EIT Health 26-28 — Call for University Incubators and Entrepreneurship Support Providers - Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture — HORIZON

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EIT Health 26-28 — Call for University Incubators and Entrepreneurship Support Providers - Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture — HORIZON | GrantForge

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EIT Health 26-28 — Call for University Incubators and Entrepreneurship Support Providers - Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture15563COMPETITIVE_CALL

StatusOpen

Per project€72K

Call envelope€72K

1 upcoming deadline

Deadline:2026-11-02

FundingLump Sum

💡

Strategic Analysis

The call Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture - Call for University Incubators and Entrepreneurship Support Providers is launched under the EIT Health Business Plan 2026 - 2028. It will select one consortium to support the implementation of a venture-building programme serving two programme cohorts (one cohort per year in 2027 and 2028), targeted at MSc and PhD students with early-stage healthcare innovations.

The overall financial amount available is up to 72,000 EUR (covering at most 50% co-funding of total project costs, with approximately 36,000 EUR in 2027 and 36,000 EUR in 2028). Projects run from 01 January 2027 to 31 December 2028 (maximum 24 months). Applications must be submitted by 02 November 2026 at 16:00 CET via the EIT Health application platform.

🔬 Scientific Alignment

Scope Activities (5)

SC01Eliminating

Masterclasses Delivery

SC02Eliminating

Mentoring Programme

SC03Eliminating

Pitch Day Organisation

SC04Eliminating

Support in Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion

SC05Eliminating

Programme Contribution and Participant Onboarding

Expected Outcomes (7)

EO01

Validation of healthcare innovations

EO02

Multidisciplinary founding team formation

EO03

Acquisition of entrepreneurial knowledge and venture skills

EO04

Development of value proposition and business models

EO05

Preparation for healthcare venture navigation

EO06

Startup incorporation and milestone completion

EO07

Ecosystem and investor networking

🌍 Impact Strategy

Target SDG Topics

Select the SDG targets (topics) that your future project proposal will actively address to align with EU Policy Impacts.

Expected Impacts (6)

EI01

Increased incorporation of student-led healthcare startups

EI02

Enhanced quality and investment readiness

EI03

Strengthened ecosystem collaboration

EI04

Robust pipeline of high-potential healthcare startups

EI05

Enhanced entrepreneurial capacity in higher education institutions

EI06

Contribution to European competitiveness and health economic impact

EU Policy Alignment

EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) 2021-2027

high

The EIT SIA 2021-2027 defines the strategic priorities, objectives, and operational framework for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). It focuses on boosting entrepreneurial talent, cross-sectoral collaboration, and higher education institution innovation capacity.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators look for direct alignment with the Knowledge Triangle integration model, demonstrating how higher education students (MSc and PhD) receive entrepreneurship training and structured mentoring to translate health innovations into market solutions.

EIT Health Business Plan 2026 - 2028

high

The EIT Health Business Plan 2026-2028 sets the operational targets, thematic focus areas, and funding allocations for EIT Health activities over the multi-year cycle. It guides venture creation, capacity building in universities, and the financial sustainability of supported health ventures.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators expect the proposal to fulfill the specific operational targets of the call, including structured delivery of cohorts across 2027 and 2028, compliance with prescribed milestones, and clear co-funding contributions aligning with KIC strategic goals.

Horizon Europe

medium

Horizon Europe is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation, running from 2021 to 2027. It aims to strengthen the EU's scientific and technological bases, foster its competitiveness, and deliver on the EU's strategic priorities, including the Green Deal and digital transformation.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators expect the consortium to align with the Horizon Europe gender equality requirements (inclusive curriculum design, gender-inclusive language and examples, fair, transparent and inclusive mentor and expert recruitment) and to follow the Horizon Europe rules on eligible costs and lump sum funding.

Report on The Future of European Competitiveness (Draghi report)

medium

The Draghi report sets out actionable strategies to close the EU's innovation and productivity gap against global competitors. It emphasizes accelerating deep tech commercialization, scaling innovative startups, and removing fragmentation between research institutions and the market.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators expect proposals to show how the venture-building pipeline actively facilitates the transition of academic health research into commercially viable, scalable European ventures.

EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy

medium

The EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy aims to make Europe a better place to start and grow innovative companies. It calls for supporting innovative founders from the earliest stages of venture creation by improving access to entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, networks, markets and investment, and for a faster journey from idea to market.

💡

Evaluator focus:

Evaluators expect the programme to give student founders, at the earliest stage, the entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, networks and investor access the strategy calls for, with a credible path from an idea to an incorporated, investment-ready venture.

📋 Additional Guidance

⚖ Eligibility rules

Minimum partners2

Maximum partners4

Minimum countries2

Maximum budget€72K

Maximum duration24 months

Specific requirements

Consortium composition

At least one incubator representing a higher education institution and at least one Entrepreneurship Support Provider with demonstrated experience in venture building and startup support.

