Turn your raw materials idea into a startup
Turning innovative ideas into viable business models
EIT Jumpstarter is a seven-month pre-acceleration programme for early-stage innovators in 22+ countries. It is designed to turn ideas into successful businesses through training, mentoring, and funding. Created by the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), the programme is powered by key EIT communities, including EIT RawMaterials.
If you have an innovative idea in the raw materials sector, this is your chance to make it real!
We’re accepting applications until 8 May from ideas in:
Mining & Exploration
Digital solutions for remote monitoring, analytics, smart targeting, modelling, digital twins, etc.
Industrial Side Streams
Innovative solutions for recovering and reusing materials from secondary sources to support a circular economy.
Metals
New technologies for metal processing, refining, and sustainable metal production.
Minerals
Efficient and responsible mineral extraction, processing, and utilization for a sustainable supply chain.
Sustainability
Technologies and solutions for more efficient, safer and sustainable modern mining.
Who can apply?
EIT Jumpstarter is open to students and researchers with ideas for innovation that address the biggest challenges in the raw materials sector. It targets early-stage ideas that have not yet been turned into fully developed businesses or startups.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must be from EIT RIS-eligible countries, including:
- EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain;
- EU Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain);
- Horizon Europe Associated Countries and territories: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, *Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine, Türkiye.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
Your competitive advantage
- Compete for up to €10,000 in funding + travel grants
- Receive individual coaching & in-person business training
- Get expert mentorship from top industry experts
- Connect with investors, potential partners, and the EIT innovation ecosystem
- No equity required – keep full ownership of your idea
"The EIT Jumpstarter program helped us transform OPS Technologies from a technical concept into a structured startup by refining our business model, validating our market potential, and connecting us with mentors and the wider EIT RawMaterials network."
Jakob Sadar, Co-founder and CEO, OPS Technology, runner-up 2025 Jumpstarter
Timeline
Important details
- Applications Open: March 13, 2026
- Deadline to Apply: May 8, 2025 (23:59 CET)
- Training Format: Online & In-Person (Europe)
- Prize Pool: €10,000 for 1st place, €5,000 for 2nd place, €3,000 for 3rd place in each category
Additional winners will be selected and awarded with Special financial prizes.
- The best team from the Western Balkans (2500 euros)
- The best team from the EU Outermost Regions (2500 euros)
- The best team supporting Rebuild Ukraine Effort (2500 euros)
- The best team with the solution implementing the New European Bauhaus principles (EUR 2,500)
For more information, please check also eitjumpstarter.eu.
If you have detailed questions, please reach out to Yevhen Kurulenko.