EIT Infrabooster Practitioner Call for Applications #2

The EIT InfraBooster Practitioner Call for Applications is a European Union-funded training initiative aimed at enhancing the commercialization of research infrastructures. This program is designed for professionals employed by universities and research institutes, focusing on building capacity and facilitating collaboration between academic institutions and industry. It invites teams of 3 to 4 members, including at least one individual who has graduated from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation in recent years.

Eligible applicants must come from countries in the Western Balkans, EU Outermost Regions, and neighboring states, such as Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Türkiye. The program emphasizes creating innovative services that leverage publicly funded research infrastructures, particularly aimed at startups and small to medium enterprises.

Funding for the initiative consists of subgrants up to €800 per team for attending specific events, along with additional financial support for travel and accommodation for finalists. The total budget available for the program is €25,200. The application process is classified as an open call, with a submission deadline set for June 26, 2025.

Participants benefit from both monetary and non-monetary support, which includes training, mentoring, and certification through self-study, online training modules, and in-person sessions. The training aims to help teams develop market-ready services while enhancing collaboration and outreach to potential industrial partners.

The application process is modular and requires an initial submission, followed by evaluations, training sessions, and finals. The program encourages diverse teams and assesses applications based on team composition, the commercial potential of the research infrastructure, and motivation.

Additionally, there are no co-funding requirements, and selected teams will be supported throughout the duration of the program and in later stages if they progress beyond initial training. The initiative serves as a bridge between academia and industry, aiming to foster innovation and practical applications of research outputs in the marketplace.

The EIT InfraBooster Practitioner call opens on May 26, 2025, and closes on June 26, 2025, at 02:00 Brussels time. This is a single-stage submission model. The expected duration of participation is until November 30, 2025. The total funding available is 25,200.00 EUR. The project acronym is Cross-KIC RI, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Cross-KIC Strategic Regional Innovations Cluster. The grant agreement number is 101113214. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2023-25-Cross-KIC-Regional-Innovation - EIT Cross-KIC Regional Innovation.

To apply, applicants need to download the application form in MS Word format, complete all sections accurately (including signed pages), obtain a signed letter of support from top management, and submit the complete application form as a PDF file to infrabooster@wz.uw.edu.pl with the email title APPLICATION. Each application must describe only one research infrastructure, but the same institution can submit multiple applications with different teams. The EIT InfraBooster organizers reserve the right to accept a limited number of applicant teams on a rolling basis.

The evaluation criteria are: (1) Team diversity (researchers and support personnel), (2) Exploitation potential (commercial relevance of research infrastructure), and (3) Motivation (expectations from the training and motivation to increase commercial uses of research infrastructure). Each criterion is evaluated on a 0-2 scale (0 – below expectations; 1 – satisfactory; 2 – excellent), with a maximum of 6 points. The highest-ranked applications will be selected. The evaluation criteria align with the standard HE award criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of the implementation. Results will be confirmed by email within 14 days after the submission deadline.

Funding terms apply only to participants of the EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ cohort from the Western Balkans, neighboring countries, and EU Outermost Regions. There is no funding for teams only participating in self-study, mentoring, or internal pitching sessions. Funding is offered only to selected teams in InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ participating in specific events. Up to 18 best teams in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ will be invited to the EIT InfraBooster Finals and offered up to 800 EUR subgrant for attending the offline Finals and supporting service development. Up to 18 teams in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner will be invited to the EIT Jumpstarter Finals and receive up to 600 EUR subgrant for attending the offline event, networking with startups, and supporting service development and validation.

Funding is based on demonstrated progress in designing innovative services using research infrastructures. Teams must submit assignments detailing designed innovation services, which will be evaluated by the EIT KICs’ evaluation committee. A revised version of the ‘Team assignment – input into a mentoring’ describing key elements of the proposed infrastructure-based service must be submitted after self-study and initial mentoring sessions with the InfraBooster team and before mentoring sessions with EIT KICs. This deliverable is evidence of competencies and knowledge gained during the EIT InfraBooster programme. Positive assessment by EIT Food after the EIT KICs’ evaluation will lead to an invitation to the EIT InfraBooster Finals and/or EIT StartupBooster during EIT Jumpstarter Final.

Basic eligibility criteria for funding include signing the consent form or financial support agreement and submitting the required deliverable, including the team assignment with a developed service description. Subgrants will cover travel and accommodation costs for participation in events, and attendance of a team representative is mandatory to receive the subgrant. The exact subgrant amount will be determined based on each KIC’s practice and internal regulations. Financing is based on teams, regardless of the number of members representing the team during the event. Team members share costs and will be reimbursed or paid with a lump sum based on eligibility criteria and reporting documents. Additional information and guidance will be provided during the programme.

