European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and its KICs: Funding, Eligibility & How to Apply

Q: Is there one 'EIT grant' I apply to?

No. The EIT has nine active Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) — eight fully operational plus EIT Water, which launched in late 2025 and is in its startup phase — and each runs its own accelerators and open calls. You apply to the KIC that matches your sector, not to the EIT centrally.

Q: How much money do startups actually get?

There is no universal EIT award or ownership model. The individual opportunities distinguish grants, competitive prizes, equity-based acceleration and commercial-return obligations. Check the named operator manual and final agreement.

Q: Does the EIT take equity in my startup?

There is no universal EIT award or ownership model. The individual opportunities distinguish grants, competitive prizes, equity-based acceleration and commercial-return obligations. Check the named operator manual and final agreement.

Q: Which KICs exist?

Eight fully operational KICs: Climate-KIC, 28DIGITAL (formerly EIT Digital), InnoEnergy, EIT Health, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT Urban Mobility, and EIT Culture & Creativity. Plus EIT Water, launched late 2025, in startup phase (full operations expected 2027). Note: EIT Manufacturing filed for judicial liquidation in March 2026 and no longer accepts applications; manufacturing founders should explore Horizon Europe Cluster 4 or national schemes.

Q: How is the EIT different from the EIC Accelerator?

EIC instruments and EIT community calls have separate eligibility and applications. EIT spans student grants, acceleration and multi-partner commercialisation projects; support is not uniformly small or equity-free.

Q: Who is eligible to apply?

Generally early-stage startups (pre-seed to Series A) operating in a KIC's theme, with a prototype, pilot or MVP, and established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe-associated country. Many calls also include EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries. Each KIC sets its own precise rules.

Q: How big is the EIT's budget?

The EIT has roughly €3 billion for 2021-2027 under Horizon Europe. In October 2025 the Governing Board approved €978 million for 2026-2028 -- the largest funding round in its history.

Call status & timing

Open now

Innovation Validation Call 2027 (EIT Health): closes 13 January 2027 at 16:00 CET. Up to €850,000 per project for digital or AI-enabled medical technologies ready for clinical validation (Innovation Maturity Level 6 to 7). Company-led consortium of at least two organisations from different countries. Apply via apply.eithealth.eu.
EIT Higher Education Initiative — Call for Proposals 2026: closes 13 January 2027 at 17:00 CET. Up to €1.25 million per project over 18 months for universities building innovation and entrepreneurship capacity (STEM talent, knowledge valorisation, innovation ecosystem integration). Consortium of at least five funded partners including at least three HEIs from three Horizon-eligible countries. Apply via eit-hei.eu. Total budget: €40 million.
Urban Mobility startup co-investment: closes 16 November 2026.
SME Market Expansion 2027: closes 1 December 2026.

Closed2

AI Entrepreneurs Lab closed on 21 October 2026. A 28DIGITAL bootcamp with up to five €10,000 prizes for AI and robotics venture ideas; no equity taken.
Student Entrepreneur Grant Scheme (EIT Urban Mobility) closed on 14 October 2026 at 17:00 CEST. Restricted to EIT Urban Mobility EIT-labelled programme graduates; up to €6,000 per project.

Good to know

EIT has no single startup deadline. Use the official opportunities directory and each operator's manual for the full current list: eit.europa.eu/our-activities/opportunities

11 researched calls & local opportunities ↓

Funding available

Call-specific grants, prizes, services or investmentKIC-specific grants, prizes, services, convertible instruments and equity; check each call

Success rateNot published EIT-wide; varies sharply by KIC accelerator

Programme timeline3-18 months depending on KIC programme

Programme budget€978M approved for 2026-2028 (EIT total 2021-2027: ~€3bn)

Recorded editorial check · 25 days ago (2 Oct 2026)

On this page · 21 sections→

The programme

Overview

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is the EU's innovation arm inside Horizon Europe's Pillar 3 ("Innovative Europe"). It does not run one grant; it organises a network of pan-European partnerships called Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). As of July 2026, nine KICs are active: Climate-KIC, 28DIGITAL (formerly EIT Digital, rebranded October 2025) and InnoEnergy — the three founding communities that completed their original 15-year EIT Partnership Agreements in December 2024 and now operate under Memoranda of Cooperation with the EIT — plus EIT Health, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Culture & Creativity and EIT Water (designated November 2025, in startup phase with a grant of up to €5M, targeting full operations in 2027). A tenth KIC, EIT Manufacturing, filed for liquidation in March 2026 following an OLAF investigation into serious financial irregularities and ceased all operations on 10 April 2026. Each active KIC owns a sector and runs its own accelerators, venture-building programmes and open calls. For a founder, "applying to EIT" really means applying to the KIC that matches your sector. Support spans small prizes, startup services and larger commercialisation projects; amounts, co-funding and ownership or revenue-sharing obligations are call-specific. Support terms vary by community and call, including grants, prizes, services and investment. EIT's 2021-2027 budget is around €3 billion, and in October 2025 the Governing Board approved €978 million for 2026-2028, its largest funding round ever. The EIT-supported portfolio of over 10,000 ventures is collectively valued at around €71 billion (for the 5,500+ subset tracked on Dealroom, as of May 2024).

