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HORIZON EUROPE TOPIC · European innovation ecosystems

Startup Europe - CANCELLED

HORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-01-CANCELLED — the expected outcomes as checkable statements, what evaluators look for in this topic, and the conditions that shape the proposal.

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ForthcomingCSA · lump sumDeadline 15 September 2027around EUR 2 million per project

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TopicHORIZON-EIE-2027-01-CONNECT-01-CANCELLED
StatusForthcoming
CallHORIZON-EIE-2027-01 — Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2027.1)
DestinationCONNECT - Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems (2026-27)
Type of actionCoordination and Support Actions · lump sum
Opening1 June 2027
Deadline15 September 2027
Budgetaround EUR 2 million per project · 9 projects expected
Part B page limit28 pages (standard application form; check your call)
TemplateWork Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

The topic does not say whether all outcomes must be addressed; treat them all as relevant. The topic says: “Project results are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:”

  1. EO1 Increasing the market footprint of European startups in strategic digital technologies and deep tech innovation, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence, Advanced Computing, Cybersecurity, Next Generation Internet, Blockchain, Internet of Things, Metaverse, Energy, Greentech, AgriTech, and Fintech.
  2. EO2 Better connection of startups and scaleups, including European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and European Innovation Council (EIC)-supported startups and Seal of Excellence holders, to relevant local and/or European ecosystems, communities, and potential new markets.
  3. EO3 A scaling up of capabilities in matching technology solutions developed by highly innovative European Union (EU)-funded digital and deep tech startups with investment and growth opportunities in collaboration with other initiatives such as: the EIC, the EIT and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), InvestEU, the Digital Europe Programme, Women TechEU, public and private buyers, or investors and corporate innovation ventures.
  4. EO4 Startups and scaleups that have already achieved market-product fit or scale ups that have raised at least a round of financing (seed or later)
  5. EO5 Startups and scaleups established in ‘moderate’ or ‘emerging’ innovator countries and/or regions.
  6. EO6 Women-led startups and scaleups.

Expected impacts named in the destination

The wider, long-term effects the destination seeks. Your outcomes feed them; they are not project deliverables.

  1. EI1 More competitive and more efficient European innovation ecosystems which provide favourable framework conditions for the development and market uptake of innovative solutions, drawing on the existing strengths of national, regional, and local ecosystems.
  2. EI2 Enhanced cross-border network connectivity and inter-regional collaboration to untap Europe’s potential for successful commercialization of innovative products and services, notably through reinforced links between resources, organizations, investors and policymakers.
  3. EI3 Improved access to funding by European startups and scaleups, notably in the deep-tech and strategic sectors, through diverse sources, including innovation procurement and philanthropy.
  4. EI4 Enhanced knowledge and technology transfer and capacity building within the European innovation ecosystems, providing innovative companies with the necessary conditions to thrive.
  5. EI5 Increased participation of less represented R&I stakeholders and less advanced innovation territories in the R&I cycle, capitalising on the experience and vision of an increasingly diverse range of people, companies and territories while promoting social cohesion, inclusion, accessibility and gender balance.
  6. EI6 Improved systemic conditions to tackle key EU strategic priorities, including the green and digital transitions, through building innovative capacities.
  7. EI7 Increased coordination of innovation policy and networking activities by the Member States and Associated Countries through the EIC Forum.

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

  • The topic does not say whether all outcomes must be addressed; treat them all as relevant.
  • For each outcome (EO1 to EO6), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
  • Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

  • “Targeting of companies funded by national programmes, particularly those part of “Plug-in” certified programmes (see EIC Work Programme 2025 Annex 4) should also be considered.”
  • “In terms of outreach and amplification, actions should be publicised where relevant in the EIC Community and should actively engage with activities and events of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance.”
  • “The actions implemented must ensure that the companies that excel in technology get appropriate support to also thrive in product-market-fit, financial alignment, business model and revenue generation, team dynamics and leadership, and adaptability to external factors including regulatory challenges, industry trends, market changes and other factors to make them investment-ready.”
  • “The applicants should put in place proper communication and publicity of the actions engaged, including success stories of funded companies and case studies about the impact of the project.”
  • “The projects should monitor the development of supported startups and scaleups with relevant indicators.”
  • “For this purpose, consortium partners should ensure the monitoring of supported companies for three years after the end of the project with a robust set of indicators including: (1) average percentage evolution in revenue of supported companies.”
  • “Deep tech is a technology that is based on cutting-edge scientific advances and discoveries and is characterised by the need to stay at the technological forefront by constant interaction with new ideas and results from the lab.”

