ELCA coordinates the SILEO Eurocluster project co-financed by the Single Market Programme (SMP/COSME Pillar) of the European Union.
SILEO supports European lighting and furniture SMEs to fully recover from the crisis, become more resilient to future shocks, be better prepared for disruptions in supply and value chains, more sustainable in their business operations and stronger connected to industrial and advanced technologies ecosystems.
With a set of wide-ranging but well-crafted direct financial and non-financial actions, SILEO aims to prepare clusters to answer the digital and circular transition needs of SMEs. The project proposes direct financial funding scheme through financial support to third parties (cascade funding), joint talent placement services and internationalization actions to accelerate the recovery of lighting and furniture SMEs, support them in becoming more resilient to future shocks, better prepared for disruptions in supply and value chains, greener in business operations and stronger connected to technology ecosystems through strategic partnering.
During the project course the following business support services are planned:
- International Hackathons “SILEO Tech challenge – Hack Days to Drive Innovation in Lighting & Furniture” – hosting technology providers like DIHs, Competence Centres, Incubators, and tech-savvy companies showcasing products and solutions answering the needs and challenges of the lighting & furniture SMEs;
- SILEO Business Digital Transformation Projects (FSTP scheme) for lighting and furniture SMEs to support cross-sector collaboration between companies and digital technology providers/experts and facilitate SMEs in accessing the expert consulting for digitalisation, advanced technology exploring and business transformation.
- SILEO Advance Technology Uptake Projects (FSTP scheme) for lighting and furniture SMEs to facilitate integration of new technologies into company production and service processes to support resilience, digital and green transformation.
- SILEO Talent Placement Projects (FSTP scheme) joint service for SMEs for attracting and identifying talents in particular young graduates.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed on this website represents the views of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union and/or the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
SILEO Consortium:
1. ELCA – EUROPEAN LIGHTING CLUSTER ALLIANCE, IT (Project Coordinator)
2. Cluster Lumière Association, FR
3. Cluster d’Illuminacio de Catalunya – CICAT, ES
4. Rete di Imprese Luce in Veneto, IT
5. BIC Building Innovation Cluster, AT
6. Transylvanian Furniture Cluster, RO
7. Cluster Legno, Arredo e Sistema Casa FVG, IT
SILEO Open Calls for funding support
The SILEO Consortium envisaged 5 typologies of Financial Support to Third Parties – FSTP to be activated through open calls for cascade funding, during the project course. The SILEO budget for the FSTP (financial support) open calls is 1.050.000,00 EUR.
- SILEO Hack Day Travel Support for lighting & furniture SMEs
- SILEO Business Digital Transformation Projects
- SILEO Advance Technology Uptake Projects
- SILEO Talent Placement Projects
- SILEO Best Company Story-telling video Contest (cash prizes)
➜ Third call for Technology Provider for the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators (26.06.2024-11.10.2024)
Within the frame of two SILEO financial support to third parties schemes (Advanced Technology Uptake Projects), we are looking for technology providers and green transition experts, who are interested in supporting SMEs in implementing specific measures and strategies to support their digitalisation and sustainability projects.
To facilitate this, the SILEO Consortium is launching a specific 3° CALL FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST to identify and select technology providers and digitalisation experts interested in supporting SMEs with their advanced technology uptake projects.
The current 3° Call for Expressions of Interest is open from 26.06.2024 until 11.10.2024 two weeks before the closure of the SILEO 2nd Call for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects (scheduled for 25 October 2024). The objective is to keep the SILEO Pool constantly updated with new technology providers and experts, and close it only temporarily for two weeks before the submission deadline of the SILEO Open Call. This anticipated closure aims to provide SME applicants (of the open calls) the opportunity to choose their experts from the updated list and ensure their validation in time.
Only technology providers gathered in the SILEO Pool can be chosen by lighting and furniture SMEs for their projects.
How to apply?
Technology providers must submit – within the deadline – the Application FORM word file (available to download), duly completed in English, together with the mandatory Annex (Organisation registration official document) to the email address of one of the SILEO project partners – contact points for the specific country of reference.
For any futher information support please contact the SILEO Project Coordinator, Marta Krakowiak – marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
The 2nd Call for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects aims to help SMEs leverage innovations, advanced technologies and circular solutions for product and service development and process improvement through:
➜ Prototyping of new products or services
➜ Pilot application
➜ Prototyping + Pilot application
in collaboration with technology providers and green transition experts selected from the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators!
The Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators is a list, published on the SILEO submission platform that includes all the organisations who have expressed their interest and willingness to support SMEs in their digital & green transition pathway and answered a specific Call for Expression of Interest.
Advanced Technology Uptake Projects
- Voucher (lump sum): EUR 10.500,00 per SME/project
- Duration: 3-6 months
- Collaboration between SME and technology provider(s)
HOW TO APPLY AND WHERE?
Apply before the deadline – 25 October 2024 at 17:00 CEST – by submitting your advanced technology uptake project proposals via the Submission Platform!
On our SILEO Submission Platform you can find the Guide for Applicants, FAQ, and the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators!
For any futher information support please contact the SILEO Project Coordinator, Marta Krakowiak – marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
SILEO project is launching an Open Call for Travel Vouchers – Italy to support the participation of SMEs operating in the lighting and furniture sector and tech-savvy SMEs in the SILEO Hack Day event entitled “IMPACT – Development of innovative business ideas for SMEs in the Furniture & Lighting industry” on 16.10.2024 in Padua (Italy).
This Open Call for Travel Vouchers Italy was open on 29.04.2024 and will close on 28.06.2024 at 17:00 CEST.
The Hack-Day in Italy will provide a platform for lighting and furniture SMEs and tech-savvy SMEs to connect, learn and discover innovative solutions and services, gather insights, expertise on emerging technologies and sustainable growth opportunities and to debate on specific SILEO challenges and technologies, such as DATA INTEGRATION; IOT DEVICES AND MOBILE APP; VIRTUAL AND AUGMENTED REALITY; NEW MATERIALS AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN FURNITURE & LIGHTING.
How to apply?
Lighting and furniture SMEs and tech-savvy SMEs an apply for reimbursement of travel expenses (up to € 500) for their participation in the event in Italy.
SILEO funding is defined based on the location of the legal headquarters of the SME applicants, as mentioned below:
- Travel Voucher € 150 – within the Province of Padua
- Travel Voucher € 250 – within the Veneto Region
- Travel Voucher € 500 – other Italian Regions and EU Countries
Apply before the deadline by submitting your application through the SILEO Submission Platform.
For any enquiry about the organisation of the Hackathon event in Romania please contact the SILEO cluster organizer Rete di Imprese Luce in Veneto – Antonella Venza (Cluster Manager) | info@luceinveneto.com
or Marta Krakowiak (SILEO Project Coordinator) | marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
Open Call for Hack Day Travel Vouchers – Romania for the business and technology collaboration event “Navigating Challenges and Tech Solutions for SMEs in the furniture & lighting Industry” organized by Transylvanian Furniture Cluster in Cluj-Napoca, Romania on 13-14.06.2024.
The SILEO Open Call for Travel Vouchers will close on 26.04.2024 at 17:00 CEST.
The event will create the context for furniture and lighting SMEs and tech-savvy companies to debate and discuss on specific challenges, to find solutions to real problems that companies are facing in their industry and activity.
SILEO CHALLENGES – Each participant will select upon applying the priority of these 5 challenges for their companies:
- DIGITAL OPTIMIZATION IN PRODUCTION: How can companies optimize digital processes throughout the production chain, from design to delivery?
- SUSTAINABILITY IN PRODUCTION: How can companies integrate sustainable practices into the manufacturing process of furniture and lighting?
- DIGITAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: How can companies innovate in terms of digital customer experience, from purchase to customization?
- ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN LIGHTING: How can technological solutions improve the energy efficiency of lighting systems?
- CIRCULAR ECONOMY IN FURNITURE & LIGHTING: How can companies implement circular economy models for their products?
How to apply?
Lighting and furniture SMEs and tech-savvy SMEs an apply for reimbursement of travel expenses (up to € 500) for their participation in the event in Romania.
Apply before the deadline – 19 April 2024 at 17:00 CEST – by submitting your application through the Submission Platform.
For any enquiry about the organisation of the Hackathon event in Romania please contact the SILEO cluster organizer Transylvanian Furniture Cluster, Andreea Toma | andreea.toma@hygia.ro
or Marta Krakowiak (SILEO Project Coordinator) | marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
The 2° Call for Business Digital Transformation Projects was open on 22.01.2024 and will close on 25.03.2024.
