European Startup and Scaleup Hubs pilot

Open EU call topic HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01 · HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions. Part of call HORIZON-EIE-2027-02: Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2027.2). Next deadline 2027-01-05. Topic page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01

Expected Outcome: Projects under this topic will contribute to the following outcomes: - Accelerate market expansion for European deep tech startups across EU regions and beyond by fostering collaboration and mutual support among European deep tech startup ecosystem actors; - Interconnect top-tier tech startup and scaleup hubs embedded in research, technology and higher education ecosystems; - Enable cross-border access to infrastructures, facilities, corporates, investors and talents to deep tech startups and scaleups, including those funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC); - Enable more European deep tech startups, including women-led startups and scaleups, to succeed scaling into globally competitive companies; - Strengthen less-connected innovation hubs by integrating them into a Europe-wide collaborative network; - Boost private and public investment in deep tech ventures established within the participating innovation hubs.

Scope: This action builds upon the EU’s strategic vision outlined in the EU Competitiveness Compass [1], the EIC scaling strategy[2], and the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy[3]. It aligns with the objectives of strengthening Europe’s deep tech capabilities, increasing regional innovation cohesion and supporting the growth of globally competitive companies. The EU must act decisively to close the innovation gap with other world regions by enabling more commercial successes based on its scientific excellence. While Europe generates world-class research, European deep tech startups often struggle to scale into global champions. The European Startup & Scaleup Hubs (ESSH) pilot will address this…