EIT Regional Innovation Booster 2025 - Polish edition Call for Stage 1

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster 2025 Polish Edition Call for Stage 1 is a program launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in collaboration with Poland’s Ministry of Economic Development and Technology. It targets Polish start-ups and scale-ups, exclusively those that are legally registered in Poland and operate at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher. This initiative aims to bridge regional innovation disparities by enhancing support for high-potential ventures in Poland’s innovation ecosystem.

Eligible applicants include Polish start-ups and scale-ups focusing on various sectors such as Climate, Digital Technologies, Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Energy and Renewables, Metals and Industrial Side Streams, and Urban Mobility. The program is structured in three stages, although this call is focused solely on Stage 1, which does not offer direct financial grants but instead provides non-monetary support in the form of bootcamps, mentoring, and matchmaking sessions.

Stage 1 will feature up to 12 selected start-ups engaging in two intensive bootcamps—one on-site in Warsaw and one online—along with an online matchmaking event. These activities will help participants develop their market-entry strategies in international markets such as the Nordic countries, Germany, and Spain. Selected participants will be invited to apply for Stage 2 at the conclusion of Stage 1, which will offer state aid funding for internationalization efforts through the de minimis scheme.

The application process is open with a deadline of 31 August 2025, and interested parties must submit their proposals using the official EIT Application Form. A scoring threshold of 70 out of 100 is required for eligibility. The announcement of selected applicants is expected by 19 September 2025, and the program components are designed to enhance the expertise and connections of participants as they prepare for market entry.

Overall, this opportunity represents a significant effort to foster innovation and competitiveness among Polish start-ups by connecting local businesses with broader European innovation ecosystems, thereby enhancing their capability for international expansion and collaboration.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster 2025 Polish Edition Call for Stage 1 is an initiative by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Poland. It aims to boost innovation ecosystems in emerging and moderate innovator regions within Poland. This is achieved by providing tailored, integrated, and place-based innovation support to start-ups and scale-ups.

The call is exclusively available to Polish start-ups and scale-ups that are legally registered with their headquarters in Poland and maintain active business operations within the country, and that are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster (EIT RIB) targets start-ups and scale-ups in less-developed regions, specifically those performing below the EU average in terms of innovation ecosystem maturity, as identified by the European Innovation Scoreboard. The initiative seeks to simplify and streamline the start-up and scale-up support landscape by connecting national, regional, and EU-level initiatives into a cohesive entrepreneurial support pathway.

The EIT RIB aims to: enable the international growth of deep-tech start-ups and ventures from moderate and emerging innovator regions, create a seamless support pathway across local, national, and EU levels to help high-potential start-ups and scale-ups succeed in national and international markets, strengthen collaboration between EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) and local innovation actors and instruments, boost innovation output and visibility of emerging ecosystems within European networks, provide targeted funding, mentoring, and strategic resources to selected ventures, promote synergies, best practice sharing, and efficiency gains across the EIT Community and national authorities.

Start-ups and scale-ups can submit their applications in one of the following industry-specific categories, each supported by a different EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT KIC): Climate, Digital, Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Energy and Renewables, Metals, minerals, industrial side streams, and Urban Mobility.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster programme in Poland in 2025 is organized in three stages, but this call for proposals is dedicated to Stage 1 only. Calls for Stage 2 and Stage 3 will be open only to participants of Stage 1. At the end of Stage 1, start-ups and scale-ups will be invited to apply for Stage 2 to obtain additional funding from the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology for internationalization. This additional funding will be considered state aid and delivered via a de minimis scheme. In later stages, start-ups and scale-ups may also receive further support services from the EIT Community.

In Stage 1, up to 12 selected start-ups/scale-ups will be selected through an open call. The selected participants will join two intensive weekend Bootcamps (one on-site in Warsaw and one online) and one online Matchmaking event. These events are designed to accelerate internationalization and commercialization in one of the target markets: Nordic countries, Germany, or Spain. Each participating start-up/scale-up can choose only one country in the programme. Stage 1 will be held in partnership with the National Contact Point in Poland (NCP department), which will provide advisory support and experts familiar with EIC requirements.