Knowledge Triangle

The consortium members represent at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Business, Education, Research).

Co-funding

EIT Health funds at most 50% of the total project costs; the consortium secures at least 50% co-funding from non-EIT Health sources (eligible staff costs count).

Gender Equality Plan

Any member that is a public body, a research organisation or a higher education establishment has an organisational Gender Equality Plan in place.

⚖ Eligibility — synthesis

Consortium Composition

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium meeting all of the following criteria:

Composed of at least two (2) and a maximum of four (4) legal entities independent from each other.
Include entities legally established in at least two (2) different Horizon Europe countries (EU Member States, associated countries, low- and middle-income countries eligible for HE funding).
Include at least one University Incubator representing a higher education institution.
Include at least one Entrepreneurship Support Provider with demonstrated experience in venture building and startup support.
Represent at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Business, Education, Research) (application form).
Have no ongoing financial or legal dispute with EIT Health (application form).

Legal entities from non-associated third countries may take part without receiving funding. The project must not run longer than 24 months, from 01 January 2027 to 31 December 2028.

Individuals cannot apply. Consortium members that are public bodies, research organisations, or higher education institutions must have an organisational Gender Equality Plan (GEP) in place.

EU Restrictive Measures

Entities subject to EU sanctions (Article 29 TEU, Articles 75 & 215 TFEU), legal entities established in Russia, Belarus, or non-government-controlled territories of Ukraine, and Hungarian public interest trusts covered by Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 are excluded from receiving funding.

🗓 Call process & calendar

The selection process is a single-stage submission followed by an admissibility and eligibility check, online pitches, and an ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) review.

Call Timeline

Milestone	Date	Description
Call Launch	02 September 2026	Publication of the Call Document and opening of the application process.
Call Presentation Webinar	09 September 2026, 11:00 CEST	Presentation of the Call scope, objectives, and application platform.
Q&A Sessions	15 October 2026, 11:30 CEST	Open Q&A session for applicants to ask questions before deadline.
Proposal Submission Deadline	02 November 2026, 16:00 CET	Strict deadline for application submissions via the EIT Health application platform.
Evaluation: Eligibility notification & invite to pitches	06 November 2026	Yes/no decision on proposal meeting eligibility requirements.
Evaluation: Pitch sessions	16 - 20 November 2026	Online pitching sessions in front of a panel of external evaluators.
Final Award Notification	02 December 2026	E-mail notification of final results.
Standstill Period	02 December 2026 - 01 January 2027	Preparation of grant agreements (30-day standstill period).
Project Contracting	01 January 2027	Registration and validation in Grant Management System, signature of agreements, and PIC number validation.
Start Date of Project Activities	01 January 2027	Official commencement of funded projects.
Project End	31 December 2028	Official closure of project activities.

Following evaluation, the top-ranked applicant scoring at least 70/100 is invited to contracting. Selected consortia have up to three months to complete contracting requirements (including the Financial Support Agreement and Declaration of Honour). Monitoring occurs every six months as a go/no-go review point, followed by light post-funding monitoring for up to five years.

🎯 Call process & Evaluation criteria (Pre-award)

Proposals passing formal admissibility and eligibility checks are invited to an online pitch session (consisting of a presentation and Q&A) evaluated by a panel of three external independent experts (60% weight) and up to two EIT Health experts (40% weight), followed by an Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) review.

Evaluation Criteria

Criterion	Weight	Threshold	Description
Excellence	30%	10%	Quality and relevance of programme design; clear, feasible, and innovative methodology for skills development; alignment with venture creation; consideration of gender dimensions.
Impact	30%	10%	Alignment with programme aims; potential to facilitate startup creation and strengthen entrepreneurial capabilities; linking activities to tangible outcomes, collaborations, and economic value.
Quality and Efficiency of Implementation	40%	10%	Appropriateness of workplan, consortium expertise, and resource allocation; feasible budget and risk assessment; credible approach to engaging mentors, instructors, and ecosystem stakeholders.

Each question is scored from 0 to 5 (0: Not met, 1: Poor, 2: Fair, 3: Good, 4: Very good, 5: Excellent). The overall score is normalized to 100 points. To be considered for funding, applications must achieve at least 10% in each individual criterion and an overall threshold of at least 70/100.

💶 Financials

Funding Model and Co-Funding

The grant operates on a Horizon Europe lump sum model. Total EIT Health funding is capped at 72,000 EUR (approximately 36,000 EUR in 2027 and 36,000 EUR in 2028) for up to one awarded project.

EIT Health funds a maximum of 50% of total project costs; the consortium must provide the remaining 50% co-funding from non-EIT Health sources. Budget submissions must show total project costs.

Payment Schedule

Prefinancing payment: Disbursed after entry into force of the Financial Support Agreement and fulfilment of pre-conditions.
Interim payment(s): Paid upon full completion and acceptance of work packages scheduled for each reporting period.
Final balance: Established and paid following approval of the final report and accepted work packages. Uncompleted work packages may result in partial or total grant reductions.