Programme budget€978M approved for 2026-2028 (EIT total 2021-2027: ~€3bn)

Average grantNo comparable EIT-wide grant average

Individual funding routes · 11

Calls & local opportunities

Compare the terms of each route. Programme-wide budgets are separate from the amount an applicant can receive.

OpenTwo-stage commercialisation funding

Creative technology Innovation Projects 2026

Applicant funding: €20,000 preparation support; up to €900,000 for selected implementation projects
Deadline: 30 Oct 2026, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Tech-relevant scope includes AI/media systems, digital architecture and circular-material technologies. Selected first-stage applicants develop a business plan; invited implementation proposals are due 15 March 2027. Stage 2 requires a Revenue Sharing Agreement; the manual describes 3.5–5% of qualifying revenues over 48–60 months. The final agreement controls the terms and its template was promised for mid-October.

Funding rate: Implementation: 70% of eligible costs per participant; at least 30% co-funding
Call budget: Up to €600,000 preparation and €9.9M implementation
Readiness: TRL 7 progressing to TRL 9
Opens: 25 Sept 2026

Who can apply

Stage 1: single company in an eligible Horizon Europe country, with a near-market innovation in architecture, audio-visual media or fashion technology. Stage 2 is invitation-only for a consortium of two or three independent entities, including the original applicant and a commercialisation partner.

Call documents

Innovation Projects 2026 call guidelines ↗

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

OpenStartup funding alongside an active raise

Financial Support to Startups — November cutoff

Applicant funding: Up to €2.5M per company; final structure negotiated
Deadline: 16 Nov 2026, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

The notice describes funding alongside private investors. The linked manual calls the support a sub-grant and says potential shareholding is voluntary, not a grant prerequisite. Confirm the final funding and investment agreements. Co-funding is encouraged and negotiated; membership and a fee may apply. The next published cutoff after this one is 11 January 2027.

Funding rate: No fixed rate in the manual; co-funding discussed during negotiation
Call budget: €14M indicative allocation for 2026–2028
Readiness: Prototype, pilot or MVP; active equity or equity-linked raise
Opens: 23 Dec 2025

Who can apply

EU or Horizon Europe associated startup raising pre-seed, seed or Series A funding for urban mobility; prototype or MVP required. Pre-money valuation no more than €50M; founders/executives jointly hold over 40%. Excludes existing EIT Urban Mobility portfolio companies. After two consecutive applications, skip the next cutoff.

Call documents

Financial Support to Startups call manual ↗

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

OpenMarket validation grant with commercial-return agreement

SME Market Expansion 2027

Applicant funding: €60,000 lump sum per selected SME
Deadline: 1 Dec 2026, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Test a proven mobility solution in a new market during April–October 2027. A separate Commercial Agreement requires one €5,000 payment after a qualifying verified sale, irrespective of sale value. Membership is optional, with a 40% annual-fee discount for one year. Include the client letter and pitch deck; payments depend on deliverables and market results.

Funding rate: No minimum co-funding required
Call budget: €600,000 indicative; around ten SMEs
Readiness: TRL 7 or above
Opens: 9 Oct 2026

Who can apply

Single EU or Horizon Europe associated SME with at least three FTE in eligible countries. Needs an independent public/private end-client and signed commitment letter. Prior 2026 Market Expansion recipients are excluded.

Call documents

2027 call manual, payment and commercial terms ↗

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 3

Open28DIGITAL-operated regional cascade funding

UNITE Call 2 — interregional digital health

Applicant funding: Up to €1M per consortium; lower regional partner caps apply
Deadline: 10 Dec 2026, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Develop digital health technology for equitable access or the workforce shortage, over April 2027–September 2028. Regional caps per partner are €139,810 in Central Macedonia, €250,000 in Scotland/Romania and €600,000 in the other listed regions; the cumulative organisation ceiling across UNITE calls is €600,000. Regional FSTP agreements and Annex G determine aid intensities and own-resource contributions. Do not import the Co-Creation Accelerator’s equity terms into this separate call.

