European Startup and Scaleup Hubs pilot
European Commission · Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)
Posted 6 Oct 2026 · About 3 months left
In plain terms
The European Commission funds networks of at least ten innovation hubs across different EU and associated countries to accelerate deep tech startups and scaleups, with 20 million euros per hub network and 50 percent co-funding required from other sources. Applications in English are due by 5 January 2027.
A generated summary of the donor's text; the original wording is below.
Summary
Expected Outcome:
Projects under this topic will contribute to the following outcomes:
Accelerate market expansion for European deep tech startups across EU regions and beyond by fostering collaboration and mutual support among European deep tech startup ecosystem actors;
Interconnect top-tier tech startup and scaleup hubs embedded in research, technology and higher education ecosystems;
Enable cross-border access to infrastructures, facilities, corporates, investors and talents to deep tech startups and scaleups, including those funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC);
Enable more European deep tech startups, including women-led startups and scaleups, to succeed scaling into globally competitive companies;
Strengthen less-connected innovation hubs by integrating them into a Europe-wide collaborative network;
Boost private and public investment in deep tech ventures established within the participating innovation hubs.
Scope:
This action builds upon the EU’s strategic vision outlined in the EU Competitiveness Compass [1], the EIC scaling strategy[2], and the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy[3]. It aligns with the objectives of strengthening Europe’s deep tech capabilities…
Excerpt from the donor's page. The full text, annexes and forms are on the original call.
Eligible regions
- EU member states
Who can apply
- NGO / civil society
- Academic or research institution
- Private company
- Government body
- Consortium required
Eligibility and conditions
Show the eligibility text from the source
">General conditions
1. Admissibility conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
65 pages as in standard HE ‘Programme co-fund’ actions.
2. Eligible countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligibility Conditions
A hub participating as a beneficiary must be represented by a single legal entity (for instance an umbrella organisation representing a science and technology park or an innovation cluster or district, an accelerator or a venture builder embedded in an innovation ecosystem) or several legal entities representing the relevant actors of the innovation ecosystem supporting startups (e.g. research and higher education institutions, corporates, public authorities, capital providers).
The consortium should consist of a network of at least ten (10) hubs from at least ten (10) different Member States or Associated Countries. For Member States and Associated Countries with an overall population not exceeding 35 million[[ The most recent available data from Eurostat at the time of opening of the call will be used as reference (Population on 1 January by age and sex)]], participation is limited to a single hub in the given consortium. For Member States and Associated Countries with an overall population exceeding 35 million, the participation is limited to two hubs in the given consortium. In addition, at least two (2) participating hub shall be established in a “widening country”.[[“Widening countries” are listed under Article 2 of the Horizon Europe regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/695).]]
The consortium must provide a single letter of intent at the moment of submission of the proposal indicating the source of the required 50% of complementary funding (e.g. national and/or regional funding, EU funding, or private investments).
Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.
The funding rate is 50% of the eligible costs as co-fund actions require the remainder of the cost to be secured from other sources.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE COFUND)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND)
Guidance
HE Programme Guide
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
HE MGA
HE Unit MGA
Operating Grants MGA
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Additional documents:
HE…