Catalyse New European Bauhaus Programme for socially innovative start-ups

This is a call for applicants to be part of the 2024 cohort of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB) Catalyse programme, a start-up accelerator for ventures working to implement NEB values across Europe.

The New European Bauhaus is an environmental, social and cultural initiative that is guided by three core values:

• Sustainability: from climate goals, to circularity, zero pollution, and biodiversity
• Aesthetics: from design beyond functionality, to quality of experience, lifestyle and well-being;
• Inclusion: valorising diversity, equality for all, accessibility, and affordability.

Who can apply?

Start-ups and scale-ups from the culture and creative sectors and industries are encouraged to apply. Entities that have participated in other activities implemented in the framework of the EIT Community NEB are also encouraged to apply. More specifically, a dedicated slot will be secured for past participants of the Grow NEB programme. As a result, the cohort will be composed of a total of 28 start-ups with 26 being determined through the conventional selection process and two start-ups being selected from applications submitted by participants in the EIT Community’s Grow NEB programme.

Eligibility criteria:

• Registered in a Horizon Europe associated country.
• Incorporated after 1^st January 2019.
• Have a minimum of EUR 5,000 in revenues in 2023 or EUR 10,000 in investments received, or participated in Grow NEB programme.
• Technology or Business Readiness Levels (TRL/BRL) of at least 4 or participated in Grow NEB programme.
• Agree to sign Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) before the programme start date.
• Guarantee the participation of at least one of the founders in the programme.

Important: DO NOT apply to this call if your venture is not in a position to sign the SAFE. 

Supported activities

The range of EIT Community NEB supported activities includes a list of challenges thematically arranged across four Thematic Axes and sub-challenges. Applicants’ products and services must address at least one of the NEB Thematic Axes, indicating one or more sub-challenges in their local ecosystem, and demonstrate their potential to scale-up.

In addition, the products and services must clearly address an identified social challenge, ideally determined within a specific social group who would benefit from the existence of such products or services.

The four Thematic Axes are:

• Reconnecting with nature
• Regaining a sense of belonging
• Prioritising the places and people that need it the most
• Fostering long-term, life-cycle and integrated thinking in the industrial ecosystem

EIT funding allocation

The 28 successful awardees will be welcomed in the EIT Community Catalyse NEB programme that will be tailored to each company.
The programme is divided into three core pillars: 1. business, 2. NEB, and 3. communications. The services provided are in the form of interactive workshops, one-on-one mentoring on both the design and business dimensions, and in-person and online networking events, with the aim to assess and further develop both the business structure of the company and its alignment with NEB core values and principles within each organisation.
Each of the activities mentioned above will be deployed in the form of meetings, workshops and events that will be carried online or in person at the EIT Community’s discretion. External visibility and networking opportunities are guaranteed during the full length of the programme. The EIT Community NEB reserves the right to alter certain services provided based on the assessed needs to the start-ups selected in the cohort.

In addition to the above services, each company will also receive a grant of EUR 20,000 to be used for travel, participation in events and other goods and services needed for dissemination and exploitation purposes.