Funding rate: Region and organisation specific; Annex G controls
Call budget: €6M total Call 2 envelope
Readiness: Digital-health R&D with regional conditions
Opens: 10 Sept 2026

Who can apply

At least three organisations in three eligible UNITE regions, including a solution provider, research entity and end user. Must include Scotland or Wales plus a moderate/emerging region. Funded regions: Central Macedonia, Lombardy, Extremadura, Aragón, Scotland, Wales and Romania. Northern Netherlands is not funded in Call 2.

Call documents

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 3

OpenClinical validation of digital medical technology

Innovation Validation 2027

Applicant funding: Up to €850,000 per project
Deadline: 13 Jan 2027, 16:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Supports digital and AI-powered medical technologies ready for real-world clinical validation, regulatory approval and market preparation. The commercialising entity must sign a Financial Sustainability Contribution Agreement. Opens 14 October 2026; closes 13 January 2027 at 16:00 CET. Apply via apply.eithealth.eu. Info session 28 October 2026.

Funding rate: Up to 50% of total project budget
Readiness: IML 6 to IML 7; these are healthcare innovation levels, not TRLs
Opens: 14 Oct 2026

Who can apply

Company-led consortium of at least two organisations in two countries and two knowledge-triangle sectors. Digital or AI-enabled medical device within MDR/IVDR scope at Innovation Maturity Level 6. A micro/small commercialising company must receive €400,000–€500,000 of the grant.

Call documents

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

OpenUniversity innovation and entrepreneurship capacity building

EIT Higher Education Initiative — Call for Proposals 2026

Applicant funding: Up to €1.25 million per project over 18 months
Deadline: 13 Jan 2027, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Builds university capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship across three focus areas: STEM talent for innovation/entrepreneurship, institutional capacity for knowledge valorisation (tech transfer, IP, startup support), and integration into regional innovation ecosystems. Total budget €40 million. Apply via eit-hei.eu. Organisations that received EIT HEI Call 2025 funding are ineligible.

Funding rate: EIT contribution; co-funding required
Call budget: €40 million total budget
Readiness: Universities and research organisations building innovation capacity; not a startup call
Opens: 20 Oct 2026

Who can apply

Consortium of at least five funded partners — at least three higher education institutions from three different Horizon Europe-eligible countries (at least one EU Member State) plus at least two business/industry partners. Organisations funded under EIT HEI Call 2025 cannot apply.

Official call & application ↗Research checked 23 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

OpenCollaborative mobility innovation

Strategic Innovation — January 2027 cutoff

Applicant funding: Up to €2M per project
Deadline: 28 Jan 2027, 17:00 CET

Eligibility, terms & documents +

For deployment of public/shared transport, logistics, mobility data, electrification and health-mobility innovation. A financial-sustainability agreement is mandatory: normally negotiated equity, SAFE or another equity-related instrument; where unsuitable, a commercial contribution and revenue-sharing arrangement. The signed contract determines the return, without a universal equity percentage.

Funding rate: Up to 65% of eligible costs; consortium co-funds at least 35%
Call budget: €60M call allocation for 2026–2028
Readiness: Market-oriented innovation and deployment; assess the manual’s maturity requirements
Opens: 19 Jun 2025

Who can apply

At least two independent legal entities in two EU or Horizon Europe associated countries. Consortium must support commercialisation; selected applicants must join the community and normally pay membership fees. Commercial Agreement partners have membership included.

Call documents

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

Check with operatorIndustry collaboration in exchange for equity

28DIGITAL Co-Creation Accelerator — next cutoff unannounced

Applicant funding: Up to €250,000 plus support, in exchange for 3.5–7% equity
Deadline: Check with operator

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Four months of technology validation with an industry challenge owner or your own corporate partner. Requires 3.5–7% equity through a Share Transfer Agreement. Challenge partners must become members or contract scouting services; confirm associated fees. Cutoff 1 closed on 8 September; the current manual leaves cutoff 2’s opening, deadline and budget TBC. Continuous-intake marketing does not establish an announced next evaluation date.

Funding rate: No co-funding required; equity is required
Readiness: TRL 4–5 or above; working prototype or validated proof of concept

Who can apply

Digital micro/small company with fewer than 50 employees, at least two FTE, EU/Horizon associated establishment, and substantial control of the solution’s IP. Current landing page says incorporation within five years; manual annexes specify on/after 1 January 2021, so confirm next-cutoff eligibility.