The Bootcamps and online Matchmaking sessions will equip start-ups and scale-ups with knowledge, industry connections, and access to potential clients and partners. The 12 participating start-ups and scale-ups will be divided into three cohorts, each focusing on one of the target EU markets. Each cohort will follow a similar Bootcamp track, including thematic training sessions with world-class experts, market benchmarking for the target regions, and one-on-one mentoring with industry specialists.

Through the Bootcamps, start-ups and scale-ups will create a Market Landing Roadmap and a financial plan for internationalization activities. These elements will be further developed during Stages 2 and 3.

The design of Stage 1 includes the following elements:

Bootcamp 1 (on-site): Market Readiness & Strategic Fit. The objectives are to refine financial and operational readiness, tailor value propositions, and prepare for international scaling with expert guidance. Workshops will focus on: Partner Selection & Collaboration Models, Value Proposition Design for Market Fit, Market Prioritisation & Regulatory Landscape Mapping, Scaling Internally: Org Readiness, Governance & Hiring for Expansion, Localization Strategy: Messaging, Pricing, and Channel Fit, Navigating Public Funding Rules, Market Specific Go-To-Market Strategies, Investor & Corporate Pitching, Securing Pilots & Financial Roadmapping, and Intellectual Property.

Bootcamp 2 (online): Market Execution & Growth Roadmap. This bootcamp focuses on execution, market strategy, and Go-To-Market plan, with personalized mentoring. Participants will shape a tailored roadmap for international expansion.

Matchmaking (online): Successful & Efficient Expansion. The objective is to enable high-impact connections between start-ups and key ecosystem players in selected EU markets, gain direct feedback on selected solutions, explore partnership potential, and chart the path to successful market entry.

The opening date for submissions is 30 June 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 31 August 2025 at 17:00 (Brussels time). The announcement of selected applicants is scheduled for 19 September 2025. Bootcamp 1 will be held on-site in Warsaw from 3-5 October 2025, Bootcamp 2 will be online from 10-12 October 2025, and the Matchmaking event will be online on 24 October 2025. The total funding available is 0.00 €. 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.

The application must be made through the EIT Application Form by the deadline of 31 August 2025, 16:00 CET. Applicants must fill in all required information tabs in the application form. Incomplete submissions or submissions via any other means (e.g., email) will be rejected. Multiple submissions are not accepted, and each applicant must use a unique email address. Individuals, co-founders, and project team members are not eligible to be part of more than one submitted project at the same time or submit more than one project at the same time.

The selection process consists of a single proposal submission. To be selected, applications must score at least 70/100 in remote evaluation. Following submission, all applications will undergo an eligibility check. Eligible applications will be evaluated by three external evaluators. A maximum of 100 points will be awarded by each evaluator. The final remote evaluation score will be the average of all evaluators’ scores. Up to 12 applications with the highest scores will be invited to join the EIT RIB programme. Seven will be chosen based on the highest evaluation scores within each of the seven thematic areas, and an additional five will be selected purely based on the highest overall scores, regardless of thematic area. To be formally accepted, participants will need to provide a signed Concept note.

The application must be within the scope of the main challenges:

Place-based transformations that ground climate action at the local level powered by Climate KIC. Solutions are sought to plan, map, analyse, engage, design, test, and invest in a portfolio of solutions in cities, bioregions, and value chains.

Digital Tech, Digital Cities, Digital Industry, Digital Wellbeing, and Digital Finance powered by EIT Digital. EIT Digital invests in strategic areas to accelerate the market uptake and scaling of research-based digital technologies (deep tech) focusing on Europe’s key societal challenges.

Food & Agritech powered by EIT Food: optimizing resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of agriculture supply, primary production, processing, storing, packaging, logistics/distribution, retail, consumer research, nutrition monitoring, and food service; developing nutritionally customized food products, addressing unmet needs, and generating consumer-relevant functionalities; building trust in the food system, securing traceability and auditability of food quality, safety, and authenticity, combining digital and sensor technologies to acquire and transmit information through the food value chain. The development of solutions that will put new products on the market, introduce new and improved commercial processes and services, and achieve: Healthier Lives Through Food, A Net Zero Food System, and A Fully Transparent, Fair, and Resilient Food System.

Healthcare powered by EIT Health: New models to deliver healthcare; Facilitating the uptake of digital medical devices in Europe; Harnessing the full potential of health data for innovation; Supporting the deployment of Important Project of Common European Interest in Health (IPCEI) to address market failures.

