News & funding
Manufacturing SME funding 2026: up to €50,000 and technology support through the EU MANTRA project
The EU project MANTRA has an open call offering up to €50,000 and technology support to 50 manufacturing SMEs across Europe.
- Who can apply
- Manufacturing SMEs in Europe that want to speed up their green and digital transition
- Programme
- EU project MANTRA (Sustainable and Innovative Manufacturing), selection call
- Support
- Up to €50,000 in funding plus technology support
- Companies supported
- 50 SMEs
- Status
- Open call
- Deadline
- To be checked on the official MANTRA source
- Source date
- 30 September 2026 (finantare.ro)
If you run a manufacturing SME and are looking for funding in 2026, here is one to know about. The EU project MANTRA (Sustainable and Innovative Manufacturing) has an open call offering up to €50,000 plus technology support. It targets small and mid-sized manufacturers that want to speed up their green and digital transition. Before you start on an application, check the call rules on MANTRA's official page.
In short
- Who can apply: manufacturing SMEs in Europe that want to speed up their green and digital transition.
- What's on offer: up to €50,000 in funding plus technology support.
- How many companies: the project plans to support 50 SMEs.
- Aim: to make companies more competitive, let them test advanced technologies and help them adopt more sustainable business models.
- Status: open call, according to finantare.ro (article dated 30 September 2026).
- Deadline: not included in the information we have. Check it on the official MANTRA website.
What it means for your business
MANTRA is not a national programme run by a ministry. It is a selection call launched by an EU-funded project, where a consortium passes support straight to companies. Calls like this tend to move faster and ask for less paperwork than large operational programmes. The trade-off is that there are few places and you compete with manufacturers from across Europe.
For a factory or workshop, up to €50,000 can fund one concrete digital step. Examples include production-line monitoring, energy-use tracking, or a first pilot with automation or AI. The technology support may be worth as much as the money, because it lets you try a solution before you commit to a full investment.
A strong application will probably connect the digital side and the green side. Show the production problem you are solving and the measurable result you expect, rather than simply asking for new software. The evaluation criteria, eligible costs and required documents are set out in the official call guide and may differ from press coverage.
What you can do now
- Find the official MANTRA call page and read the guide: eligibility, eligible countries, deadline and eligible costs.
- Pick one production problem that technology could fix, such as waste, downtime, energy use or quality, and record your current figures.
- Outline a pilot: what you would test, over what timeline, and how you would measure both the digital and the green results.
- Get your company data ready: proof of SME status, your manufacturing activity and recent financial statements.
- Get a second opinion. To see which digital step fits your business and how it links to EU funding, read our page on [digitalization and EU funds](/en/services/digitalization-eu-funds/) or ask for a free Discovery with ASV Digital. Funding decisions rest solely with the call organisers.
Source: finantare.ro
Frequently asked questions
What is the MANTRA open call?
It is a selection call run through the EU project MANTRA (Sustainable and Innovative Manufacturing). It offers up to €50,000 and technology support to 50 manufacturing SMEs in Europe.
Can a company from Romania apply?
The call targets manufacturing SMEs in Europe. Check the official call guide for the exact list of eligible countries.
When is the MANTRA deadline?
finantare.ro reported the call as open on 30 September 2026, but the information we have does not include a deadline. Confirm it on the official MANTRA website.
Is funding guaranteed if I apply?
No. There are only 50 places, and the call organisers make the selection based on their own evaluation.
An informative summary. Always check deadlines, amounts and conditions in the official source; the funding decision belongs to the authority that runs the programme.
Want to know if your business can get funding?
Tell us what you want to digitalize, we run a free Discovery and tell you honestly which programme fits.