EIT Urban Mobility, with the support of the Hungarian National Innovation Agency (NIÜ), invites Hungarian start-ups to apply to the EIT Regional Innovation Booster (EIT RIB) Hungary 2027.
This seven-month international market-access programme supports mature, innovation-driven Hungarian companies to validate, enter and grow in a new European market. A single cohort of eight companies will be selected and equipped with a validated market entry strategy, concrete connections in their target market, and the operational know-how to act on them.
At the heart of the programme is a Buddy system that pairs each company with an experienced operator who already knows the chosen target market and sector. This is complemented by expert mentoring, a programme of workshops and guest speaker sessions, and a EUR 2.500 conference and travel grant to support in-person engagement in the target market.
About the EIT RIB programme
The programme runs from December 2026 to June 2027 and is structured in two consecutive phases.
Phase 1: Market Preparation (Months 1–3)
Selected companies validate their target market, assess their readiness for international expansion, and build an executable market entry strategy.
Phase 2: Market Expansion (Months 4–7)
Each company works up to 40 hours with its matched EIT RIB Buddy to start entering the chosen target market, supported by continued workshops and guest speakers, international matchmaking, and optional participation in EIT Community events.
Benefits for participants
- 20 hours of 1:1 expert mentoring in Phase 1
- 40 hours of support from a matched EIT RIB Buddy with deep, hands-on expertise in the chosen European target market in Phase 2
- A programme of go-to-market workshops and guest speaker sessions across the seven months
- A EUR 2,500 lump-sum travel and conference package to support in-person market entry
- International matchmaking and access to the wider EIT Community
EIT funding allocation
The total EIT funding allocated to this Call is EUR 20,000. Each of the eight selected companies receives a fixed lump-sum grant of EUR 2,500, provided as a travel and conference package to support market entry activities in Phase 2.
Who can apply?
The programme is designed for innovative, growth-oriented Hungarian start-ups that have already established a strong position in their domestic market and are ready to scale internationally. To be eligible, applicants must:
- Be a for-profit SME (according to the EU definition) registered in Hungary
- Have at least 3 full-time employees (FTEs) at the time of application
- Hold full ownership of, or exclusive commercialisation rights to, the intellectual property behind the solution to be taken abroad
- Have a novel product, service, technology or deep tech solution with demonstrated product-market fit in Hungary and proven commercial traction
- Operate in one of the EIT thematic areas: Climate, Digital, Food & Agritech, Healthcare, Energy and Renewables, Raw Materials, Urban Mobility, or Culture & Creativity.
Full admissibility and eligibility conditions are set out in the Call Manual, Section 5.2
How can you apply?
Applications are submitted through the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Before you begin, verify or register your organisation’s Participant Identification Code (PIC) on the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal, then complete your registration in the Programmes Portal. The full step-by-step process is described in Section 7 of the Call Manual.
Your application must include:
- The completed application form, in English
- A valid SME company registration certificate (PDF), confirming legal incorporation in Hungary
- A pitch video of up to 4 minutes
Registration in NetSuite can take up to two working days, so please register well before the deadline to ensure a timely submission.
Key dates
- Call opening: 15 September 2026
- Info webinar: 21 September 2026, 11:00 (CET)
- Deadline for applications: 15 October 2026, 17:00 (CET)
- Evaluation and communication of results: November 2026
- Tentative start of the projects: December 2026
- Programme duration: December 2026 to June 2027
Call documents
Info webinar
To help applicants prepare and submit their proposals, EIT Urban Mobility will host an online information session on 21 September 2026 at 11.00 (CET). The session will cover the call content, the requirements, and the submission and evaluation process. Register through the webinar registration link.
Contact
For any questions about the Call, please contact Evelin Regina Szász, EIT RIB Hungary Lead, at [email protected].