RAPTOR 2026 Open Call

The RAPTOR 2026 Open Call is a competitive grant opportunity provided by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Urban Mobility, specifically targeting startups and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of this initiative is to connect innovative solutions from these entities with urban mobility challenges faced by European cities. Under this call, each selected applicant receives a fixed funding contribution of €60,000, with a total funding pool of €900,000 available to support up to 15 projects.

Eligible applicants must operate as individual entities, meaning startups and SMEs apply separately to address one of the defined city challenges. The focus is primarily on innovative solutions in the realm of urban mobility and sustainable transport, addressing issues such as public transit optimization, logistics, traffic management, and micro-mobility in response to environmental changes.

Geographically, the call is open to entities across Europe, including both EU member states and associated countries. While specific prior pilot cities have included locations such as Istanbul, Dublin, Utrecht, Munich, and Barcelona, there are no stated restrictions that would prevent participation from innovative entities in broader European regions.

Projects funded under this call must be in the development and validation phase, requiring applicants to conduct a minimum two-week on-site demonstration of their solutions within six months of receiving funding. This helps ensure that proposed innovations are not only theoretical but have undergone real-world testing.

The application process for the RAPTOR 2026 Open Call follows a single-stage model, and all proposals must be submitted through the designated NetSuite submission portal by the deadline, which is March 12, 2026, at 17:00 UTC. There are no explicit co-funding requirements mentioned, meaning the €60,000 grant appears to be the total support offered without a need for additional matching funds.

Success rates for the call are estimated to be between 10% and 39%, indicating a highly competitive environment. The RAPTOR initiative is part of the broader EIT Urban Mobility program, which has supported numerous pilots across multiple cities, emphasizing the EU's commitment to addressing urban mobility through innovation.

In summary, the RAPTOR 2026 Open Call provides a significant opportunity for startups and SMEs to develop and validate their innovative solutions to urban mobility challenges, furthering the goals of sustainable urban transport and promoting entrepreneurial growth within the sector. The structured application process aims to ensure that selected proposals are evaluated rigorously, thereby fostering impactful outcomes in urban mobility innovation.

The RAPTOR 2026 Open Call is an EU funding opportunity targeting start-ups and SMEs. The call aims to foster the development of new or significantly improved products, services, or solutions that address one of the 15 RAPTOR 2026 city challenges, as detailed in Annex II City Challenges.

The opening date for submissions is January 16, 2026, and the deadline for submission is March 12, 2026, at 17:00 (Brussels time). The call follows a single-stage deadline model.

The total funding available for this call is 900,000.00 EUR. Each selected entity may receive a total EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) contribution of 60,000 EUR per project.

The project acronym is EITUM-BP26-28. The full name of the EU-funded project is EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028. The grant agreement number is 101269525. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2025-KIC-IBA-UM - 2025-12-31T17:00:00.000Z.

Applicants are required to submit their proposals through the NetSuite submission portal. Proposals will be evaluated based on pre-defined evaluation criteria, following the evaluation process described in Section 6 of the Call Manual, titled "Evaluation and selection process".

The RAPTOR initiative identifies urban mobility challenges in cities and organizes a competition to select the best solutions presented by start-ups and SMEs. It then provides support for solution development, culminating in an in-situ demonstration lasting a minimum of two weeks. Further information can be found on the EIT Urban Mobility's Call website.

In summary, the RAPTOR 2026 Open Call is a funding opportunity for start-ups and SMEs to develop innovative solutions for urban mobility challenges. The call provides financial support and a platform for demonstrating solutions in real-world settings. The goal is to address specific city challenges identified by the RAPTOR initiative and contribute to the broader EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are start-ups and SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises).

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

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the text refers to "each entity awardee," suggesting that single applicants are eligible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but since it is an EIT Urban Mobility call, it is likely focused on EU member states and potentially associated countries. Further information would be needed to confirm the exact geographic scope.

Target Sector: The target sector is urban mobility. The call aims to address urban mobility challenges of cities.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The call is related to EIT Urban Mobility, which operates within the EU.

Project Stage: The project stage is development, leading to demonstration. The call supports a period of solution development which results in an in-situ demonstration lasting a minimum of two weeks. The aim is to develop a new or significantly improved product/service/solution.

Funding Amount: Each entity awardee may receive a total EIT contribution of €60,000 per project. The total funding available for the call is €900,000.

Application Type: The application type is an open call.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The deadline model is single-stage, implying that there is only one stage in the application process.

Success Rates: The success rates cannot be determined from the provided information.

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

Summary:

The RAPTOR 2026 Open Call is an EIT Urban Mobility initiative aimed at supporting start-ups and SMEs in developing innovative solutions to address urban mobility challenges. The call provides grants of up to €60,000 per project, with a total funding pool of €900,000 available. The selected projects will focus on developing and demonstrating new or significantly improved products, services, or solutions that tackle one of the 15 RAPTOR 2026 city challenges outlined in Annex II. The application process is a single-stage open call, and proposals must be submitted through the NetSuite submission portal. The projects are expected to culminate in an in-situ demonstration lasting at least two weeks. The call is part of the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028 and falls under the HORIZON-EIT-2025-KIC-IBA-UM topic. The opening date for submissions is January 16, 2026, and the deadline is March 12, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. This opportunity is designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship in the urban mobility sector by providing financial support and a platform for start-ups and SMEs to showcase their solutions in real-world settings.