FENG Smart Path — Consortium Projects
Supports consortiums linking Polish enterprises with research teams to turn laboratory results into market products.
The FENG Smart Path Consortium Projects track (competition code FENG.01.01) is a major R&D grant call administered by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), operating as the Intermediate Body for Priority 1 of the European Funds for Modern Economy (FENG) program under Poland's 2021–2027 EU structural fund cycle. FENG is the successor to the Smart Growth Operational Program (POIR 2014–2020) and targets enhanced research capacity, SME competitiveness, and the commercialization of advanced technologies. The 2026 Consortium round carries a pool of 350 million PLN, opened March 9, 2026, and closes June 12, 2026. A second round with a separate budget is scheduled to open July 1 and close October 16, 2026.
Consortium Projects are categorically distinct from the parallel Large Individual Firms track: applications must come from a coalition that includes at least one enterprise and at least one research or scientific entity. Solo company applications are ineligible for this track. The thematic scope is open — all technology domains fall within Priority 1's R&D enterprise activity mandate, including but not limited to AI, biotech, cleantech, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, cybersecurity hardware, and medical technology. EU structural fund State Aid rules govern co-financing rates by organization type, and Polish registration or operations are required. Applications are submitted via NCBR's Platforma Konkursowa portal.
Per-project award caps, minimum budget requirements, TRL range restrictions, and detailed consortium composition rules are published in call-specific PDF documentation rather than the public schedule page. Applicants should download the official call documentation from NCBR's competition platform before preparing a submission. Because NCBR administers both Priority 1 and Priority 5 (STEP — Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) of FENG, the broader 2026 pipeline from NCBR includes additional parallel calls for digital, deeptech, cleantech, and biotech projects under FENG.05.01, which may be more appropriate for single-entity applicants or EU-wide consortia.
Open thematic scope under FENG Priority 1 R&D enterprise activity; all technology domains eligible.
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