Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026

EIT Health's Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026 is a single-beneficiary call to accelerate European start-ups and SMEs developing biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers/diagnostics. Projects may request €300,000 to €500,000 in funding covering up to 50% of eligible costs and require the company to secure the remaining co-funding; eligible applicants must be private for-profit SMEs with at least 4 full-time equivalent employees and a closed minimum equity investment of €2,000,000 within the previous 36 months. Eligible projects must meet sector-specific Innovation Maturity Level (IML) thresholds (for example IML 5 for biotech, IML 6 for medtech, IML 7 for digital and diagnostics) and proceed through admissibility checks, remote evaluation by experts, an ELSI review, and an online pitching stage for shortlisted candidates. Applicants must register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC and submit via the EIT Health application platform when it opens on 15 July 2026 with a final submission deadline of 16 September 2026.

What it funds

Scope and purpose

EIT Health funds high-potential European start-ups developing solutions in biotech, medtech, digital health, artificial intelligence, and biomarkers/diagnostics to accelerate product development, commercialisation and readiness for next-stage fundraising.

Grant size and co-funding:Projects may request €300,000 to €500,000. EIT Health will fund up to 50% of project costs; the company must provide the remaining 50% from other sources ¹.

1. 1Eligible applicants: private companies (micro, small and medium-sized enterprises) with at least 4 full-time equivalent employees.
2. 2Investment track record: minimum total equity investment of €2,000,000 closed within the previous 36 months, with at least one new investor participating.
3. 3Maturity requirements (Innovation Maturity Level): Biotech IML >= 5; Medtech IML >= 6; Digital and Biomarker/Diagnostics IML >= 7.

Application process:register your organisation in the EU Funding & Tenders portal to obtain a PIC, then apply via the EIT Health application platform. Selection is single-stage with remote evaluation, shortlisted online pitching and an ELSI review; scoring thresholds apply for shortlist and funding.

How to apply:Register in the EU portal for a PIC and submit via EIT Health's application platform when it opens (applications opening 15 July). Supporting documents and the official call text are available online ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and documents: EIT Health Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026

Essential Facts

Call Title:Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026. Programme: EIT Health Business Plan 2026-2028 under Horizon Europe (Programme period 2021-2027). Call identifier: HORIZON-EIT. Call type: Multi-topic competitive call (single-stage submission with subsequent evaluation stages). Total EIT Health indicative budget associated with the Business Plan entry: €5,000,000. Call opens on 15 July 2026 for applications via the EIT Health application platform; official call deadline for submission: 16 September 2026 at 16:00 UTC (application portal and EU Funding & Tenders Portal administrative deadlines may differ; applicants must obtain a PIC from the EU portal first). Project duration indicated in metadata: 12 months (January 2027-December 2027) for the Business Plan entry. Start date metadata shows 15 July 2026; applicants should consult the official call document for precise contractual start dates and project timelines. For the official call and supporting documents see the EIT Health call page and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry Official call page EU Portal call entry ¹.

Funding Range and Funding Modality:EIT Health funding available per project: between €300,000 and €500,000. EIT Health will fund a maximum of 50% of the project’s total eligible costs; the applicant company must secure the remaining 50% of project costs from other sources (co-funding requirement).

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

The call targets private companies only, specifically Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Minimum organisational and financial criteria are explicitly defined in the call:

1. 1Eligible Applicant Types: Private for-profit organisations; specifically SMEs and micro-enterprises. The programme is targeted at companies (start-ups / scale-ups) rather than universities or research-only entities. Applicants must operate as legal entities and be able to register on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC.
2. 2Minimum Team Size Requirement: Eligible companies must have at least 4 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees.
3. 3Investment History Requirement: Eligible companies must have closed a minimum total equity investment of €2,000,000 within the previous 36 months, and this must include at least one new investor contributing (i.e., not solely follow-on from existing investors).
4. 4Innovation Maturity Level (IML) Requirement: Projects must be at the indicated IML depending on sector focus: IML >= 5 for Biotech (Safety/Toxicity study stage), IML >= 6 for Medtech (initial clinical proof-of-concept), IML >= 7 for Digital (market validation), and IML >= 7 for Biomarker / Diagnostics.
5. 5Co-funding: EIT Health funds max 50% of total project costs; the applicant must demonstrate and secure the remaining 50% from other sources (equity, grants, own funds, third party contributions).
6. 6Participant Identification Code (PIC): Applicants must be registered in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and provide the nine-digit PIC number as part of the administrative registration steps.
7. 7Geographic/Legal Eligibility: While the call targets European companies, applicants must register on the EU portal and will be evaluated under EIT Health eligibility rules. Implicitly, eligibility is aimed at organisations established in EU member states and associated countries accepted by EIT Health; applicants should confirm exact country eligibility in the official call document.

