AI Challenge 2025

The EIT AI Community is launching the AI Challenge 2025, aimed at identifying and supporting AI-powered solutions that address business and societal challenges in various sectors. The challenge is open to spin-offs, startups, and scaleups from across the EU, particularly encouraging participation from RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) countries. It emphasizes AI applications in areas such as data sharing, interoperability, process optimization, logistics, generative AI, AI agents, and intelligent systems for the food sector. Selected winners will receive financial support totaling €35,000 from the EIT AI Community and its partners to accelerate the implementation of their solutions.

The initiative builds on prior AI Challenges held from 2022 to 2024 and is part of broader efforts to connect innovators with markets, investors, and talent. The participation deadline for submissions is October 29, 2025, and the challenge promotes a structured timeline involving multiple stages: proposal submission, communication of selected proposals, pitches to challenge owners, winner announcements, and a follow-up review of proof-of-concept execution.

This competition format is structured as a single-stage open call, inviting applications that are expected to fall within the development and validation stages, with an emphasis on readiness for market implementation. The challenge not only aims to provide financial resources but also facilitates networking and collaboration opportunities for participants, contributing to a more balanced European innovation landscape.

An information session is scheduled for September 26, 2025, with the application process beginning on September 4, 2025. Winners will be announced on November 14, 2025, and a review of the implementation is planned for January 26, 2026.

In summary, the AI Challenge 2025 represents an opportunity for emerging AI companies to gain funding and support, leveraging the EIT Digital pan-European network to enhance their market presence and contribute to Europe's strategic goals in technological advancement and innovation.

The EIT AI Community is launching the AI Challenge 2025 to identify and support AI-powered solutions that address key business and societal challenges across multiple sectors defined by industry leaders. The competition is open to spin-offs, startups, and scaleups from across the EU, with a particular emphasis on fostering participation from RIS countries. Solutions may include, but are not limited to, applications in data sharing and interoperability, process optimisation, logistics, generative AI, AI agents, and intelligent systems for the food sector. Selected winners will receive financial support funded by the EIT AI Community and its partners, aimed at accelerating the implementation of their proposed solutions.

The EIT AI Community builds on the success of previous AI Challenges (2022–2024) and ongoing Business Creation activities, serving as a platform to connect innovators with markets, investors, and talent. By strengthening collaboration among stakeholders and leveraging Europe’s collective strengths, the initiative contributes to overcoming fragmentation and positioning Europe at the forefront of the global AI revolution. Participation in the AI Challenge 2025 offers growth opportunities through access to the EIT Digital pan-European network, enabling companies to scale internationally, reinforce local ecosystems, and contribute to a more inclusive and balanced European innovation landscape.

The opening date for submissions is 04 September 2025. The deadline for submissions is 29 October 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The deadline model is single-stage. The call is currently open for submission. The expected duration of participation is 5 months. The total funding available is 35,000.00 €. The project acronym is Strategic Synergies. The full name of the EU funded project is Strategic Synergies Cluster XKIC BP 23-25 Proposal. The grant agreement number is 101113151. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2023-25-Cross-KIC-Strategic-Synergies - EIT Cross-KIC Strategic Synergies.

An info session will be held on 26 September 2025. The deadline for proposals is 29 October 2025. Communication of selected proposals will occur on 7 November 2025. Pitches to the challenge owners will take place from 10 - 13 November 2025. Winner announcements will be made on 14 November 2025. A review of Proof-of-Concept execution will be conducted on 26 January 2026.

In summary, the EIT AI Community is offering the AI Challenge 2025, a competition aimed at identifying and supporting innovative AI-powered solutions to address significant business and societal challenges. This initiative is open to spin-offs, startups, and scaleups from across the EU, with a particular focus on encouraging participation from RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) countries. The challenge seeks solutions in various sectors, including but not limited to data sharing and interoperability, process optimization, logistics, generative AI, AI agents, and intelligent systems for the food sector. Selected winners will receive financial support from the EIT AI Community and its partners to help accelerate the implementation of their proposed solutions. The challenge provides an opportunity for companies to access the EIT Digital pan-European network, scale internationally, strengthen local ecosystems, and contribute to a more inclusive European innovation landscape. The total funding available is 35,000 EUR, and the application deadline is October 29, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types for this opportunity are spin-offs, startups, and scaleups.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically cascade funding.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity appears to be open to single applicants, as it focuses on individual spin-offs, startups, and scaleups. There is no explicit mention of a consortium requirement.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is for applicants from across the EU, with a particular emphasis on fostering participation from RIS (Regional Innovation Scheme) countries.

Target Sector: The target sector is Artificial Intelligence (AI). The program seeks AI-powered solutions addressing business and societal challenges across multiple sectors. Specific applications mentioned include data sharing and interoperability, process optimisation, logistics, generative AI, AI agents, and intelligent systems for the food sector.

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity specifies the European Union (EU) and RIS countries. RIS countries are those that are part of the European Union's Regional Innovation Scheme, designed to support and enhance innovation in regions that are lagging behind in terms of innovation performance.

Project Stage: The opportunity targets companies that are at the spin-off, startup, and scale-up stages, suggesting that the expected project maturity ranges from development and validation to demonstration and potentially early commercialization. The focus on proof-of-concept execution further suggests a stage where the solution is being validated.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 35,000.00 €. It is not clear if this is the funding available per project or the total funding for all selected projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the "AI Challenge 2025" designation and the provided opening and deadline dates. The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive financial support funded by the EIT AI Community and its partners.

Application Stages: Based on the provided timeline, the application process involves multiple stages: submission of proposals, communication of selected proposals, pitches to challenge owners, winner announcements, and review of proof-of-concept execution. This suggests at least 5 stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The EIT AI Community is launching the AI Challenge 2025, a cascade funding opportunity aimed at identifying and supporting AI-powered solutions developed by spin-offs, startups, and scaleups across the EU, with a focus on RIS countries. The challenge seeks solutions addressing key business and societal challenges in sectors like data sharing, interoperability, process optimisation, logistics, generative AI, AI agents, and intelligent systems for the food sector. Selected winners will receive financial support totaling 35,000.00 € from the EIT AI Community and its partners to accelerate the implementation of their solutions. The application process is a single-stage open call with a deadline of October 29, 2025. The process includes multiple stages, including proposal submission, communication of selected proposals, pitches to challenge owners, winner announcements, and review of proof-of-concept execution. The initiative aims to connect innovators with markets, investors, and talent through the EIT Digital pan-European network, fostering international scaling, reinforcing local ecosystems, and contributing to a more inclusive European innovation landscape. The project acronym is Strategic Synergies, and the full name of the EU funded project is Strategic Synergies Cluster XKIC BP 23-25 Proposal. The grant agreement number is 101113151, and the topic is HORIZON-EIT-2023-25-Cross-KIC-Strategic-Synergies - EIT Cross-KIC Strategic Synergies. An info session is scheduled for September 26, 2025.