Bridges: Expert-led training and matchmaking for Horizon Europe consortia building in the field of AI, Robotics and Data, 2026

Bridges is a focused two-day expert-led training and matchmaking programme in Munich to support cross-border consortium building and proposal preparation for Horizon Europe projects in AI, Robotics and Data. Eligible applicants are experienced organisations from EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries and partner regions (including Israel), with up to 40 participants selected via a single-stage rolling submission and remote evaluation. The programme fee is €4,000 with partial funding and travel/accommodation reimbursement available for eligible participants. Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline on 2 September 2026, 17:00 UTC.

What the action funds

Scope summary

Support for expert-led training and structured matchmaking activities to build Horizon Europe consortia in the fields of artificial intelligence, robotics and data. Activities are focused on preparing participants for proposal development and consortium formation under Horizon Europe.

Who can apply:Organisations and participants involved in building Horizon Europe consortia in AI, robotics and data; selection managed by EIT Hub Israel with up to 40 eligible participants to be chosen. Single-stage submission and remote evaluation process applies ¹.

1. 1Type: Multi-Topic Call under Horizon-EIT (Cross-KIC Regional Innovation & Internationalisation).
2. 2Eligibility: Organisations or individuals engaged in Horizon Europe consortia building in AI, Robotics and Data; applications checked for admissibility and eligibility.
3. 3Selection: Remote evaluation by a 3-member panel; up to 40 participants will be selected on a rolling basis.

Apply via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal opportunity page:Opportunity page.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call text, eligibility rules and application procedure are available on the portal opportunity page above.

Opportunity overview

This opportunity is a Multi-Topic Call under the Horizon/EIT framework titled Bridges:Expert-led training and matchmaking for Horizon Europe consortia building in the field of AI, Robotics and Data, 2026. The activity is linked to the Cross-KIC EIT Regional Innovation & Internationalisation Business Plan 2026 and to an action identified as HORIZON-EIT. The explicit objective is to provide expert-led training and matchmaking to build Horizon Europe consortia in AI, Robotics and Data fields during 2026. The call uses a single-stage submission model with remote evaluation and rolling review, and the selection process will choose up to 40 eligible participants. The published budget line for this specific action is €13,500 as recorded in the scraped metadata. The deadline for formal submission is 2026-09-02T17:00:00+00:00, with submissions reviewed on a rolling basis to allow earlier applicants to be evaluated sooner ¹.

Key administrative and procedural notes

The selection process comprises a formal admissibility and eligibility check followed by a remote evaluation by a 3-person panel. The panel composition: one EIT Hub Israel staff member (20% weight), one programme partner representative (20% weight) and one external independent expert (60% weight). Applications are assessed according to evaluation criteria stated in the call documentation. The call is administered via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and references Project Name 26-28 XKIC Regional Innovation Internationalisation (RII), Project Id 101270107, and database entries indicate the call is part of the 2021-2027 programme period.

Eligible Applicant Types:Eligible applicants are those actors relevant to consortium building and capacity development in innovation and research ecosystems. Based on the call framing and typical EIT/KIC outreach activities, eligible applicant types include: startups, SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organisations, public bodies and authorities, innovation hubs and incubators, accelerators, industry associations, and NGOs with relevant activity in AI, Robotics or Data. The scraped metadata does not list individual eligible types as restrictive; applicants should consult the official call text for final eligibility lists and any restrictions on entity types.

Funding Type:Primary financial mechanism: grant funding or direct budget allocation to support training and matchmaking activities. The entry lists a budget value of €13,500 for this activity. The action is implemented under EIT cross-KIC Regional Innovation & Internationalisation instruments, which typically distribute grants or direct support to beneficiaries or cover service delivery costs.

Consortium Requirement:Submission model: single-stage. The call material indicates selection of individual participant entries rather than requiring a formal multi-organisation consortium to apply; however, the activity is aimed at supporting consortium building. Therefore applicants may be single entities applying to receive training and matchmaking services. The evaluation panel composition and concept of selecting up to 40 participants supports single-applicant submissions rather than mandated consortia.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Geographic scope: The call metadata references EIT Hub Israel involvement and Cross-KIC activity; the programme sits within Horizon/EIT which primarily targets EU Member States and Horizon associated countries. The scraped text does not list a formal eligible country list. Likely eligible beneficiaries include actors from EU Member States, Horizon Europe associated countries and partner regions targeted by EIT Global Outreach including Israel and possibly other international partners. Applicants must check the official call documentation for definitive country eligibility and any priority regions.

