Are you ready to build a successful consortium, create a local capacity-building programme for your health and life science innovation ecosystem, and join the EIT Health InnoStars network? EIT Health DRIVE equips your organisation to boost the local healthcare innovation ecosystem, build national and international connections, and create meaningful change in your region.
The EIT Health DRIVE is an ecosystem-building training programme that brings together regional leaders dedicated to innovation-driven entrepreneurship through workshops led by international experts, collaborative team activities, inspiring study visits, and meaningful networking. The programme is open for consortia of two organisations coming from the same innovation ecosystem
Once completing the programme, participants will have the opportunity to secure co-funding of up to 20,000 EUR to implement their capacity-building programmes designed during DRIVE.
Applications to DRIVE are currently closed. Be the first to know about upcoming programmes and opportunities that may be a good fit for you by joining our mailing list.
Develop a tailor-made plan for the implementation of a valuable health or life science-oriented capacity-building programme in your region
Gain access to the unique methodology co-created with TU Delft, one of the world’s top technology universities and EIT Health Innostars, the largest health innovation network of CESEE
Get inspired by European entrepreneurship ecosystems during on-site study visits
Be part of a valuable network of regional leaders dedicated to innovation-driven entrepreneurship
Apply for 50% co-funding, up to 20,000 EUR and mentoring to realise the programme you designed in the frame of EIT Health DRIVE 2025
The EIT Health DRIVE training programme lasts 9 weeks, between 7 April and 4 June 2025, and consists of a mix of on-site & online training sessions and individual & teamwork.
7 – 11 April, Delft, Netherlands
Learn about the DRIVE methodology, visit one of the world’s leading entrepreneurship ecosystems and define your ambition for your region
7 – 9 May, Bristol & Oxford, UK
Take a deep dive into the UK innovation ecosystem, explore best practices from accelerators and university innovation centres, network and equip yourself with knowledge on building innovation clusters
2 – 4 June, Budapest, Hungary
Explore different funding models for your organisation, and with expert support, create your action plan for the capacity-building programme
Following the training, in July 2025, participants can apply for mentorship and co-funding to realise their action plans. The 5 most promising capacity-building programme designs will receive up to 20,000 EUR in co-funding (50% co-funding rate) to put their plans into action.
The programme is open to consortia of two organisations coming from the same innovation ecosystem that:
Organisations that are currently EIT Health RIS Hub or partner or the affiliated entity of an EIT Health RIS Hub or EIT Health Partner are not eligible. The applicant has to be a legal entity located in one of the RIS-eligible countries.
For more information, please read the Call Document attached to the application form.
Programme Participation Fee: 8,000 EUR per two-person team (EIT Health InnoStars covers 12,000 EUR of the 20,000 EUR programme total cost).
The travel and accommodation costs shall be covered by the participating organisations.
Co-Funding for Implementation: Up to 20,000 EUR (50% co-funding rate) available for the implementation of the five best programme designs.
The main challenge that we are facing all the time in our innovation ecosystem is how to connect scientists and research and development with business and industry. The EIT Health DRIVE programme gave us the support to understand the needs of our ecosystem and to do our best in communicating, collaborating, and pushing our innovation ecosystem forward.
Jana Blazevic Marcelja, Deputy CEO at Science and Technology Park Rijeka
When hearing about the credibility of the EIT Health network and the opportunities that we can bring, the universities and technology transfer centres and private tech companies suddenly became more interested than before, in working with us.
Cristina Baghiu, Co-founder & European Digital Innovation Hub Coordinator of the Digital Innovation Zone EDIH
Applications to DRIVE are currently closed. Be the first to know about upcoming programmes and opportunities that may be a good fit for you by joining our mailing list.
Horizon Europe Project Lead, EIT Health
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