The EIT Health Headstart Programme provides funding of up to €50 000 to support early stage companies and SMEs for the further development and/or commercialisation of new technologies, products or services. This programme supports the applicants in realising next steps towards market and shorten time-to-market for innovative products and services, to verify the need and benefit of the product or service for users/customers/partners and to increase the possibility of attracting further private investment. Selected companies will work on their product launch project with support from the regional managers to access local and EIT Health networks.
Who should apply?
A company must be incorporated/registered to apply. In rare circumstances not-yet-incorporated companies may apply, however they must be incorporated upon selection. Any requests for exceptions must be approved by the regional Business Creation Manager and EIT Health HQ. (Please consult your regional BCM to discuss this point if the company is not incorporated by the deadline of application. See Specific regional requirements and directions).
The EIT Health Headstart Funding Programme is suitable for micro and small enterprises (according to the EU SME definition), spin-offs, and start-ups that have a well-developed prototype and are ready to launch a product.
Furthermore:
- EIT Health considers a company more suitable to apply in the Headstart programme if the company’s self-estimation for its valuation is less than €1M, and suitable for European Health Catapult otherwise;
- The applicant(s) or company must own or have rights to the intellectual property that is the basis for the project or product (if applicable).
- The project or product has to be at least at technical readiness level (TRL) 4.
- The companies that apply for this funding should be seeking to develop projects that fit the overall EIT Health objectives of healthy living, active ageing and improved health care. In addition they should be geared toward EIT Health’s Focus Areas:
- Towards holistic care pathways
- Creating the enabling environment for healthcare transformation
- Harnessing the power of real-world data (RWD)
- Bringing care home
- From the workplace to the health place: employer leadership in improving health
- Fostering healthy lives by introducing behavioural change.
- Drug development projects are not eligible for this programme.
More information about this event can be found in the following link. Detailed programme description can be found in the Headstart 2019 Guide.
Applications are submitted through the EIT Health Optimy Registration platform.
A maximum EIT Health contribution of €50 000 can be requested by each start-up or SME. The project must begin before November 2019 and the maximum duration of a project is 12 months from the date that the sub granting Agreement is signed. It must be spent according to Horizon 2020 guidelines. The funding may be used for any activity necessary and relevant to reach the project’s objectives but cannot be used for pure basic research activities.
Application deadline: April 8th 2019