Applicants may appeal the selection process in writing to adam.strzelecki@eitfood.eu within 7 days of notification. Grounds for appeal are limited to process errors, technical problems beyond the applicant's control, and human/technical errors made by EIT KICs staff. Scores awarded during evaluation do not constitute grounds for appeal.

EIT InfraBooster is a modular training programme for representatives of scientific organizations that own research infrastructures. It offers capacity building and support in designing infrastructure-based services for companies, increasing collaboration, international exposure, and innovativeness. It helps establish new revenue sources by leveraging commercially relevant research infrastructures, skills, and knowledge of research teams. EIT InfraBooster is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under Horizon Europe, making it free for selected participants.

EIT InfraBooster Practitioner is the second level of EIT InfraBooster educational modules, helping participants understand the competitive edge of their research infrastructures, design innovative infrastructure-based services, identify potential industrial partners, and start industrial outreach. Participants will prepare marketing collateral, understand the needs of specific industries/companies, identify potential clients, and initiate service sales processes. The training is delivered by the team from the Faculty of Management, University of Warsaw as part of EIT Community Strategic Regional Innovations Cluster (Cross KIC SRI 2023-2025) and EIT Food RIS Public Sector Representatives Activity Line (PSRAL).

The program is dedicated to professionals employed or contracted by a university or research institute that owns publicly funded research infrastructures, who are interested in providing innovative services to companies, including startups and SMEs, or building cross-border collaboration with key industry players.

Eligible applicant teams must: Apply as a team of 3 or 4 members, including at least one member who has already graduated from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation in 2023, 2024, or 2025. All remaining members of the team must be enrolled in the Foundation by the time of submitting the application. Priority will be given to teams with diverse backgrounds, including researchers and support personnel such as technology transfer specialists, marketing specialists, financial or administrative officers, and technicians. Reside and work in one of the following countries targeted by EIT Community SRI Cluster dedicated activities for Western Balkans economies: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo), neighboring countries: Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Moldova, Türkiye and EU Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal) and the Canary Islands (Spain) – to be eligible to take part in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+. Reside and work in one of the regions covered by EIT Regional Innovation Scheme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine – to be eligible to take part in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner RIS. Be employed at a higher education institute or public research institute which owns commercially relevant research infrastructures and get confirmation by top management of the institute. A good command of English is required from all participants.

Members of shortlisted team applications who have not yet graduated from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation will be obliged to complete the training as a precondition for their team's acceptance into the EIT InfraBooster Practitioner training. All team members must graduate from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation before the introductory session. EIT InfraBooster Practitioner only invites applicant teams who have obtained the support of top management (dean/rector/director) confirming that: the institution owns research infrastructure described in the application; the management supports the application and has the intention to use the research infrastructure for collaboration with industrial companies; team members will be able to attend all training modules on dates specified in the call; team members will be involved in the future sales and delivery of services based on the research infrastructure.

EIT InfraBooster Practitioner will be held in English, and training participants will prepare individual and team assignments in English. It comprises self-study on an e-learning platform, online training, and mentoring sessions (including: Introductory session, Team session, Mentoring sessions with InfraBooster team at University of Warsaw, Mentoring sessions with EIT KICs, Internal pitching session) spread across three months (April-July 2025) and (July-October 2025) and delivered by educators and mentors from the University of Warsaw and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities. The training helps participants specify, prepare, promote, present, negotiate, and initiate infrastructure-based collaboration with private companies. Participants are expected to work on individual and team assignments aligned with training timelines and deadlines, with regular progress tracking and feedback from educators. The program ends with each team presenting their innovative infrastructure-based service, available to companies and promoted in European markets. No funding is available for the teams which only participated in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner self-study or mentoring activities or internal pitching session.

Selected teams will be invited to attend the EIT InfraBooster Finals in-person event. The time and place of the final will be decided and communicated to the teams in advance. The invited teams, eligible for participation in EIT InfraBooster WB+ Finals, will be offered financial support for their travelling. The most successful participants will also be able to progress to the third module of EIT InfraBooster Expert at advanced level and receive further training and mentoring support. Participants do not pay tuition and receive a professional training certificate of an educational programme accredited with EIT Label upon programme completion (contingent upon regular attendance of the training sessions and submission of assignments).

EIT InfraBooster Practitioner will be delivered online using digital tools. Training online sessions and the pitching session in 2025 are listed below: Introductory session: 10th July (Thursday), Self-study Part 1: 10th July – 4th September, Team session: 11th September (Thursday), Self-study part 2: 11th September – 9th October, Mentoring sessions with InfraBooster team at University of Warsaw: 22nd – 26th September (Monday – Friday), Mentoring sessions with EIT-KICs: 20th – 24th October (Monday – Friday), Internal pitching session 30th October (Thursday), EIT InfraBooster WB+ Finals: November/December (tbd). The exact dates of the mentoring sessions are scheduled based on the availability of the teams and mentors. Each team is entitled to one 60-minute mentoring session during each mentoring week.