Financial Sustainability Mechanism

Startups successfully incorporated through the programme and receiving financial support from EIT Health are required to sign a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) directly with EIT Health. Consortia retain ownership of their pre-existing IP and methodologies, while startup IP remains with participating research teams/founders.

🤝 Collaborations & synergies

The selected consortium works in close collaboration with EIT Health, which manages overall programme administration, participant tracking, and the EIT Health Academy learning platform. In addition, the consortium is tasked with actively engaging external stakeholders across the European health innovation ecosystem, including healthcare founders, industry partners, clinical experts, and venture investors for masterclass delivery, expert mentorship pools, and jury panels at each cohort's Pitch Day.

📋 Implementation, tasks & required activities

The project workplan must span up to 24 months (January 2027 - December 2028) and is structured into four mandatory Work Packages:

WP1: Support in Teams Recruitment - Call Promotion (cohort 1)
WP2: Programme Activities Implementation (cohort 1) - educational masterclasses, mentoring, Pitch Day, and quality reporting
WP3: Support in Teams Recruitment - Call Promotion (cohort 2)
WP4: Programme Activities Implementation (cohort 2) - educational masterclasses, mentoring, Pitch Day, and quality reporting

Mandatory Deliverables

D1 (M3): Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion Summary Report (cohort 1)
D2 (M3): Gender equality and inclusion framework
D3 (M6-M9): Masterclasses (cohort 1) - 4 delivered sessions
D4 (M6-M10): Mentoring programme (cohort 1) - 8 hours per team
D5 (M11): Pitch Day (cohort 1)
D6 (M12): Final Programme Reporting (cohort 1)
D7 (M15): Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion Summary Report (cohort 2)
D8 (M18-M22): Masterclasses (cohort 2) - 4 delivered sessions
D9 (M18-M22): Mentoring programme (cohort 2) - 8 hours per team
D10 (M23): Pitch Day (cohort 2)
D11 (M24): Final Programme Reporting (cohort 2)

Note: FAQ 20 refers to "three Work Packages (WP1-WP3)", while the Call Document (version 2, 05/10/2026) lists four. Applicants should confirm with calls@eithealth.eu before submitting.

Progress reviews take place every six months and serve as go/no-go milestones for activity continuation and funding release.

🔐 Intellectual Property Rights

Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)

According to Article 12 and Annex 3 (Section 1) of the Financial Support Agreement and EIT Health IP Policy:

Background: Partners must identify background necessary for implementation and exploitation in a written agreement. Background is provided to other partners on a royalty-free basis for implementation, and under fair and reasonable conditions for exploitation.
Ownership of Results: Results are owned by the partner generating them. Jointly generated results without distinct parts belong jointly to the contributors, requiring a written joint ownership agreement. Joint owners may grant non-exclusive licenses to third parties upon 45 days advance notice and fair compensation.
Exploitation Obligations: Beneficiaries must use best efforts to exploit results up to four years following project completion. If results remain unexploited after one year, the partner must use the Horizon Results Platform.
Transfer & Licensing Restrictions: Transfers to entities in non-associated third countries require formal notice; EIT Health / KIC LE reserves the right to object within 60 days if contrary to EU competitiveness or security interests.
Consortium Agreement: The recipients are legally required to execute an internal Consortium Agreement specifying detailed IP allocation, access rights, and governance.

🛡 Ethics & confidentiality

Ethics, Values, and Confidentiality

Applications must complete the online Ethics Issues List covering Human Embryos/hESCs, Humans, Human Cells/Tissues, Personal Data (GDPR compliance, imports/exports outside the EU), Animals, Non-EU Countries, Environment/Health/Safety, and Artificial Intelligence. If flagged, a detailed Ethics Self-Assessment must be drafted explaining objective dimensions, methodology compliance, and statutory approvals obtained prior to task execution.

Conflict of Interest: Applicants must disclose any personal, professional, or family relationships with EIT Health staff, boards, or evaluators. Consortium members are barred from evaluating or selecting cohort startups to prevent conflicts of interest.
Gender Equality & Fundamental Values: Mandatory upload of a Gender Equality Policy/Plan for eligible entities, addressing gender pay gap reduction, work-life balance, and gender balance across personnel. Compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights and European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity is binding. Activities must maintain an exclusive focus on civil applications.
Confidentiality Rules: Parties must maintain strict confidentiality over Sensitive Information for 5 years following disclosure, releasing information only to staff and third parties bound by equivalent non-disclosure obligations on a need-to-know basis.