This 2° Open Call will fund up to 27 projects submitted by an individual SME operating in the lighting and furniture sector. The Business Digital Transformation Projects aim to access and implement specialized consultancies in collaboration with technology providers chosen from the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators.
The following expert services are envisaged:
- General expert consultancy on company digitalization processes;
- Specific expert consultancy on identified advanced technology and/or digitalization process to concretely explore its potential uptake at the company level, its implementation procedure into the firm operations, and the scale of investment;
- General expert consultancy for business transformation and market analysis: support in market intelligence analysis including an outline of the size of the (new) market (segments) potentially accessible thanks to the company’s technological upgrading, product demand, trends, customers, and competitors.
The list of technology experts validated by the SILEO project is available on the SILEO Submission Platform. The Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators will be regularly updated with the addition of new organizations interested in supporting companies within the scope of the following call.
The application process for experts will close on 08.03.2024 at 4:00 PM.
HOW TO APPLY AND WHERE?
Apply before the deadline – 25 March 2024 at 17:00 CET – by submitting your business digital transformation project proposals via the Submission Platform.
On our SILEO Submission Platform you can find the Guide for Applicants, FAQ, and the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators!
For any futher information support please contact the SILEO Project Coordinator, Marta Krakowiak – marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
The 1° Call for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects was open on 12.02.2024 and will close on 12.04.2024
SILEO Open Call for Advanced Technology Uptake Projects aims to leverage the latest innovations, advanced technologies, ideas, and insights to support lighting and furniture SMEs developing strategic products and services, improving their existing processes and methodologies, and uncovering new growth opportunities, from the digital and circular viewpoint.
The Advanced Technology Uptake Project is the successful implementation, development and/or integration of the new advanced technologies and/or digital solutions into the SME business operations to support company resilience and digital and green transformation, executed with the support of the validated technology providers selected form the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators.
This SILEO Call for Proposals is a unique opportunity for the EU SMEs to effectively uptake the selected advanced technologies (or digital solutions) into their business through the following activities:
- Prototyping of new services or products
- Pilot application
Advanced Technology Uptake Projects last between 3 and 6 months and the available budget is 10,500 EUR (lump sum) per SME.
The list of technology experts validated by the SILEO project is available on the SILEO Submission Platform. The Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators will be regularly updated with the addition of new organizations interested in supporting companies within the scope of the following call. The application process for experts will close on 29.03.2024 at 4:00 PM.
HOW TO APPLY AND WHERE?
We are looking for project applications submitted by a single SME operating in the lighting and furniture industry and located in the EU Member States or countries associated with the Single Market Programme.
Apply before the deadline – 12 April 2024 at 17:00 CET – by submitting your advanced technology uptake project proposals via the Submission Platform!
On our SILEO Submission Platform you can find the Guide for Applicants, FAQ, and the SILEO Pool of Technology Uptake Facilitators!
For any futher information support please contact the SILEO Project Coordinator, Marta Krakowiak – marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
The SILEO Open Call for Talent Placement Projects was published on 27.11.2023 and will close on 06.02.2024 (NEW DEADLINE!)
What is the SILEO Open Call for Talent Placement Projects?
Talent Placement Projects are a unique opportunity for SMEs to get up to EUR 4.000 to bring fresh talents into the company and embrace digitalisation and circular economy strategies and for professional individuals to collaborate within an innovative business environment, contributing significantly to the professional growth!
SILEO Talent Placement aims at creating mutually valuable relationships between SMEs and professional figures in a time when digitalization and circular approaches are the main factors for moving employees, and companies, ahead.
How to apply?
Apply before the deadline – 06 February 2024 at 17:00 CET – by submitting your talent project proposals with indication of the talent profile and the collaboration program offered through via the Submission Platform.
On our SILEO Submission Platform you can find the Guide for Applicants, FAQ and the call documentation!
For any futher information support please contact the SILEO Project Coordinator, Marta Krakowiak – marta.krakowiak@elcacluster.eu
SILEO Manufacturing Process Map with SWOT analysis provides an outline of current production practices helping understand the start line for the transformation process in the European industry of furniture and lighting.
Deliverable D2.2 – SILEO Manufacturing Process Map & supply chain SWOT analysis – Download here