Deadline Date: March 23, 2026
The LLM-BRIDGE Consortium invites qualified incubators and innovation partners to participate in a unique opportunity to accelerate the growth of European startups developing solutions powered by Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI (GenAI).
The programme focuses on supporting early-stage startups in Generative AI, multilingual AI, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), helping them validate markets, refine business models, and prepare for investment. Key objectives include programme delivery, mentoring and capacity building, curriculum integration, monitoring and reporting, ecosystem engagement, data and ethics compliance, and visibility and dissemination.
The LLM-BRIDGE Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) offers selected incubators up to €60,000 in financial support to deliver a 12-week intensive programme designed to strengthen the next generation of European GenAI startups. The programme emphasizes onboarding, weekly mentoring sessions, and a final Demo Day where startups showcase their progress. Participating incubators are expected to provide access to multidisciplinary mentors, business advisors, and AI technical experts who can guide startups through product validation, compliance with EU AI and data regulations, and investor readiness.
Incubators will also be responsible for delivering structured curriculum modules covering entrepreneurial skills, market positioning, user testing, ethical AI design, legal frameworks such as the AI Act, GDPR, and the Data Act, as well as sustainable business models. Progress will be tracked against predefined milestones, and incubators must contribute to consolidated reporting for the European Commission under FSTP monitoring rules.
A key aspect of the VIP is fostering collaboration and ecosystem engagement. Incubators will facilitate connections between startups, research institutions, investors, and industrial partners to ensure continuity beyond the programme. All supported startups must follow ethical AI practices, adhere to data protection principles, and align with Europe’s approach to trustworthy AI.
The programme also emphasizes visibility and dissemination, with incubators promoting the LLM-BRIDGE project across communication channels, events, and digital platforms, highlighting its role in reinforcing Europe’s AI innovation ecosystem and sovereignty. Eligible applicants must be established in an EU Member State or a Digital Europe Programme Associated Country, demonstrate experience in deep-tech startup incubation, and be capable of delivering the programme fully in English.
For more information, visit LLM-BRIDGE.