🔬 Open Science & FAIR Data

Open Science and FAIR Data Requirements

As set forth in Annex 3 (Section 2.2.2) of the Financial Support Agreement:

Open Access to Scientific Publications: Beneficiaries must ensure immediate open access to peer-reviewed scientific publications relating to results. A machine-readable electronic copy must be deposited in a trusted repository under a CC BY license (or CC BY-NC / CC BY-ND for long-text formats/monographs). Metadata must be open under CC0 and align with FAIR principles. Only publication fees in full open access venues are eligible for reimbursement.
Research Data Management & FAIR Principles: Beneficiaries must manage digital research data in line with Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability (FAIR) standards by:
- Establishing and regularly updating a Data Management Plan (DMP).
- Depositing data in a trusted repository (federated in EOSC where mandated) within DMP deadlines.
- Ensuring open access under CC BY or CC0 under the principle "as open as possible as closed as necessary", justifying any legitimate restrictions (e.g., commercial exploitation or EU competitive interests) inside the DMP.
- Providing repository access to metadata (CC0) and tools/instruments necessary to validate or reuse the data.

🤝 Multi-actor, interdisciplinarity & SSH

Consortium Dimensioning:

Multi-actor interaction: REQUIRED. The consortium must unite at least one university incubator of a higher education institution with at least one market-oriented Entrepreneurship Support Provider, and the mentoring must involve healthcare founders, industry partners and investors.
Interdisciplinarity: EXPECTED. The programme serves multidisciplinary MSc and PhD students, and its mentoring covers Healthcare/Regulatory, Business, Tech/Product Development, Tech Transfer/IP and Incorporation/Legal topics.
Gender equality and inclusiveness: REQUIRED. Alignment with the Horizon Europe gender equality requirements (inclusive curriculum design, gender-inclusive language and examples, fair mentor recruitment), delivered through the Gender equality and inclusion framework (Deliverable 2, M3). Members that are public bodies, research organisations or higher education institutions need a Gender Equality Plan.
Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH): not required. The proposal selected for funding goes through an Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) review.

📜 Project contractual documents

Contractual Instruments and Declarations

Contractual formalisation involves the following instruments:

Financial Support Agreement (Sub-grant Agreement): Bilateral/multilateral contract entered into between EIT Health (KIC LE) and the consortium partners, governing pre-financing, balance payments, joint and several technical liability, and monitoring.
Consortium Agreement: Mandatory agreement to be concluded among consortium members pursuant to Article 9 prior to or upon project start, laying down internal governance, IP, and access rights.
Declaration of Honour (Annex 4): Mandatory exclusion criteria declaration signed by legal representatives confirming operational and financial capacity, tax and social security compliance, absence of bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, grave misconduct, or breach of EU funding rules.
Joint and Several Liability Declaration of Affiliated Entities (Annex 5): Required if third parties or affiliated entities are involved in project delivery.
Subcontracting and FSTP Provisions: Financial support to third parties (startups) cannot exceed €60,000 per third party per 18-month reporting period (note that startup cash support is provided directly by EIT Health under SAFE agreements, separate from consortium sub-grants).

📊 Evaluation post-award

Post-Award Governance, Reporting, and Payment Gates

According to Articles 5, 7, and 8 of the Financial Support Agreement:

Note: the Call Document (§3.7) states that this call is funded as a lump sum, each work package being paid once completed and accepted, while the Financial Support Agreement template describes a pre-financing followed by a balance based on eligible costs. Applicants should confirm the applicable model with calls@eithealth.eu.

Payment Schedule (Financial Support Agreement template):
- Pre-financing (25%): Disbursed upon completion of validation, formal contracting, and clearance of any ethics requirements.
- Balance Payment (75%): Disbursed following project conclusion, calculated against accepted eligible costs and subject to approval of the final periodic report.
Cost Control Mechanism & Sampling: EIT Health exercises an interim risk-based cost sampling every 6 months where selected partners must submit detailed financial and resource documentation.
Mutual Insurance Mechanism (MIM): EIT Health may withhold a portion of grant funding into a guarantee fund to cover potential recovery risks, released after EIT evaluates interim/final Business Plan reports.
Certificate on the Financial Statements (CFS): Mandatory independent audit certificate drawn up by an external auditor for beneficiaries exceeding established financial thresholds.
Long-term Impact Reporting: Recipients are required to provide impact and KPI data to EIT Health for up to 5 years post-project.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions Highlights

