The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), an EU body that aims to support and convert innovative ideas into promising businesses, has announced the final registration call for the 2025 edition of EIT Jumpstarter.
This flagship EU pre-accelerator programme is renowned for discovering and nurturing exceptional talent across Europe. This year, the initiative places a strong emphasis on innovators from the Western Balkans, the EU’s Outermost Regions, and the Mediterranean, offering significant financial incentives and exclusive access to tailored resources.
With €150,000 in available funding and dedicated support, EIT Jumpstarter provides early-stage innovators with the tools they need to transform ideas into market-ready solutions. As the 2 April deadline approaches, aspiring entrepreneurs are encouraged to submit their applications here and connect with one of Europe’s leading innovation networks.
EIT startups have collectively raised approximately €150 million in external investment—meaning that for every €1 invested in the programme, participating startups have attracted €30 in return. It has also proven successful across the past eight editions, during which the programme has upskilled more than 1,300 people in entrepreneurship, helped establish 124 startups, and created 2,600 new jobs.
“The EIT Jumpstarter is the ideal platform for validating innovative ideas and exploring the potential commercialisation of research,” underlines Tina Benda from EIT RawMaterials, who curates the Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams Cohort in the EIT Jumpstarter.
“We provide early-stage support to help set up your start-up and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. You’ll also have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and gain insights from industry experts who will help you refine your idea and build a successful startup.”
Special incentives will be available for applicants from the EU’s Outermost Regions—such as Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)—as well as for entrepreneurs from North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Serbia, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What’s next?
The 2025 programme invites applications in eight categories: Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Advanced and Green Manufacturing, Energy & Renewables, Smart Cities & Urban Mobility, New European Bauhaus (NEB), Rebuild Ukraine, and Metals, Minerals and Industrial Side Streams.
From all submissions, 190 teams will be selected for online bootcamps and Pitch Days. Eighty teams will then proceed to local training sessions, where they’ll develop business plans and take the first steps to register their startups. In November 2025, 48 teams will compete in the final pitch contest, presenting their solutions to Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem and vying for cash prizes and international visibility.
The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) plays a key role in strengthening Europe’s capacity to innovate, addressing global challenges, and fostering entrepreneurial talent. As part of Horizon Europe—the EU’s research and innovation programme—the EIT contributes to sustainable growth and high-quality job creation across the continent.
Don’t miss out – there’s still a small window to submit your application. applications here
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/03/eit-jumpstarter-2025-final-chance-to-join-europes-top-pre-accelerator-for-eu-entrepreneurs-sponsored/
