European Startup and Scaleup Hubs pilot

The "European Startup and Scaleup Hubs Pilot" targets consortia of leading technology, research, and university hubs, innovation clusters, as well as venture builders in the EU and associated countries, who aim to jointly establish a connected deep-tech network. The objective is to pilot a consortium of approximately 10–18 highly qualified hubs to link European deep-tech startups across borders with infrastructure, capital, talent pools, and expertise, thereby accelerating their scaling. Each consortium must include at least ten hubs from ten different member states, incorporating two hubs from widening countries. 50% of the project costs must be co-financed through national, regional, or private funds. Funding over 24 months covers personnel expenses, material and travel costs, subcontractor services, as well as financial support for third parties; the total funding amount is €20 million with a funding rate of 70% to 100%.

The projects make an important contribution to the European innovation agenda: they promote the European networking of technology ecosystems, enable EIC-funded ventures to access new markets, and support less connected hubs in capacity building. Evaluation criteria include the innovativeness of the hub network, member state coverage, cross-border scaling potential, and proven expertise of the involved hub structures. Submissions are possible until 10 March 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time). Required documents include the project description, financing plan, letter of intent for co-financing, and the standard HE COFUND application form. This pilot offers a unique opportunity to strengthen Europe’s deep-tech ecosystem in the long term and to establish a “Champions League” network of startup hubs.