EIT Jumpstarter Next 2025 Call for Proposals #1

The EIT Jumpstarter Next 2025 programme aims to enhance the business development strategies of alumni startups from EIT Community programs, fostering their growth, attracting investors, and expanding their market presence. It also seeks to create a new cohort of European entrepreneurs who can navigate the innovation ecosystem and acquire customers.

Funding Organization: The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), powered by its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), specifically EIT Health, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Digital, and EIT Culture & Creativity. EIT Health InnoStars administers the financial support.

Target Recipients: Alumni companies/startups whose management board, founders, or co-founders previously participated in specified EIT Community programs, including EIT Jumpstarter editions (2017-2024) and various programs under EIT Digital, EIT Food, EIT Health, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Manufacturing, EIT RawMaterials, and EIT Urban Mobility.

Sector Focus: This grant is SECTOR-SPECIFIC focusing on challenges addressed by the participating EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). These include: Environmental sustainability and climate action (EIT Climate-KIC), Digital technologies and digital services (EIT Digital), Healthcare innovation (EIT Health), Metals, minerals, advanced materials, and industrial side streams (EIT RawMaterials), Food and agriculture systems (EIT Food), Sustainable energy and renewables (EIT InnoEnergy), Advanced and green manufacturing (EIT Manufacturing), Urban mobility and smart cities (EIT Urban Mobility), and New European Bauhaus themes related to sustainable, aesthetic, and inclusive living (EIT Culture & Creativity).

Geographic Scope: Applicants must be companies registered in an EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) country or territory, including Moldova, or one of the EU Outermost Regions. At least one co-founding member must hold citizenship from an EIT RIS-eligible country or territory.

Key Filtering Criteria: Applicants must be alumni companies of specific EIT Community programmes, registered in an EIT RIS country, with a product or solution operating at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) and Business Readiness Level (BRL) of 5. Projects must address global challenges within the scope of one of the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, be exclusively for civil applications, and emphasize innovativeness, market potential, and scalability.

This programme provides financial support primarily for travel and accommodation costs related to in-person events within the programme. Successful applicants may receive:

• Up to EUR 1,700 for travel and accommodation to attend the Phase 3 Matchmaking Meet-Up (for a maximum of two people), if the event is in-person.
• Up to EUR 1,000 for travel and accommodation to attend the Phase 5 Grand Final (for a maximum of two people), if the event is in-person.

The total budget for this Call for Proposals #1 is stated as 23,000 EUR in the target grant's metadata; however, it is not specified how this budget relates to the per-team travel grants or if it covers other costs.

Co-financing: Not specified. The programme is free of charge for participants from EIT RIS countries and territories.

Eligible Costs: Reimbursable expenses primarily include travel costs (flights, train, bus tickets, petrol at EUR 0.22/km, parking, insurance, taxi, highway fees) and accommodation costs (hotels, hostels, AirBnB, breakfast if included in room rate) directly associated with attending programme events (Phase 3 and Phase 5). Additionally, costs for product/project development and startup creation are eligible, such as company registration fees, patent application fees, laboratory renting/testing, consulting services (legal, IP, accounting), webpage development (must adhere to EIT Health branding), event tickets for networking, and relevant external training that complements the programme's curriculum.

Ineligible Costs: Costs that cannot be reimbursed include: accommodation without proper invoice/receipt, separate food receipts (unless included in eligible accommodation), vehicle amortization, expenses unrelated to the EIT Jumpstarter Next programme, non-project-related consultations, websites not compliant with EIT Health branding policy, event themes/trainings unrelated to the project or redundant with the programme's curriculum, salaries, accounting, office rent, copying, postal/courier fees, advertisement costs, device purchases, capital investments, and taxes.

Payment & Reporting: Financial support is provided as reimbursement for eligible costs incurred during Phase 3 and Phase 5, contingent on submission of approved Cost Reports and supporting invoices/receipts. Payments are made within 30 days of Cost Report approval. Participants must sign a financial support agreement and provide company registration documents and required deliverables. For reimbursement, each participant must submit their own Cost Report. Invoices must be issued before an unspecified date. All reporting obligations, including periodic technical and financial reports, and record-keeping (contracts, invoices, accounting records, time-records for personnel costs) must be met according to instructions from EIT Health InnoStars. Providing false information leads to exclusion and repayment of funds.

