EIT Jumpstarter Programme 2026

Info-Session TODAY 14.04.2026 at 13:00, please register to join.

The EIT Jumpstarter is an award-winning pre-acceleration programme funded by the European Union designed to help validate innovative ideas and develop business skills to create and run innovative start-ups. The programme focuses on talents coming from countries located in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, where the pace of innovation is moderate or emerging. By addressing the unique needs of these regions, the EIT Jumpstarter Program aims to create a lasting economic impact. 

The program targets early-stage ideas, which have not yet been turned into fully developed businesses or startups. These ideas should aim to address key challenges in the chosen category. To apply for the EIT Jumpstarter Program, at least 1 of the co-founders should have citizenship in 1 of the countries/territories specified in the Eligibility Criteria.

Eligibility Criteria

The competition is open to all individuals and teams of natural persons holding the citizenship of the following EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) eligible countries and Moldova:

• EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia
• Horizon Europe Associated Countries and territories: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosovo, Türkiye, Ukraine
• EU Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)
   

Natural persons: researchers, Masters, and PhD students or research groups from universities and research organisations; professionals, idea holders, or idea owners that have an idea/solution that is targeting the scope of one of our categories (main challenges) and wants to start a company. Those teams who already have registered start-ups (legal entities) before January 1st 2026, connected to their business ideas submitted in the application phase, are not eligible to participate and will not be accepted to this particular competition. Start-ups who registered their company in the given calendar year (from January 1st 2026) are eligible for the programme.

Multiple submissions are not accepted. Each applicant must use a unique email address for submission. Individuals, co-founders, and project team members are not eligible to be part of more than one submitted project at the same time and/or submit more than one project at the same time.

Funding

The EIT Jumpstarter programme stipulates the provision of financial support to the teams during the competition cycle. Teams will be eligible to receive financial support at different stages of the competition, depending on their successful completion of each stage. Financing is based on teams, no matter if the team is represented by just one or two or more members.

More details about the program at https://eitjumpstarter.eu/eit-jumpstarter-2026-open-call/
Full descriptions of the main challenges, terms and conditions including IP Rights here
https://eitjumpstarter.eu/programme-details/

If you are interested to pursue this opportunity, kindly contact ingrid.schembri@aalto.fi ahead of the application deadline (8 May 2026).