Call documents

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 3

ClosedRestricted student venture grant

Student Entrepreneur Grant Scheme — October cutoff

Applicant funding: Up to €6,000 per idea; at most €4,000 if already incorporated
Deadline: 14 Oct 2026, 17:00 CEST

Eligibility, terms & documents +

Three milestone payments support validation, incorporation and first sales. An already incorporated venture enters at stage 2 and can receive at most €4,000. Next published 2027 cutoffs are 28 April and 14 October. This is not an unrestricted student or startup grant; the specific EIT-labelled education connection is mandatory.

Call budget: Approximately €30,000 per year
Readiness: Idea to incorporation and first sales
Opens: 30 Mar 2026

Who can apply

Team of at least two; at least one member currently enrolled in, or graduated within two years from, an EIT Urban Mobility EIT-labelled programme. Leader resides in an EU or Horizon Europe associated country and has not previously received SEGS support. Early venture without major sales; incorporated entities must be no more than two years old.

Call documents

SEGS call manual — September 2026 revision ↗

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 3

ClosedMaterials technology commercialisation

KAVA 14 Upscaling — second cutoff

Applicant funding: Up to €2.5M per project under the call text
Deadline: 16 Oct 2026 · 13:00 CET or Berlin time — source ambiguity; confirm with operator

Eligibility, terms & documents +

For advanced materials, recycling and critical-materials technologies. Mandatory royalty or equity return is negotiated separately from co-funding. The manual provides a one-year validation phase followed by at most one year of scaling, conditional on review; the landing page still says up to 2.5 years. Use the binding manual and confirm the clock: it labels 13:00 as both CET and Berlin time on a summer-time date.

Funding rate: Consortium provides at least 50% of total project funding
Readiness: Start at TRL 5 or above; reach at least TRL 8
Opens: 24 Apr 2026

Who can apply

Consortium of two to five partners in at least two Horizon Europe funding-eligible countries and at least two knowledge-triangle sectors. Lead must be a KIC partner by project start; selected non-members must fulfil membership obligations. Commercialising partners consume at least half the funding.

Call documents

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 2

ClosedFounder bootcamp and competitive prizes

AI Entrepreneurs Lab

Applicant funding: Up to five €10,000 prizes, plus bootcamp services
Deadline: 21 Oct 2026 · 17:00 CET as published; summer-time interpretation not clarified

Eligibility, terms & documents +

28DIGITAL operates a five-day EIT Community AI & Robotics bootcamp for up to 15 people. Up to five teams can win €10,000; participation is not a guaranteed cash award. Submit CVs and a short idea presentation. Travel support is conditional on programme rules and budget; no equity or participation fee is specified in the published opportunity notice.

Readiness: Idea or pre-launch venture
Opens: 1 Sept 2026

Who can apply

Master’s or PhD students and graduates with an AI or robotics venture idea. Apply in a personal capacity, alone or as a team of up to two; early concepts and recently incorporated pre-launch startups can qualify.

Call documents

Official eligibility and application checklist ↗

Official call & application ↗Research checked 12 Oct 2026

Sources · 1

1. https://www.eit.europa.eu/our-activities/opportunities/ai-entrepreneurs-lab

Choose the specific operator call before comparing the headline funding.

Fit

Is this for you?

This is built for early-stage European founders -- pre-seed to Series A -- whose product fits squarely inside one of nine active KIC themes: cleantech, agrifood, health, urban mobility, raw materials, energy, digital deep-tech, creative industries or water. (EIT Manufacturing, which covered advanced manufacturing, ceased operations in April 2026 following OLAF fraud findings and is no longer accepting applications; founders in that space should look at Horizon Europe Cluster 4 or national schemes.) If you have a prototype, pilot or MVP, want cash (usually equity-free) plus hands-on acceleration, and value access to corporates, pilot sites and EU-wide networks more than a single large cheque, this is for you. If you need €2.5M+ of non-dilutive grant in one shot, you want the EIC Accelerator instead -- the EIT's per-startup amounts are usually a fraction of that, and its largest call (EIT Urban Mobility) is a co-investment that takes equity rather than a grant. If your idea doesn't map cleanly to a KIC theme, or you're sector-agnostic, look elsewhere: there is no generic "EIT grant," only sector-specific KIC programmes you must match to.

