The second DEVELOP call of In Transit has awarded more than €1.43 million to 30 European SMEs to boost sustainable projects in improved processes, innovative products, and new circular business models

• 30 SMEs from 21 projects will receive more than €1.43 million, along with 50 hours of coaching to accelerate their market entry

• With 43% of the beneficiaries, Spain is the country with the highest number of awarded companies

March 14, 2025 – In Transit, aimed at strengthening the resilience of SMEs in the textile, aerospace, construction, and advanced manufacturing sectors across the EU, is funding 30 European SMEs in the second DEVELOP call, with a total budget of over €1.43 million.

The call was targeted at European SMEs planning to develop sustainable solutions, such as processes or products, due to the implementation of new circular business models.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Spain, with 13 SMEs, is the first country in the ranking of the 30 SMEs beneficiaries, preceded by Italy (4), Portugal (3), Netherlands (3), Ireland (2), Austria (2), Belgium (2), and Finland (1).

Of the 30 SMEs awarded, 34% come from both the textile and the advanced manufacturing sector, 18% from the aerospace sector and 14% from the construction sector.

HIGH PARTICIPATION

A total of 205 applications were received (42% more than in the first call), with the participation of 281 SMEs from 26 European countries. The In Transit consortium has ultimately selected the 21 best projects for funding, including 12 individual projects and 9 consortium-based projects. All funded projects will receive the In Transit DEVELOP voucher, a financial instrument aimed at SMEs planning to develop sustainable solutions, such as processes or products, due to the implementation of new circular business models.

21 FUNDED PROJECTS

The projects include modular acoustic partitions from post-consumer textiles, AI- driven quality control for technical workwear, and circular solutions for carbide cutting tools. Other highlights are smart sorting systems for second-hand textiles, blockchain-based traceability for sustainable fashion, and remote testing solutions for satellite assembly.

In aerospace, innovations include electrospray propulsion for picosatellites and cost- effective monitoring of space debris. Additional advancements feature digital solutions for textile sustainability, AI-powered tool life prediction, and eco-friendly air-textured yarn production.

Furthermore, projects focus on automated pull stud manufacturing, sustainable filtration materials, and advanced recycling technologies to enhance circularity in the textile industry.

These are all the projects and the SMEs that are developing them:

• DOGSE (Solar MEMS Technologies SL and Cubicoff Ingeniería Abierta): Additive manufacturing and topology optimization to create a lightweight, versatile sun sensor stimulator.
• AVTEX (Maccion Lean Solution and Cintas y Pasamanería): Machine vision and AI integration for real-time defect detection in narrow fabrics, enhancing quality control and efficiency.
• Digi4BioMat (Pedone Working Srl and Levery Srl Società Benefit): Bio-based building block with improved insulation using locally sourced agro-waste while integrating a DPP to enhance lifecycle transparency and circular business models.
• FIDELIS (Introsys S.A): it enhances sustainable manufacturing by integrating CBM and smart diagnostics to reduce waste and optimize production, advancing zero-defect manufacturing for SMEs.
• FO-CEL (HeiQ AeoniQ GmbH and fluvicon GmbH): integrating forward osmosis technology into the HeiQ AeoniQTM spinning process, reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.
• DREAM (Matersia Proyectos y Materiales SL and SpacEngineer Ida): developing bio-based composites and coatings for delivery drones, reducing carbon footprint and material use.

• VisionTex (Arisnova SLU and Campos Montaverner SLU): it transforms textile quality inspection with AI-driven computer vision, reducing defects by 80% and minimizing waste.
• Plissade (Luis Marie): Creating a fully circular, modular acoustic partition from post-consumer textiles, eliminating the need for adhesives and non- renewable materials.
• WoolWalls (RUTEX SLU): transforming low-quality wool waste into high- performance construction panels with acoustic, thermal, and air-purifying properties integrating traceability and eco-friendly finishes.
• EOM3D.2 (TASSANI&PARTNERS ORIZZONTE 2020, S.L.): it introduces an innovative approach to mobile manufacturing by stabilizing advanced machinery inside moving vehicles, overcoming vibration and stability challenges.
• PERFECT (i-Deal S.R.L.): using AI and image analysis for automated, precise garment size validation, reducing costs and 280 tons of CO2 anually.
• CutSmart Solution (Croom Precision Tooling Ltd and Bright Cape B.V): enhancing tool lifespan in advanced manufacturing by using machine learning to predict optimal tool changes, reducing scrap and conserving critical materials like Cobalt.
• Sort Mate (Trosort and Industrial Construction and Automation): it revolutionizes textile circularity by automating sorting with AI, 360° imaging, and NIR sensors, boosting efficiency and resale value.
• Tree (Struggle Creative Oy): Tree is a blockchain-based platform using shareable NFTs to ensure transparency and sustainability in the textile industry.
• VBOX (VBOX Limited): remote, portable network solution that transforms satellite assembly by enabling off-site integration testing, reducing costs, travel, and emissions.
• ATHENA PICO (IENAI SPACE S.L.): advanced electrospray propulsion system for picosatellites (<1 kg) using high-temperature ionic liquids to enable miniaturization and enhanced reliability.
• CIRCULARTECH (Blue Room Innovation SL and bAwear BV): digital platform that combines DPP with blockchain for environmental tracking and a scoring system for real-time assessments of carbon footprint, water consumption, and waste.
• INOSCOPE (RICARDO DOMINGOS & BERGANO LDA.): developing a cost- effective telescope with optical sensors and software for tracking space debris and satellites in Low Earth Orbit using off-the-shelf components.

• ECO-SPIN (DUCTEL, S.A.): by using advanced digital solutions and real-time monitoring, it reduces energy consumption, waste, and improves efficiency, making air-textured yarn production more sustainable.
• Delta’s project (Delta Industrie srl): it focuses on automating the production of pull studs by integrating a laser marking machine into its existing workflow.
• ECOFILTER (FILTROS INDUSTRIALES, S. L.): repurposing manufacturing waste into recycled filter products, promoting sustainability and reducing landfill waste while maintaining product quality.

For more information about the projects: https://intransitproject.eu/2nd-develop- call-beneficiaries/

ABOUT IN TRANSIT

In Transit project aims to strengthen the resilience of textile, aerospace, construction, and advanced manufacturing SMEs towards greener and more digital sectors with social and business model, with a mixed support mechanism including individual assessment support and a lump sum and coaching to ensure their consolidation and sustainability.The project is led by ATEVAL in Valencia, and counts with strong partners such as Tèxtils.CAT in Catalonia, CTA in Andalusia, CORALLIA in Greece, PRODUTECH in Portugal, Science Park Graz in Austria, TUS (IDEAM Cluster) in Ireland, POLIMI in Italy, IRTJV in France, and CCS in Slovenia.

DISCLAIMER

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

© 2022-2025 In Transit Consortium Partners. All rights reserved. Licensed to the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under conditions. All trademarks and other rights on third party products mentioned in this document are acknowledged and owned by the respective holders.

This project has received funding from European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) under grant agreement No 101091494