Opening soon PR Bucharest-Ilfov — Action 1.4: support for innovation clusters (call PR BI P1/1.4/1/2026)
Call PR BI P1/1.4/1/2026 has €10 million for innovation clusters in Bucharest-Ilfov that include SMEs and research organisations. Management entities with the ESCA label can receive €300,000–2,000,000 for shared research and development facilities.
- Who can apply
- The eligible applicant is the cluster management entity (EMC), legally constituted as an association
- Total budget
- €10,000,000, of which €4,000,000 from the ERDF and €6,000,000 from the state budget
- Funding amount
- Between €300,000 and €2,000,000 in non-refundable funding per project
- Submission period
- not yet announced (the public consultation ran from 27 August 2026 to 21 September 2026)
Checked against official sources on · funder: ADR Bucharest-Ilfov · official source
The guide has not been published yet, but good applications are built before launch. Those who start when the call window opens usually miss out on it.
Who can apply
The eligible applicant is the cluster management entity (EMC), legally constituted as an association. The cluster must include SMEs and research organisations in its structure. The management entity must have its registered office or a registered territorial structure in the Bucharest-Ilfov region and must hold the European ESCA excellence label (bronze, silver or gold). Companies do not apply individually: member SMEs benefit from the shared facilities.
What it covers
- Building, modernising or extending the premises for the cluster's shared research and development facilities
- Tangible assets for these facilities, such as equipment and machinery
- Intangible assets, such as patents and licences
- At least one mandatory interregional, cross-border or transnational cooperation activity
We prepare your application before the window opens
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Can an SME submit a project on its own under call PR BI P1/1.4/1/2026 for clusters?
No. According to the guide put out for consultation, the eligible applicant is the cluster management entity, constituted as an association. SMEs benefit as cluster members, through the funded shared research and development facilities.
Is the Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Programme call for innovation clusters open now?
No. As of 3 October 2026, call PR BI P1/1.4/1/2026 appears on the ADR Bucharest-Ilfov website as a "call in preparation". The public consultation ended on 21 September 2026, and the launch date and submission deadline have not been announced.
How much can a cluster obtain per project under Action 1.4 of the Bucharest-Ilfov Regional Programme?
Non-refundable funding is a minimum of €300,000 and a maximum of €2,000,000 per project. The total budget of the call is €10 million, of which €4 million from the ERDF and €6 million from the state budget. The share of costs covered will be set out in the final guide and in the financial template (Annex 3.1).
Is the ESCA label mandatory for the Bucharest-Ilfov cluster call?
Yes. The draft guide requires the cluster management entity to hold the European ESCA excellence label, at bronze, silver or gold level. The label must be maintained throughout the implementation of the project.
What investments does the call for innovation clusters in Bucharest-Ilfov fund?
It funds the construction, modernisation or extension of premises for the cluster's shared research and development facilities, as well as equipment, machinery and intangible assets (patents, licences) for these facilities. The core activity must account for at least 50% of the eligible budget, and the project must include at least one interregional, cross-border or transnational cooperation activity.
What conditions must a cluster meet to apply under PR BI 1.4?
The cluster must include SMEs and research organisations. The management entity must be constituted as an association, have its registered office or a registered territorial structure in the Bucharest-Ilfov region, and hold the ESCA label.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
We prepare your application before it opens — PR Bucharest-Ilfov — Action 1.4: support for innovation clusters (call PR BI P1/1.4/1/2026)
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
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