Energy and Renewables powered by InnoEnergy: energy costs reduction, system performance increase, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decrease, circular economy (particularly in the context of energy usage), green hydrogen, solar energy, energy management systems, energy usage of waste, recycling related energy sector, new solutions to energy-heavy industries that optimize energy usage or change its sources to more sustainable and energy storage. Any other innovative approaches that are based on sustainable energy generation, storage, or usage are welcome.

Metals, minerals, industrial side streams powered by EIT RawMaterials: Technologies and solutions for improved and new mineral exploration; Digital solutions for remote monitoring, analytics, sensing, modelling, digital twins, etc.; Advanced and fully integrated exploration smart targeting of ore deposits; Technologies and solutions for more efficient, safer, and sustainable modern mining; Technologies and solutions for mineral and metal processing and for improved materials production; Improving processing efficiency by reducing resource use and/or emissions and CO2-footprint; Technology that address equipment-damage problems such as wall thinning, creep, or corrosion; Technologies and solutions for materials supply from secondary sources and recycling; Cost-efficient and clever collection, dismantling, and sorting of waste; Turning waste resources into a valuable raw materials feedstock for EU industries; New technologies, materials, or services that make it possible to substitute or use lower quantities of critical or toxic materials in key industries; Solutions and business models implementing circular economy concepts; Design of products for recycling and lifetime extension; Resource-efficient design of materials; Innovation to improve traceability, sustainability, and transparency across raw materials value chains.

Urban Mobility powered by EIT Urban Mobility: Active Mobility (walking and cycling), Sustainable City Logistics (delivery, waste management, circular freight, logistics infrastructures, shared logistics, etc.), Future Mobility (traffic management, waterborne mobility, shared mobility, urban air mobility, etc.), Mobility and Energy (electrification, hydrogen for mobility, battery tech and circularity, net-zero e-fuels, etc.), and Transport Infrastructure (intermodality, autonomous public transport, demand-responsive transport, smart parking, etc.) are the main focus areas.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster 2025 Polish Edition Call for Stage 1 is a program designed to support Polish start-ups and scale-ups in emerging and moderate innovation regions. It offers a unique opportunity for companies at TRL 7 or higher to participate in a structured program involving bootcamps and matchmaking events focused on internationalization. The program aims to equip participants with the knowledge, connections, and resources needed to expand into markets like the Nordic countries, Germany, and Spain. While there is no direct funding in Stage 1, successful completion opens the door to apply for additional funding in Stage 2, specifically for internationalization efforts. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the EIT and the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, emphasizing a commitment to boosting innovation and competitiveness within Poland by connecting local ventures with broader European networks and opportunities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are Polish start-ups and scale-ups. A "Polish start-up or scale-up" is defined as a company that, prior to the launch of this call, is legally registered with its headquarters in Poland and maintains active business operations within the country.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism for this Stage 1 call appears to be non-monetary services, specifically access to bootcamps, matchmaking, training, and mentoring. However, the description mentions that at the end of Stage 1, start-ups and scale-ups will be invited to apply for Stage 2 to obtain additional funding from the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology for internationalisation. This additional funding will be considered state aid and delivered via a de minimis scheme. The total funding available for Stage 1 is listed as 0,00 €.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is for single applicants, specifically individual start-ups or scale-ups.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is limited to Poland. Only Polish start-ups and scale-ups are eligible to apply.

