Certified Innovation Path in Biotechnology 202 7

EIT Health is funding the development of an EIT Label-certified Certified Innovation Path in Biotechnology to design and deliver personalised learning courses for graduates and professionals. Consortia must include at least two Higher Education Institutions established in different eligible Member States (one in an EIT RIS region and at least one authorised to award ECTS) and at least one non-academic or industry partner actively contributing to curriculum design and learner assessment. Grants of up to €240,000 are available for projects of up to 15 months; the EIT Health application platform opens on 15 July 2026 and the submission deadline is 16 September 2026 at 16:00 CET. Applicants must register in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC and should prepare for admissibility checks, an online pitching session, an ELSI review and final selection where proposals require a minimum score of 70/100 to be considered for funding.

What it funds

Scope and objectives

Grants to design and deliver an EIT Label certified Biotech pathway within the Certified Innovation Path portfolio: repurposed personalised learning courses for graduates and professionals across the health biotechnology value chain, integrating advanced biotech, translational expertise, innovation and entrepreneurship, regulatory navigation and industry-engaged capstone projects.

Maximum grant:Up to €240 000 per awarded project ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia including at least two Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) established in two different eligible Member States; at least one HEI must be in an EIT RIS region and at least one HEI must be authorised to award ECTS for the repurposed courses. At least one non-academic or industry partner with active curriculum and assessment involvement is required.

Key administrative facts

1. 1Deadline for submission: 16 September 2026, 16:00 UTC
2. 2Call opens on EIT Health platform: 15 July 2026
3. 3Evaluation period: 16 Sep 2026 to 29 Oct 2026; final award notification: 11 Nov 2026
4. 4Project duration: up to 15 months; project start date indicated as 01 January 2026 in call metadata

Selection is single-stage:admissibility and eligibility checks, online pitching with external experts (minimum score 70/100 to be considered), Ethical, Legal and Social Issues review and final ranking. Top-ranked applicants invited to contracting.

More information and application access:EIT Health Biotech Innovation Path Call and official call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Official call page. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Call documentation and guidance available from the official call pages linked above. Confirm final grant amounts and conditions in the official call documents.

Basic facts and context

Title:Certified Innovation Path in Biotechnology 2027 (Biotech Innovation Path Call). Programme: EIT Health Business Plan 2026-2028 under Horizon/EIT framework (Programme period 2021-2027). Funding available per awarded project: up to €240 000. Maximum project duration under the funding support: 15 months, with the pathway expected online for registration and participation after nine months. Call identifier: HORIZON-EIT. Call type: Multi-Topic Call. Application model: single-stage submission. Application platform: EIT Health application platform (SmartSimple). Official portal landing page: EU Funding & Tenders Portal and EIT Health call page Biotech Innovation Path Call.

Call deadlines and timeline:Call opens on 15 July 2026 (application platform access opens). Call closes on 16 September 2026 (deadline 16 September 2026, 16:00 UTC noted in metadata). Evaluation period: 16 September 2026 to 29 October 2026. Final award notification: 11 November 2026. Project start date listed as 01 January 2026 in metadata; applicants should verify the official call document for correct intended start date and contracting timing. Project duration: up to 15 months; pathway available online after first 9 months.

Who can apply and eligibility conditions

Applicants are required to form a consortium meeting minimum composition rules. The core eligible applicant types and detailed requirements are extracted from the call: a consortium must include at least two Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) established in two different eligible Member States. Of those HEIs, at least one must be established in an EIT RIS region. At least one participating HEI must be authorised to award ECTS credits for the repurposed courses. In addition, the consortium must include at least one non-academic or industry partner with active and substantive involvement in curriculum development and supervision of learner assessment. The non-academic partner(s) should actively contribute to applied learning components (industry challenge projects, learner supervision, placements).

Eligible applicant types:Higher education institutions (HEIs), non-academic partners from industry or other organisations (private for-profit organisations, healthcare providers, manufacturers, biotech companies), research organisations collaborating in a teaching capacity, and other partner types that can substantively support curriculum and learner assessment. The call implicitly targets consortia composed of universities/Higher Education Establishments plus at least one industry/non-academic partner; SMEs, large enterprises and research institutes may participate as non-academic partners or subcontractors where appropriate.

