EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0

About

The EIC International Trade Fairs Programme 3.0 (ITF) aims at supporting EIC beneficiaries in their commercialisation strategy in European and foreign markets and opens business avenues through participation in renowned trade fairs in the EU, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the United States of America (USA).

The programme allows companies to showcase their most innovative products in strategic markets, identify business opportunities and make contacts with new partners. It is open to startups, scaleups and SMEs from EU Member States and Associated Countries which have received EIC support (EIC Accelerator, EIC Transition), upon open call selection.

4 sectors in 3 different regions

The programme runs from 2024 to 2026, offering EIC awardees the opportunity to attend 19 international trade fairs across EU and extra-EU markets (Middle East and the United States of America). The trade fairs cover the following sectors:

• Biotech and pharma
• Health and medical care
• Clean tech, environment and energy
• New technologies and industrial technologies

What's in it for you?

In addition to maximising visibility onsite, the programme enables EIC awardees to:

• Explore high quality leads, including partnerships and business opportunities
• Connect with leading entrepreneurs in the industry and top business mentors
• Showcase their innovative technologies, products and services at the European Innovation Council / EU Pavilion
• Learn and share knowledge during workshops, preparatory training sessions with market experts and constructive debates

The programme also includes a comprehensive set of business services for the EIC awardees:

• End-to-end support in the process of internationalisation with expert coaching services
• Pre-departure market briefings to maximise trade fair participation
• Tailored coaching services including cultural and intellectual property training
• Networking support (including B2B matchmaking)
• Additional customised services during the trade fairs

• Robust follow-up mechanisms to build business partnerships following the trade fair

   

“Being part of the EIC Pavilion puts you in an exclusive club. It instantly raises your profile and opens doors to executives who would otherwise be extremely difficult to meet." 

 

Thomas Neubauer, CEO at Dimetor and EIC awardee, participant in MWC 2026 

Discover our success stories

Check our success stories below to learn about our impact:

How to be part of the programme?

SMEs eligible to become EIC beneficiaries with a ready-to-market product or service with high innovation potential may apply for the EIC International Trade Fairs (ITF) Programme 3.0. EIC beneficiaries must apply to calls by completing the application published on the EIC Community Platform, open 6 months prior to each trade fair. Information about the company's product/service alignment with the trade fair's objective, internationalisation strategy, and commercialisation preparedness are all requested on the application form. In order for the EIC to choose the final participants, outside experts will review and rank the received applications. 

Get involved in the EIC Community: ITF stories

All information related to the ITF 3.0 Programme as well as stories, open calls and events can be found on the EIC Community Platform.

The EIC Community helps EIC innovators establish themselves on the European and global markets, by finding peers and business partnerships. It hosts over 6 000 of Europe’s most innovative start-ups and scale-ups, many of which are already working on inventive solutions and services that positively contribute to the internationalisation of EIC-funded SMEs.

FAQ

Find all the answers on the EIC ITF 3.0 programme in the FAQ below.

• General publications
• 21 November 2023

EIC ITF 3.0: FAQ

English

(285.15 KB - PDF)

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