Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument

Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing — Cutoff 2 30)

Funds proof-of-concept and pilot projects for agrifood startups collaborating with corporate partners.

Eligibility · EU member states

The EIT Food Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument supports agrifood startup-corporate collaborations by co-financing small-scale proofs-of-concept and pilot projects. November 30, 2026 is the second and final annual review cutoff; the first cutoff falls on July 31, 2026. Eligible activities funded under the instrument include sample creation, field trials, functionality tests, and efficiency assessments conducted in collaboration with a corporate partner. Total project costs must remain below €60,000. The exact co-financing percentage that EIT Food covers is not stated on the programme page; the instrument is structured as a Lump Sum Subgrant Agreement disbursed through the MyEITFood platform.

Only for-profit agrifood startups registered in EU member states or EIT Food-participating countries are eligible to lead applications. A corporate client collaboration is mandatory — the instrument is specifically designed to de-risk joint pilot activities between startups and established food and agribusiness companies. No minimum TRL is stated, but applicants must demonstrate a clear commercial pathway. The call is available in all EIT Food regions across Europe, and there is no stated upper limit on company age or revenue. Startups that missed the July 31 window or are still securing corporate partnerships in mid-2026 should target the November 30 cutoff as their primary opportunity.

Submission is through the MyEITFood platform at myeitfood.eu, using the Letter of Intent template and supporting documents including the Call Guidelines PDF, Budget template, and Lump Sum Subgrant Agreement. An expert panel evaluates submissions after the November 30 deadline. Because this is the final annual window, there is no further opportunity within the 2026 programme cycle. Teams are advised to confirm corporate client letters of intent and budget documentation well in advance of the deadline to avoid last-minute disqualification on eligibility grounds.