GALACTICA: an EU experiment in cross-sectoral advanced manufacturing

GALACTICA is an EU funded initiative under Horizon 2020 INNOSUP that seeks to accelerate the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies across textile and aerospace value chains. The project packages practical interventions intended to nudge small and medium sized enterprises toward higher added value activity. GALACTICA frames its work as responding to the green and digital transitions by promoting technological and business model changes that connect two very different sectors.

How GALACTICA works

GALACTICA uses a combination of community building, direct funding and targeted events. Core instruments include learning expeditions that take SMEs into partner innovation ecosystems, cross sector workshops, a community platform for matchmaking and knowledge exchange, hackathons to generate ideas, and acceleration vouchers to support early prototyping and demonstrators.

Instruments and funding schemes

GALACTICA’s open calls offer two kinds of acceleration vouchers and a broader support package that includes coaching and group events to improve market readiness. The initiative also runs learning expeditions and hackathons to surface ideas and build teams that can apply for vouchers.

Results so far and recent activity

By the time of the European Innovation Council announcement on 20 January 2022, GALACTICA had completed two hackathons, run eight learning expeditions and held a first open call. The project reported tangible outcomes including prize awards, new start ups and funded prototype projects.

Eligibility and application mechanics for the second call

The second GALACTICA open call is open to innovative startups and SMEs based in the EU and the United Kingdom working in textile, aerospace or advanced manufacturing. Pioneer projects can be single SMEs or small consortia. Orbital projects must include at least two SMEs and if two SMEs apply they must belong to different sectors. Successful applicants receive the lump sum funding, plus coaching and access to community events intended to accelerate market launch.

The project provides practical support to applicants including webinars, template documents and a mandatory video pitch. GALACTICA also offered travel vouchers of €500 for SMEs outside Belgium to attend the Brussels info day and matchmaking event.

Events linked to the call

GALACTICA organised an info day and matchmaking event in Brussels on 10 February 2022. The agenda combined a project overview, results from mapping and needs analysis, practical guidance on how to apply, and B2B meeting slots. The organisers also provided a platform for pre arranging meetings and for the GALACTICA team to give feedback on concepts ahead of submission.

Assessment and context

GALACTICA is representative of a broader trend in EU innovation policy that emphasises cross sector experimentation and cluster driven support for SMEs. Its package mixes soft measures such as learning journeys with hard cash in the form of small lump sum vouchers. This combination helps to lower early stage risk and to create initial proof points for ideas that bridge sectors.

That said, the scale of funding and the short project durations limit how far complex industrial problems can be solved. Aerospace is a highly regulated, safety critical sector where prototypes need rigorous testing and lengthy certification processes. Textile firms may be experienced in materials and production techniques but less practised in aerospace certification pathways. Moving from an MVP funded by a voucher to a certified, marketable aerospace component typically requires substantial follow on investment and time.

The first call’s numbers show modest reach. A 31 percent selection rate from 83 applications to 26 funded projects implies real interest but modest capacity to absorb grants at scale. The awards reached 40 SMEs in those 26 projects, which means some projects already intended cross SME consortia. The second call increases the envelope but still targets a relatively small number of beneficiaries. For systemic impact, projects will need pathways to additional financing and to standards alignment in regulated supply chains.

Practical takeaways for SMEs and observers

SMEs considering GALACTICA should assess whether their idea genuinely requires cross-sector input and whether it can be meaningfully advanced within the short voucher timelines. They should plan for follow on finance or partnerships to take prototypes through testing and regulatory steps. Participation in learning expeditions, matchmaking, and hackathons can be as valuable as the cash because these events create contacts that may be needed to scale.

For policymakers and funders, GALACTICA illustrates the limits of small scale vouchers for deep industrial transformation. These instruments are useful to catalyse experimentation and to surface promising collaborations. To convert those pilots into sustained industrial change will require larger downstream instruments, clearer links to standardisation bodies and more sustained support for certification activities in aerospace.

How to follow up or apply

The second GALACTICA open call opened on 18 January 2022 and closed for submissions on 30 March 2022 at 17:00 CEST. Applicants could apply for Pioneer projects up to €20,000 or Orbital projects up to €100,000 per project. GALACTICA organised an info day and matchmaking on 10 February in Brussels to support applicants. For archives, templates and recordings of webinars applicants were directed to the GALACTICA repository and calls platform. For questions the project provided a calls email contact.

Readers wanting the most current status should check the GALACTICA project website and the calls platform for updated deadlines, beneficiary lists and post project reports. The EISMEA and EIC portals also host summaries of related EU actions and their wider programmes of SME support.