EIT Food Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument

EIT Food, a body of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, has launched the Proof-of-Concept Co-Financing Instrument. The funding instrument supports collaborative testing between agrifood startups and corporate clients to de-risk market-ready innovations.

Grants provide up to EUR 60,000 per project as a lump sum, drawn from an overall call allocation of EUR 1.5 million. The call operates across multiple cut-off dates, concluding with a final application deadline on 30 November 2026.

What is funded

The instrument finances small-scale pilot projects and proof-of-concept experiments conducted jointly between an agrifood startup and a prospective corporate customer. Funded initiatives aim to lower the financial risk of initial testing, enabling technologies, products, and services to reach commercial validation.

Eligible activities must directly support the delivery of the agreed pilot or proof of concept. Typical projects include sample creation, field trials, functionality and property tests, and efficiency assessments. Supported projects must have a total cost of less than EUR 60,000 and run for a duration of 1 to 12 months.

Who can apply

Proposals must be submitted by a single applicant company rather than a consortium. The applicant must be categorized as a micro or small enterprise according to the EU definition and must have been registered for a minimum of 12 months at the time of application.

Applicants must be legally established in an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe. In addition, the applicant must present a collaborative arrangement with an identified corporate client interested in testing the technology.

Conditions and requirements

Every project must exhibit a clear pathway toward commercial success following the pilot stage. The proposed initiative is expected to act as a stepping stone toward broader commercial activities or larger-scale deployments between the startup and the corporate partner.

Funding is provided under a lump sum subgrant agreement, meaning payments are linked to predefined deliverables rather than detailed reporting of actual costs. All activities outlined in the application must focus strictly on executing the collaborative trial within the agreed timeframe.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online through the donor portal prior to one of the designated review deadlines. Four cut-off dates are planned for 2026, closing at 12:00 CET on 31 July, 30 September, 30 October, and 30 November, with independent expert panels evaluating proposals after each cut-off.

Practical tip. Secure your corporate partner’s commitment early and formalize it using the official Letter of Intent template before starting the budget form. Reviewers place significant weight on clear commercial feasibility, so ensure your proposal defines measurable technical criteria such as testing thresholds or efficacy targets.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: eitfood.eu.