A good fit if

Startup or founding team in a KIC sector — food, health, manufacturing, urban mobility, raw materials, culture & creativity, climate, energy, digital, water
Pre-seed to Series A with a prototype, pilot or MVP (minimum viable product)
Registered in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe-associated country
Pre-company teams — EIT Jumpstarter takes ideas, not just legal entities
Universities, research institutes and corporates wanting to join a KIC partnership

Probably not if

Lone deep-tech firm needing a €2.5M non-dilutive grant → EIC Accelerator
R&D consortium chasing a multi-million collaborative project → Horizon Europe cluster calls
First-of-a-kind clean-industry plant needing tens of millions → Innovation Fund
Lab-stage science at TRL 1–3 (technology readiness level) → EIC Pathfinder

"Applying to EIT" really means applying to one Knowledge and Innovation Community's (KIC's) own call — each of the nine-plus communities sets its own deadlines, amounts and terms. Teams from EIT RIS countries (the Regional Innovation Scheme covering central, eastern and southern Europe plus outermost regions) get reserved slots and extra prizes.

Focus areas

Knowledge & Innovation Communities

EIT Health

The EIT's life-sciences community, spanning medical technology, digital health, biotech and healthcare delivery. It runs accelerators, fellowships and matching grants that move clinical ideas toward market.

Health start-ups, scale-up acceleration, and innovation projects linking hospitals, universities and industry.

EIT Climate-KIC

Europe's largest public-private partnership focused on climate innovation, working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero, climate-resilient economy. It backs ventures and city- and region-scale 'deep demonstration' projects.

Climate start-ups, systems-change pilots, and entrepreneurial education on decarbonisation.

28DIGITAL (formerly EIT Digital)

The community driving Europe’s digital transformation across software, AI, cybersecurity, digital industry and digital cities. Rebranded from EIT Digital to 28DIGITAL in October 2025. Financially autonomous since January 2025, operating under a Memorandum of Cooperation with the EIT.

Deep-tech digital start-ups via the 28DIGITAL Accelerator, plus innovation and education activities.

EIT InnoEnergy

The sustainable-energy community and one of the most active venture investors in the network, backing battery, renewable and clean-energy companies. Since 2010 it reports having invested roughly €560 million across more than 380 companies. Financially autonomous since January 2025 under a Memorandum of Cooperation with the EIT.

Equity and grant support for energy start-ups and scale-ups, from cleantech storage to renewables.

EIT Manufacturing — CLOSED (liquidation April 2026)

EIT Manufacturing filed for liquidation in March 2026 following OLAF findings of serious financial irregularities, and ceased all operations on 10 April 2026. It is no longer accepting applications. Founders in advanced manufacturing should consider Horizon Europe Cluster 4 or national funding schemes instead.

No longer operational.

EIT Food

The community leading innovation across the agri-food value chain, from farming and ingredients to sustainable and healthier diets. It runs accelerators, mission-driven projects and entrepreneurship programmes.

Agri-food start-ups, food-system innovation projects, and food-entrepreneurship training.

EIT Urban Mobility

The community for smart, green and integrated urban transport, partnering with cities to test and deploy new mobility solutions. It blends start-up support with live city pilots.

Mobility start-ups, city-based innovation pilots, and demonstration projects in public space.

EIT RawMaterials

The community building secure, sustainable supply of raw and advanced materials for Europe, covering mining, processing, recycling and substitution. It is central to the EU’s critical-raw-materials agenda.

Materials start-ups, supply-chain innovation projects, and skills programmes across the value chain.

EIT Culture & Creativity

The community strengthening Europe’s cultural and creative sectors and industries, from design and media to heritage and the creative economy. It connects creatives with entrepreneurship support.

Creative-industry start-ups, cross-sector innovation projects, and creative-entrepreneurship education.

EIT Water

The EIT’s tenth Knowledge and Innovation Community, designated November 2025. Initially launched by the 50-partner Allwaters consortium, the community had grown to 140 core partners across 29 countries as of mid-2026. It takes an integrated approach across freshwater, marine and maritime environments. European headquarters in Aarhus, Denmark. In startup phase in 2026 with a grant of up to €5M; targeting full operations in 2027.

Water, marine and maritime start-ups, innovation projects, and skills development as the community ramps to full operation in 2027.

The odds

Success rates: the honest picture

Choose the specific operator call before comparing the headline funding. The opportunities here range from restricted student grants to consortium commercialisation projects. Check whether the cash is a prize, grant or investment, whether co-funding is required, and whether a separate contract creates equity, revenue-sharing or membership obligations. A call’s prototype, clinical, regional or student restrictions can matter more than the award size.