Target Sector: The program targets multiple sectors, each supported by a different EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT KIC). These sectors include: Climate, Digital Tech, Digital Cities, Digital Industry, Digital Wellbeing, and Digital Finance, Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Energy and Renewables, Metals, minerals, industrial side streams, and Urban Mobility. More specifically, the following areas are of interest: Place-based transformations that ground climate action at the local level, research based digital technologies (deep tech), optimising resource efficiency and environmental sustainability of agriculture supply, primary production, processing, storing, packaging, logistics/distribution, retail, consumer research, nutrition monitoring, and food service, new models to deliver healthcare, facilitating the uptake of digital medical devices in Europe, harnessing the full potential of health data for innovation, supporting the deployment of Important Project of Common European Interest in Health (IPCEI) to address market failures, energy costs reduction, system performance increase, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions decrease, circular economy (particularly in the context of energy usage), green hydrogen, solar energy, energy management systems, energy usage of waste, recycling related energy sector, new solutions to energy-heavy industries that optimise energy usage or change its sources to more sustainable and energy storage, technologies and solutions for improved and new mineral exploration, digital solutions for remote monitoring, analytics, sensing, modelling, digital twins, etc., advanced and fully integrated exploration – smart targeting of ore deposits, technologies and solutions for more efficient, safer and sustainable modern mining, technologies and solutions for mineral and metal processing and for improved materials production, improving processing efficiency by reducing resource use and/or emissions and CO2-footprint, technology that address equipment-damage problems such as wall thinning, creep or corrosion, technologies and solutions for materials supply from secondary sources and recycling, cost-efficient and clever collection, dismantling and sorting of waste, turning waste resources into a valuable raw materials feedstock for EU industries, new technologies, materials or services that make it possible to substitute or use lower quantities of critical or toxic materials in key industries, solutions and business models implementing circular economy concepts, design of products for recycling and lifetime extension, resource efficient design of materials, innovation to improve traceability, sustainability, and transparency across raw materials value chains, Active Mobility (walking and cycling), Sustainable City Logistics (delivery, waste management, circular freight, logistics infrastructures, shared logistics, etc.) , Future Mobility (traffic management, waterborne mobility, shared mobility, urban air mobility, etc.), Mobility and Energy (electrification, hydrogen for mobility, battery tech and circularity, net-zero e-fuels, etc.), and Transport Infrastructure, (intermodality, autonomous public transport, demand-responsive transport, smart parking, etc.).

Mentioned Countries: Poland, Germany, Spain, Nordic countries.

Project Stage: The program targets start-ups and scale-ups at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher. This suggests that the projects should be at the demonstration, validation, or early commercialization stage.

Funding Amount: The total funding available for Stage 1 is listed as 0,00 €. However, the selected participants will receive non-monetary support in the form of training, mentoring, and matchmaking opportunities. Additional funding may be available in Stage 2 from the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology for internationalisation, delivered via a de minimis scheme. The specific amount for Stage 2 is not detailed in this call.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: The primary support for Stage 1 is non-monetary services. This includes participation in two bootcamps (one on-site in Warsaw and one online), and an online matchmaking event. These activities aim to provide knowledge, industry connections, and access to potential clients and partners to support commercial deployment in selected markets. Additional monetary funding may be available in Stage 2.

Application Stages: The application process for Stage 1 involves a single proposal submission, followed by an eligibility check and remote evaluation. Applications must score at least 70/100 in the remote evaluation to be considered.

Success Rates: Up to 12 start-ups/scale-ups will be selected to participate in Stage 1. The success rate would depend on the number of applications received, but given that only 12 are selected, it is likely to be below 10%, unless application numbers are low.

Co-funding Requirement: There is no explicit mention of a co-funding requirement for Stage 1. However, the potential funding in Stage 2 might have its own co-funding requirements, which are not detailed in this call.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster (EIT RIB) 2025 Polish Edition is a program designed to support the international growth of Polish start-ups and scale-ups operating at TRL 7 or higher. This initiative, a collaboration between the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Poland, aims to address the innovation imbalance in Europe by boosting innovation ecosystems in emerging and moderate innovator regions. The program's first stage focuses on providing non-monetary support through intensive bootcamps and matchmaking events. Up to 12 selected ventures will participate in a two-month program that includes an on-site bootcamp in Warsaw, an online bootcamp, and an online matchmaking session. These activities are designed to equip participants with the knowledge, connections, and resources needed to accelerate their internationalization and commercialization efforts in target markets such as the Nordic countries, Germany, and Spain. The program is structured around several industry-specific categories, each supported by a different EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (EIT KIC), including Climate, Digital, Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Energy and Renewables, Raw Materials, and Urban Mobility. While Stage 1 does not offer direct financial grants, it serves as a gateway to Stage 2, where participants can apply for additional funding from the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology to support their internationalization activities. The application process for Stage 1 involves submitting a proposal through the EIT Application Form, which will be evaluated based on eligibility criteria and a remote evaluation process. A score of at least 70/100 is required to be considered for selection. This initiative represents a targeted effort to strengthen the Polish innovation ecosystem and promote the international competitiveness of its high-potential start-ups and scale-ups.