Open Calls

EIT RawMaterials Offers Up To €1M For Raw Materials Innovation Projects

by News Editor

EIT RawMaterials has opened its Call for RIS Innovation Projects, offering up to €1 million per project to support innovation across Europe’s raw materials value chain.

The call is aimed at projects developing new technologies, products, services or business models in areas including sustainable mining, processing, exploration, circularity, recycling and material substitution. Projects are expected to run for one to two years.

Funding And Support

Selected projects can receive funding covering up to 70% of eligible project costs, with the required co-funding depending on the project type and Technology Readiness Level.

Innovation projects can receive between €800,000 and €1 million. Selected applicants will also have access to proposal guidance, matchmaking support and EIT RawMaterials’ European network for raw materials innovation.

Who Can Apply

The call is open to startups, SMEs, large companies, universities, research centres, NGOs, government agencies and public institutions in RIS-eligible countries, including Cyprus.

Applications must be submitted by consortia meeting the call’s eligibility requirements. Each consortium must include at least two organisations from different RIS-eligible countries and represent at least two sides of the knowledge triangle: education, research and business.

The lead partner must be based in a RIS-eligible country. Organisations that are not yet partners can contact their regional innovation and knowledge centre for support.

The EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) supports countries and regions with lower innovation performance by providing funding, expertise and networks to strengthen local innovation ecosystems, develop skills and bring new products, services and business models to market.

How To Apply

Applicants should download the call documents, including project templates and evaluation criteria, and prepare a proposal outlining the project’s objectives, expected impact and work plan.

Applications must be submitted through SeedBook. The deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026, at 13:00 CET.

About EIT RawMaterials

EIT RawMaterials supports Europe’s transition towards a green, circular and digital economy by promoting innovation, education and strategic cooperation across the raw materials sector.

Its work focuses on securing raw materials supply, closing material loops and developing new materials solutions.

Brainforest Launches Venture Program For Biodiversity Startups With $125K Investment

by News Editor

Overview

Applications are open for Brainforest’s Venture Program #8, a 10-week programme running between October and December 2026 for early-stage ventures building biodiversity solutions. The programme supports startups across four focus areas: Nature Intelligence & Measurement, Regenerative Food Systems, Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital, and Market and Value Chain Transformation.

The programme offers hands-on support, expert sessions and mentoring, whilst connecting local knowledge with global investment.

Benefits

Selected ventures will receive equity-free $2,000 support, paid in two phases and intended to be used where it matters most for the venture. Participants will also receive dedicated one-to-one founder coaching from the Brainforest team.

The programme includes hands-on support across business model development, user validation, financial data room setup, impact management and strategy. Participants will also access expert sessions and targeted mentorship with 20 experienced mentors and up to 10 expert-led live sessions.

Additional benefits include peer learning sessions with a close cohort of founders, access to Brainforest’s biodiversity innovation ecosystem, lifetime access to the Brainforest Alumni Network, and opportunities to pitch to investors through Brainforest’s demo and pitch formats.

During the programme, selected teams will be invited to pitch to the Brainforest Investment Committee in Zürich. Up to two ventures may receive $125,000 in equity funding.

Who Can Apply

The programme is aimed at early-stage ventures working on biodiversity solutions. Brainforest says applicants should generally be at pre-seed or seed stage, with a first product, prototype or pilot already in the world, and a team ready to invest ten intensive weeks into sharpening its strategy, business model and pitch.

Applicants can be headquartered anywhere in the world, provided their product or service can be deployed in a biodiversity hotspot or a region where nature and ecosystems are under threat.

The programme is particularly relevant for ventures where biodiversity sits at the core of the business model, with revenue and impact designed to grow together.

Criteria

Applicants should be building ventures in one of Brainforest’s four focus areas:

  • Nature Intelligence & Measurement
  • Regenerative Food Systems
  • Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital
  • Market and Value Chain Transformation

Brainforest’s programme page describes these areas as covering solutions such as regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, soil health, MRV, remote sensing, AI, data infrastructure, biodiversity and natural capital business models, and infrastructure, software, finance or business models that help regenerative products and ecosystem services reach markets at scale.

How To Apply

Applications are open through Brainforest’s Venture Program page. The application deadline is 17th August 2026.

About Brainforest

Brainforest works with founders building ventures centred around biodiversity, nature and forests. Its Venture Program combines founder coaching, expert mentoring, ecosystem access and investor exposure to help early-stage teams refine their strategy, business model, impact approach and fundraising readiness.

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