Where the €978M for 2026–28 goes

Recipient	Allocation 2026–28
EIT Urban Mobility	€206.9M
EIT Manufacturing	€163.2M
EIT Culture & Creativity	€131.6M
EIT Higher Education Initiative	€130M
EIT Food	€125.3M
Cross-KIC activities	€79.3M
EIT RawMaterials	€74.8M
EIT Health	€67.3M

Climate-KIC, 28DIGITAL (formerly EIT Digital) and InnoEnergy get no direct line: EIT funding stops after a maximum of 15 years, so the three oldest KICs now run as financially autonomous organisations and only share the cross-KIC pot. Application caps exist too — EIT Urban Mobility's investment call allows at most two consecutive cut-off attempts before you must skip one.

Who qualifies

Eligibility

Can I apply? Check by country and stage

Can I apply? Check by country and stage →

1You must operate in the thematic area of one of the nine active KICs -- there is no generic EIT track, only sector communities (agrifood, health, mobility, cleantech, raw materials, energy, digital, creative, water). EIT Manufacturing is no longer accepting applicants following its liquidation in April 2026.
2Your company or team must be established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe-associated country; many calls additionally welcome EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries to widen geographic reach.
3Most accelerators require an early-stage venture (pre-seed to Series A) with a working prototype, pilot or near-MVP demonstrating early traction.
4Select investment-style calls impose financial criteria -- for example EIT Urban Mobility's 2026 Financial Support to Startups call requires active fundraising (pre-seed, seed or Series A), a pre-money valuation not exceeding €50M, and founders or executives jointly holding more than 40% of equity; the current manual makes potential shareholding voluntary, while requiring an active fundraising round.
5Each KIC sets its own eligibility, so a company eligible for one community may not be for another -- you must read the specific call manual rather than assume EIT-wide rules.

The fine print

You almost never apply to the EIT itself — the money flows through the KICs

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is not a grant office for startups. Its budget is channelled through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) — EIT Health, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Food, EIT RawMaterials and the rest — which run their own open calls, accelerators and investment instruments under their own call manuals. The EIT centrally runs only a handful of calls (the Higher Education Initiative, calls for entirely new KICs such as EIT Water). Founders should target a KIC call; most are open to non-partners as well as KIC members, though selected projects are contracted and monitored by the KIC acting as intermediary grant authority under Horizon Europe rules.

Country rules follow Horizon Europe — UK in, Switzerland back in, Hungarian trust universities restricted

KIC calls are open to legal entities established in EU member states or in third countries associated to Horizon Europe, the EU's research framework programme. The UK participates in all parts of Horizon Europe except the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, so UK entities are eligible for EIT activity. Switzerland signed its association agreement on 10 November 2025, restoring Swiss eligibility across the programme. One trap that survives: Hungarian public-interest trusts and their affiliated universities face participation and funding restrictions under the Council's budget-protection measures of December 2022 — check the call's eligibility-of-expenditure annex.

Investment-style calls test your cap table, not just your country

EIT Urban Mobility's Financial Support to Startups call (up to €2.5m per company, the EIT community's flagship startup-funding instrument for 2026–2028) requires that you are in an active equity or equity-linked fundraising round at pre-seed, seed or Series A; a round consisting solely of non-dilutive money (grants, revenue-based financing) does not qualify. Pre-money valuation must not exceed €50m, founders or executives must jointly hold more than 40% of equity before the round, you must have at least a prototype or minimum viable product, and you must not already be in the KIC's equity portfolio. Applicants are classified as SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) under the call.

"Financial sustainability" means the KIC may want a stake

By Governing Board decisions (35/2015 and 13/2021), every KIC must wean itself off EIT money over time. In practice KICs fund this through membership fees, ecosystem services and financial-sustainability contributions attached to startup support — including, under EIT Urban Mobility's startup call, the option of the KIC becoming a shareholder via an investment agreement or SAFE (simple agreement for future equity). The call manual frames this as voluntary and not a precondition for the grant, but expect the conversation during contract negotiation, and budget for it when modelling dilution.

Resubmission is rationed — and standard EU exclusion grounds apply at any stage

Under the multi-cut-off startup call you may not apply to three consecutive cut-offs: after two consecutive attempts you must skip at least one before trying again. Separately, the standard EU Financial Regulation exclusion grounds — bankruptcy, fraud, breach of a prior EU grant agreement, administrative sanctions, or involvement in preparing the call in a way that distorts competition — can knock an applicant out at any point: assessment, contracting or implementation.

The Regional Innovation Scheme ring-fences money — but Spain and Israel don't count

Roughly €4.5m of the €14m 2026–2028 startup-funding pot is earmarked for innovations developed in countries covered by the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS), which channels support to Europe's moderate and emerging innovator countries. Fine print: for this call Spain and Israel are explicitly excluded from RIS classification because of the maturity of their startup ecosystems, so companies there compete under the non-RIS framework despite appearing on general RIS lists.

