Who can apply?
We are looking for SMEs that:
- Develop or provide digital health solutions
- Work on technologies or services applicable to Smart Ageing
- Have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 or above
- Are established in one of the participating regions: North-East Romania Thessaly (Greece) Catalonia (Spain) Canary Islands (Spain) Norte and Centro (Portugal) Finland
- Have ambition to scale beyond their home region and engage in interregional collaboration
- SMEs must comply with the EU definition of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.
- TRL 3+ means that the solution has moved beyond conceptual research and demonstrates initial validation.
- SMEs must have operational capacity to engage in interregional collaboration.
- Only SMEs established in the listed regions are eligible for this specific call cycle.
- Participants will receive structured tools for regulatory navigation in digital health markets.
- Interregional collaboration frameworks and value chain mapping.
- Investment positioning guidance aligned with EU innovation instruments.
- Visibility within the SAge-Hub ecosystem and future matchmaking initiatives.
This programme focuses on practical implementation, not theoretical training.
- Workshops will combine expert input, facilitated group work and applied exercises focused on real SME cases.
- Participants are expected to attend the full 25-hour programme.
- The blended format ensures flexibility while maintaining high engagement levels.
- The final schedule and thematic emphasis will be adapted based on SME availability and identified regional needs.
What You Will Gain
- Market access and regulatory readiness support
- Interregional business development skills
- Investment positioning and scale-up strategies
- Cross-border value chain integration
- Peer learning and ecosystem visibility
Programme Structure
Each selected SME will participate in a Regional Smart Ageing Skills Workshop.
25 hours (5 days × 5 hours)
Blended delivery combining online sessions and on-site workshops
Minimum 20 SMEs per region (priority given to decision-makers)
Dates will be finalised after selection in consultation with participants and SAge-Hub partners.
The final workshop agenda will be shaped following regional needs assessment and SME consultation.
Based on the programme framework, sessions are expected to address areas such as:
- Digital health and Smart Ageing market trends
- Regulatory and compliance pathways
- Interregional scaling and cross-border replication
- Investment readiness and partnership development
- Business model adaptation for interregional markets
- Case-based peer exchange
Content will be aligned with each region’s Smart Specialisation Strategy (S3) priorities and may be refined following focus groups and stakeholder input.
Applications will be reviewed by the regional SAge-Hub partners. Selection will aim to ensure sectoral diversity, balanced representation across value chain segments, commitment to full participation, and strategic fit with regional and interregional objectives.
Selection Criteria
- Compliance with eligibility requirements
- TRL 3 or above
- Strategic relevance to Smart Ageing / Digital Healths
- Capacity to commit to the full 25-hour programme
- Demonstrated ambition for interregional collaboration
