • Provider: European Commission – Horizon Europe (Call Code: EU/HORIZON/53/2025)
  • Funding: €4.5–6 million per project; total budget €23.55 million (4 projects expected)
  • Deadline: November 12, 2025
  • Objective: Strengthen EU cybersecurity resilience through development and pilot deployment of advanced technologies, crisis frameworks, SOC/CSIRT capacities, and support for innovative SMEs and startups


Financial Support for Innovative Startups (2025)

  • Eligibility: Startups and SMEs in idea, prototype, or early customer stage
  • Provider: CEE Startup Network (Call Code: SV/1/2025)
  • Funding: Up to €25,000 + expert consulting and marketing support
  • Deadline: September 14, 2025
  • Objective: Boost international growth of innovative businesses through product development, marketing, and networking opportunities


Innovative AI Projects in Industry, Telecom, and Pharma (2025)

  • Eligibility: Startups, SMEs, research institutions, and public-private consortia focused on AI in industry
  • Provider: European Commission under Horizon Europe (Call Code: HORIZON-CL4-2025-03)
  • Funding: Up to €250,000 in phase 2; up to €2 million in phase 3; total €13 million available
  • Deadline: October 2, 2025 (Phase 1 application)
  • Objective: Support generative AI solutions in aerospace, pharma, and telecom, focusing on automation, human-robot collaboration, sustainability, and predictive systems


Support for Reducing Emissions from Air Pollution Sources (2025)

  • Eligibility: Public sector, NGOs, municipalities, and businesses operating large or medium stationary air pollution sources (except in Bratislava region)
  • Provider: Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic (Call Code: PSK-MZP-033-2025-DV-EFRR)
  • Funding: €37.7 million total; co-financing varies by company size (55–75% from EFRR)
  • Deadline: Until funds are exhausted; next cutoff: August 31, 2025
  • Objective: Reduce air pollutant emissions from stationary sources through technological upgrades and dust reduction measures


Support for Research and Development in Biotechnology (2025)

  • Eligibility: Slovak academic institutions and legal entities eligible for business, registered in the Register of Public Sector Partners
  • Provider: Government Office of the Slovak Republic (Grant Code: PK 1/2025)
  • Funding: €500,000 to €15 million per project; total budget €90 million (2025–2027); funding intensity up to 80%
  • Deadline: August 16, 2025
  • Objective: To support applied R&D in biotechnology, including biomedical, industrial biotech, bioinformatics, and active biological substances development (TRL 5–8)


Support for Research and Innovation in Robotics and Automation (2025)

  • Eligibility: Slovak academic institutions and legal entities eligible for business, registered in the Register of Public Sector Partners
  • Provider: Government Office of the Slovak Republic (Grant Code: PK 2/2025)
  • Funding: €200,000 to €10 million per project; total budget €90 million (phased 2025–2027); funding intensity up to 80%
  • Deadline: Rolling until budget exhaustion; projects must end by December 31, 2027
  • Objective: To support R&D in robotics and automation, including AI applications, intelligent systems, and enterprise integration platforms


Support for Open and Secure Internet Innovation (2025)

  • Eligibility: Individuals, businesses, NGOs, and academic institutions from Slovakia and EU/associated countries
  • Provider: Horizon Europe (Call Code: EU/HORIZON/42/2025)
  • Funding: Up to €50,000 per project; max €60,000 per recipient; total call budget €396,000
  • Deadline: August 1, 2025
  • Objective: Support open-source innovations that contribute to an open and secure internet through research, development, security audits, and community engagement


Industrial Research and Experimental Development Projects

  • Eligibility: State sector, universities, public research institutions, non-profits, businesses
  • Provider: Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic
  • Total Allocation: €24,000,000
  • Project Support: Up to €800,000
  • Deadline: TBD
  • Objective: Enhance business sector innovation and competitiveness through industrial research and experimental development. The initiative supports collaboration between enterprises and research organizations to increase private sector R&D spending.


Horizon Europe – Green Deal Innovations 

  • Eligibility: Industry, research institutions, education organizations, start-ups, and SMEs eligible under Horizon Europe. 
  • Provider: European Commission under the Horizon Europe Programme. 
  • Funding: €500,000 to €2 million per project; cascade funding system applies. 
  • Deadline: April 30, 2025; July 31, 2025; October 31, 5; January 31, 2026. 
  • Objective: Support innovations that contribute to the European Green Deal, focusing on sustainability, climate action, and environmental protection. 

 

Digital Europe Programme – Cybersecurity and Trust 

  • Eligibility: Industry, research institutions, education organizations, start-ups, and SMEs eligible under Horizon Europe. 
  • Provider: European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme. 
  • Funding: Up to €1.5 million per project; cascade funding system applies. 
  • Deadline: April 30, 2025; July 31, 2025; October 31, 2025; January 31, 2026. 
  • Objective: Enhance cybersecurity and trust in digital services by supporting projects that develop innovative solutions for secure and trustworthy digital environments. 
  • Feel free to share this information with your members! If you need any more details or assistance, just let me know. 

 

Digital Europe Programme – Artificial Intelligence and Robotics 

  • Eligibility: Industry, research institutions, education organizations, start-ups, and SMEs eligible under Horizon Europe. 
  • Provider: European Commission under the Digital Europe Programme. 
  • Funding: Up to €2 million per project; cascade funding system applies. 
  • Deadline: May 31, 2025; August 31, 2025; November 30, 2025; February 28, 2026. 
  • Objective: Support the development and deployment of artificial intelligence and robotics technologies to enhance innovation and competitiveness in Europe. 
  • Feel free to share this information with your members! If you need any more details or assistance, just let me know.

 

Grant for Market and Investment-Oriented Projects (Horizon Europe)

Eligibility: Academic sector, Individuals, Entrepreneurs

Provider: Horizon Europe.

Funding: Up to €150,000 per EIC Pathfinder project, €100,000 per EIC Transition project, total program budget €5 million.

Deadline: November 4, 2025.

Objective: Support small, fast, and targeted projects that help EIC Pathfinder and Transition recipients verify technological solutions, prepare them for the market, and attract investments, including intellectual property protection and market analysis.

 

Support for Early-Stage Innovators in Research and Technology (InnoNext)

Eligibility:

  • Hosting Companies (Internship Hosts): Startups and SMEs that have received support through EIC Accelerator, EIC Transition, or EIT KICs innovation services.
  • Visiting Talents (Interns): PhD students, postdocs, and alumni from EIT programs, ERC projects, EIC Pathfinder, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Provider: Horizon Europe, EIT, and other EU programs.

Funding: Up to €30,000 per internship.

Deadline: July 31, 2026.

Objective:
Support the development of entrepreneurial skills by connecting researchers and early-stage innovators with European startups and SMEs. The internships foster the transfer of cutting-edge research to practice and provide startups access to research talent, accelerating the development of new products and enhancing competitiveness. The program includes fully-funded research-oriented and entrepreneurship-oriented internships, mentoring, workshops, and administrative support.


 


These opportunities represent a unique chance to enhance innovation, education, and equality within Slovakia's business and academic communities.