EIT Health & EIC partner to support start-ups

The European Innovation Council and EIT Health have entered into a partnership aimed at helping start-ups to access even more of the support and services the two organisations have to offer.

The collaboration will offer start-ups that have previously received support from EIC or EIT Health access to greater networks, increased financial opportunities, and more services – increasing the connectedness, effectiveness, diversity, and sustainability of the European life sciences and healthcare ecosystem.

The partnership will be equally beneficial to alumni of both organisations with EIC start-ups supported in their applications and participation in EIT Health’s flagship programmes (Bridgehead, Bootcamps, and Gold Track) and EIT Health start-ups supported in their applications and participation in the EIC’s Accelerator and Pathfinder.

From July 2021, a Fast Track scheme will also be created through which high potential EIT Health start-ups will be eligible to apply to the EIC Accelerator on an accelerated timeline by receiving business coaching support from EIT Health.

As the largest healthcare innovation network in Europe, EIT Health is focussed on building a pipeline of promising health start-ups through training, network-building, early-stage funding, and project collaborations, as well as providing the necessary ecosystem in which they can flourish. The EIC is set to be the largest early-stage equity fund in Europe, designed to crowd in investments from venture capital and other impact investors – while not focussed on any one sector, health is on the EIC agenda.

“This is an exciting partnership because services of the EIC and EIT Health can work hand in hand to offer innovators the opportunity to access funding, training, and networking at the right time.  We look forward to working closely with the EIC to offer Europe’s talented healthcare entrepreneurs opportunities to  help to put their  innovative and impactful solutions into the hands of those who need them” said Dr. Kurt Höller, EIT Health Director of Business Creation.