The Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovations and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO), as the Lead Partner of the project “B Light 2 – Fostering cross-border business cooperation of SMEs operating on different sides of the Hungary-Croatia border”, implemented under the Interreg VI-A Hungary-Croatia Programme 2021–2027, is launching the first Call for Proposals (Light Project Proposal) for cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in the Croatian-Hungarian border area.
Under the first Call for Proposals, EUR 3.75 million from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is available to entrepreneurs for cross-border cooperation projects. EU funds can co-finance up to 80% of the total project value, while the maximum amount of EU funding per project is EUR 300,000.
Eligible activities for financing cross-border projects include the development of business models, joint innovation of SMEs and research and development (R&D) organisations, the development of new products, services and technologies, the purchase of new equipment for the joint development of technology, services and products, the purchase of IT equipment, activities related to entering new markets, and external expert support.
Each project proposal must include at least two partners, one Croatian and one Hungarian entrepreneur, while the maximum number of partners is four. Research and development organisations are eligible provided that the project includes at least two SMEs, one from Croatia and one from Hungary.
Eligible applicants are small and medium-sized enterprises registered in the Croatian border programme area (the counties of Međimurje, Varaždin, Koprivnica-Križevci, Bjelovar-Bilogora, Virovitica-Podravina, Požega-Slavonia, Osijek-Baranja and Vukovar-Srijem) and Hungary (the counties of Zala, Somogy and Baranya).
The first Call for Proposals is open from 24 September to 23 November 2026. The complete documentation is available at the link.
The application requirements, eligible activities and information on the selection procedure are provided in the Guidelines for Applicants.
Project proposals can be submitted via the project’s online platform at the link.
For further information, interested entrepreneurs can contact blight@hamagbicro.hr or contact the project partners.
Find out more about the 1st Call for Entrepreneurs in the B Light 2 project video:
Take the opportunity to develop your business and connect with entrepreneurs from Croatia and Hungary – prepare your project proposal and apply to the first B Light 2 Call for Proposals!
The project is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).