In Transit first DEVELOP call for proposals is funding European innovative SMEs with more than 1.52M€ to support their sustainable projects in improved processes, products and new circular business models

• 31 SMEs in 22 different projects are receiving more than 1.52M€ to evolve their projects, as well as 50-hour coaching support to accelerate their launch to the market. The second call will open in November 2024.

• Spain is the first country with the highest number of awarded companies, accounting for 39% of the total beneficiaries.

July 13th, 2024 – In Transit, which aims to strengthen the resilience of textile, aerospace, construction, and advanced manufacturing SMEs across the EU, finances 31 European SMEs in the first Develop Call for proposals, with a total budget of more than 1.52 M€.

The call was addressed to the European SMEs that plan to develop sustainable solutions, as processes or products, due to the implementation of new circular business models.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Spain, with 12 SMEs, is the first country in the ranking of the 31 SMEs beneficiaries, preceded by Italy (3), Greece (3), Slovenia (2), France (2), Austria (2), Czech Republic (2), Germany (2), Ireland (1), Croatia (1) and Bulgaria (1).

Of the 31 SMEs awarded, 35% come from the textile sector, 25% from the aerospace sector and 20% from both the construction and the advanced manufacturing sector.

The second In Transit Call for Proposals will open in November 2024.

22 PROJECTS AWARDED

Of the 22 projects selected, 13 are individual and 9 in consortia. All of them will receive the lump-sum voucher of In Transit, a funding instrument that is addressed to SMEs that plan to develop sustainable solutions, as processes or products, due to the implementation of new circular business models.

The awarded projects include 5G connectivity for airplanes, recycled cotton textiles, and circular models for technical clothing. Other highlights are cooling textile technology, energy optimization in the aerospace industry, and high-precision VR gloves. In construction, prefabricated timber panels and eco-friendly rice husk blocks are promoted. Additional innovations feature bio-based textile dyes, sustainable satellite propulsion, biodegradable materials for UAVs, and flexible solar systems. Furthermore, there are sustainable corporate uniforms, automated elevator manufacturing, fire blankets for electric vehicles, textile recycling, and efficient sofa heating.

These are all the projects and the SMEs that are developing them:

• HERMES AIRLINK (Cloud Signals and SkyfloX): 5G connectivity for in-flight user terminals via satellite, ensuring high-throughput internet access for all aircraft passengers.
• RECOTTEX (Nil Textile): World's first high-performance recycled cotton textile for fashion and aerospace, blending innovation and sustainability.
• ARTICWEAVE (ITP and Clim8): Cooling textile technology, which addresses the critical issue of overheating in high-temperature environments.
• RE-HITECHTEX (Hilaturas Arnau): Circular business model for high-tech garments, starting with firefighters’ suits, combining innovation and sustainability for durable, eco-friendly protective wear.
• PROJECT GREEN FURNACE (Mavarick): Transforming the aerospace MRO industry by combining IoT and AI to significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
• MAGOS VR GLOVES (Quanta & Qualia): Revolutionizing extended reality environments with unmatched finger tracking accuracy and enhanced wearability, making interactions more precise and sustainable.
• LYNXCRAFT (Timberlynx and HiGroup): Carbon-neutral, energy-zero approach that makes buildings 5x faster and 10% cheaper combining prefabricated timber panels and the LynxCraft software.
• REFIBER4WORK (Technitiger): Reshaping corporate uniforms with AI-driven designs, digital traceability, and sustainable materials, promoting a circular economy and reducing environmental impact.
• BIORE-DYE (Care Applications and Vienna Textile Lab): Innovative approach which aims to revolutionize textile dyeing with biobased pigments reducing chemical, water, and energy use.
• HELICAL (Kreios Space and Pulsar Labs): Air-breathing electric propulsion system for satellites which reduces debris and air fuel, enhancing sustainability and efficiency in space.

• TPS FOR UAVS (Solublion): Eco-friendly microwave absorbing materials using biodegradable thermoplastic starch (TPS) for UAVs and enhancing electromagnetic shielding.
• SUN.RICE (Ferrari BK and TESELA): Eco-sustainable, cement-free building blocks made from rice husk to the market, reducing the construction industry's carbon footprint.
• ATLAS (Vertliner): Revolution of elevator manufacturing with cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and AI technology by providing precise, automated elevator shaft measurements.
• EVS FIRE BLANKETS (Texfire Technical Fabrics): Innovative fire blankets designed to contain and mitigate Electric Vehicle fires, addressing a critical market need with a focus on sustainability and safety.
• MULTICOLOR PROJECT (Torné Grup): Recycling multicolor textile waste into high-quality, sustainable fabrics, drastically reducing the carbon and water footprint.
• SOLARDRAPE (Astradyne and REA Space): Solar solution which offers unparalleled flexibility and sustainability for construction sites, revolutionizing how renewable energy is harnessed in dynamic environments.
• CLEANCOAT (Rosich y Puigdengolas): Separation of elastomer coating mixture waste for solvent recovery and asphalt use which boosts sustainability by reducing waste in the textile coating industry.
• GREENCUBE (Hoffmann): CubeSat structures using bio-high performance polymers and PEEK recyclate that reduces CO2 emissions and promotes sustainable satellite manufacturing.
• EPIS HARMONY (Lúcid and Engidi): Enhancing occupational safety and operational efficiency in the construction industry by integrating Bluetooth tags and a digital platform.
• GREENWEAVE (Freyzein and RBX Créations): Fully bio-based, biodegradable, mono-material insulating fabric designed by combining advanced bioengineering and nanotechnology.
• SESI (Bio Stopanstvo Lopyanko): Reviving the European silk industry with organic, sustainable fibers and a circular economy model, reducing CO2 emissions and wastewater pollution.
• COMFORTHEAT (Rotimpres): Sofa heater using printed electronics which enhances customer comfort with a flexible, energy-efficient element, seamlessly integrated into sofa designs.

ABOUT IN TRANSIT

In Transit project aims to strengthen the resilience of textile, aerospace, construction, and advanced manufacturing SMEs towards greener and more digital sectors with social and business model, with a mixed support mechanism including individual assessment support and a lump sum and coaching to ensure their consolidation and sustainability.

The project is led by ATEVAL in Valencia, and counts with strong partners such as Tèxtils.CAT in Catalonia, CTA in Andalusia, CORALLIA in Greece, PRODUTECH in Portugal, Science Park Graz in Austria, TUS (IDEAM Cluster) in Ireland, POLIMI in Italy, IRTJV in France, and CCS in Slovenia.

DISCLAIMER

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

© 2022-2025 In Transit Consortium Partners. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under conditions. All trademarks and other rights on third party products mentioned in this document are acknowledged and owned by the respective holders.

This project has received funding from European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under grant agreement No 101091494