€200,000 – the total budget of the LASER-PRO Open Call, launched under Horizon Europe. Until the end of June 2026, the program will support up to 5 companies from the EU and Ukraine with vouchers worth up to €40,000 for access to leading laser and photonics laboratories.
LASER-PRO is not a direct bank transfer. Winners receive subsidized access to services: qualified specialists, equipment, materials, IP consulting, and support in finding additional financing – all as a single voucher package.
Ukraine is explicitly named as one of three priority regions alongside Czechia and Lithuania. Applications can be submitted now – the call closes in June 2026.
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What LASER-PRO is and who this call targets
LASER-PRO (Excellent Laser Technologies for the Sustainable Prosperity of Europe) is a Horizon Europe project connecting leading laser and photonics research centers in Czechia, Lithuania, and Ukraine. The goal: accelerate the transfer of laser technologies into real industrial applications by directly linking scientific infrastructure with companies.
The Open Call is a competition in which companies apply for an Application Experiment – a small collaborative project between the company and LASER-PRO. Selected participants receive subsidized access to consortium services and equipment, covered by a voucher.
The call is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and mid-cap companies from Horizon Europe eligible countries. Ukrainian companies participate through Ukraine’s associate status in Horizon Europe.
A technical or non-technical company background is accepted – the key requirement is that your product or process relates to one of the four application areas of the call.
Four application areas
The call supports projects related to testing and developing products based on laser technologies across four sectors.
Sustainable Manufacturing. Laser cutting, welding, marking, and material processing for production companies seeking higher precision and reduced waste.
Semiconductor Technology. Laser processing and fabrication of components for electronics and microelectronics.
Biomedical Innovations. Medical devices, diagnostic equipment, and medical materials where laser technologies provide advantages in precision or sterility.
Digital and 3D Printing. Laser-based 3D printing of metal and polymer parts, digital manufacturing, and prototyping of complex components.
What the winner receives
LASER-PRO covers costs through a voucher that finances access to consortium services. The amount up to €40,000 is the recommended guideline; the final sum is agreed individually when signing the Service Delivery Agreement.
The voucher covers qualified human resources – laser technology specialists assigned to execute the Application Experiment – as well as equipment time and access to LASER-PRO infrastructure, consumables and components for the prototype or demonstrator, and travel costs for experts visiting the company.
Beyond the technical component, the program includes business services: intellectual property (IP) consulting, business model development, and support in finding additional financing.
What the voucher does not cover: equipment purchases and capital investments. The final cost of each case is determined during negotiation of the Service Delivery Agreement between the company and LASER-PRO.
Ukraine’s role in LASER-PRO
Ukraine is one of three focus regions of the project alongside Czechia and Lithuania. LASER-PRO actively builds connections with the Ukrainian laser ecosystem: it delivers training for Ukrainian companies, runs a dedicated mentoring program for the Ukrainian laser sector, and participates in sector conferences and matching sessions.
Geographic diversity is a factor in evaluation: applications from countries not represented among the higher-ranked proposals receive priority when scores are equal. The program expects the five funded projects to cover different countries, which creates a structural advantage for Ukrainian companies in the selection process.
If your company is in Ukraine and you’re considering applying – this factor is worth accounting for.
How proposals are evaluated
Evaluation uses three criteria, each scored 0 to 5. The maximum total score is 15. To be selected, a proposal must score at least 3 on each criterion and at least 10 overall.
Concept – how well the proposal aligns with the call’s topics, clarity of the technical and business challenges, market opportunity, and the proposed approach.
Implementation – activities and work plan, resources allocated, risks identified, and mitigation strategies.
Impact – expected results, broader business and market impact, go-to-market strategy.
Evaluation results are sent approximately 6 weeks after the cut-off date. The full process from submission to the end of the Application Experiment can take up to 12 months. Applicants may resubmit rejected proposals at the next cut-off date.
How to apply
Start with a consultation with LASER-PRO before formally submitting. The consortium checks the technical and business feasibility of your idea at no cost – before you invest time in completing the application form.
For a consultation, contact the helpdesk: laserpro-eh-helpdesk@hilase.cz or +420 226 217 422 (Mon–Fri, 09:00–17:00 CET).
Submission steps:
1. Download and review the Application Guidelines and Service Delivery Agreement template from the official site. 2. Confirm your company meets the eligibility criteria. 3. Register on the platform: laserpro.amires.eu. 4. Fill in application data in the system and download the Application Form. 5. Complete the form, save as PDF (maximum 5 pages), upload and submit. 6. Submit before the next cut-off date (17:00 CET).
The program primarily accepts applications in English. Submission in another language is possible after prior agreement with the helpdesk. Applicants can resubmit rejected proposals at any subsequent cut-off date without restrictions.
Summary table: LASER-PRO Open Call
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Organiser | LASER-PRO consortium (Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement 101186838) |
| Support type | Voucher for subsidized access to services (not a direct bank transfer) |
| Total budget | €200,000 |
| Number of grants | Up to 5 companies |
| Voucher amount | Recommended up to €40,000 (final amount negotiated individually) |
| Deadline | 30 June 2026 (rolling, cut-off dates at 17:00 CET) |
| Who can apply | SMEs and mid-cap companies from Horizon Europe eligible countries (Ukraine included) |
| Priority regions | Czechia, Lithuania, Ukraine |
| Application areas | Sustainable manufacturing, semiconductors, biomedical innovations, digital / 3D printing |
| Voucher covers | Specialists, equipment, materials, travel, IP consulting, business services |
| Not covered | Equipment purchases, capital investments |
| Application language | English (other languages by agreement) |
| Process duration | Up to 12 months from submission to completion |
| Helpdesk | laserpro-eh-helpdesk@hilase.cz / +420 226 217 422 |
| Official page | laserpro-eh.eu/open-call → |
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