Topic	Question Summary	Key Rule / Clarification
Eligibility	Can UK and Swiss entities participate and receive funding?	Yes. UK entities are fully eligible under Horizon Europe rules. Swiss entities are eligible following Switzerland's association agreement.
Consortium	Can Hungarian entities participate?	Entities subject to Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/2506 (public interest trusts) cannot receive EU funding or act as funded partners.
Consortium Roles	Can non-EIT Health members apply and lead?	Yes. Non-members may lead the consortium. The resulting programme remains owned and operated by EIT Health.
Scope & Delivery	Is delivery online or in-person?	Masterclasses (4 sessions) and mentoring (8 hours per team) are online. Only the final Pitch Day is in-person.
Evaluation Role	Does the consortium select or evaluate startups?	No. Selection and progression evaluation are performed strictly by EIT Health to prevent conflicts of interest.
Co-funding	Can co-funding be provided in-kind?	Yes. Eligible staff costs and personnel time count toward the minimum 50% co-funding requirement; a cash contribution is not mandatory.
Revenue Sharing	Does the consortium participate in the SAFE mechanism?	No. The SAFE / future equity mechanism is exclusively between EIT Health and the supported start-ups.
Work plan	Can the consortium add work packages?	No. Tasks are organised within the fixed WP structure of the Call Document (FAQ 20 mentions WP1-WP3; the Call Document v2 lists WP1-WP4).
Scope	What is out of scope?	Covering only part of the components, changing the predefined structure (duration, mandatory deliverables) or targeting anyone other than MSc and PhD students.
Masterclasses	Are the masterclass topics fixed?	No. Incorporation Fundamentals and Pitching are an indicative, strongly recommended baseline; other topics are possible with a clear justification.
Mentors	Can consortium partners act as mentors?	Yes, at the consortium's discretion, as long as the mentor pool covers all indicative topics.

📊 Coverage

Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.

See how your concept covers this call

This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.

Scope activities5requirements

Expected outcomes7requirements

Other requirements3requirements

Expected impacts6requirements

Underlying policies2requirements

Requirements matrix

Coverage of the call requirements
Requirement	Covered by	Carried	Status
Scope activities
SC01Masterclasses DeliveryDesign and deliver four masterclasses (1-1.5 hours each) per cohort that complement the EIT Health learning journey and licensed e-learning curriculum, covering topics such as Incorporation Fundamentals and Pitching.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC02Mentoring ProgrammeDesign, coordinate and deliver a structured milestone-driven mentoring programme providing eight hours of mentoring per participant/team throughout the programme, organized around defined milestones and execution sprints with a diverse pool of healthcare mentors.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC03Pitch Day OrganisationOrganise and deliver the final Pitch Day showcasing participating start-ups to investors, industry representatives, healthcare stakeholders and the wider innovation ecosystem, including agenda co-creation, logistics, participant preparation, and speaker coordination.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC04Support in Teams Recruitment and Call PromotionSupport EIT Health in promoting the open call for participant teams across academic, healthcare, and innovation ecosystems to attract high-potential MSc and PhD student teams.	·	·	Sign up to track
SC05Programme Contribution and Participant OnboardingActively support EIT Health in the onboarding and engagement of selected participants on the EIT Health Academy platform, attend kick-offs, handle participant queries, coordinate deliverables, and ensure alignment with Horizon Europe gender equality requirements.	·	·	Sign up to track
Expected outcomes
EO01Validation of healthcare innovationsSupport participants in validating the technical feasibility, market need and commercial potential of their healthcare innovation.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO02Multidisciplinary founding team formationEnable participants to establish multidisciplinary founding teams with the capabilities required to build a startup.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO03Acquisition of entrepreneurial knowledge and venture skillsEquip participants with the entrepreneurial knowledge and practical skills required to progress from an early-stage idea to an incorporated venture.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO04Development of value proposition and business modelsSupport participants in developing a validated value proposition, business model, commercialisation strategy and product development roadmap.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO05Preparation for healthcare venture navigationPrepare teams to navigate key aspects of healthcare venture creation, including intellectual property, technology transfer, regulatory considerations, market access and early-stage financing.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO06Startup incorporation and milestone completionSupport participants in successfully incorporating a healthcare startup and achieving the programme milestones and required deliverables.	·	·	Sign up to track
EO07Ecosystem and investor networkingConnect participants with mentors, entrepreneurs, industry experts and investors to strengthen their networks and future growth opportunities.	·	·	Sign up to track
Other requirements
REQ1Gender Equality and Inclusion Framework deliverableApplicants must deliver a Gender equality and inclusion framework (Deliverable 2, M3) addressing inclusive curriculum design, gender-inclusive language and examples, and fair mentor recruitment.	·	·	Sign up to track
REQ2Integration of sex and gender considerations in proposal designProposals must address the integration of sex and/or gender considerations in innovation design, team composition, and governance, or provide a justification if not relevant.	·	·	Sign up to track
REQ3Engagement of health ecosystem stakeholders in deliveryThe consortium must actively mobilize external healthcare founders, industry partners, clinical experts, and venture investors for masterclass delivery, expert mentorship pools, and Pitch Day juries.	·	·	Sign up to track
Expected impacts
EI01Increased incorporation of student-led healthcare startupsIncrease the number of student-led healthcare startups successfully incorporated through the programme.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI02Enhanced quality and investment readinessImprove the quality and investment readiness of newly established healthcare startups through structured venture-building support.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI03Strengthened ecosystem collaborationStrengthen collaboration between universities, University Incubators, entrepreneurship support providers and the wider European healthcare innovation ecosystem.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI04Robust pipeline of high-potential healthcare startupsCreate a stronger pipeline of high-potential healthcare startups capable of securing follow-on investment and participating in further acceleration and incubation programmes.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI05Enhanced entrepreneurial capacity in higher education institutionsStrengthen entrepreneurial capacity within European higher education institutions by enabling more students to translate innovative healthcare ideas into sustainable ventures.	·	·	Sign up to track
EI06Contribution to European competitiveness and health economic impactContribute to Europe's competitiveness by increasing the number of innovative healthcare startups addressing unmet healthcare needs and generating long-term economic and societal impact.	·	·	Sign up to track
Underlying policies
POL1eit strategic innovation agenda 2021-2027The EIT SIA 2021-2027 defines the strategic priorities, objectives, and operational framework for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). It focuses on boosting entrepreneurial talent, cross-sectoral collaboration, and higher education institution innovation capacity.	·	·	Sign up to track
POL2eit health business plan 2026 - 2028The EIT Health Business Plan 2026-2028 sets the operational targets, thematic focus areas, and funding allocations for EIT Health activities over the multi-year cycle. It guides venture creation, capacity building in universities, and the financial sustainability of supported health ventures.	·	·	Sign up to track