Technology readiness

Where you need to be

Your project should sit at TRL 4–9 when you apply. The eligible band is highlighted below.

1
Basic principles observedThe core scientific idea is first observed and reported.
2
Technology concept formulatedA practical application for the idea is proposed.
3
Experimental proof of conceptEarly lab experiments show the concept could work.
4
Technology validated in labComponents are tested together and work in the lab.
5
Technology validated in relevant environmentThe technology is tested in conditions close to real use.
6
Technology demonstrated in relevant environmentA working prototype is demonstrated in a realistic setting.
7
System prototype demonstration in operational environmentA near-final prototype is proven in the real operating environment.
8
System complete and qualifiedThe technology is finished, tested and certified for use.
9
Actual system proven in operational environmentThe product is fully commercial and operating at scale.

The money

The money — a network of sector funds, not one grant

EIT budget 2026–28€978MApproved October 2025 — the largest funding round in EIT history, on top of €2.965B for 2021–27

What a startup can actually get€3K–€2.5MDifferent opportunities fund individuals, companies or consortia; the same headline amount does not mean the same instrument.

Max EIT share of a KIC's budget25%Averaged over the KIC's lifetime — the rest must come from partners, revenues and other public funds

KIC funding lifespan15 yrsThen EU money stops. Climate-KIC, 28DIGITAL (ex-EIT Digital) and InnoEnergy have already graduated to financial autonomy

Good to know

EIT is a network, not a fund.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) sits inside Horizon Europe's Pillar 3 and channels its budget to Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) through grant agreements — Food, Health, Urban Mobility, RawMaterials, Culture & Creativity, plus a new EIT Water community starting up in 2026 with an indicative €5M start-up grant. Founders never apply to EIT headquarters in Budapest; they apply to the KIC that owns their sector, on that KIC's own calendar and terms.

Small cheques, big services.

KIC startup support has different financial instruments and terms. EIT Jumpstarter, the pan-EIT pre-acceleration programme, pays €10,000, €5,000 and €3,000 to the top three in each of five active thematic categories (the Advanced & Green Manufacturing cohort was cancelled for the 2026 edition), with €2,500 special prizes (Western Balkans, EU outermost regions, Ukraine rebuild, New European Bauhaus) from a total pool of over €240,000. The real value is the wrapper: training, coaching and market access through a community of 2,420+ partner organisations in 70+ innovation hubs.

Grant size does not determine the ownership terms.

Large awards may be project grants with co-funding and a financial-return agreement. Startup funding, Strategic Innovation, RawMaterials Upscaling and 28DIGITAL acceleration use different contracts; inspect the individual records before modelling repayment or dilution.

The 25% rule explains the strings.

By design, EIT's contribution cannot exceed 25% of a KIC's overall resources averaged over its lifetime, and direct funding ends after at most 15 years. KICs must therefore earn their keep — which is why the older, financially autonomous communities increasingly behave like commercial investors and why investment-style terms creep into the larger programmes. Read each call's conditions; "EIT money" ranges from a free prize to a priced equity round.

