RENEW-BOOSTER is a Euroclusters project that helps SMEs innovate and scale in photovoltaics (PV), offshore wind, and energy grids—with cascade funding up to €60,000 per SME, training, mentoring and EU networking to speed up the green & digital transition.

Mission & context
RENEW-BOOSTER strengthens European renewable-energy value chains—PV, offshore wind (incl. floating), and power grids—so SMEs can bring new-to-market products and processes faster, reduce dependencies and boost resilience. The project is part of the Euroclusters initiative under the Single Market Programme, in a 2025 cohort of 16 projects (total ~€42M) starting 1 October 2025 across two strands (Strand 1: critical raw materials & net-zero tech; Strand 2: innovation in other value chains).

What SMEs get

• Cascade funding: up to €60,000 per SME via 6 open calls (min. 2 months each), targeting ≥48 funded SMEs and applying the 75% rule (€1.98M of the budget channelled to SMEs; WP3 challenges & open track + WP4 green/digital transition). Calls are widely published (ECCP, EEN, Funding & Tenders, partners’ sites), with a transparent three-tier evaluation.
• Acceleration: structured challenge stages with industry “challenge owners” (e.g., NOW Accelerator), co-funding logic by stage/amount, and support to reach TRL 8–9 for winning teams.
• Training & toolkits on sustainability, energy efficiency and digitalisation (AI/data, cloud/5G, cybersecurity).
• Business support: mentoring, R&D facilitation, cross-border networking and access to testbeds.
   

Benefits for ICT Cluster Burgas members

• Matchmaking & partner search: curated intros to challenge owners and EU SMEs/RTOs aligned with PV, offshore wind, and grids.
• Training seats guaranteed (when we host): priority booking for our local workshops and webinars tied to the calls (AI/data, cybersecurity, testbeds, IPR, commercialization).
• Test-before-invest signposting: help to identify suitable labs/testbeds and to plan realistic validation steps and KPIs.
• Admin toolkits: checklists, templates, and examples (Gantt, risk, budget split, dissemination plan) adapted to the specific call.
• Visibility boost: we feature selected member success stories and events across our site, newsletter, ICT Cluster/DIGIHUB channels, and partner networks.
• After-award support: light-touch onboarding on reporting basics (deliverables, cost categories, timesheets) and connection to peer mentors.
   

*Note: Evaluation and funding decisions are made by the consortium under EU rules. Our support focuses on readiness, compliance and networking never on the scoring itself.

Why it matters
The project contributes directly to Net-Zero Industry and Critical Raw Materials aims, the Green Deal, and EU re-industrialisation by scaling clean-tech manufacturing, diversifying supplies and accelerating tech uptake by SMEs.

Partners & reach
A cross-border team of energy and digital clusters plus a regional authority Denmark, Norway, Spain, France, Bulgaria and Poland—representing 1,000+ SMEs and the full quadruple-helix ecosystem. Examples: Energy Cluster Denmark, Capenergies, CEEC (Catalunya), Norwegian Offshore Wind, ICT Cluster Burgas, and the Pomeranian Platform for Offshore Wind.

ICT Cluster Burgas – our role
We mobilise DIGIHUB and our Enterprise Europe Network links to help SMEs select and deploy secure digital tools, build capabilities (toolkits, upskilling) and connect to EU innovation networks and testbeds. We lead/contribute to tasks on toolkits & skills (T4.4), EU-DIH/EEN connections (T4.5) and business-process innovation (T4.3).

Timeline & funding

• Programme: SMP-COSME — Euroclusters
• Period: 1 Oct 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 (33 months)
• Budget: €2.7M (proposal 101234706)

What’s next
The first open calls and training calendar will be announced shortly. SMEs working in PV, offshore wind and grids—or enabling digital/green solutions—are encouraged to apply (max €60,000 per SME; transparent EU-standard evaluation).