Deadline: October 08, 2026
The initiative focuses on delivering innovative early-stage healthcare technologies to address unmet public health needs, strengthening the European healthcare innovation ecosystem, promoting digital health, artificial intelligence, big data, interoperable health solutions, and the European Health Data Space, supporting investment readiness and commercialization of start-ups, fostering collaboration across European innovation programmes, and contributing to key EU strategies for life sciences, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, digital health, cancer, and non-communicable diseases.
The action seeks to establish a sustainable European HealthCare Incubator Network that connects incubators from academia, foundations, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical technology sectors. Through this coordinated network, early-stage healthcare companies will receive mentorship, networking opportunities, access to resources, and support that enables them to strengthen their innovations and prepare for future growth.
A major objective of the initiative is to create a strong programme that helps de-risk promising healthcare start-ups by providing multi-sector expertise, industry mentoring, and tailored support. By improving business and technological readiness, the programme aims to make participating companies more attractive to public and private investors while increasing their ability to secure future scale-up financing.
The programme also includes a Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism that will provide agile funding opportunities for selected start-ups. In addition to financial support, participating companies will gain access to high-quality services, specialised infrastructure, training, mentorship, and expert guidance offered by the project consortium.
The Network is expected to establish close collaboration with other European and national innovation programmes, enabling selected start-ups to identify additional funding opportunities and continue their development through complementary support mechanisms. The initiative also aims to award an industry quality seal to start-ups that successfully complete industry validation, improving their credibility with investors, regulators, healthcare systems, and venture capital organisations.
The action further promotes the development of strategic partnerships between innovative start-ups, industrial partners, incubators, investors, venture capital funds, and other stakeholders across Europe. Through these collaborations, selected companies will strengthen their market, business, and technological readiness while advancing sustainable healthcare innovations that can be implemented at scale.
The programme specifically targets early-stage healthcare companies operating at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 3 to 5. These companies are expected to have progressed beyond basic research while continuing to refine and validate their technologies before large-scale demonstration and commercial deployment.
The total budget available under this call is €53,200,000. The call follows a two-stage application process. The first-stage application deadline is 8 October 2026, following the call opening on 2 July 2026. Successful applicants will be invited to submit full proposals by 21 April 2027. The European Commission expects to fund projects with indicative contributions of around €9 million, around €9.2 million, and around €35 million, depending on the scope and objectives of the selected actions.
Participation is open to eligible legal entities in accordance with Horizon Europe rules, subject to the conditions outlined in the call. Applications must be submitted electronically through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal using the prescribed application forms and must comply with all admissibility and eligibility requirements described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme.
For more information, visit European Commission.