Target Sector:This call targets the thematic areas of artificial intelligence, robotics and data. The purpose is to support consortia building for Horizon Europe projects in these technology domains, including research, innovation, technology transfer, and collaboration between industry and research entities within AI, robotics and data-driven applications.

Mentioned Countries:The scraped content explicitly references Israel through the involvement of EIT Hub Israel. No other specific countries are explicitly named in the provided text. The programme context (Horizon/EIT) implies EU Member States and associated countries as the usual scope.

Project Stage:Expected project maturity: early-stage to pre-proposal consortium building, capacity development and preparation for Horizon Europe project submission. The activity focuses on training, matchmaking and enabling consortia formation, which targets idea/definition and early development/validation stages ahead of formal proposal submission.

Funding Amount:Recorded budget for this action in the scraped metadata: €13,500. The call selects up to 40 participants; the metadata does not provide a per-participant funding split or detailed grant ceilings. Applicants should consult the official call pages for breakdowns of unit support, travel or participation allowances, or in-kind services offered.

Application Type:Application mechanism: open call published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Submissions are processed on a rolling basis until the fixed deadline 2026-09-02T17:00:00+00:00. The deadline model is single-stage. The portal references competitive call identifiers and a primary URL for submission and documentation.

Nature of Support:Beneficiaries will primarily receive non-monetary services (expert-led training, matchmaking, capacity building) and potentially monetary support depending on detailed call rules. The metadata records a budget value indicating monetary resources are allocated to the action, but the core deliverables described are training and matchmaking services.

Application Stages:The selection process is single-stage (one submission) followed by administrative admissibility and eligibility check, then remote evaluation by the 3-person panel. Operationally this results in two main decision steps: formal admissibility/eligibility check and remote technical evaluation leading to selection. The portal notes that submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis and successful applicants may be invited to an online meeting for discussion.

Success Rates:The call will choose up to 40 eligible participants. The scraped data does not provide the total number of expected applications or historical success rates. Therefore absolute success rate cannot be determined from the provided content. Applicants should assume selection is competitive and dependent on fit with evaluation criteria.

Co-funding Requirement:The scraped metadata does not explicitly state a co-funding requirement. Given this is an EIT/KIC outreach and capacity building action, direct co-funding from participants may not be required for attendance; however, applicants must check the official call documentation to confirm whether any matching funds, travel costs or institutional contributions are expected.

Templates and application structure:The raw content does not include downloadable templates or full application forms. Typical EIT/Horizon calls use structured application forms via the Funding & Tenders Portal including: administrative data, organisation profiles (PIC), brief project/participation description, objectives, expected outcomes, relevance to the call topic, capacity and track record, and budget or requested support. For this specific call applicants should expect to provide: contact and organisation details, motivation and readiness to join Horizon Europe consortia, track record in AI/Robotics/Data, description of expected needs for training/matchmaking, and any constraints or availability for the proposed activities. Applicants should consult the official call page for exact templates and submission checklists.

1. 1Submission deadline: 2026-09-02T17:00:00+00:00; rolling review until deadline.
2. 2Selection count: up to 40 eligible participants.
3. 3Evaluation process: admissibility and eligibility check followed by remote evaluation by three evaluators with weighted scoring (EIT Hub Israel 20%, programme partner 20%, external expert 60%).
4. 4Budget indicated in metadata: €13,500.
5. 5Application model: single-stage submission through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
6. 6Primary services provided: expert-led training and matchmaking for Horizon Europe consortia building in AI, Robotics and Data.

Practical next steps for applicants:consult the official EU Funding & Tenders Portal call page for the full call text, eligibility rules, templates and PIC/registration requirements; prepare organisation profile and evidence of track record in AI/Robotics/Data; prepare a concise motivation and needs statement for consortium-building support; submit early to benefit from rolling review and possible invitation to an online meeting. The primary portal URL recorded in the metadata is the authoritative entry point for documents and submission EU Funding & Tenders Portal ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: EU Funding & Tenders Portal competitive call entry for Bridges AI, Robotics & Data - EIT Global Outreach. Access the call and supporting documents via the call URL: ec.europa.eu

Program Overview and Purpose

Bridges is a focused, two-day programme taking place in Munich designed to drive successful cross-border Horizon Europe submissions by providing expert-led training and matchmaking for consortia building in AI, Robotics, and Data ¹.

