Open calls by funded projects
Competitive calls published by Horizon / Digital Europe beneficiaries redistributing FSTP budgets.
Cascade / FSTP
Cascade funding / FSTP
Smaller, faster open calls run by EU-funded projects that redistribute money to startups and SMEs as third parties.
- Who it's for
- Early startups seeking €50k–€200k-style support with lighter applications than flagship programmes.
- Typical ticket
- Typically €50k–€200k per beneficiary (call-specific)
- Application shape
- Usually single beneficiary or small teams applying to a project’s open call, with no Commission consortium form.
- Co-funding
- Often closer to 100% of the cascade grant amount, but each call sets its own rules and eligible costs.
- Timeline
- Frequently shorter than flagship Horizon topics: weeks to a few months, depending on the open call.
Overview
Cascade funding (Financial Support to Third Parties, FSTP) is how many startups first touch EU money. A funded Horizon or Digital Europe consortium runs open calls and awards smaller grants or equity-free support to third parties, often startups and SMEs.
You apply to that project’s call, not to the Commission directly. Rules, budgets, and timelines differ by call. Grantopic surfaces live cascade opportunities alongside flagship programmes so you are not stuck only on the main portal topics.
Instruments inside this programme
Same family, different application shapes. Pick the lane that matches your stage.
Fit check
Use this before you spend weeks on a proposal.
Good fit when
- First-time EU applicants who need a lighter process
- Startups whose sector matches a running cascade call
- Teams that can deliver a short pilot or experiment quickly
- Founders who want practice before a full Horizon or EIC bid
Usually a poor fit when
- Companies needing multi-million single cheques
- Ideas that do not match any live cascade scope
- Teams expecting Commission-style evaluation transparency on every call
Rules founders forget
- 01You apply to a project consortium, not the Commission directly.
- 02Eligibility and scope are defined by each open call text.
- 03Often the quickest path to EU money for first-time applicants.
- 04Reporting still exists: lighter than flagship grants, not zero.
- 05Budgets and deadlines vary widely; never assume the “typical” range.
How to approach it
A practical sequence, not a guarantee of award.
- 1After you start a trial, browse cascade calls in Explore (source: Cascade / FSTP).
- 2Read the specific open-call PDF. Scope beats programme branding.
- 3Prepare a short application aimed at that call’s experiment or pilot.
- 4If awarded, contract with the project (not the Commission).
- 5Deliver, report, and use the reference for larger bids later.
National angle
How national agencies and co-funding usually interact with this EU programme.
Cascade calls are often the practical on-ramp before national-agency-heavy or EIC processes. Watch eligibility countries and whether UK/associated partners are in or out for that call.
Next step
Verify everything on the official programme page, then start a free trial to match live calls to your company profile.