The I3-INSHAPE project offers a funding opportunity for European SMEs operating in the Sports & Vitality sector. Selected SMEs will receive financial support to launch their services or products in the EU Market.
Through this Open Call, SMEs can submit their own projects, services, or innovative solutions that address key challenges in the sports and vitality sectors. Each application will undergo a thorough evaluation, and selected SMEs will be awarded Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP).
This support is provided through a cascade funding mechanism, whereby the project consortium, funded by the European Commission, distributes funds to successful applicants. The Open Call is managed by the I3-INSHAPE project consortium and is designed to encourage impactful, scalable solutions in sports & vitality, empowering SMEs to make a real difference in the European digital economy.
Consortia of 2 or 3 SMEs located in a minimum of 2 different regions of the I3-INSHAPE project – South Netherlands, Lapland, Kainuu, Päijät-Häme, Hungary (except Budapest), Catalunya, Valencia – that want to accelerate the development of their proposed solution from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 to TRL9. You can form your consortium by finding a suitable SME in the desired cooperation area.
The I3-INSHAPE project invites SME consortia to participate in the Open Call to address specific challenges within the Sports & Vitality sector. This Open Call provides a unique opportunity for SMEs to showcase innovative solutions with the potential to transform the sports industry and enhance the physical well-being of EU citizens.
By submitting their applications, SMEs can contribute fresh ideas and cutting-edge technology to meet critical needs in sports and health. Successful applicants will have the chance to receive Financial Support from the EU, enabling them to bring impactful solutions to life and drive meaningful progress in Europe’s sports and vitality landscape.
The Open Call addresses 17 different challenges in 4 main areas:
1. Promotion of emotional and physical health as a tool to reduce sedentarism through technological innovations
This might include inclusive physical programs, mental health support, neurodiversity directed activities and sport activities that encourage a healthy work-life balance or others. Inactivity is a big issue when trying to balance work and daily life, so to fight against sedentary life, applications might help to overcome and help employees to be active.
2. Corporate games to enhance human relations within the workplace
Innovative applications that might help of the organisation of sport games between companies to enhance workplace community and at the same time practice sport the use of fit tokens or fit coins.
3. Environments, products and technology to enhance active workplaces
The importance of creating work environments, using technology that encourage movement and physical activity in the workplace, such as fitness challenges, fit tokens or wearable devices that track health metrics. These approaches aim to make workplaces more dynamic, active and health conscious.
4. Promotion of healthy lifestyles and nutrition habits amongst youngsters
Through technology promote healthy activity and nutrition habits among young people, aiming to encourage a balanced and active lifestyle from an early age.
5. Retention in sports participation, through new concepts and approaches based on technology and/or videogames focusing on specific ages and genders
Focuses on retaining sports participation by introducing innovative concepts and approaches, such as using technology or video games, tailored to specific age groups and genders. These strategies aim to keep young people engaged in sports long-term by making activities more appealing and relevant to their interests.
6. Digitalisation of the accessibility of sports in cities, engaging diverse communities and promoting user retention
Using digital tools to improve access to sports in cities, regions or outdoor public spaces. For example, apps that map sports facilities or offer real-time activity booking, find people to practice your sport, manage competitions. As a result, might increase accessibility of the sport facilities and user retention.
7. Innovative and sustainable sports and physical activity concepts
Sports spaces or eco-friendly sport infrastructures. Proposals for innovative and sustainable sports and physical activity concepts that promote health and environmental responsibility. Projects should incorporate new approaches to active lifestyles while emphasizing eco-friendly practices and long-term viability.
8. Gamification of urban sports allowing online community building and competition
The innovative proposals should integrate digital platforms with physical activities, enabling participants to track progress, engage in challenges, and connect with others globally. Gamification, like city-wide fitness challenges via mobile apps, sport urban events that can build online communities and promote healthy competition.
9. IOT solutions for sport data gathering and data enabled services for smart active cities
Solutions to gather sports data in cities, such as wearables tracking performance, enabling smart services in cities that support active lifestyles, like personalized fitness recommendations or monitoring the usage of public sports equipment.