Funding details and financial rules

Maximum grant per awarded project:up to €240 000. Funding modality: grant (financial support for funded projects). The call is part of EIT Health Business Plan funding. Applicants should consult the official call document for details on eligible costs, reimbursement rates, allowable overheads and other financial management and reporting requirements. The call indicates that EIT Health management will make final funding decisions and successful applicants will be invited to contracting. The top-ranked application (score-based) will be selected and contracted; if a top applicant fails contracting, the next in rank with at least 70/100 may be contacted.

Co-funding and financial commitment:The scraped content does not state an explicit mandatory co-funding percentage from applicants. Applicants should check the official call documentation and EIT Health application templates for co-funding or own contribution requirements, eligible cost categories and detailed budget templates. Ensure to verify whether additional matching funding, in-kind contributions (e.g., staff time, facilities) or leveraged funding is expected or recommended.

Call objectives, expected outcomes and scope

Purpose:to develop a new EIT Label-certified Biotech pathway within the Certified Innovation Path (CIP) portfolio, complementing existing pathways (Health Data, Digital Medical Devices, High Value Care). Funded projects will design and deliver personalised learning courses for graduates and professionals across the health biotechnology value chain, integrating advanced biotech/translational expertise with innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership competencies.

1. 1Core learning objectives: equip participants to navigate Europe’s evolving regulatory and policy landscape (including EU Biotech Act, Clinical Trials Regulation, MDR/IVDR), with focus on translation and early scaleup.
2. 2Integrate advanced biotech and translational expertise with EIT Labelled innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership competencies for real-world implementation.
3. 3Strengthen cross-border collaboration, mobility and industry engagement across research, clinical, manufacturing and investment ecosystems through applied learning and capstone projects.
4. 4Enable participants to articulate and demonstrate projected scientific, clinical and economic value across development stages, aligning strategies with financing, partnering and market access.

Target beneficiaries, sectors and project stage

Target sectors:health biotechnology, translational biotech, medical biotechnology, pharma/healthcare innovation, clinical translation, biotech manufacturing and regulatory compliance. Expected project maturity: education and training development targeting graduates and professionals (education and capacity building). Projects should focus on translation and early scaleup readiness—bridging research/development and commercialization, and preparing learners to work on real-world capstone projects that reflect development/demonstration and early commercialization stages.

Mentioned countries and geographic eligibility:Geographic eligibility is framed by EIT/EIT Health rules and the requirement that HEIs be established in two different eligible Member States; at least one HEI must be established in an EIT RIS region. The scraped text explicitly references EIT RIS regions and Member States, therefore the beneficiary scope is EU Member States and EIT eligible regions. Specific country names are not listed in the scraped content. Applicants should consult the official call document for the full list of eligible countries and the EIT RIS classification.

Application and evaluation process

Application submission route:applicants must first register their organisation in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC). Final application submission is done via the EIT Health application platform (SmartSimple). The selection process is single-stage submission followed by admissibility and eligibility checks, online pitching sessions, an Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) review, and final selection/contracting.

1. 1Step 1: Register organisation in EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain PIC.
2. 2Step 2: Apply via EIT Health application platform when the call opens.
3. 3Admissibility and eligibility check performed by EIT Health staff.
4. 4Online pitching: pitch plus Q&A with an evaluation panel (three external independent experts plus EIT Health management). Applicants must be available for assigned pitching slots; no rearrangements.
5. 5ELSI Review: independent experts assess ethical, legal and social considerations for shortlisted projects.
6. 6Final selection: ranking by mean reviewer score (out of 100). Only proposals with at least 70/100 considered for funding. EIT Health management makes the final decision based on scores, ELSI outcome and available funding.
7. 7Contracting: top-ranked applicants invited to contracting; if contracting fails, next ranked applicant with at least 70/100 may be contacted.

Evaluation scoring and success threshold:Each evaluation panel member scores proposals based on the application, the pitch and answers in Q&A. Final score is the mean of reviewers’ scores (max 100). Only applications with a score of at least 70/100 will be considered for funding. The number of awards depends on available funding and ranking; success rate information is not provided in the scraped content.

Application format and templates

Applications are submitted via the EIT Health SmartSimple platform. The scraped content references call information and supporting documents available for applicants and refers to a step-by-step instruction guide on the platform. The exact application form structure and templates are hosted on the EIT Health application platform and in the official call document. Applicants must prepare consortium descriptions, curriculum design, ECTS accreditation evidence (for participating HEI), industry partner contributions, budgets, timeline, learner targets and expected outcomes. Ensure to include evidence of HEIs’ ability to award ECTS credits for repurposed courses and confirmation of at least one HEI in an EIT RIS region.