Updates and more information can be found at https://eit-ris.eu/infrabooster and https:/www.eitfood.eu/projects/infrabooster/infrabooster-practitioner. Questions can be directed to infrabooster@wz.uw.edu.pl.

In summary, the EIT InfraBooster Practitioner program is a training initiative designed to help research institutions commercialize their research infrastructures. It targets professionals from universities and research institutes who are interested in providing innovative services to companies. The program involves online training, mentoring, and culminates in a presentation of an infrastructure-based service. The program is free for selected participants and offers subgrants to cover travel and accommodation costs for attending the finals. The application process requires forming a team, obtaining support from top management, and submitting a detailed application form. The program aims to bridge the gap between research and industry, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicants are professionals employed or contracted by a university or a research institute that owns publicly funded research infrastructures. They should be interested in providing innovative services to companies, including startups and SMEs, or building cross-border collaboration with key industry players to leverage their research infrastructures. Applicants must apply as a team of 3 or 4 members, including at least one member who has already graduated from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation in 2023, 2024, or 2025. All remaining members of the team must be enrolled in the Foundation by the time of submitting the application. The application prioritizes teams with diverse backgrounds, including researchers and support personnel such as technology transfer specialists, marketing specialists, financial or administrative officers, and technicians. The team must be employed at a higher education institute or public research institute which owns commercially relevant research infrastructures and get confirmation by top management of the institute.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a subgrant. Selected teams participating in specific events will receive financial support. Up to 18 teams participating in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ will be selected and invited to the EIT InfraBooster Finals and will be offered a financial support of up to 800€ subgrant. Up to 18 teams participating in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner will be selected and invited to attend the EIT Jumpstarter Finals and will receive up to 600€ subgrant.

Consortium Requirement: A consortium of multiple applicants is required. Applicants must apply as a team of 3 or 4 members.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility varies depending on the specific track within the program. For the EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ track, applicants must reside and work in one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Moldova, Türkiye, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Saint Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal) and the Canary Islands (Spain). For the EIT InfraBooster Practitioner RIS track, applicants must reside and work in one of the regions covered by EIT Regional Innovation Scheme: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Türkiye, Ukraine.

Target Sector: The program targets the sector of research and innovation, specifically focusing on leveraging publicly funded research infrastructures to provide innovative services to companies, including startups and SMEs. It aims to increase collaboration between scientific organizations and industry, fostering commercialization of research outputs.

Mentioned Countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Moldova, Türkiye, Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte, Saint Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), Canary Islands (Spain), Czechia, Cyprus, Estonia, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain.

Project Stage: The program targets projects that are at the stage of designing and developing innovative services based on existing research infrastructures. It focuses on moving from research to commercial application and industrial outreach.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is variable, with subgrants of up to 800€ for teams participating in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ and up to 600€ for teams participating in EIT InfraBooster Practitioner. The total funding available is 25,200€.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. The EIT InfraBooster organizers also reserve the right to accept only a limited number of applicant teams on a rolling basis (first come, first served).

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive both money in the form of subgrants and non-monetary services through training, mentoring, and networking opportunities.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with an initial application followed by evaluation and selection. However, the program itself is modular, with self-study, online training, mentoring sessions, and a pitching session.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly stated, but the program mentions selecting up to 18 teams for the EIT InfraBooster Finals and up to 18 teams for the EIT Jumpstarter Finals. The success rate is other.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned as a requirement.

The EIT InfraBooster Practitioner program is a training and support initiative designed to help professionals from universities and research institutes commercialize their research infrastructures. It is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under the Horizon Europe program. The program is free of charge for selected participants and aims to bridge the gap between scientific organizations and industry by providing capacity building and support in designing infrastructure-based services that can be offered to companies.

The program is structured as a modular training program that includes self-study, online training, mentoring sessions, and pitching opportunities. Participants will learn how to identify the competitive edge of their research infrastructures, design innovative services, identify potential industrial partners, and initiate service sales processes. The program is delivered in English by educators and mentors from the University of Warsaw and EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities.

To be eligible for the program, applicants must form a team of 3 or 4 members, with at least one member having graduated from the EIT InfraBooster Foundation. The team must be employed by a university or research institute that owns publicly funded research infrastructures. The program has two tracks: EIT InfraBooster Practitioner WB+ for applicants from the Western Balkans, neighboring countries, and EU Outermost Regions, and EIT InfraBooster Practitioner RIS for applicants from regions covered by the EIT Regional Innovation Scheme.

Selected teams will receive subgrants to cover travel and accommodation costs for attending the EIT InfraBooster Finals and the EIT Jumpstarter Finals. The most successful participants may also progress to the third module of EIT InfraBooster Expert for further training and mentoring support. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a professional training certificate accredited with the EIT Label. The application deadline is June 26, 2025.