Deliver activities of the Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture programme
Support MSc and PhD students on their journey to venture creation.
EIT Health is inviting consortia of University Incubators and Entrepreneurship Support Providers to apply for funding to deliver activities of the Beyond the Idea: From Concept to Venture, a venture building programme for Master’s and PhD students developing early-stage healthcare solutions.
The programme is designed for students who have identified entrepreneurship as a potential pathway and are looking to explore and validate the commercial potential of their solutions. The selected consortium will deliver specific programme activities including masterclasses, mentoring, and a final Pitch Day (for two cohorts over two years), working closely with EIT Health, which will provide the overall programme design and management.
The programme aims to bridge the gap between academic innovation and venture creation by equipping participants with the entrepreneurial mindset, practical skills, and ecosystem connections needed to transform promising healthcare concepts into validated venture opportunities. By the end of the programme, participants are expected to have assessed the commercial feasibility of their innovation, developed a business model and venture roadmap, and be equipped to establish a company. In doing so, the programme will contribute to building a stronger pipeline of future healthcare entrepreneurs and accelerating the translation of innovative ideas into viable ventures across Europe.
Who can apply?
We are calling for a consortium of one University Incubator (Organisational units established by higher education institutions that provide structured incubation services, mentoring and business support to facilitate the creation and growth of research- and innovation-based start-ups) and one Entrepreneurship Support Provider (Organizations specialized in venture creation (Venture builders, incubators and accelerators, innovation consultancies, entrepreneurship support organizations)) with demonstrated experience in venture building.
Beyond the Idea is designed to help Master’s and PhD students take their projects from an early concept to a validated venture opportunity. To achieve this, the programme requires organisations that understand both the academic environment and the start-up creation journey.
University Incubators work closely with students and are well placed to identify, recruit, and support participants throughout the programme. They understand the challenges faced by student entrepreneurs and can help create an environment where innovation and entrepreneurship can flourish.
Entrepreneurship Support Providers bring practical experience in turning ideas into businesses. Their expertise in areas such as customer validation, business development, mentoring and venture creation complements the academic perspective and helps participants understand what it takes to bring an innovation to market.
Funding
- Up to 36,000 EUR in 2027
- Up to 36,000 EUR in 2028
Key Dates
- Call opens on: 02 September 2026
- Call closes on: 2 November 2026
- Eligibility Notification: 06 November 2026
- Call Information Session: 09 September 2026, 11.00 CEST – Register Here.
- Q&A Session: 15 October 2026 – 11:30 CET – Register Here
Where to find out more
Click here for the official call document and supporting documents
Call Updates:
How to apply
- Step 1: Register your organisation in the EU Funding & tender opportunities portal to obtain the nine-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC number). If you do not know if your organisation already has a PIC number, you can verify directly on the EU Portal whether your organisation is already registered.
- Step 2: Apply to the call via EIT Health’s application platform. Prepare a separate application for each EIT Health Bootcamp learning path for which you wish to apply. Applicants may apply for more than one path, provided they can demonstrate the expertise and capacity required to deliver each path successfully.
- Step 3: Submit your application through EIT Health’s application platform before the application deadline. Click the “Apply” button below to begin your application.