To qualify for the EIT Jumpstarter Next 2025 programme, applicants must meet the following non-negotiable criteria:

• Prior Participation: Companies must have a Management Board, Founders/Co-Founders who are alumni of specific EIT Community programmes (EIT Jumpstarter 2017-2024, EIT Digital Venture Incubation Program, EIT Food TeamUp/Test Farms/Sales Booster/EWA, EIT Health InnoStars Connect, EIT InnoEnergy Hello CleanTech, EIT Climate-KIC ClimateLaunchPad, EIT Manufacturing EVO-R/Leaders/Inno2Market, EIT RawMaterials Lab2Market/Open Innovation Challenge, EIT Urban Mobility Corporate Venture Builder/Investment Readiness/Student Entrepreneur Grant Scheme/Start for Future).
• Registration Location: The company must be registered in one of the designated EIT RIS countries and territories (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, *Kosovo, Ukraine, Türkiye) or EU Outermost Regions (Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Saint-Martin (France), the Azores, Madeira (Portugal), the Canary Islands (Spain)), including Moldova.
• Citizenship: At least one co-founding member must hold citizenship from one of the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme eligible countries and territories.
• Legal Form: Eligible legal forms include Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative, and C-Corp.
• Language: Proposals must be submitted in English.
• Submission: Applications must be complete and submitted exclusively via the online application form before the stated deadline. Incomplete or email submissions will be rejected.
• Project Scope: The company's project must operate within the scope of the main challenges tackled by one of the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Digital, EIT Health, EIT RawMaterials, EIT Food, EIT InnoEnergy, EIT Manufacturing, EIT Urban Mobility, EIT Culture & Creativity).
• Civil Applications: The project must be exclusively for civil applications, with no intention of military use or serving military purposes. Dual-use items are acceptable if compliance with Regulation 2021/821 is ensured.
• Uniqueness of Submission: Multiple submissions from the same applicant or team members are not accepted. Individuals or team members cannot be part of more than one submitted project simultaneously.
• Readiness Level: Projects must have a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5 and Business Readiness Level (BRL) of 5.

Organizational Status: Applicants must be companies (startups) with a defined legal structure (Private Limited Company, Public Limited Company, Limited Liability Partnership, Cooperative, C-Corp) registered in an EIT RIS country or territory (including Moldova or EU Outermost Regions). The company's founders must be alumni of specific EIT Community programmes. No specific age or size restrictions are mentioned beyond being an alumnus company.

Technical Expertise: Applicants should demonstrate prior engagement with the EIT Community through their alumni status. While not explicitly defined as a separate criterion, the emphasis on innovativeness, scalability, and TRL/BRL 5 implies a requirement for a strong technical foundation and business acumen within the team.

Exclusion Criteria: Applicants will be excluded if they are subject to personal bankruptcy, banned from public procurement, guilty of grave professional misconduct (including ethical violations, false declarations, IPR violations, or attempts to influence decisions), committed fraud or corruption (including money laundering, terrorism-related crimes, child labor, human trafficking), have significant deficiencies in complying with EU contracts, are guilty of irregularities, or have created entities to circumvent legal obligations. A conflict of interest at any stage also disqualifies applicants. Projects intended for military use are strictly ineligible.

Deadlines

• Call for Proposals #1 Application Deadline: 2025-04-11 23:59:00+01:00 (CET).
• Call Opening for Call for Proposals #1: 2025-02-10.
• Selection of participants and invitation to Phase 2: End of April 2025.
• Phase 2 Training: May-June 2025.
• Phase 3 Matchmaking Meet-Up: September-October 2025.
• Phase 4 Preparation for the Grand Final: October-November 2025.
• Phase 5 Grand Final: November 2025.

Note: Applications are evaluated on a rolling basis; early submission is encouraged.

Required Documents

Applicants must submit an online application form detailing their innovative concept, unique technology, development stage, team description, problem addressed, fundraising plans, and current challenges. Mandatory additional documents include: a certificate of completion from one of the specified EIT Community programmes, an extract from the national registry confirming the company's setup date and location, and confirmation of citizenship in an EIT Regional Innovation Scheme eligible country/territory for at least one co-founder. For Phase 2, a Business Development Strategy and a Pitch Deck are required. For Phase 4, finalists must submit proof of sales or proof of concept (POC), Brand Awareness Visibility, and a PR promo pack.

