EIT Regional Innovation Booster – Poland 2025

For our Pledgers and Talents following the EIT Deep Tech Talent Initiative we would like to draw your attention to this opportunity.

 

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), in collaboration with the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, has launched the EIT Regional Innovation Booster, a brand-new initiative designed exclusively for Polish start-ups and scale-ups addressing pressing European challenges.

It offers 12 ventures tailored, long-term support to high-potential ventures, helping them grow nationally and scale across three markets; Germany, Spain and the Nordic countries, and will focus on ecosystem mapping, start-up selection and mentoring, internationalisation support, and strategic alignment with Poland’s smart specialisation priorities.

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster Poland journey

It will be organised in three interconnected stages.

Stage 1

Up to 12 high-potential Polish start-ups will gain exclusive access to:

• Hands-on internationalisation support to help you get market-ready, fast
• 2 intensive bootcamps led by top European mentors and experts
• 1 targeted EU market selected for your innovation
• Online matchmaking with key players, investors, partners, and customers from your priority country You’ll leave with a sharpened go-to-market strategy, warm leads, and a clear path to cross-border expansion

Stage 2

Three to five selected start-ups will receive up to €200,000 in non-dilutive support to scale internationally within the EU, and receive:

• A tailored growth roadmap co-created with experts
• Funds for launching their product/solution abroad
• Help with entering a target EU market, validating their solution, building partnerships, and preparing for investment

Stage 3

For the final part of the programme, five selected ventures receive access to a dedicated a hands-on expert who acts as their rented ‘problem-solver’, guiding them through:

• Resource optimisation
• Customers introductions
• Help with preparing for growth in the EU

Eligibility criteria

• For-profit small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) according to the EU definition.
• Only registered legal entities are eligible to apply; sole entrepreneurs are not permitted.
• The entity must be registered in Poland prior opening the call.
• The entity must be less than ten years old.
• SME applies alone, not in the consortium.
• The entity must have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 7 or higher. The solution must demonstrate clear potential for commercialisation and scalability.
• The entity needs to be owner of the IPR of the solution that will be promoted in new market.

 

About the EIT Regional Innovation Booster

The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is a new flagship initiative of the EIT, offering targeted support to start-ups and scale-ups in emerging and moderate innovator countries, helping them grow towards commercial success, access international markets, and attract further investment.

With a view to launching a broader pilot in at least four countries from 2026, followed by full roll-out from 2029, Poland will host the pilot phase of the EIT Regional Innovation Booster in 2025.

The programme, developed together with national authorities, will simplify and connect Europe’s innovation support landscape. It will create country-specific support ecosystems by connecting existing funding and initiatives, offering the most promising start-ups a seamless path to commercial success and internationalisation. The EIT plans to invest at least €30 million in piloting the EIT Regional Innovation Booster until 2028.