10. Technological innovations to promote Active tourism
We are seeking proposals for active tourism experiences that integrate technology and innovation. Projects should combine physical activities with digital tools such as apps, immersive technologies, etc.
11. Digital tools and solutions to improve the performance of sports clubs and federations.
Help sports clubs and federations enhance their operations, such as software for managing memberships or performance tracking systems for athletes, talent development and carbon print/enhancing sustainability.
12. Analytics in various sports modalities to improve performance and track training indicators. Bio analytics tracking indicators to improve athlete performance.
Analytics in different sports to monitor and improve athlete performance. For instance, bio analytics that can track training metrics like heart rate or muscle recovery to optimize training plans or performance.
13. Data and analytics for fan engagement across various sports modalities, aimed at engaging communities of all ages.
Examples could include personalised content, real-time game statistics, or interactive fan experiences through mobile apps.
14. Sport rehabilitation. Innovative solutions allowing to control and engage in rehabilitation programmes.
Innovative sport rehabilitation using technologies like virtual reality, sensors, and wearables. These solutions could allow athletes to follow rehab programs (physical or mental) remotely while monitoring progress, ensuring engagement and safety during recovery.
15. Exergaming, active gaming, phygital games and innovative solutions to increase sport participation among non-practitioners.
Using exergaming (exercise-based video games), active gaming, and phygital games (blending physical and digital experiences) to engage people (elderly, kids, other groups) who don’t usually participate in sports. For example, interactive fitness games motivate non-athletes to get moving in fun ways, getting people to be more familiar with sports via games etc.
16. Innovative solutions for fitness centres offering a richer experience to increase sports participation
Immersive experiences. These technologies can enhance workout sessions, such as VR-guided exercises or wearables that track real-time performance data, increasing member engagement and participation. These innovations are ideal for both sport and fitness centres, as well as home-based physical activities.
17. Promoting healthy habits: nutrition (healthy diets and hydration), rest and recovery, and physical activity
Healthy habits, including balanced nutrition, hydration, rest, and physical activity, with solutions like meal-planning apps, recovery-focused workouts, and wearable trackers monitoring overall well-being to improve health outcomes.
1
Receive financial support up to a value of 30.500€ per selected SME within a consortium
2
Benefit from I3-INSHAPE consortium services
3
Get access to dedicated demonstration, living labs and test beds for validation and scale-up
Eligible applicants are Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) legally registered in the regions covered by the regions of the I3-INSHAPE Consortium – South Netherlands, Lapland, Kainuu, Päijät-Häme, Hungary (except Budapest), Catalunya, Valencia) either as beneficiaries or associated partners. Applicants must form interregional European consortia and address at least one of the 17 specific challenges within the defined key areas: @work, @school, @public space, or @sport.
Selected projects are expected to last 12-15 months, allowing sufficient time for collaboration, validation, and scaling activities.
The total budget available is €732.000. SMEs will receive financial support as grants in the form of lump-sum contributions. The maximum grant amount is €61.000 for a consortium of two SMEs and €91.500 for a consortium of three SMEs.
Each successful applicant SME may receive financial support up to the sum of 30,500€.
This funding covers direct staff costs, external expertise (up to 20% of the budget), and other direct costs such as travel and consumables.
Applicants must propose a detailed lump sum budget in the provided template, respecting principles of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness. Eligible costs include direct staff costs, subcontracting (up to 20% of the budget), and other direct costs (e.g., travel, communication materials). Expenditures incurred before the Sub-grant Agreement signature or after the project duration are not eligible for funding.
There are always non-eligible expenses, and creating a project that fits exactly this amount can be challenging.
The size of the collaboration–/project can be larger than the combined contributions, but the financial contribution is maximized to €30.500 for each SME.
More companies can be subcontracted but the volume of the total amount of subcontracts is maximized to 20%.
No, this is not required as they are not projectpartner of the I3 Inshape project.
Yes this is possible
Subcontracting is maximized to 20%, and this does not relate to other out–of–pocket costs like consumables, travels, etc. But all activities that are subcontracted, since they are not executed by the companies themselves, should be considered subcontracting costs.
No, that is not allowed.
inshape@sportsandtechnology.com