The various Knowledge and Innovation Communities of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) will select 20 companies to join the EIT Community Booster initiative and receive €50,000 in growth support. The EIT Manufacturing Accelerator will select startups that facilitate environmentally and socially sustainable manufacturing, fostering long-term, life-cycle thinking and integration within the industrial ecosystem.

“The EIT Community contributes to all aspects of the New European Bauhaus. We have the necessary ecosystem to find interesting ideas and startups from all over Europe,” explains Gioia Ghezzi, Chair of the EIT Board of Trustees. “We are eager to discover and expand the creative and innovative solutions that will help reinterpret sustainable living and make living spaces more beautiful and affordable.”.  

The New European Bauhaus: an initiative to boost sustainable progress 

Driven by the European Commission, the New European Bauhaus translates the European Green Deal into a tangible and positive experience in which all citizens of the Community can participate and progress together. With this premise in mind, the EIT Digital, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Urban Mobility communities have developed the EIT Community Booster. This initiative seeks out the most innovative startups and scaleups, those driving sustainable change in cities, industries, climate, food, well-being, and overall quality of life. Its purpose is to support, through grants and services designed to accelerate business, companies that are part of the three main dimensions of the New European Bauhaus:

  1. Sustainability: from climate goals to circularity, zero pollution and biodiversity
  2. Aesthetics: the quality of the experience and style, beyond functionality
  3. Inclusion: from valuing diversity to guaranteeing accessibility and affordability

The initiative's approach is participatory, transdisciplinary, and multi-level, from global to local. 

EIT Community Boost, a key opportunity for startups in various sectors 

Leveraging the extensive network and technical expertise of the EIT Community, Europe's leading innovation ecosystem, the new initiative combines the best business growth programs offered by EIT Digital, EIT Climate-KIC, EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing and EIT Urban Mobility.

Each of the five programs offers a comprehensive package of services to help companies at different stages of development accelerate their business growth, secure funding, and scale internationally. Depending on their field and experience, entrepreneurs are invited to apply for one or more of the EIT Community Booster programs and its dedicated New European Bauhaus track

  • EIT Digital Accelerator: for scaleups that harness the power of digital transformation to create innovative solutions and products in industries, cities and communities that integrate circularity, inclusion and aesthetics, in order to foster a green, safe and sustainable future.

  • Clean Cities ClimAccelerator: for startups developing innovative projects for the renewable energy, mobility, green spaces and redevelopment industries, contributing to making cities more sustainable, healthy and clean, and thus improving the quality of life and the experience of citizens.

  • EIT Food Accelerator Network: for agri-food startups with a major impact at any point in the agricultural or food supply chain, and that are committed to building a healthier, more reliable and sustainable food system for local and global communities.

  • EIT Manufacturing Accelerator: for startups that facilitate environmentally and socially sustainable manufacturing, fostering long-term, life cycle thinking and integration into the industrial ecosystem. 

  • EIT Urban Mobility Accelerator: for startups developing sustainable alternatives for urban spaces and biodiversity, improving the public sphere and accessibility to boost the well-being of citizens and/or ensure universal mobility for all as a key factor for social inclusion.

How to submit the application

The application deadline is December 17 at 23:59 CET. For more information about each program, selection criteria, and awards, please visit the initiative's website.