Aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage innovators across Europe now have a new opportunity to bring their ideas to life, as the EIT Jumpstarter 2026 Open Call officially launches.
Designed to support individuals and teams at the very beginning of their startup journey, the programme offers a structured pathway from concept to company. Participants gain access to more than 50 hours of expert training, personalised mentoring, and connections to Europe’s leading innovation ecosystem.
Participants will develop their ideas within one of six thematic cohorts aligned with Europe’s key innovation priorities: Food & Agritech (EIT Food), Healthcare (EIT Health), Energy & Renewables (EIT InnoEnergy), Advanced & Green Manufacturing (EIT Manufacturing), Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams (EIT RawMaterials), and Smart Cities & Urban Mobility (EIT Urban Mobility).
“EIT Jumpstarter is the perfect environment to validate an innovative idea and determine whether it can grow into a viable product or service. The 2026 edition offers also stronger alignment with European innovation priorities, to progress towards investment readiness. Participants join a supportive community, benefit from expert mentoring and gain the entrepreneurial mindset needed to build and scale a start-up, The renewed programme design empowers innovators to move faster, focus on market fit and confidently transform early‑stage ideas into scalable ventures,” says Adam Strzelecki, EIT Jumpstarter Programme Lead.
Selected teams will have the ‘opportunity to compete for over €240,000 in financial support, including prizes of €10,000, €5,000 and €3,000 for the top teams in each thematic cohort’. There are also special prizes of €2,500 for the best projects from the EU Outermost Regions, the Western Balkans and Ukraine, as well as solutions aligned with the New European Bauhaus initiative.
The journey culminates in a Grand Final, where top teams pitch their solutions and compete for additional recognition and funding.
Applications are open until 8 May 2026, making now the time for innovators to take the first step toward building impactful businesses.
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