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 and SMEs.

Funding and projects

European Digital Innovation Hubs: Apply to be a European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH). As part of the next long-term EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, the Commission has proposed the Digital Europe programme, the EU’s programme focused on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies, to be used by Europe’s citizens and businesses. More info

Deadline: Ongoing

Call for submissions - ISPIM Connects Osaka Conference: “Connecting and Empowering Society”, a three-day event (6-9 Dec 2020) that brings together world-renowned experts on innovation management. Researchers, managers, business and thought leaders will share insights on innovation management hot-topics. Submissions from academic, research, consulting, industry, intermediary and policy are encouraged. More info

Deadline: 21st September 2020

Founder Institute Barcelona - Fall 2020: The Founder Institute provides high-potential entrepreneurs and teams with the devoted support network and structured growth process needed to get to traction and funding. Participants in the 4-month fall core program also get access to a lifetime of support through the Founder Institute’s industry-leading post-programs. Some of Barcelona’s top investors, entrepreneurs, and CEOs will be participating in the program, providing them with expert feedback and evaluation. More info

Deadline: 1st November 2020

International Development Research Centre: Call for proposals in East, West, and Southern Africa: Generating and mobilizing innovative knowledge for regional education challenges. This call is open to individual Southern organizations or consortia of up to three organizations. The Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and IDRC invite proposals for regional grants from individual organizations or consortia of multiple organizations for national, sub-national, or regional level projects to generate and mobilize knowledge to support national education systems in developing country context. More info

Deadline: 6th November 2020

Call for expressions of interest - Pilot living labs at the JRC: The Joint Research Centre (JRC) has launched a call for expressions of interest to co-create Living Labs for two selected smart city application areas: transport and energy in two of JRC's research sites Ispra, Italy and Petten, the Netherlands for smart city solutions. More info

Deadline: 31st December 2020

EIC Horizon Prize for 'European Low-Cost Space Launch': The challenge is to develop a European technologically non-dependent solution for launching light satellites into Low-Earth Orbit (LEO), which will enable dedicated low-cost launches with committed schedule and orbit. The solution needs to be innovative, implementable, affordable in development and exploitation phases, and commercially viable. More info

Deadline: 1st June 2021

For startups and SMEs

Scale-up Champions aims to connect different European deep-tech startup ecosystems and support cross-border activities to standardize the growth routes in Europe, equalizing opportunities for startups. Run by IASP members from Estonia, Lithuania, Poland and Spain, 'Scale-up Champions' helps startus connect with investors, learn from experts and test their products in real life. More info

Deadline: Ongoing

Brazil-Europe matchmaking platform: Enabling virtual direct contacts and business initiation among RTI focussed start-ups, companies, soft landing hubs, and other organizations between Brazil and Europe. Coverage soon to be expanded to the wider Latin American and Caribbean Region in the near future. More info.

Deadline: Ongoing opportunities

European Science Diplomacy Online Course (FREE): An introduction to the field of science diplomacy. The course benefits from a theoretical as well as a practical dimension, as it gives you information about the conceptual framing of science diplomacy, the variety of stakeholders and networks involved, including a whole module focused on the European Union, different implementation strategies, skills needed in the field of science diplomacy and some case studies of science diplomacy in practice. More info

Deadline: Course available on demand

SmartEEs2: European acceleration program organizing an open Call for Application Experiments with the objective of providing support to Innovative Companies to digitalise their businesses and access new markets by integrating Flexible and Wearable Electronics technologies (FWE) into advanced products / series of products and services. More info.

Deadline: Next cut off 23rd September 2020 (applications open until September 2021)

Online academy - Go Global: Expand your business abroad (FREE): An intensive and interactive training course specially designed to help European companies develop global competences to enter new markets, in this case focusing on the Brazilian market. Participants will explore strategies for international expansion, understand how and where to expand, and gain the necessary skills and insights to start doing business in Brazil. Personalised mentoring and feedback throughout the course, with the possibility of additional one-to-one coaching to follow-up afterwards. More info

Deadline: 25th September

CORNET Call for Proposals: International Collective Research projects involving at least two different countries/regions. The calls follow a bottom-up approach: every topic that supports SMEs in their innovation efforts is welcome. More info

Deadline: 30th September 2020

Space Academy Rome: European space-related startups are invited to apply for this free 2-day training event, networking new space tech entrepreneurs with potential partners and offering additional customised business services to selected companies, helping them accelerate on the road to success. More info

Deadline: 30th September 2020

Blockstart Open Call #2: new funding opportunity for blockchain startups and end-user SMEs. Startups can apply to BlockStart’s Partnership Programme, partner with end-user SMEs, and receive up to €20,000 to validate and pilot their blockchain solutions. Blockstart will provide startups with access to a variety of perks, including equity free funding, access to piloting opportunities, mentorship, and exposure to investors and advisors. More info

Deadline: 30th September 2020

GreenTech Startup Booster: Acceleration programme for tech startups, fostering implementation of the new ideas and technologies improving the environment, industrial safety and sustainable development. More info

Deadline: 4th October 2020

Innovation Challenge: ENRICH in Brazil has opened a search for European solutions providers. COVID-19 related solutions are sought in the areas of Digitalization, Tourism, Health, and Sustainable Development. A 10,000€ prize is up for grabs for each of the three challenges. More info

Deadline: 9th October

World Summit AI: Inspired AI powered this series of cutting-edge business, science, tech and networking online events gathering the global AI community and hosted by world-leading AI experts. Some questions that will be answered in the coming summit are: Who owns AI in an international ecosystem? What impact is AI having in the workplace? More info

Deadline: 14th October 2020

New Generation Internet: NGI provides support to projects from researchers, hi-tech start-ups and SMEs. There are multiple call cycles with numerous submission dates. More info

Deadline: 1st December 2020 (last cycle)

Maze X: a 3-month start-up accelerator program designed to put ambitious impact tech start-ups on the road to becoming impact unicorns.

Deadline: 20th December 2020

DIGI-B-CUBE: open call for funding opened on 22nd April 2020, to support projects focusing on integrating digital innovations and disruptive technologies across the Medical Diagnostics and related value chains. Small and Medium Enterprises (including new start-ups) operating in the health, medicine, biotech, biopharma, IT or related sectors (robotics, automation, electronics, nanotech etc.) can apply for equity-free funding up to €60,000 through the DIGI-B-CUBE voucher scheme. More info

Deadline: 3rd February 2021