Open Calls

EIT Community Launches €1 Million ‘Catalyse NEB 2026’ Programme to Empower Europe’s Next Generation of Impact-Driven Startups

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

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.

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

Junior Achievement Cyprus Launches 2026–2027 Company Programme For Student Entrepreneurs

by News Editor

Overview

Junior Achievement Cyprus has launched its Company Programme for the 2026–2027 academic year, giving students the opportunity to design, launch and run their own real-world companies from the ground up.

The programme challenges student teams to develop a business idea, build a working company structure, manage a budget and bring a real product or service to market within a single academic year. Participants take on roles such as Managing Director, Finance Director and Marketing Director, gaining hands-on experience in entrepreneurship, teamwork and financial literacy.

Benefits

Throughout the year, participants will receive mentorship from local business professionals, who will guide them through the competition. The programme is designed to build essential skills in leadership, financial management and innovation, while giving students a taste of running a business.

Last year’s programme brought together 91 student companies from 51 schools across Cyprus. Cyprus’s national winning team, HerShield, went on to place third in the JA Europe Company of the Year competition. Junior Achievement Cyprus says this year’s aim is to extend the opportunity to even more schools and young people.

Who Can Participate

The programme is aimed at students who will work in teams to create and operate their own companies during the academic year. An introductory online session for secondary teachers will take place on 29 September.

Partners

The Company Programme is supported by PwC Cyprus and the Youth Board of Cyprus as strategic partners. Its partners are XM and Coffee Island, while supporters include the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Amdocs, Coca-Cola HBC Cyprus and the Research and Innovation Foundation. The institutional partner is the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth.

How To Register

Registrations are available through the Junior Achievement Cyprus website. For more information, interested participants can contact Programme Coordinator Marios Kakouris at marios.kakouris@jacyprus.org or info@jacyprus.org, or call 99 203701.

About Junior Achievement

Junior Achievement is one of the world’s largest organisations dedicated to preparing young people for employment and entrepreneurship. Through experiential programmes in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, work readiness and active citizenship, JA helps young people build the skills and confidence to shape their futures. Operating in more than 100 countries, JA connects education with the world of work through collaboration with schools, educators, volunteers and businesses.

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