The EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB) has launched the €1 million Catalyse NEB 2026 programme, a major European funding call to support 20 impact-driven startups across Europe. The initiative is part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and aims to accelerate ventures that blend sustainability, design, and inclusion, the core values of the New European Bauhaus movement.
Overview
Through Catalyse NEB 2026, selected startups will gain the tools, funding, and European network needed to scale their solutions responsibly. The programme supports innovators working at the crossroads of creativity, technology, and sustainability, from climate and circular economy, to food, manufacturing, urban mobility, and wellbeing.
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Delivered by EIT Climate-KIC, with partners including EIT Food, EIT Manufacturing, and EIT Urban Mobility, the call strengthens cross-sector collaboration and fosters startups that help turn the European Green Deal into reality through human-centred design.
Benefits
Each of the 20 selected startups will receive a €50,000 support package, including a combination of financial support, in-kind services, and mentoring, as well as an additional €22,000 grant for travel, dissemination, and participation costs.
Startups will also benefit from:
- Tailored business and communication mentoring aligned with NEB values
- Training workshops on strategy, storytelling, and impact measurement
- Visibility and investor exposure through EIT events and pan-European platforms
- Integration into the EIT Community network of over 2,000 partners and 60 innovation hubs
Who Can Apply
Startups must be:
- Legally registered in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe–Associated Country
- Founded on or after 1 January 2021
- At pre-seed, seed, or early-stage (up to Series A)
- Have raised less than €1 million in total
- Led by at least one founder who will actively participate in the programme
- Ready to sign a SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) with the EIT
Startups must also demonstrate one of the following:
- ≥ €15,000 in revenue in 2024
- ≥ €40,000 in external investment
- Participation in the Grow NEB programme
Projects must address at least one New European Bauhaus challenge:
- Reconnecting with nature
- Regaining a sense of belonging
- Prioritising places and people most in need
- Fostering long-term, circular thinking and life-cycle design
How to Apply
- Call opens: 27 October 2025
- Information session: 26 November 2025, Register here.
- Deadline: 19 January 2026, 17:00 CEST
- Evaluation period: January – April 2026
- Programme start: 25 May 2026
Applications must be submitted via the official EIT NEB Awards Platform