Target Sectors, Technologies and Project Maturity

The Transformative Healthcare Instrument focuses on innovative solutions across multiple healthcare sub-sectors. The call explicitly lists sectors and maturity expectations for eligible projects.

1. 1Target Sectors and Thematic Focus: biotech, medtech, digital health, artificial intelligence applied to health, biomarkers, and diagnostics.
2. 2Technology Examples (non-exhaustive): therapeutics and biologics in biotech (safety/toxicity stage), medical devices and diagnostics requiring clinical PoC, digital health solutions and software with market validation evidence, AI/ML algorithms for clinical decision support, biomarker discovery and diagnostic assays at validated stages.
3. 3Expected Project Stage (Project Maturity): The call expects companies to be beyond early idea stage. Required Innovation Maturity Levels are IML >=5 to IML >=7 depending on sector as listed above. This indicates projects at stages ranging from preclinical safety/toxicity (biotech), through initial clinical proof-of-concept (medtech), to market validation and commercial readiness for digital and diagnostics solutions.

Evaluation and Selection Process

Selection is a single-stage application followed by admissibility checks, remote evaluation, potential shortlisting for online pitching, ELSI review, and final funding decision by EIT Health management based on the panel recommendations and available budget.

1. 1Administrative / Admissibility and Eligibility Check: Formal verification of application completeness and eligibility according to the call rules (chapters 3.1–3.4 referenced in the call document).
2. 2Remote Evaluation: Each application is evaluated remotely by three independent external experts who provide written feedback and a numerical score. Applicants must meet a minimum score threshold to progress (shortlisting rules apply; see below).
3. 3Shortlist & Online Pitching Invitation: Up to 15 shortlisted candidates who score at least 70 out of 100 in the remote evaluation will be invited to an online pitch. The online pitch is evaluated by a panel of five experts (three external independent experts and two EIT Health management staff). Panel experts in the pitching stage are different from the remote evaluators.
4. 4Online Pitch Format and Requirements: Applicants must be available for the assigned pitching slot; EIT Health cannot rearrange pitches. The pitch assessment considers the written application, the pitch presentation, and responses during Q&A. Applicants must score at least 70/100 in the pitching stage to be considered for funding.
5. 5Ethical, Legal and Social Issues (ELSI) Review: A separate ELSI review will assess and de-risk ethical, legal and social considerations of proposed projects.
6. 6Final Selection Notification: EIT Health management makes final funding decisions based on expert recommendations, pitch scores, and available funding. All applicants will receive feedback from each expert.

Application Stages and Number of Stages:Applicants follow a single-stage submission with subsequent evaluation steps: (1) admissibility/eligibility checks, (2) remote evaluation, (3) shortlisted online pitching (if applicable), (4) ELSI review, and (5) final decision. Counting these as distinct stages yields five stages in total.

Administrative and Submission Process

Applicants must first register their organisation in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a PIC. The substantive application is submitted via the EIT Health application platform (SmartSimple instance). Access to the EIT Health application platform opens on 15 July 2026. Applicants should consult the call information pack and step-by-step guidance available on the EIT Health application portal prior to submission.

Funding Details and Co-funding

Projects may request between €300,000 and €500,000 from EIT Health. EIT Health contribution is capped at 50% of the total project costs. Applicants must secure the remaining 50% from other sources. The metadata shows an indicative total budget of €5,000,000 for the relevant Business Plan item; applicants should not assume individual award budgets beyond the specified per-project range without checking the official call documentation.

Success Rates and Competition

The call documentation does not publish an explicit success rate. However, the selection process shortlists up to 15 candidates to pitch (those scoring >=70/100 in remote evaluation). Only projects scoring at least 70/100 in the pitching stage are considered for funding. Final awards depend on panel recommendations and available funding. Given the limited per-project funding tranche and the overall budget envelope, competition is expected to be strong; applicants should plan for rigorous evaluation and supply robust evidence of market traction, investment history, and technical maturity.

Eligible Countries / Geographic Scope

The call is administered by EIT Health and published via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The opportunity is aimed at European start-ups and SMEs; applicants must register on the EU portal and typically be established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. The call text does not list an exhaustive country eligibility table in the scraped content; applicants must verify country eligibility and legal entity requirements in the official call document and on the EU portal.

1. 1Mentioned Countries: No specific list of countries is provided in the scraped text. The reference is to European companies and registration on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants should assume EU / Horizon Europe associated countries unless otherwise specified in the official call rules.

Application Templates and Required Documents

The detailed application form and supporting templates are hosted on the EIT Health application platform and the official call document. The scraped content references chapters 3.1–3.4 for eligibility and application conditions; applicants must consult the official call document and the application platform for full templates, mandatory attachments, budget tables, resumes, investor evidence, and proof of co-funding.

