Opening soon European Startup and Scaleup Hubs (Horizon Europe) — European networks of deep-tech hubs, pilot call
A €40 million Horizon Europe pilot call for two European networks of deep-tech start-up and scale-up hubs, €20 million each, with 50% co-financing. Each consortium has at least 10 hubs from 10 countries, of which at least two are from Widening countries.
- Who can apply
- Networks of at least 10 hubs for deep-tech start-ups and scale-ups, from at least 10 Member States…
- Total budget
- 40 million
- Funding amount
- 20 million
- Submission period
- 6 Oct 2026 – 5 Jan 2027
Checked against official sources on · funder: European Commission · official source
The guide has not been published yet, but good applications are built before launch. Those who start when the call window opens usually miss out on it.
Who can apply
Networks of at least 10 hubs for deep-tech start-ups and scale-ups, from at least 10 different member states or associated countries. At least two hubs must be from Widening countries, and Romania is one of them. A hub can be represented by a single legal entity or by several entities from its ecosystem: research institutions, large companies, public authorities, investors. The call suits accelerators, science and technology parks, universities with incubators and clusters with deep-tech activity; SMEs and start-ups do not apply directly.
What it covers
- Connecting ecosystems so that deep-tech start-ups can scale up faster in the European market
- Pooling infrastructure and expertise
- A selective accelerator programme called the "European combinator"
- Networking events
- Including less-connected hubs to reduce gaps between regions
- Guiding start-ups towards the relevant EU services
- Financial support for third parties (for example start-ups in the accelerator programme), up to €60,000 each
We prepare your application before the window opens
- We analyse whether you qualify and under which programme exactly.
- We build the application: business plan, budget, supporting documents.
- We submit during the call window and follow the evaluation.
- We stay with you through the reimbursement file and final payment.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Romanian start-up receive money directly from the European Startup and Scaleup Hubs call?
Not directly. The beneficiaries are the hubs in the consortium. Start-ups can receive support through the network's accelerator programme, and the financial support given to each third party is up to €60,000.
How many hubs from Romania can join a European Startup and Scaleup Hubs network?
Only one. Countries with up to 35 million inhabitants can have a single hub in the network, and Romania falls into this category. Since two networks are funded, there can be at most two Romanian hubs in total.
How much must the consortium contribute from its own sources?
The funding rate is 50% of eligible costs, so for a €20 million grant per network the contribution from other sources is the same amount. The source of co-financing is shown through a single letter of intent, mandatory at submission. It can come, for example, from the regional authority, from private funds or from corporate sponsors.
When is the proposal submitted for the call HORIZON-EIE-2027-02-CONNECT-01?
The call opens on 6 October 2026 and the deadline is 5 January 2027. Submission is in a single stage, on the European Commission's Funding & Tenders portal. The proposal is limited to 65 pages.
What minimum results does the Commission require from a hub network?
The network must support at least 100 new start-ups by the end of the project. At least 20% of them must attract seed or venture capital funding from outside the local ecosystem within three years. At least 50 start-ups must be supported by a hub from outside their local ecosystem.
Which technology areas do the hub networks target?
Artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, semiconductors, medical technology, biotechnology, clean technologies, water and the blue economy, security, space and advanced materials. The indicative project duration is two years.
How long does it take to prepare the application?
It depends on the complexity of the project and the documents you already have. The first step is the eligibility analysis, which tells you what needs to be prepared.
What happens if I do not qualify?
We tell you before any contract is signed, and if another suitable programme exists, we point you to it.
Next step
We prepare your application before it opens: European Startup and Scaleup Hubs (Horizon Europe), European deep-tech hub networks, pilot call
Fill in the form and we will tell you whether you qualify. If you do not qualify under this programme, we will tell you which other one you could apply for — or that there is none, if that is the case.
or call us directly on 0755 167 167
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