Deadline Date: January 19, 2026
Are you building an impact-driven start-up that wants to grow — without compromising your values? Apply now for Catalyse NEB 2026, the EIT Community NEB accelerator for ventures shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful future.
This programme supports ventures that embed social innovation as a key to deliver system change and new ways of living together. Qualified start-ups must be registered in an EU member state or a Horizon-Europe–associated country and incorporated after 1 January 2021. They should be at the pre-seed, seed, or exceptional Series A funding stage, having raised no more than €1 million so far, and should be committed to future growth. Those applying must have either generated a minimum revenue of €15,000 in 2025, secured at least €40,000 in investment, or already participated in the Grow NEB programme. A technical readiness level of at least 4 is expected, or prior involvement in the Grow NEB initiative. Founders must hold more than half of the company’s shares and commit to signing a Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) before the programme begins. Participation of at least one founder throughout the programme is mandatory.
The programme has a total budget of EUR 1,000,000 and will support 20 start-ups, each receiving EUR 50,000 of EIT Community NEB funding through subgrants and in-kind services. In addition to this support, every selected company will receive an extra EUR 22,000 to cover travel, participation in events and other goods and services required for dissemination and exploitation activities. The grant will be provided in two lump-sum payments, with the first instalment of EUR 11,000 transferred upon signing the Financial Support Agreement and SAFE between the start-up and the representative KIC, and the second instalment of EUR 11,000 released at the end of the programme following the submission of the final progress report and high-level reports, with all payments processed via direct bank transfer.
Selected participants will benefit from tailored support over the duration of the programme. This includes business coaching, communications advice, and guidance on integrating NEB values into their models via interactive workshops, one-to-one mentoring on both design and business dimensions, plus a mix of online and in-person networking events.
This accelerator is firmly rooted in the New European Bauhaus initiative, which seeks to bridge the gap between technology, arts, and community. It aims to nurture companies that can make the Green Deal tangible in everyday life by improving quality of life, rethinking urban environments, and fostering long-term, inclusive innovation.
For more information, visit Climate KIC.
