InnoStars Awards

The InnoStars Awards is a key acceleration programme for early-stage start-ups from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, where the pace of innovation is more moderate.

The programme helps transform prototypes and MVPs into health solutions or products and bring them to the market. Over the last seven years, more than 100 start-ups have been trained and more than half have been successful in the market.

The InnoStars Awards is also a unique place for investors looking for gems in biotech, MedTech and life sciences, and a must-attend pit stop in the healthcare start-up journey.

Ready to accelerate your start-up? Apply by 16 April 2023.

Apply now

What you get

How it works

STAGE 1 – INNOSTARS AWARDS

Start-ups that fit the overall EIT Health InnoStars Awards objectives will be selected through external experts. 

STAGE 2 – MENTORING AND TRAINING

After completing the “Mentoring and Training” part, and the business plan submission the top 10 companies will qualify and get invited to can get invited to qualify for the final pitch of the InnoStars Awards.

STAGE 3 – INNOSTARS AWARDS PITCH EVENT

Pitch your business plan to an international jury consisting of healthcare professionals, representatives of EIT Health core industrial partners and market experts.

Win up to €25 000 to launch your product or service, find your first customers and get in connection with EIT Health Partners from all over Europe. Present your success story in the local and European media.

OPTIONAL NAM SELECTION

Projects with a focus on active ageing have the opportunity to enter into the founded by the United States National Academy of Medicine (NAM).

Through InnoStars Awards, EIT Health participates in the Catalyst phase of the competition in addition to the award winners, all applicants advancing to the final stages of the Catalyst Award review process are automatically considered for subsequent funding in the form of an Accelerator Award, the second phase of the Global Competition, worth between $150,000 and more than $1 million USD.

To be eligible, your project should be a bold, innovative idea that has the potential to extend the human health span through disease prevention, mobility, functionality, social connectedness, longevity, and more. Find out more about the NAM Challenge.

 

 

Key details

Upcoming Dates:

16 April

Submission deadline for applications

End of May

Announcement of the InnoStars Awards 2023 cohort 

July & September

Bootcamps

End of October

Announcement of 10 finalists

November

InnoStars Awards Grand Final

Who should apply

The InnoStars Awards programme is suitable for:

  • Micro and small enterprises according to the EU definition
  • Spin-offs and start-ups that already have a prototype or an MVP, but the product/service is not on the market yet – no income
  • Companies must be incorporated/registered before the sub-granting agreement initiation
  • Applicants can apply only with legal entities from the following countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, Turkey

Ready to apply?

To apply simply register to our application platform, access your account and select the Innostars Awards application form. Don’t forget to fill your application by 16 April 2023.

Apply

InnoStars Awards Contact