Conditions that shape the proposal

  • Part B, sections 1–3: 28 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
  • Lump sum: the budget is fixed per work package and paid when each work package is completed. Every work package needs activities and deliverables an evaluator can verify, and the effort must match the money.
  • Coordination and support action: no research is funded. Evaluators look for coordination, networking, dissemination or policy support with a clear audience.
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “At least 50% of the beneficiaries in a consortium must be established in 'moderate' or ‘emerging’ innovator countries or regions.”
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “The Regional Innovation Scoreboard is taken as a reference, and in the case of entities representing national authorities, the European Innovation Scoreboard. The applicants must use as a reference the latest version of the documents mentioned above at the time of the call opening. Associated Countries which are not…”
  • Other Eligible Conditions: “Subject to restrictions for the protection of European communication networks.”
  • Legal and financial set-up of the grants: “Beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. The support to third parties can only be provided in the form of grants. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000.”

Impact pathway and traps

  • The scope expects pilots or demonstration. Name the sites, the partners who run them and what is measured there.
  • The Joint Research Centre may take part. Decide whether its involvement helps, and say so if you include it.
  • Market uptake is part of the scope. Evaluators look for a credible route to market with named first adopters.
  • Policy or regulation is in scope. Name the policy owners you will reach and what you will give them.
  • Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
  • For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
  • Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
  • Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.
The scope, as published

This action will connect local digital, deep tech, and manufacturing startup and scaleup ecosystems and support cross-border acceleration activities for startups and scaleups that demonstrate traction (i.e. market-product fit or at least a seed round raised). Among the startup and scaleup ecosystems to be connected, specific attention will be given to the inclusion of ecosystems in ‘moderate’ or ‘emerging’ innovator countries and/or regions. While cross-border acceleration activities are open to all European startups and scaleups demonstrating traction, the action targets companies identified in Horizon Europe (e.g. though the EIC, including the EIC Scaleup 100 action, EIT-supported companies and companies supported through Regional Innovation Valleys) and the Digital Europe Programme (e.g. from European Digital Innovation Hubs), and the use of Innovation Radar intelligence and other relevant data set. Targeting of companies funded by national programmes, particularly those part of “Plug-in” certified programmes (see EIC Work Programme 2025 Annex 4) should also be considered. In terms of outreach and amplification, actions should be publicised where relevant in the EIC Community and should actively engage with activities and events of the Europe Startup Nations Alliance. Special attention will be given to support European digital and deep tech startups and scaleups in accessing innovation procurement opportunities (public or corporate procurers). The action may be implemented through financial support to third parties or directly by the consortium partners to allow companies to best benefit from the services described above. For consortia opting for the financial support to third parties scheme, the monitoring of the support to third parties provided for each action, as well as the management of the financial support to third parties, will be ensured by the coordinator. The actions implemented must ensure that the companies that excel in technology get appropriate support to also thrive in product-market-fit, financial alignment, business model and revenue generation, team dynamics and leadership, and adaptability to external factors including regulatory challenges, industry trends, market changes and other factors to make them investment-ready. The applicants should put in place proper communication and publicity of the actions engaged, including success stories of funded companies and case studies about the impact of the project. The projects should monitor the development of supported startups and scaleups with relevant indicators. For this purpose, consortium partners should ensure the monitoring of supported companies for three years after the end of the project with a robust set of indicators including: (1) average percentage evolution in revenue of supported companies; (2) percentage of supported companies securing follow-on funding; (3) amount of follow-on funding secured; (4) average profitability of supported companies; (5) market share evolution of supported companies; (6) survival rate of supported companies (6, 12, 18 months after end of support for startups, and 1, 2, 3 years for scaleups). This topic is cancelled in view of the addition of the topic HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01. Deep tech is a technology that is based on cutting-edge scientific advances and discoveries and is characterised by the need to stay at the technological forefront by constant interaction with new ideas and results from the lab. Deep tech innovations are understood to be those that have the potential to deliver transformative solutions, rooted in cutting-edge science, technology and engineering, including innovation that combines advances in the physical, biological and digital spheres. Deep tech is distinct from ‘high tech’ which tends to refer only to R&D intensity. Startups founded, or co-founded by women, holding a top management position (chief executive officer (CEO), chief technology officer (CTO), or chief scientific officer (CSO) or equivalent). The EU Innovation Radar Platform (Actions can also have Application Programming Interface (API) access to the Innovation Radar data sets).More information under The EIC Community. Including the work of the Joint Research Centre in the areas of innovative Startups and scale-ups with high growth potential. More information under “New European Alliance to accelerate startups growth.” More information under The EIC Community. Including the work of the Joint Research Centre in the areas of innovative Startups and scale-ups with high growth potential. More information under New European Alliance to accelerate startups growth

Other topics in HORIZON-EIE-2027-01

Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.