Application Process

Applications are submitted through an online application form available on the EIT Jumpstarter Next website. The evaluation is conducted by independent external experts on a rolling basis, so early submission is encouraged. The process is multi-staged:

1. Application and Selection (Phase 1): Submit online form. 8 teams selected.
2. Training (Phase 2): Online training, submit Business Development Strategy and Pitch Deck. 5 teams selected.
3. Visibility & Matchmaking (Phase 3): In-person workshops, networking. 3 teams selected.
4. Grand Final Preparation (Phase 4): Intensive coaching. All 3 teams qualify for Final.
5. Grand Final (Phase 5): Pitch to jury and stakeholders.

Invitations are sent by the EIT Jumpstarter Next Programme Lead. A reserve list is maintained.

Support

The programme offers extensive support, including expert-led training sessions focusing on fundraising, sales, and investment strategies; individual consultations and mentorship from industry experts; access to strategic networking opportunities with investors and industry leaders at Matchmaking Meet-Ups; and tailored guidance to refine pitches for the Grand Final. Financial support is provided for travel and accommodation to key in-person events.

Post-Award Obligations

Participants who receive funding must prominently display the EIT Community logo on their website. They are required to participate in follow-up questionnaires and surveys for up to three years after program completion, especially if they set up a company. Finalists must participate in interviews as requested by organizers during the Grand Final. Participants are also expected to act as ambassadors for the programme within their networks and on social media, and adhere to EIT visual guidelines for branding.

Applications are assessed by independent external experts who score based on:

• Innovativeness and uniqueness of the product/solution.
• Amount of external financing obtained to date.
• Number of sales generated.
• Scalability of the solution.
• Additional points are awarded to teams co-founded by at least one woman.
• Further selection for Phase 3 considers scalability and growth potential (revenue model, market size, technology and infrastructure capacity, pan-European/global operations).
• Selection for Phase 4 (Grand Final preparation) considers progress in securing new external funding, generating income, acquiring new customers, gaining traction in new markets (in 2025), and visibility parameters (social media, website, media coverage).

Innovation & Impact: Projects must demonstrate innovativeness and uniqueness in their products or solutions. They should clearly articulate their market potential and the ability to address global intersectional challenges, showcasing potential for significant social and economic impact.

Project Quality: Evaluation includes the development stage of the startup, the team description, fundraising plans, and how the team addresses current challenges. The quality of the Business Development Strategy and Pitch Deck are critical in Phase 2. Overall scalability and growth potential (revenue model, market size, technology, infrastructure capacity, pan-European/global operations) are key determinants for advancement.

Strategic Fit: Projects must align with the strategic aims of the EIT Jumpstarter Next programme, which focuses on boosting innovation and entrepreneurship and increasing the competitiveness of EIT RIS regions. Solutions must fall within the main challenge areas of the participating EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities.

Cross-cutting Themes: Teams co-founded by at least one woman will receive additional evaluation points.

Regulatory Compliance

Projects must adhere to EU regulations where matters are not specifically covered by the Terms and Conditions (Horizon Europe and other EU grants). All projects must be for civil applications only, strictly excluding military use. For dual-use items (as defined by Regulation 2021/821), participation is conditional on ensuring full compliance with the relevant regulatory framework. Participants are subject to audit rights by EIT Jumpstarter Next Programme Lead, EIT, EIT KICs, European Commission, European Court of Auditors, and the European Anti-Fraud Office.

IP Policy

Applicants retain full and exclusive ownership of their prior information and intellectual property rights (IPR). The application process is confidential, with reviewers bound by confidentiality agreements. If the project incorporates third-party IP, applicants must secure clear permissions (e.g., license agreement, formal transfer). Project implementation activities must not infringe on third-party IPR, and the IP associated with the project must be free from ongoing disputes or legal actions. All materials, curriculum, and methodology provided during the EIT Jumpstarter Next program are the intellectual property of EIT Health InnoStars and cannot be shared externally or used for unrelated purposes.

Unique Aspects

This is a specialized, multi-disciplinary acceleration programme targeting alumni companies of various EIT Community initiatives, aiming to scale their existing startups. It features a multi-stage selection process with ongoing evaluations and mentorship. A unique aspect is the pre-screening of high-potential startups for potential invitation to the new EIT Regional Innovation Booster Accelerator in 2026. The programme focuses heavily on enhancing business development, fundraising, and market access strategies. It also gives additional points for female co-founders, promoting gender inclusion. The programme runs in two batches during 2025.

Industry-Specific Rules

Not specified beyond the requirement to align with the thematic challenges of the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities. No specific industry certifications or legal frameworks are mentioned beyond the general EU regulations for dual-use items.