The process

How to apply, step by step

1
Pick the right KIC and its open call1-2 weeks to map calls
The EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) does not fund startups centrally. Money and support flow through its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) — thematic networks such as EIT Health, EIT Digital, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Food, EIT Urban Mobility and EIT InnoEnergy. A founder identifies the KIC matching their sector, then finds its currently open business-creation or acceleration call (e.g. EIT Manufacturing BoostUp!, EIT Health Catapult, Climate-KIC ClimAccelerator, EIT Jumpstarter). Each KIC runs its own calendar and portal; there is no single EIT-wide startup application.
Browse the KICs
2
Submit the application to the chosen KIC programme2-4 weeks to prepare
Through the specific KIC's platform the applicant submits company, team and product/solution details, the innovation and its market, traction (some calls, e.g. EIT Health Catapult, require prior private investment such as ≥€500k or equivalent revenue), and a pitch. Eligibility is typically a micro/small enterprise (<50 staff) incorporated in an EU or Horizon-Europe-associated country; programmes are usually structured into competition tracks (e.g. BoostUp!'s CREATE / ACCELERATE / TRANSFORM categories). Evaluation is run by the KIC's own selection committee of experts and investors.
Example: EIT Health Catapult
3
Selection, acceleration and pitch competition3-9 months programme
Shortlisted ventures enter the programme: structured training, mentoring from industry executives, and access to the EIT network of corporates, universities and investors. Most business-creation programmes culminate in semifinal and final pitch rounds before investor juries. Winners receive cash prizes (e.g. up to €30k per category in EIT Health Catapult; up to €10k in EIT Jumpstarter), equity-free or blended support, in-kind prizes and investor visibility. Selection and ranking are done by the KIC's expert and investor jury.
4
(Separate consortium route) Apply to become a new KIC4-6 months to prepare
When the EIT opens a call for a NEW KIC in a designated field (e.g. the 2025 EIT Water call), a consortium — not a startup — applies. Eligibility: minimum 3 independent partners from 3+ Member States, including at least one higher-education institution, one research organisation and one company, up to 50 partners. The consortium submits a full proposal via the EU Funding & Tenders submission system. This route is for institutions building a community, not for an individual founder seeking funding.
EIT call for new KICs
5
(Consortium route) Evaluation, designation, Start-up Plan and Partnership AgreementSeveral months evaluationpass rate ≥70% to reach Governing Board Hearing
New-KIC proposals are scored by an independent Panel of Experts against Horizon Europe award criteria (Excellence; Quality and efficiency of the implementation; Impact). Proposals reaching the 70% overall threshold are invited to a Governing Board Hearing. The winning consortium is then designated, develops a detailed Start-up Plan (itself evaluated against the same three criteria), and signs a multi-year Partnership Agreement with the EIT — typically a €5m start-up grant followed by €20-35m per year for the first Business Plan.

Where to applyBrowse the KICs

Evaluation

What evaluators look for

Excellence

Threshold Part of 70% overall (new-KIC route)

For the new-KIC consortium route, evaluators assess the soundness and ambition of the proposed innovation strategy, the quality of the Knowledge Triangle integration (research, education, business), and the credibility of the approach. Scored under Horizon Europe's standard Excellence criterion.

Clarity and ambition of the innovation strategy
Integration of research, higher education and business (Knowledge Triangle)
Soundness of the proposed concept and methodology

Impact

Threshold Part of 70% overall (new-KIC route)

Evaluates the scale of expected societal, economic and innovation impact — new ventures and jobs created, market-ready products and services, EU-wide reach including the Regional Innovation Scheme, and a credible path to financial sustainability beyond EIT funding.

Expected societal and economic impact across the EU
Venture creation, jobs and market deployment potential
Pathway to financial sustainability and EU-wide geographic balance

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

Threshold Part of 70% overall (new-KIC route)

Assesses the realism and coherence of the work plan, governance and management structure, the consortium's composition and complementarity, and the appropriateness of resources and budget allocation.

Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan
Quality and complementarity of the consortium
Appropriateness of governance, management and resources

Paperwork

Documents you'll need

Existing references

EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities — overviewWeb

Lists every KIC and its thematic focus; the starting point for choosing which community to apply to and finding its co-location centres.

Open now

Good to know

Overview

Calls & local opportunities

Creative technology Innovation Projects 2026

Who can apply

Call documents

Financial Support to Startups — November cutoff

Who can apply

Call documents

SME Market Expansion 2027

Who can apply

Call documents

UNITE Call 2 — interregional digital health

Who can apply

Call documents

Innovation Validation 2027

Who can apply

Call documents

EIT Higher Education Initiative — Call for Proposals 2026

Who can apply

Strategic Innovation — January 2027 cutoff

Who can apply

Call documents

28DIGITAL Co-Creation Accelerator — next cutoff unannounced

Who can apply

Call documents

Student Entrepreneur Grant Scheme — October cutoff

Who can apply

Call documents

KAVA 14 Upscaling — second cutoff

Who can apply

Call documents

AI Entrepreneurs Lab

Who can apply

Call documents

Is this for you?

Knowledge & Innovation Communities

Success rates: the honest picture

Eligibility

Where you need to be

The money — a network of sector funds, not one grant

How to apply, step by step

What evaluators look for

Excellence

Impact

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

Documents you'll need

Typical Budget Breakdown

Deadlines & access

After you're funded

Practical notes

Open & upcoming calls

Women Leadership Category

Who's been funded

Key Features

Official links & resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What this guide covers

Still to verify

What’s new around EIT & the KICs

Related Programmes

EIC Accelerator

Horizon Cluster 4

Innovation Fund

STEP Platform

InvestEU

Explore Further

Add EUACC to Claude

Open now

Good to know

Overview

Calls & local opportunities

Creative technology Innovation Projects 2026

Who can apply

Call documents

Financial Support to Startups — November cutoff

Who can apply

Call documents

SME Market Expansion 2027