Open Opportunities

This page lists current calls, job vacancies and open opportunities that may be of interest to the innovation community. Scroll down for opportunities for startups, SMEs and R&I actors.

Experts

CircularInvest, a European initiative that supports circular economy projects in accessing resources to develop and secure investment for impactful local and regional projects, invites applications for its Expression of Interest (EOI) for External Experts in three areas: IPR strategy development and review; Regulation support for packaging compliance; and Regulation support for building compliance. More information and submission.

Deadline: 13th February 2025

For startups and SMEs

EUIPO SME Fund 2025: Financially supporting over 72,000 SMEs since 2021, the initiative fosters an environment that helps support innovation in the European Union - a collaborative effort by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Network (EUIPN), and the European Commission. With a focus on sustainability, digitalisation, and global competitiveness, the upcoming SME Fund scheme will cover a range of intellectual property (IP) rights, including trade marks, designs, patents, plant varieties, and the IP Scan service. Click here for more information.

AgriFood4Future Entrepreneurship and Acceleration Program: Open call to Europe's early-stage startups, teams, and students developing a technology, service, or product in the agri-food sector. The program will include marketing support, legal and financial strategies, personalised mentoring, and prime networking opportunities. Access the knowledge of leading mentors and experts in the field, connecting with industry professionals and like entrepreneurs. Link to application.

Deadline: February 2025

Eurostars - Joint Transnational Call for Proposals:

Part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs, co-founded by the EU through the Horizon Europe program, Eurostars helps support SMEs by funding collaborative, international R&D projects. More Information.

Deadline: 13 March 2025

WomenTechEU Support Scheme:

Investing equity-free grants up to €12 million aimed to support women-led early-stage deep tech startup businesses. Amounting a total of 160 beneficiaries after 4 calls for applications, each receiving a grant in non-dilutive finance and a personalised business development programme. More information.

Deadline: 17 March 2025

Empowering the Next Gen of Angels: ESIL is dedicated to boosting Europe’s innovative ecosystems through the creation of a thriving, connected and diverse angel investment community across all the countries of Europe, whilst strengthening those markets where angel investment may still be lagging behind. ESIL is funded by the European Union through the European Innovation Council and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA). The program will be delivered by a consortium of seasoned ecosystem players, including META Group, BAE, and Bpifrance, all of whom are deeply embedded in Europe's investment and innovation landscapes. Read more.

Erstfeld Innovation Accelerator: The Erstfeld Innovation Accelerator is a 30 day online coaching and workshop opportunity that inspires enhanced innovation strategies for businesses and professionals. The workshops are offered monthly, with the November intake applications open now. This accelerator prioritizes team-oriented work with groups of 5-15 people to enhance synergy and bring out the best in a group. More information.

EU-LAC Digital Accelertator: The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator works as a multi-sided platform that connects business opportunities from large corporations to startups and innovative SMEs, supporting these joint ventures up until an investment-ready stage and providing specific benefits for each of them. They offer in-kind services up to 30,000€ to expand new businesses in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. More information and submission.

Eurostars: Eurostars is the largest international funding programme for SMEs wishing to collaborate on R&D projects that create innovative products, processes or services for commercialisation. Your consortium must spotlight an innovative SME as the main project participant. Applicants can choose project partners from SMEs, universities and research centres from any of the programme’s 37 participating countries. Organisations in non-participating countries can still join a Eurostars consortium. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

EIC Accelerator:The EIC Work Programme opens funding opportunities worth €1.13 billion. The EIC Accelerator supports individual small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in particular startups and spinout companies to develop and scaleup game-changing innovations. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

European Cluster Collaboration Platform: The European online hub for industry clusters is a European Union initiative to strengthen the European economy through collaboration. It is a wide information hub for clusters, offering access to the latest news, open call programmes, events, collaboration networks, and international cooperation opportunities. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

EU Startups Summit: The startup event connects founders, corporates, and startup enthusiasts alike to investors, VCs, and media of the region. Displaying Europe’s budding businesses shining with the most potential in a pitch competition with their on-stage programme. The two-day event starting on the 24th of April, 2025 will take place in prime Valletta, Malta where attendees have the chance to connect with over 1000 companies. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

Funding and projects

Come to Minas Program: The "Come to Minas" program offers companies the opportunity to secure up to US$680,000 in grants to fuel growth and innovation. By registering through the program's interest form and submitting your business and project details, you can access valuable support to expand your business in Brazil. Final proposals are due by March 10, 2025, at 11:59 PM (BRT). Learn more about the opportunity here.

Deadline: 10 March 2025

Oxford Strategic Innovation Programme: Catered to professionals of any industry, this online 6-week programme provides skills ensuring innovation-focused strategies for business leaders to expertly tackle the future of their organisations. More information.

MIN Platform: The MIN Platform is a product of the INNO-MOB project, showcasing the opportunities that initiatives and networks provide to innovative and dynamic businesses within an inclusive mobility innovation European ecosystem. It serves as a comprehensive business support framework. Register here.

European Innovation Council Accelerator: Companies meeting the EIC criteria for excellence, impact and risk-level are invited to prepare full applications for grants of up to €2.5 million. This financial support also comes with a range of Business Acceleration Services, providing access to leading expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem actors. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

EIT-EIC CollabPilot: Two funding opportunities are available for companies in the science/health fields. Ready for Investment will provide ventures with expert advice and support with a market value of €10,000 tailored to each business’ needs. Gold Track offers startups the chance to attend workshops with top science advisors, as well as present to hand-picked investors and industry partners. More information.

Deadline: Various

IFC Projects: Any company or entrepreneur seeking funding can do so by approaching IFC directly. There is no standard project, application form or model that is expected, but the project must be aimed at the developing world whilst being environmentally and socially sound. More in formation.

Deadline: Ongoing

The INGENIOUS project is an extensive programme design for the European industry to gain sovereignty, to drive competitive sustainability, to be the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, and to shape Europe’s digital future. The INGENIOUS project serves as a lever for the companies to implement highly innovative solutions, to penetrate key markets, to attract critical mass of partners via three financial instruments: Innovation Grant, Training Grant, and Internationalization Grant. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

Researcher Project for Experienced Scientists (FRIPRO): Funding is intended to support scientific renewal and development in research that can help to advance the research front. This call targets researchers who have demonstrated the ability to conduct research of high scientific quality and applies to all disciplines and research areas. More information.

Deadline: Open-ended

Global Innovation Fund: The GIF, is social impact-first investment vehicle that works with mission-aligned development agencies, philanthropy, and other funders to find and fund evidence-based innovations. GIF applications working in any sector in any developing country. Any type of organisation may apply. This includes social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-profit organisations, government agencies, international organisations, and research institutions in any country. It is recommended that individual innovators, entrepreneurs, or researchers apply through an affiliated organisation. More information.

Deadline: Ongoing

Other

PTE Marketplace: DISRUPTIVE's international marketplace shows collaboration alerts related to the field of disruptive digital technologies. Companies and entities from anywhere in the world can participate in this marketplace by simply filling in a quick questionnaire where they explain what their alert consists of, whilst those seeking opportunities can find multiple chances for collaboration. More information.

Deadline: Various