Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027
Pairs early-stage deep tech startups with an industry partner for a four-month co-development sprint and pays up to €250,000 with no co-investment required.
Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027 is a 28DIGITAL (formerly EIT Digital) programme that pairs early-stage deep tech startups with an industry partner for a four-month co-development sprint and pays up to €250,000 with no co-investment required. Startups can apply to a set of pre-defined challenges through the Industry Challenge Track, or bring their own corporate partner and define a challenge join…
28DIGITAL wants early-stage deep tech ventures that already have a working prototype validated in a controlled setting and need an industry partner to prove the technology in a real commercial setting. Eligible challenges must sit within deep technologies such as AI, robotics and advanced computing, digital security and dual-use applications, or the sustainable digital transition. Teams still at the idea stage are not the right fit.
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Guides for this application
All guides →Grants for Robotics Startups: SBIR, Defense, NSF, and Pilot Funding
A practical guide to grants for robotics startups, including SBIR/STTR, NSF, DoD, NASA, field validation, TRL, pilot evidence, budgets, and commercialization strategy.
Start hereTRL Levels Explained for Deeptech Founders
Learn what TRL levels mean, how to estimate technology readiness, and how TRL affects grants, EIC Accelerator, SBIR/STTR, funding stage, and application evidence.
Write proposalHow to Write a Grant Proposal Reviewers Can Score
Learn how to write a grant proposal around reviewer criteria, evidence, work packages, budget logic, and commercialization for deeptech and R&D funding.
Submit & reportGrant Reporting Requirements: Post-Award Reports and Compliance
Learn what grant reporting requirements cover, how financial and performance reports work, what to track after an award, and how to avoid post-award compliance mistakes.
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