The initiative is part of the EIT Global Outreach strategy under the Cross-KIC EIT Regional Innovation & Internationalisation Business Plan 2026, aiming to connect experienced organisations from Europe, Israel, and associated countries to lead high-quality EU-funded projects ².

Key Objectives:To provide scientific advice, practical proposal preparation support, and facilitate matchmaking for Horizon Europe and international funding opportunities in the AI, Data, and Robotics sectors.

Who Should Apply

The programme targets experienced organisations from EU Member States, Israel, and Horizon Europe associated countries that are ready to lead or strengthen high-quality EU-funded consortia ³.

Ideal applicants include industry leaders, academic institutions, governmental bodies, and ecosystem players seeking to build cross-border partnerships for Horizon Europe Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space) projects ⁴.

1. 1Organisations with prior Horizon Europe experience ready for leadership roles
2. 2Entities seeking to form consortia for AI, Robotics, and Data projects
3. 3Startups, SMEs, and research institutions aiming for international collaboration

Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility is determined by the EIT Strategic Innovation Agenda (SIA) 2021-2027, with Israel officially joining the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) as of January 1, 2025 ⁵.

The selection process is a single-stage submission followed by an admissibility and eligibility check performed by EIT Hub Israel staff, and a remote evaluation by a panel of three evaluators (EIT Hub Israel staff, programme partner representative, and external independent expert) ⁶.

Evaluation Weight:External independent expert (60%), EIT Hub Israel staff (20%), and programme partner representative (20%). Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis, meaning earlier applications are reviewed sooner.

1. 1Up to 40 eligible participants will be selected for the programme
2. 2Selected participants will be invited to an online meeting to discuss their submission further
3. 3No upfront costs are required to participate in the programme

Funding, Costs, and Programme Details

The full cost of the programme is €4,000, but EIT Hub Israel offers partial funding and/or travel and accommodation reimbursement based on specific categories for eligible participants ⁷.

The programme is a two-day event taking place in Munich, Germany, designed to facilitate cross-border Horizon Europe submissions in the field of AI, Robotics, and Data ⁸.

Strategic Context and Horizon Europe Alignment

This opportunity aligns with the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 budget of approximately €2,023 million for 2026-2027, which focuses on collaborative R&I and partnerships in AI, Data, and Robotics ⁹.

The programme supports the GenAI4EU initiative, which has grown to close to €700 million across Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and EIC instruments to accelerate generative AI development in Europe ¹⁰.

Typical Horizon Europe Grant Sizes in this Sector:Collaborative R&I projects typically range from €3 million to €20 million+, while EIC Accelerator grants for deep tech startups can reach up to €17.5 million (grant + equity) ¹¹.

Participants will receive guidance on preparing proposals for Horizon Europe calls, including those closing in April 2026 with a total budget of €307.3 million for AI, Data, and Robotics topics ¹².

How to Apply and Contact

Applications must be submitted electronically via the official EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the deadline of September 2, 2026 ¹³.

For further information, contact EIT Hub Israel or visit the official Bridges AI, Robotics & Data page on the go-eit.eu website ¹⁴.

Footnotes

1. 1Official programme description: Bridges AI, Robotics & Data - EIT Global Outreach
2. 2EIT Global Outreach mission: EIT Hub Israel - LinkedIn
3. 3Target audience definition: Bridges - Athens - EIT Global Outreach
4. 4EIT Hub Israel scope: EIT Hub Israel
5. 5Israel joining EIT RIS: Three New Countries Join the EIT RIS
6. 6Selection process details: Cross-KIC EIT Regional Innovation & Internationalisation Business Plan 2026
7. 7Programme cost and funding: EIT Hub Israel: Connect & Experience 2023
8. 8Programme location and duration: Bridges AI, Robotics & Data - EIT Global Outreach
9. 9Horizon Europe Cluster 4 budget: AI and GenAI4EU Funding 2026
10. 10GenAI4EU initiative growth: AI and GenAI4EU Funding 2026
11. 11Grant size ranges: AI and GenAI4EU Funding 2026
12. 12AI call budget: Horizon Europe: Artificial Intelligence, Data and Robotics Partnership
13. 13Official portal: EU Funding & Tenders Portal
14. 14Contact information: EIT Hub Israel