About
The EIC Tech to Market Programme is an EIC Business Acceleration Service that supports deep-tech researchers and innovators at a pivotal stage: transforming scientific breakthroughs into market-ready solutions.
Through hands-on training and structured venture-building support, the Programme enables teams to validate their business ideas, connect with ecosystem stakeholders, build the right venture team, and develop the capabilities needed to turn promising research into viable deep-tech ventures.
The Programme is open to EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition awardees, EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges Stage 1 projects, EIC Transition Seal of Excellence holders, all entities eligible for EIC Transition projects, Women TechEU awardees and researchers under Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instruments.
It combines two complementary services:
- EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings: Build the knowledge and commercial understanding needed to bring deep-tech innovations to the market.
- EIC Venture Building Services: Support selected EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition teams in shaping, structuring and growing their ventures towards investment and early scale-up.
Want to learn more about our impact? Watch our video:
EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings
EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings equip beneficiaries with the knowledge, practical tools, and ecosystem connections needed to turn deep-tech research into real market value. Each training can be accessed independently. Together, they form a coherent journey from research to market. All training sessions are delivered remotely (with possible exceptions for the Business Idea Validation course).
Entrepreneurship Foundation – three-to-four-sessions-long course introducing the core concepts of entrepreneurship and the basics of turning research into a market opportunity.
Training cycles:
- Cycle 1: 30 March – 1 April 2026 (completed)
- Cycle 2: 27 – 29 May 2026 (completed)
- Cycle 3: 30 June – 2 July 2026 (completed)
- Cycle 4: 1 – 3 September 2026 (applications closed)
- Cycle 5: 13 – 22 October 2026 (upcoming)
- Cycle 6: 1 – 10 December 2026
- Cycle 7: 26 January – 4 February 2027
- Cycle 8: 9 –18 March 2027
- Cycle 9: 27 April – 7 May 2027
- Cycle 10: 22 June – 1 July 2027
- Cycle 11: 14 – 23 September 2027
- Cycle 12: 16 – 25 October 2027
Entrepreneurship Immersion – an in-depth course of six online modules (9 hours each split across three sessions), delivered over three to four months, covering technology transfer, product-market fit validation, revenue and cost drivers, business models, team composition, funding options, and legal and IP aspects.
Training cycles:
- Cycle 1: 20 April - 10 July 2026 (completed)
- Cycle 2: 7 September – 10 December 2026 (applications closed)
- Cycle 3: 8 February – 21 June 2027 (upcoming)
- Cycle 4: 6 September – 19 November 2027
Business Idea Validation – hands-on training course to help teams define and validate the value proposition of their research results, comprising 10 sessions in total: one introductory full-day session, four half-day learning sessions alternating with four half-day project working sessions, and one final half-day showcase event. Between sessions, teams conduct at least 50 stakeholder interviews to gather direct market feedback.
Training cycles:
- Cycle 1: 1 June – 28 September 2026 (ongoing)
- Cycle 2: 5 October – 7 December 2026 (applications closed)
- Cycle 3: 31 March – 2 June 2027 (upcoming)
Ecosystem Development – beneficiaries can also take part in European Ecosystem Development events connecting them with mentors, industry experts, investors and strategic partners.
EIC Venture Building Services
EIC Venture Building Services support selected EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition teams whose research is ready to move towards start-up creation. The service focuses on real-world venture building, strengthening teams and preparing them for start-up creation and growth.
Entry into this service follows a structured feasibility assessment, reviewing market potential, execution readiness, risks, IP position, and team commitment. Support is modular and needs-based.
What support is available?
- Venture Team Formation: Definition of critical roles and identification of skill gaps; structured matchmaking with entrepreneurial and business talent; targeted networking to attract potential co-founders; deployment of embedded entrepreneurs, executives-in-residence, or non-executive advisors.
- Venture Support Services: Business intelligence advisory; legal and accounting advisory specialised in venture creation; IPR advisory with a focus on IP protection and technology transfer; financial advisory for setting up the venture; regulatory, certification and standardisation advisory; talent management advisory.
EIC awardees can apply for Venture-Building Services at any time. Applications are reviewed in cycles, and each cycle covers a specific set of sectors. Each application will be considered in the first cycle that covers the relevant project’s sector. If the current cycle does not cover it, the application stays in the pipeline and is carried forward automatically.
Selection cycles are as follows:
Cycle 1 – Selection cut-off date: 17 April 2026 (closed)
Focus sectors:
- AI, Data & ICT
- Energy
- Health Biotechnology
- Medical Technologies
Cycle 2 – Selection cut-off date: 10 July 2026 (closed)
Focus sectors:
- Agriculture & Food
- Climate & Environmental Tech
- Medical Technologies
- Quantum, Advanced Computing & Semiconductors
Cycle 3 – Selection cut-off date: 2 October 2026 (CURRENT)
Focus sectors:
- Energy
- Health Biotechnology
- Medical Technologies
- Quantum, Advanced Computing & Semiconductors
Cycle 4 – Selection cut-off date: 14 December 2026
Focus sectors:
- Advanced Manufacturing & Advanced Materials
- Built Environment
- Medical Technologies
- Quantum, Advanced Computing & Semiconductors
- Space
Cycle 5 – Selection cut-off date: 8 March 2027
Focus sectors:
- Energy
- Health Biotechnology
- Medical Technologies
- Quantum, Advanced Computing & Semiconductors
Cycle 6 – Selection cut-off date: 14 May 2027
Focus sectors: To be selected based on the volume of remaining applications in the pipeline.
How to join?
EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings
- Entrepreneurship Foundation Cycle 5: Learn more and apply here by 5 October 2026.
Cycle 5 runs between 13-16 October 2026. - Entrepreneurship Immersion Cycle 3: Learn more and apply here by 14 December 2026.
Cycle 3 runs between 8 February – 21 June 2027. - Business Idea Validation Cycle 3: Learn more and apply here by 7 February 2027. Cycle 3 runs between 31 March – 2 June 2027.
EIC Venture Building Services
Applications are open on a rolling basis.
The next selection cut-off for the current Cycle 3 is on 2 October 2026, for EIC Pathfinders and EIC Transition Awardees in Energy, Health Biotechnology, Medical Technologies, and Quantum, Advanced computing & Semiconductors.
Find more information via the EIC Community Platform.
Learn more
Watch the Info session recording.
Disclaimer: All services and training activities offered to eligible participants under the EIC Tech to Market Programme are covered by the EIC. Please note that participants are responsible for covering their own travel and accommodation costs for any in-person meetings, events, or activities, where applicable.
Work with us as an expert
We are currently building our expert base. If you have experience in deep-tech start-up founding or management, investment, or innovation management and commercialisation:
- Find more information and apply to the Mentor Network here.
- Find more information and apply to the Stakeholder Network here
- Find more information and apply to the Entrepreneurial Talent Pool here.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
This document brings together the essential information you need, answering frequently asked questions on eligibility, how to apply, how the Programme is structured, and what to expect from both the EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings and the EIC Venture Building Services.
- Communities
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the Programme and it services, please contact us via the EIC Community contact page. Select “EIC Tech to Market Entrepreneurial Trainings” or “EIC Tech to Market Venture Building Services”.
