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The EIT Jumpstarter 2025, a flagship pre-accelerator focused on unveiling talented innovators from emerging European countries, is now open. This year’s programme will seek innovative ideas in more than 27 countries and territories in Europe, with a special radar on the Western Balkans, the EU Outermost Regions and Mediterranean, offering additional prizes and opportunities.
This programme supports innovators in transforming their innovative ideas into prosperous start-ups in a safe and supportive business environment. It does not require equity and is free of charge for individuals and teams coming from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, where the pace of innovation is still progressing. During the last eight editions the EIT Jumpstarter has upskilled more than 1300 talents in the field of entrepreneurship and helped establish 124 start-ups. These companies have already raised approximately EUR 150M in the form of external investment.
The 2025 edition of EIT Jumpstarter features eight dynamic categories, powered by the EIT’s Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs):
- Healthcare powered by EIT Health
- Food & Agritech powered by EIT Food
- Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams powered by EIT RawMaterials
- Energy and Renewables powered by EIT InnoEnergy
- Advanced and Green Manufacturing powered by EIT Manufacturing
- Smart Cities and Mobility powered by EIT Urban Mobility
- New European Bauhaus (NEB) powered by EIT Culture & Creativity
- Rebuild Ukraine powered by EIT Health
In each category, winners can receive EUR 10,000 in prize money and gain access to tailored support to help bring their innovations to market.
Special Focus on Mediterranean, the EU Outermost Regions and Western Balkans economies
EIT Jumpstarter 2025 introduces special awards for innovators from the Mediterranean and the EU Outermost Regions. The EIT Community aims to support even more talents from such territories as Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Reunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain). Two cash prizes will be waiting for the best start-up from the EU outermost Regions and for the best one from the Mediterranean, regardless of the thematic cohort. In addition, EIT Jumpstarter aims to support even more actively the Western Balkans economies, offering additional 30 seats for talents coming from North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo* and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The best team from this region will also be awarded an additional cash prize, regardless of the thematic cohort.
Source: EIT Jumpstarter 2025 | EIT