1. 1Typical form structure (based on call description and EIT Health practice): executive summary, company profile, technology and evidence of maturity (IML justification), clinical and regulatory strategy (if applicable), commercialisation plan and go-to-market evidence, fundraising and investor history (evidence of €2,000,000 closed in prior 36 months including one new investor), detailed workplan and budget, sources of co-funding and letters of commitment, team and key personnel CVs, risk and ELSI considerations, milestones and expected impact.
2. 2Administrative requirements: PIC (Participant Identification Code from EU portal), legal entity information, company registration documents, and evidence of employee numbers (to confirm >=4 FTE).
3. 3Pitching materials: Applicants shortlisted for pitching will be required to prepare a pitch deck and be available at the assigned online pitching slot for Q&A; format details and time allocation will be provided to shortlisted applicants via the EIT Health platform.

Assessment Criteria (as described)

While the full evaluation criteria are in the call document, the process description indicates scoring thresholds and evaluation by independent experts. Key assessment areas likely include: technical and clinical validity, innovation and differentiation, evidence of maturity relative to IML thresholds, commercial potential and market validation, fundraising readiness and investor interest, quality of team, and ethical, legal and social considerations. Remote evaluation uses three independent experts; pitching stage assessed by five panel members and includes Q&A performance.

Summary — What This Opportunity Is About

The Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026, run by EIT Health and published via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, is a targeted funding opportunity to accelerate high-potential European healthcare start-ups and SMEs. It provides between €300,000 and €500,000 in funding per project, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. The call targets mature early-stage ventures with demonstrated investment traction (minimum €2,000,000 closed in the prior 36 months including a new investor), at least four full-time equivalent employees, and projects at specified Innovation Maturity Levels according to sector (biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, biomarkers/diagnostics). The selection is competitive and proceeds through admissibility checks, remote expert evaluation, a shortlist for online pitching (up to 15 candidates scoring >=70/100), ELSI review, and a final management decision. Applicants must register on the EU portal for a PIC and submit the full proposal through the EIT Health application platform when it opens on 15 July 2026. The call is intended to help funded companies progress product development, strengthen commercialisation, and prepare for subsequent fundraising rounds while addressing unmet clinical needs across Europe.

Footnotes

1. 1Official call page and supporting documents are available at the EIT Health opportunity page and the EU Funding & Tenders Portal: eithealth.eu and ec.europa.eu

Who Can Apply

Key Eligibility Requirements

The Transformative Healthcare Instrument (THI) 2026 is a single-beneficiary call by EIT Health designed to accelerate high-potential European start-ups developing innovative solutions in biotech, medtech, digital health, AI, and biomarkers or diagnostics ¹.

Eligible applicants must be private, for-profit Micro, Small, or Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) incorporated in an EU or Horizon Europe associated country, with at least 4 full-time equivalent employees ².

Funding Amount:Projects may request between €300,000 and €500,000 in EIT Health funding, which covers a maximum of 50% of total project costs; the company must secure the remaining 50% as co-funding ³.

1. 1Closed minimum equity investment of €2,000,000 within the previous 36 months with at least one new investor
2. 2Innovation Maturity Level (IML) ≥ 5 for Biotech (Safety/Toxicity study stage)
3. 3Innovation Maturity Level (IML) ≥ 6 for Medtech (Initial clinical Proof of Concept)
4. 4Innovation Maturity Level (IML) ≥ 7 for Digital Health and Biomarkers/Diagnostics (Market validation)

The financial sustainability mechanism is exclusively the "Grant to Options to Equity" model, where EIT Health acts as a neutral investor to share long-term risk without operational interference ⁴.

Key Dates:The application platform opens on 15 July 2026, and the call closes on 16 September 2026 at 16:00 CET ⁵.

Applicants must register their organisation in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before applying via the EIT Health Application Platform ⁶.

The selection process includes a remote evaluation by three experts, followed by online pitching for up to 15 shortlisted candidates scoring at least 70/100, and an Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI) review ⁷.

Only applicants achieving an online pitching score of at least 70/100 will be considered for final funding by EIT Health management ⁸.

Call Information Session:15 July 2026 (13:30–14:30 CET) and Open Q&A Session: 02 September 2026 (11:00 CET) are available for applicant support ⁹.

Footnotes

1. 1Official opportunity page: Transformative Healthcare Instrument 2026
2. 2Eligibility criteria: EIT Health THI 2026 FAQs
3. 3Funding details: EIT Health Opportunity Page
4. 4Financial model: EIT Health 2025 FAQs
5. 5Key dates: EIT Health Opportunity Page
6. 6Application steps: EIT Health Opportunity Page
7. 7Selection process: EU Funding Portal Call Details
8. 8Final selection criteria: EU Funding Portal Call Details
9. 9Support sessions: EIT Health Opportunity Page