EIT Urban Mobility: up to €2.5 million for mobility start-ups, deadline 16 November

EIT Urban Mobility, the innovation community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, is awarding up to €2.5 million per company to start-ups developing urban mobility solutions that are currently raising a pre-seed, seed or Series A funding round. Companies registered in Romania can also apply. The last deadline of 2026 (cut-off 4) is 16 November 2026, 17:00 CET, which is 18:00 in Romania.

In brief

• Programme: EIT Urban Mobility – Financial Support to Startups Open Call 2026
• Authority: EIT Urban Mobility, part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
• Beneficiaries: start-ups from EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe, with a prototype, pilot or MVP, that are in a pre-seed, seed or Series A funding round
• Value per project: up to €2.5 million per company, provided alongside private investors
• Total budget: not published in the call documents
• Submission period: four deadlines in 2026 (23 February, 18 May, 31 August and 16 November, 17:00 CET); deadlines have also been announced for 2027–2028
• Status: open; the next deadline is 16 November 2026

What does EIT Urban Mobility fund?

The call is aimed at early-stage companies working on urban mobility problems in cities. EIT Urban Mobility says it wants to strengthen "Europe's capacity to innovate" in this field and to help pre-seed, seed and Series A companies grow. Solutions must target the urban mobility market and fall within one of five areas:

• urban logistics;
• public transport and shared mobility;
• mobility data management;
• transport electrification and alternative fuels;
• health and mobility.

The money is provided as part of the funding round the company is already running. EIT Urban Mobility takes part in the round alongside venture capital funds or other private investors, but it does not lead the round and does not take on the role of lead investor, except in exceptional cases. The company must therefore already have, or attract, a lead investor. The exact contractual terms are described in the Call Manual, published on the EIT Urban Mobility website.

Who can apply?

The start-up must meet all of the conditions below:

• it is a legal entity registered in an EU Member State or in a country associated with Horizon Europe (a company from Romania is eligible);
• it is currently raising a pre-seed, seed or Series A funding round;
• it has a prototype, a pilot or an MVP;
• it has a pre-money valuation of no more than €50,000,000;
• the founders or members of the management team together hold more than 40% of the company's capital before the current round;
• it is not already in the EIT Urban Mobility equity portfolio;
• it has not applied at three consecutive deadlines.

The last condition matters for anyone who has already applied at the May and August 2026 deadlines: in that case, you can no longer apply on 16 November.

How and by when do you apply?

The application is submitted online, on the EIT Urban Mobility programme portal, following the rules in the Call Manual and the application guide. Only one deadline remains for this year: 16 November 2026, 17:00 CET (18:00 in Romania). The call page also mentions deadlines for 2027–2028, but their dates are not published on the page we consulted.

The evaluation has two stages: first the eligibility and compliance of the application are checked, then independent expert evaluators assess its content. The detailed evaluation timetable is not published on the call page.

What this means for your business

The recommendations below are our opinion as consultants, not conditions of the call.

• This is not a classic grant for an idea. The call suits start-ups that are already negotiating with investors. If you do not have a round under way and an investor willing to lead it, your chances are slim. Prepare evidence: a term sheet, letters of intent, advanced talks with funds.
• Check your cap table (shareholding structure). The threshold of more than 40% held by the founders is calculated before the current round. Companies that gave up a lot of equity in earlier rounds may be excluded for this reason.
• Show a working prototype. A demonstration, a pilot with a city hall or a transport operator, and first users carry more weight than forecasts.
• Link your product to one of the five areas. Last-mile logistics, ticketing, traffic data or electric charging solutions fit easily. General applications with a marginal mobility component fit less easily.
• A realistic timetable: about six weeks remain until 16 November. The documentation is in English and the portal requires prior registration, so do not leave submission until the last day.

If you are not sure which programme suits you, starting from your company's stage, you can use the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

Can start-ups from Romania apply to EIT Urban Mobility?

Yes. The call is open to legal entities from EU Member States and from countries associated with Horizon Europe, including companies registered in Romania, provided they meet the other conditions: a funding round under way, a prototype or MVP, a pre-money valuation of no more than €50 million, and founders holding more than 40% of the capital.

How much can a start-up receive, and in what form?

Up to €2.5 million per company. The money comes as part of a pre-seed, seed or Series A round, alongside private investors. EIT Urban Mobility does not lead the round, so the company needs a lead investor. The exact contractual terms are described in the Call Manual.

What is the submission deadline?

The last deadline of 2026 is 16 November, 17:00 CET (18:00 Romanian time). The earlier 2026 deadlines were 23 February, 18 May and 31 August. New deadlines have been announced for 2027–2028, but their dates are not published on the page we consulted.

I applied in May and in August. Can I also apply in November?

No. The call rules do not allow applying at three consecutive deadlines. You can return at a later deadline, after skipping at least one.

How are applications evaluated?

First, the eligibility and compliance of the application are checked. Then eligible applications are assessed by independent expert evaluators. The detailed evaluation timetable is not published on the call page.

Official sources

• EIT – Financial Support to Startups Open Call 2026
• EIT Urban Mobility – Financial Support to Startups call page
• EIT Urban Mobility – Call Manual, version 1.3

Information checked on 3 October 2026. Conditions may be changed by the managing authority — check the guide in force before you submit.