1. 1Register organisation in EU portal and obtain PIC.
2. 2Create/Log in to EIT Health application platform (SmartSimple).
3. 3Complete application form on SmartSimple: project description, consortium composition, workplan, budget, ECTS accreditation evidence, industry partner letters of support, learner targets and KPI projections.
4. 4Prepare pitch materials for online pitching session: concise presentation and anticipated Q&A points.
5. 5Prepare documentation for ELSI review: descriptions of ethical, legal, social considerations and mitigation strategies.

Expected outputs and KPIs mentioned

Target outputs and measurable outcomes listed in the call summary include delivering an EIT Label-certified Biotech pathway, personalised learning courses and learner recruitment. Specific KPI targets stated: 150 CIP graduates from EIT-labelled programmes across all pathways by 2028, and 30 EIT RIS graduates from EIT-labelled programmes by 2028 (representing 20% of graduates). The funded pathway should contribute to these aggregate targets.

Success rates and number of stages

The process comprises a single application stage followed by administrative checks, online pitching (evaluation stage), ELSI review and final selection/contracting. Therefore the practical number of selection stages applicants will encounter is 3 to 4: (1) admissibility and eligibility check, (2) online pitching evaluation, (3) ELSI review, and (4) final selection/contracting. The scraped content does not provide historic or expected success rates; success depends on score ranking and available funding. Only proposals scoring at least 70/100 are considered for funding.

Consortium requirement and project maturity

Consortium required:yes. Minimum consortium structure is mandatory (at least two HEIs in different Member States plus at least one non-academic/industry partner). The project maturity expected is educational programme development targeted at learners and professionals who will apply biotech translational knowledge—this is primarily a development and implementation activity (design, repurposing of courses, delivery and capstone projects) rather than pure research. Emphasis on applied learning, industry integration and readiness for early scaleup translates to mid-to-late TRL understanding among curriculum outputs but the projects themselves focus on educational product development rather than technology R&D.

Other practical notes and guidance

Applicants must ensure availability for assigned online pitching slots; EIT Health will not rearrange slots. Prepare high-quality pitch materials and be ready to answer panel questions. ELSI review is mandatory for shortlisted projects—prepare ethical, legal and social impact assessments and mitigation plans. Verify the official call document and supporting documents for precise templates, budget categories, admissible costs, required annexes, timelines and contracting procedures Official call and supporting documentsEIT Health call page.

Success criteria for applicants:Strong consortia demonstrating cross-border collaboration, at least one HEI in an EIT RIS region, clear ECTS accreditation capability, substantive industry involvement, high-quality applied learning curriculum design, measurable learner targets and contribution to EIT-labelled CIP graduate KPIs will rank higher. Robust ethical, legal and social consideration handling and a convincing pitching presentation are critical to achieve the minimum 70/100 threshold and be considered for funding.

Structured answers to categorisation questions

Eligible Applicant Types:Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are mandatory participants; non-academic or industry partners are mandatory. Additional eligible types that can participate include research institutes, SMEs, large enterprises, healthcare providers and other organisations able to contribute to curriculum and learner assessment. The call emphasizes HEIs plus industry/non-academic partners as core requirements.

Funding Type:Grant (financial support awarded to projects).

Consortium Requirement:Consortium required. Minimum: at least two HEIs established in two different eligible Member States, including at least one HEI in an EIT RIS region, plus at least one non-academic/industry partner.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States / EIT eligible regions with explicit requirement of at least one HEI in an EIT RIS region. Applicants should consult the official document for the precise list of eligible countries and EIT RIS definitions.

Target Sector:Health biotechnology, translational biotech, pharma/healthcare innovation, clinical translation, biotech manufacturing, regulatory and market access education.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries were named in the scraped excerpts. The call references eligible Member States and EIT RIS regions; applicants should consult the official call documentation for the full list of eligible countries and EIT RIS classification.

Project Stage:Development and implementation of education/training programmes aimed at graduates and professionals; focus on translation and early scaleup readiness among learners. The activity is educational programme development (development, validation and delivery) rather than upstream lab-based research.

Funding Amount:Up to €240 000 per awarded project.

Application Type:Open competitive call with single-stage submission via EIT Health application platform; applicants must register via EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain PIC prior to applying.

Nature of Support:Monetary grant funding and non-monetary programme support via EIT Health networks, EIT Label certification, and access to EIT Health ecosystem; primary direct benefit is monetary grant.

Application Stages:3 to 4 main selection stages: admissibility/eligibility check, online pitching evaluation, ELSI review, final selection and contracting.