Scope activities

SC01Sign up

Masterclasses Delivery

SC02Sign up

Mentoring Programme

SC03Sign up

Pitch Day Organisation

SC04Sign up

Support in Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion

SC05Sign up

Programme Contribution and Participant Onboarding

Expected outcomes

EO01Sign up

Validation of healthcare innovations

EO02Sign up

Multidisciplinary founding team formation

EO03Sign up

Acquisition of entrepreneurial knowledge and venture skills

EO04Sign up

Development of value proposition and business models

EO05Sign up

Preparation for healthcare venture navigation

EO06Sign up

Startup incorporation and milestone completion

EO07Sign up

Ecosystem and investor networking

Other requirements

REQ1Sign up

Gender Equality and Inclusion Framework deliverable

REQ2Sign up

Integration of sex and gender considerations in proposal design

REQ3Sign up

Engagement of health ecosystem stakeholders in delivery

Expected impacts

EI01Sign up

Increased incorporation of student-led healthcare startups

EI02Sign up

Enhanced quality and investment readiness

EI03Sign up

Strengthened ecosystem collaboration

EI04Sign up

Robust pipeline of high-potential healthcare startups

EI05Sign up

Enhanced entrepreneurial capacity in higher education institutions

EI06Sign up

Contribution to European competitiveness and health economic impact

Underlying policies

POL1Sign up

eit strategic innovation agenda 2021-2027

POL2Sign up

eit health business plan 2026 - 2028

✅ Eligibility

The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.

Minimum 2 partners

min 2 / max 4

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Minimum 2 countries

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Project budget range

max €72k

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Consortium composition

At least one incubator representing a higher education institution and at least one Entrepreneurship Support Provider with demonstrated experience in venture building and startup support.

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Knowledge Triangle

The consortium members represent at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Business, Education, Research).

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Co-funding

EIT Health funds at most 50% of the total project costs; the consortium secures at least 50% co-funding from non-EIT Health sources (eligible staff costs count).

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Gender Equality Plan

Any member that is a public body, a research organisation or a higher education establishment has an organisational Gender Equality Plan in place.

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📝 Admissibility

What the call requires for your dossier to be receivable: a mandatory section, a declaration, a document to attach. Nothing here can be checked automatically — confirm each one yourself once it's done.

Institutional Gender Equality Plan (GEP)

Consortium members that are public bodies, research organisations, or higher education institutions must have an operational Gender Equality Plan in place.

Ethics Issues List and detailed Ethics Self-Assessment

Applicants must complete the online Ethics Issues List and draft a detailed Ethics Self-Assessment if issues are flagged, covering methodology compliance and statutory approvals.

Disclosure of Generative AI tools

Applicants must explicitly disclose in the application form whether and how generative AI tools were used in proposal drafting.

🎯 Structuring choices

🎯 Choices to make before applying

The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.

Assign consortium roles

eithealth-consortium-role

Role assignmentPick 2–4

Assign the mandatory roles to the consortium partners to ensure eligibility (at least one University Incubator and one Entrepreneurship Support Provider).

university-incubator

University Incubator

Organisational units established by higher education institutions that provide structured incubation services, mentoring and business support.

entrepreneurship-support-provider

Entrepreneurship Support Provider

Organizations specialized in venture creation (Venture builders, incubators and accelerators, innovation consultancies or similar organizations).

other-partner

Other Partner

Additional legal entity participating in the consortium.

🧭 Strategy

🧭 Strategic insights

5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.

The Incubator-Provider pairing is the eligibility make-or-break

The consortium must have two to four independent legal entities from at least two Horizon Europe countries, with at least one University Incubator of a higher education institution and one Entrepreneurship Support Provider. The application form adds that the members must cover at least two sides of the Knowledge Triangle (Business, Education, Research). A consortium missing any of these is rejected at the eligibility check, before any scoring.

