Call for Tenders: EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 4.0

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) has launched a new call for tenders for the future EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 4.0, the European Innovation Council’s flagship initiative connecting Europe's most promising deep-tech startups and scaleups with leading corporations.

Since its launch in 2017, the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme has become one of the EIC’s most successful Business Acceleration Services, helping EIC-backed companies secure new customers, industrial partners, pilot opportunities and commercial agreements with major corporations across Europe and beyond.

To date, the programme has organised more than 95 Corporate Days and Multi-Corporate Days involving over 140 corporate partners.

Building on this track record, the future EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 4.0 aims to further strengthen corporate-startup collaboration as a driver of European competitiveness, technological leadership and industrial transformation.

The programme will continue supporting proven formats such as EIC Corporate Days and EIC Multi-Corporate Days, while introducing new services to increase business conversion and long-term impact. Particular emphasis will be placed on supporting EIC companies throughout the entire collaboration journey, from initial matchmaking and pilot projects to commercial adoption and long-term business partnerships. This includes promoting approaches such as venture clienting, helping corporations test, procure and deploy innovative solutions from EIC-backed companies.

In addition, the programme will support the development of the new European Corporate Network, bringing together corporate leaders committed to accelerating the adoption of deep-tech innovation in Europe.

The contractor selected under this call will be responsible for identifying and engaging leading corporations, organising business acceleration activities, supporting post-matching follow-up and business conversion, coordinating stakeholder engagement actions and contributing to the implementation of the European Corporate Network.

The programme is expected to support collaboration opportunities across strategic sectors including advanced manufacturing, energy, climate technologies, health, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum technologies, advanced materials, mobility, space and other deep-tech domains aligned with the EIC portfolio.

The EIC Corporate Partnership Programme forms part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services and contributes to the EIC's objective of helping innovative companies grow faster, access new markets and become global technology leaders while strengthening Europe's industrial competitiveness and technological sovereignty.

The services covered by this call are described in detail in the tender specifications.

Apply by 12 August 2026, 10:00 CEST

For more information and access to the tender documentation, please visit the dedicated call webpage in this link.