BackSMART ERA Project Gains EU Recognition and opens first innovation call
The SMART ERA project, funded by Horizon Europe, is a cross-macro-regional initiative working across the Baltic Sea Region, the Danube Region, the Adriatic and Ionian Region, and the Alpine Region. Its main goal is to address rural depopulation by supporting “smart villages” and “smart communities”, making rural areas more attractive places to live, work and innovate.
Recognition in the European Commission’s 2025 Report
In May 2025, the European Commission published its biennial report on the implementation of EU macro-regional strategies. This report reviews progress across the four strategies that together involve 19 EU Member States and 10 non-EU countries.
The 2025 edition placed a strong emphasis on digitalisation and cohesion and highlighted SMART ERA as an exemplary initiative. The report notes that macro-regional strategies help tailor EU cohesion policy objectives to the specific needs and priorities of each region. In this context, SMART ERA was praised for its cross-regional collaboration and its contribution to combating rural depopulation by increasing the attractiveness of rural areas.
The recognition reflects the added value of macro-regional cooperation in tackling challenges that no single region could address alone. By connecting the Baltic Sea Region with other European macro-regions, SMART ERA demonstrates how shared approaches to rural innovation can strengthen cohesion and place-based innovation across the EU.
The full European Commission report can be accessed here: Report on the Implementation of EU Macro-Regional Strategies 2025
First Open Call for Pilot Add-Ons
At the same time, SMART ERA has launched its first Open Call for Pilot Add-Ons, offering innovators and solution providers the opportunity to work directly with rural communities across six pilot regions. The call focuses on 11 identified rural innovation challenges and provides both financial support and tailored guidance.
Up to 11 organisations will be selected as technology or solution providers. Each successful applicant may receive up to €60,000 in funding, along with a nine-month support programme to help develop and scale solutions. Applications are open until 4 November 2025 at 15:00 CET.
Full details, including the Guide for Applicants and application form, are available here: smartera-project.eu/open-call-now-open
Why This Matters for the Baltic Sea Region
For the Baltic Sea Region, SMART ERA is an opportunity to connect local rural development initiatives with a wider European framework. By working together with the Danube, Adriatic and Ionian, and Alpine Regions, the project strengthens knowledge exchange and helps test innovative solutions in real communities. This combination of European Commission recognition and a new open call demonstrates the impact of SMART ERA as a great example of cross-macro-regional project. It shows how collaboration at the macro-regional level can provide concrete opportunities for rural areas to thrive and become more resilient in the face of demographic and economic challenges.
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