Source: Call Document §3.2.3; Application form, Eligibility Criteria: Consortium

In-kind staff costs unlock the 50% co-funding requirement

The maximum grant of €72,000 covers only 50% of the total project costs, meaning the consortium must demonstrate an equal match of non-EIT Health funds. Because eligible in-kind staff and personnel costs count toward this minimum 50% co-funding requirement, university partners should strategically allocate existing personnel time to the project budget rather than seeking external cash contributions.

Source: Section 3.3.2 Co-funding requirements and FAQ Highlights

Implementation carries the highest evaluation weight

Unlike standard research calls, this is a delivery action where the Quality and Efficiency of Implementation criterion drives 40% of the final score. Evaluators will rigorously scrutinize the credibility of your mentor recruitment approach, the specific profiles of your instructors, and the logistical feasibility of the Pitch Day. A generic workplan will fail; you must detail exact ecosystem stakeholder engagement and resource allocation.

Source: Section 5.2 Evaluation Criteria

Deliver the whole programme, inside the fixed structure

A proposal that covers only part of the components (for example masterclasses or mentoring alone), changes the predefined structure (duration, mandatory deliverables) or targets anyone other than MSc and PhD students is out of scope. Plan all five components, the 11 mandatory deliverables and both cohorts over the full 24 months.

Source: FAQ 21 and 27; Call Document §2.2.1-2.2.2

Leave participant selection and the SAFE to EIT Health

EIT Health selects the participants, evaluates their progress and picks the start-ups funded after the Pitch Day; the consortium has no role in any of these, to avoid conflicts of interest. The SAFE future-equity agreement is signed only between EIT Health and the start-ups. Do not plan selection tasks or any return for the consortium.

Source: FAQ 14 and 33; Call Document §2.4

🏷 Keywords

venture buildingventure creationstartup incorporationpre-seed healthcare venturesinvestment readinessMSc and PhD studentsstudent entrepreneurshipacademic entrepreneurshipresearch valorisationtechnology transferintellectual propertyregulatory pathwaysmarket accessvalue propositionbusiness model validationcommercialisation strategymilestone-driven mentoringexecution sprintsmasterclassesPitch Dayinvestor engagementmultidisciplinary founding teamsuniversity incubatorentrepreneurship support providerknowledge triangle integrationEIT LabelEIT Health Academyhealthcare innovation ecosystemgender-inclusive curriculumchallenge-based learning

🧩 Project backbone

0%Concept coverage

Build your project backbone 🧩

Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.

Not chosen yet

Structuring choice

The branch you're building for — it shapes what the call expects of you, and what your coverage is measured against.

🎯 Choices to make before applying

The call requires you to pick or distribute several structuring elements before submission. These are locked at proposal creation time and drive the project backbone. Read-only here.

Assign consortium roles

eithealth-consortium-role

Role assignmentPick 2–4

Assign the mandatory roles to the consortium partners to ensure eligibility (at least one University Incubator and one Entrepreneurship Support Provider).

university-incubator

University Incubator

Organisational units established by higher education institutions that provide structured incubation services, mentoring and business support.

entrepreneurship-support-provider

Entrepreneurship Support Provider

Organizations specialized in venture creation (Venture builders, incubators and accelerators, innovation consultancies or similar organizations).

other-partner

Other Partner

Additional legal entity participating in the consortium.

Imposed project structure (read-only preview)

— defined by the call, created automatically when you start your project

Work packages / sprints (4)

WP1

Support in Teams Recruitment - Call Promotion (cohort 1)

M1–M3

WP2

Programme Activities Implementation (cohort 1)

M1–M12

WP3

Support in Teams Recruitment - Call Promotion (cohort 2)

M13–M15

WP4

Programme Activities Implementation (cohort 2)

M13–M24

Deliverables (11) — imposed by the call

Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion Summary Report (cohort 1)

Gender equality and inclusion framework

Masterclasses (cohort 1)

Mentoring programme (cohort 1)

M10

Pitch Day (cohort 1)

M11

Final Programme Reporting (cohort 1)

M12

Teams Recruitment and Call Promotion Summary Report (cohort 2)

M15

Masterclasses (cohort 2)

M22

Mentoring programme (cohort 2)

M22

D10

Pitch Day (cohort 2)

M23

D11

Final Programme Reporting (cohort 2)

M24

📄 Application forms

📄 Technical application form (Part B)

🛠

Fully managed by GrantForge

Click Create proposal above to start writing this form inside GrantForge. The structure below is what we generate for you.

