Deadline Date: May 13, 2026
The Expertise France is seeking applications to support the development of a national incubation programme aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s startup ecosystem through university-led innovation initiatives.
The overall objective falls under Pillar 2: Backing High Added-Value Segments and High-Performance Incubation, focusing on strengthening Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem through education, incubation, and acceleration programmes within academia, contributing to economic recovery, promoting inclusive participation of youth, women, veterans, and internally displaced persons, and fostering regional innovation communities.
The programme also prioritizes structured support for university students to develop scalable startups, strengthening regional ecosystems, facilitating collaboration between academia, industry, and investors, boosting economic resilience, building inclusive innovation communities, encouraging cross-city collaboration, and aligning with European and global startup standards.
The call for proposals offers a maximum grant amount of €150,000, with a requirement for at least 10% co-financing from non-EU sources. A single grantee will be selected to implement the incubation programme at the national level, covering at least ten regions in Ukraine. The project duration must not exceed 12 months, including a minimum six-month incubation programme.
The initiative requires a transparent nationwide selection process for participants and emphasizes strong outreach and communication activities, including launch and closing events, media engagement, and social media visibility. Additionally, the programme must include mechanisms to award high-performing participants with early-stage grants, with a maximum of €10,000 per third party.
Eligible applicants must be legal entities registered in Ukraine, including universities, incubators, accelerators, startup schools, NGOs, public sector operators, or international organizations. They must demonstrate experience in working with startups and entrepreneurs, implementing internationally funded projects, and managing sub-granting activities. Applicants may apply individually or as part of a consortium, but only one application per applicant is permitted.
For more information, visit Expertise France.