Success Rates:Not specified in scraped content. Selection is competitive and based on ranking and available funding. Only proposals scoring at least 70/100 will be considered for funding. Historical acceptance rates are not provided and should be inferred from available budget and number of expected awards, which are not specified in the scraped content.

Co-funding Requirement:Not explicitly stated in the scraped content. Applicants must consult official call documents and EIT Health templates for any mandatory co-funding, allowable in-kind contributions or matching requirements.

Application checklist (practical)

1. 1Obtain/verify PIC in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
2. 2Assemble consortium: at least two HEIs in two different Member States, one HEI in EIT RIS region, at least one HEI authorised to award ECTS credits, and at least one industry/non-academic partner.
3. 3Register and prepare application on EIT Health SmartSimple platform when it opens (15 July 2026).
4. 4Complete budget using EIT Health templates and justify costs for up to €240 000 funding request.
5. 5Prepare pitch presentation and rehearse Q&A for online pitching session.
6. 6Prepare ELSI documentation and mitigation plans.
7. 7Submit application before 16 September 2026 and ensure availability for assigned pitch date/time.

For full procedural, legal, financial and technical details applicants must consult the official call document and supporting documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the EIT Health call page. The official sources contain templates, detailed eligibility rules, budget categories, contractual obligations and annexes that govern the award and implementation.

References:Official call and supporting documents are available via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Official call and supporting documents and EIT Health opportunity page Biotech Innovation Path Call.

This summary is based on scraped call metadata and web content; applicants must verify all operational details, dates, eligibility and templates against the official call documentation prior to submission. The scraped content includes a citation: EITHEALTH Business Plan 2026. Available at the EU portal EITHEALTH Business Plan 2026. ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Consult the official call document and supporting documents on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the EIT Health opportunity webpage for authoritative templates, exact financial rules, eligible countries, programme terms and contracting procedures.

Who Should Apply

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

This call invites consortia of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and industry partners to develop a new EIT Label-certified Biotech pathway within the Certified Innovation Path (CIP) portfolio, complementing existing pathways in Health Data, Digital Medical Devices, and High Value Care ¹.

Consortium Composition:A minimum of two HEIs established in two different eligible Member States, with at least one HEI in an EIT RIS region and at least one authorized to award ECTS credits ².

Industry Partner Requirement:At least one non-academic or industry partner must actively contribute to curriculum design and learner assessment supervision, ensuring a learning-by-doing approach ³.

What We Fund

Project Objectives and Expected Outcomes

Funded projects will design and deliver personalized learning courses for graduates and professionals across the health biotechnology value chain, equipping them with innovation, entrepreneurship, and biotech expertise to translate scientific advances into market-ready healthcare solutions ⁴.

1. 1Equip participants to navigate Europe’s regulatory landscape, including the EU Biotech Act, Clinical Trials Regulation, and MDR/IVDR
2. 2Integrate advanced biotech expertise with EIT Labelled innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership competencies
3. 3Strengthen cross-border collaboration, mobility, and industry engagement through applied learning and capstone projects
4. 4Enable participants to articulate and demonstrate projected scientific, clinical, and economic value across development stages

Funding Details

Budget, Duration, and Key Dates

Graduate Targets by 2028:Across all CIP pathways: 150 graduates total, including 30 (20%) from EIT RIS regions ⁵.

How to Apply

Application Process and Evaluation Criteria

Step 1:Register your organization in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a nine-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC) ⁶. Step 2: Apply via the EIT Health Application Platform, which opens on 15 July 2026 ⁷.

1. 1Admissibility and Eligibility Check by EIT Health staff
2. 2Online Pitching session with Q&A, evaluated by three external experts and EIT Health management
3. 3Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) Review to de-risk the portfolio
4. 4Final Selection based on expert scores; only applicants scoring ≥70/100 are considered for funding

Key Information Sessions:Call Information Session: 15 July 2026, 10:30–11:30 CET; Open Q&A Session: 03 September 2026, 11:00 CET ⁸.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page: Biotech Innovation Path Call
2. 2Consortium requirements detailed in call documentation: Official Call Document
3. 3Industry partner role emphasized in EIT Label Handbook principles: EIT Label Handbook
4. 4Project objectives and outcomes: EIT Health Opportunity Page
5. 5Graduate targets: EIT Health Call Summary
6. 6PIC registration guide: EU Participant Register
7. 7Application platform access: EIT Health Application Platform
8. 8Session registration links: Call Information Session