Proposal Structure (SmartSimple Online Form)

The technical application form is completed directly on the EIT Health application platform (SmartSimple). It is organized under the following mandatory evaluation sections and narrative prompts:

Excellence:
- Alignment with the objectives and scope of the Call and how the consortium's contribution complements the programme design established by EIT Health.
- Understanding of target audience needs (MSc and PhD students) and learning characteristics, including key knowledge and skills gaps during venture creation and development.
- Methodology for organising and delivering four masterclasses (1–1.5 hours each) and the mentoring programme (8 hours per team), tailored to participant stages of development.
- Needs assessment process for mentoring activities and adaptation mechanisms to ensure venture creation progress.
- Methodology for planning, organising, and delivering the final Pitch Day, including team preparation and engagement of investors and ecosystem stakeholders.
- Mechanisms to maximise participant engagement, deliver a positive learning experience, and support programme completion.
- Integration of real-world challenges and engagement of industry/healthcare stakeholders (with concrete case examples).
- Integration of sex and/or gender considerations in innovation design, team composition, governance, or justification if not relevant.
Impact:
- How delivered activities support participants in progressing toward start-up creation.
- Value created for participants, healthcare systems, and the wider European healthcare innovation ecosystem.
- Contribution to target KPIs (including path to impact reported up to several years post-funding and EIT Label graduate tracking) and selection of two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Quality and Efficiency of Implementation:
- Description of each consortium partner's role, responsibilities, and experience in venture building and relevant programmes.
- Profiles of key individuals delivering mentoring, masterclasses, and Pitch Day (instructors, industry experts, mentors, investors) or recruitment criteria if not yet identified.
- Work plan coherence, milestones, and deliverables supporting programme objectives.
- Collaboration mechanisms with EIT Health during implementation.
Project Elevator Pitch: a short, non-confidential summary read by every evaluator and published in the Activity Catalogue.
References and AI tools: a numbered list of references cited consistently, and a statement of any generative AI tools used and how.
Work Plan & Packages: Entry of Work Packages, Milestones, Deliverables, and Outputs. The work plan must follow the Work Packages defined in the Call Document (WP1 to WP4, one recruitment and one implementation WP per cohort).

📋 Administrative form (Part A)

Administrative Form Components

The administrative forms integrated into the SmartSimple application platform require applicants to fill in and confirm the following components:

Activity Information: Activity Title, Activity Acronym, Start Date (fixed as 01/01/2027), End Date (31/12/2028), Total Duration (up to 24 months), and an unconfidential Project Elevator Pitch for the public Activity Catalogue.
Consortium Eligibility Acknowledgements: Explicit checkboxes confirming legal establishment in EU/Horizon Europe associated countries, representation from at least two different countries, consortium size (2 to 4 independent legal entities), presence of at least one university incubator and one Entrepreneurship Support Provider, representation of at least two Knowledge Triangle sides (Business, Education, Research), possession of an operational Gender Equality Plan for public/HEI/research bodies, absence of ongoing disputes with EIT Health, and compliance with EU double funding prohibitions.
Organisations & Contacts: Registration and assignment of partner organisations, specifying Partner Type, Legal Organisation Name in national language, KIC Code, country, assignment of one Lead Partner, and designation of a single Activity Leader and Co-editors.
Classification Keywords: Selection of up to 5 predefined EIT Keywords and entry of free hashtags (#AI, etc.), plus disclosure of any Generative AI tools used in proposal drafting.

💰 Budget template (Part C)

Budget Structure and Categories

Budget entry is conducted in the SmartSimple platform via dynamic financial tables covering all partners, work packages, and years. Cost categories mirror the Horizon Europe financial framework:

A. Personnel Costs: Broken down into A1. Employees (or equivalent), A2. Natural persons under direct contract, A3. Seconded persons, and A4. SME owners and natural person beneficiaries.
B. Subcontracting: Action tasks implemented by third parties (limited to non-core tasks and proportionate shares).
C. Purchase Costs: Comprising C1. Travel and subsistence, C2. Equipment, and C3. Other goods, works and services.
D. Other Cost Categories: D1A. Financial Support to Third Parties - Sub-grants, D1B. Financial Support to Third Parties - Prizes, and D2. Internally invoiced goods and services.
Indirect Costs: Calculated as a flat rate of 25% of eligible direct costs (excluding subcontracting and financial support to third parties).
Funding & Co-funding Tables: Dedicated breakdown of total budget, requested EIT Funding, partner co-funding amounts, and co-funding percentage (minimum 50% required across the consortium; eligible in-kind staff/personnel costs are permitted). A written budget justification table is required per partner, work package, and year.

📎 Documents & links

📎 Call documents & links

🌐
F&T Portal entry
Canonical EU Funding & Tenders Portal page for this call.
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/competitive-calls-cs/15563
🏛
Programme website
Institutional / marketing website of the parent programme.
https://eithealth.eu/opportunity/university-incubators/
📤
Submission platform
Where you submit your proposal (F6S, opencalls.fund, EPSS, MS Forms…).
https://apply.eithealth.eu/s_Login.jsp
✉
Programme contact
Email of the programme office for questions.
mailto:calls@eithealth.eu