Public call for applications for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises striving to transition to a circular economy and need innovative and sustainable packaging solutions for their products
26. maj 2026
The call is being held within the framework of the project FINNOPACK, which is part of the Interreg Slovenia-Austria programme and focuses on developing a more resilient and sustainable region. Within the framework of the project, we want to encourage and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the transition to a circular economy and the development of sustainable fibre packaging, where packaging does not become waste at the end of its life, but a source of raw materials for new products.
Purpose of the public tender
The purpose of the call is to select 6 to 8 companies (SMEs) that want to newly develop or upgrade existing packaging for their products in accordance with the circular economy concept. In doing so, the project partners (Institute of Pulp and Paper, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana and Goerner Formpack) will help them with conceptual proposals and the development of molded packaging at the laboratory level. At the end of the 3-year project (September 2028), the selected companies will receive laboratory samples of molded packaging developed for their products. In addition to the laboratory samples, two types of packaging will be produced at the pilot level and handed over to the selected companies for testing the suitability and usability for their products in a real environment. The transition of companies to sustainable packaging will contribute to greater competitiveness and a circular economy in the cross-border area.
Selected SMEs will receive:
- Free developing customized packaging for their product,
- professional support in packaging development,
- cooperation with project partners,
- up to 30 laboratory samples of molded packaging made for their product.
Based on the laboratory development process, two selected packaging will be produced at pilot level.
Application conditions
Companies that:
- are based in Slovenia and Austria (preference will be given to companies from the project’s programming area)*,
- will collaborate with project partners in development and provide information about the product for which they want to develop packaging,
- test the developed packaging with its products in a real environment and
- will attend the final conference, where we will present project activities and developed packaging solutions.
Application for the call takes place over an online form: https://forms.gle/5ukq75poYadXEztKA.
Application deadline: 17. 6. 2026.
Selection process
The project partners will select products for which the applicant companies will receive packaging development within the FINNOPACK project, in accordance with the project objectives, circular economy and feasibility. Preference will be given to less complex proposals, smaller packaging, packaging that can be used for multiple products (e.g. tray), and applicants from the project’s programme area.
Timeline
Public tender: 26. 5. 2026 to 17. 6. 2026
Announcement of selected SMEs and their products: 15. 7. 2026
Packaging development: September 2026 to January 2028
Packaging testing: January to June 2028
Closing conference: September 2028
For additional information, please contact Urška Kavčič:urska.kavcic@icp-lj.si
*The program area covers eight Slovenian regions (Gorenjska, Goriška, Koroška, Osrednjeslovenska,
Podravina, Pomurje, Savinja, Zasavje) and eight Austrian (East Styria, West and South Styria,
Graz, Eastern Upper Styria, Lower Carinthia, Klagenfurt-Villach, Upper Carinthia in Southern Burgenland) regij.
