EIT Jumpstarter 2025, the leading European pre-acceleration program focused on discovering talented innovators, is open until April 2, 2025. This year’s program places special emphasis on the Western Balkans, offering additional awards and opportunities.

EIT Jumpstarter is an initiative of the European institute of innovation and technology, a body of the European union. This program supports innovators in transforming their innovative ideas into thriving startup businesses within a supportive environment. It is free for individuals and teams from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe. Over the past eight editions, more than 1,300 entrepreneurial talents have been developed through EIT Jumpstarter, leading to the creation of 124 startup companies. These companies have already attracted approximately EUR 150 million in additional investments.

Thematic Categories The 2025 edition of EIT Jumpstarter is implemented through eight categories that align with the EIT Knowledge and innovation communities:

• Healthcare, led by EIT Health
• Food and AgriTech, led by EIT Food
• Metals, minerals, advanced materials, and secondary industrial raw materials, led by EIT RawMaterials
• Energy and renewable sources, led by EIT InnoEnergy
• Advanced and green manufacturing, led by EIT Manufacturing
• Smart cities and mobility, led by EIT Urban Mobility
• New european bauhaus (NEB), led by EIT Culture & Creativity
• Rebuilding Ukraine, led by EIT Health In each category, the top 3 teams will be selected and receive monetary awards (€10,000, €5,000, and €2,500).

Special Focus on the Western Balkans region EIT Jumpstarter 2025 introduces special awards for innovators with the aim of more actively supporting the economies of the Western Balkans, offering an additional 30 spots for talents from the region, including Montenegro. The best team from this region will be awarded an additional monetary prize, regardless of the result within the thematic category.        

How to Apply? Applications can be submitted until April 2, 2025, via the EIT Jumpstarter website. The selected 190 teams will join online training camps and idea pitch sessions. 80 teams will advance to the live local training phase, develop their business plan, and register their startup. In November, 48 teams will compete in the final competition in Budapest, with a chance to win cash prizes and gain visibility within Europe’s largest innovation network – EIT. For more information and to apply, visit eitjumpstarter.eu

Information and support: Branka Žižić – EIT Community Officer Montenegro Email address: [email protected]