Call for Applications: DE-TECH Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme 2026

The application period is now open to students, academic staff, and non- academic staff from universities that wish to participate in the Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme as part of the De-TECH Project, funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative.

European universities are joining forces to boost entrepreneurial skills and foster innovation in deep tech through the De-TECH Entrepreneurship Training and Mentoring Programme 2026, now open for applications. Funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, the programme will provide students, researchers, and university staff with the tools, mentorship, and networks to turn their ideas into impactful ventures.

The call is open to bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students, as well as academic staff (faculty and researchers) and non-academic staff (administrative and professional services) from higher education institutions across Europe. Over a 10-week online training period (April–June 2026), participants will develop essential entrepreneurial and innovation skills while connecting with mentors and peers in the European innovation ecosystem.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

• Provide participants with core entrepreneurship knowledge (idea valorization, market validation, business modeling, financial planning, governance, and IPR strategy).

• Support the commercialization of deep tech research and innovations through structured mentoring.

Build an inclusive innovation community, fostering collaboration between students, researchers, and industry mentors across Europe.

PROGRAMME STRUCTURE

Participants will complete 60 hours of training combining in-class sessions, Innotech Pills videos, self-study, and pitching preparation.

Sessions will run on Friday’s at 14:00 CET,

• 2–3 hours per week.

• 23 of in-class hours

• 3 hours of Innotech Pills Videos

• 20 hours of self-study and pitching presentation preparation

Weekly modules will cover 

1. Idea & Technology Valorization — 24 April 2026 (Friday)
2. Customer Journey & Need Analysis — 8 May 2026 (Friday)
3. Product-Market Fit & QFD Analysis — 15 May 2026 (Friday)
4. Market Validation & Testing — 22 May 2026 (Friday)
5. Financial Modeling & Funding — 5 June 2026 (Friday)
6. Company Scaling & Governance — 12 June 2026 (Friday)
7. Intellectual Property Rights & Strategy — 19 June 2026 (Friday)
8. Pitching and Entrepreneurial Communication Training — 26 June 2026 (Friday)

For Certification and Successful Completion of the Training:

Business Model and Plan Pitching Presentation Submission — 3 July 2026 (Friday)

Alongside training, participants will engage in mentoring sessions led by distinguished deep-tech mentors.  Mentors will be drawn from the De-TECH Mentorship Network, including industry leaders, venture partners, and alumni entrepreneurs. These sessions will provide participants to further develop and refine their entrepreneurial projects.

Mentoring to the teams/individuals whose ideas were selected for the mentoring round 

First round: July- August 2026

Second Round: September – October 2026

At the end of the programme, the most promising projects will receive further support through three stages of mentoring: Tech-to-Market Validation, Business Validation, and Growth & Communication. 

WHAT WILL YOU GAIN?

• Practical Skills: Innovation management, market validation, funding strategies.

• Mentorship Access: Guidance from experienced mentors across Europe.

• Networking: Opportunities with peers, corporates, and investors.

• Recognition: Certificate of completion, with potential micro-credentials.

SELECTION AND PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS

• Applicants must be affiliated with a university.

• Active participation in weekly trainings and mentoring sessions is mandatory.

• Both teams and individuals are welcome to apply.

• Selection will be based on motivation, innovation potential, and commitment.

HOW TO APPLY

• Interested candidates should submit the online application form by 20 April 2026.

• Trainings  starts in April 24, 2026 and ends in  June 26, 2026. 

 Apply now through the application form by clicking here

 For questions: detech@itu.edu.tr

Application period opens for the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2026

Researchers, graduate students and recent alumni from four European universities can apply until April 3, to transform deep tech innovations into market-ready ventures.

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder (De-TECH) project has opened the call for applications for the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2026, an initiative supported by the EIT Higher Education Initiative that aims to accelerate the transition of university-based technologies from research to market.

The call opens on 16 March 2026 and will remain open until 3 April 2026. It invites researchers, graduate students and recent alumni (within five years of graduation) affiliated with the universities participating in the De-TECH consortium (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University and Leibniz University Hannover) to submit their applications.

The programme focuses on deep tech innovations, meaning advanced, research-driven technologies capable of addressing complex societal or industrial challenges. The competition is designed to help promising innovations move beyond the laboratory by providing participants with training, mentoring and access to a European innovation ecosystem.

Eligible projects must demonstrate both strong scientific foundations and clear market or social impact potential. Technologies should also have reached at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4, indicating that they have been validated in a laboratory or equivalent research environment. Areas of interest include artificial intelligence, biotechnology and health technologies, advanced materials, quantum technologies, space technologies and other science-based innovations.

A ten-week programme to bring innovation closer to the market

Following the application period, the selection and notification of participants will take place between 8 and 10 April 2026. The selected teams will then participate in a ten-week training and mentoring programme, beginning in mid-April 2026 and running until June 2026.

The programme will provide participants with practical knowledge and tools to advance the commercialisation of their technologies. Weekly training sessions will cover topics such as technology valorisation, intellectual property protection, market analysis, business model development, startup financing and investor relations, complemented by personalised mentoring sessions with experts from the innovation ecosystem.

Participation in the programme will prepare teams for the final stage of the competition, where they will have the opportunity to present their innovations to experts, entrepreneurs and investors. Teams that successfully complete the programme will be eligible to compete for monetary prizes of €15,000 each, aimed at supporting the further development of their technologies or advancing their path towards market entry.

Key dates for the 2026 call:

• Launch of the call: March 16, 2026
• Application deadline: April 3, 2026
• Selection and notification of participants: ~ April 10, 2026
• Start of trainings: April 17, 2026
• End of trainings: June 19, 2026

Further information about the programme and the application process is available through the De-TECH project channels.

What is the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium?

The Deep Tech European Venture Builder Consortium is coordinated by the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) and includes the Estonian Business School, Istanbul Technical University, and Leibniz University Hannover. The consortium also includes two industrial partners: Technoport, a high-tech incubator based in Luxembourg, and Effectia, an innovation consultancy from Spain. Additionally, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality participates as a public sector partner.

The European Union funds the Deep Tech European Venture Builder Competition 2025 through the EIT HEI Initiative. It is structured around four key pillars to bring university-based innovations to market:

• Identify promising technologies developed at the partner universities through collaboration with their Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and assess their market potential.
• Launch innovation challenges that connect universities and companies with real-world needs, promoting creative and entrepreneurial thinking among students and researchers.
• Run the De-TECH competition, supported by an intensive start-up acceleration programme that includes training, mentoring, and financial assistance. Winning projects will receive funding and present their ideas to investors at DemoDay events.
• Deliver training in entrepreneurial and technological skills for students, researchers, and university staff, aiming to foster an entrepreneurial mindset and equip participants with the tools they need to lead innovation.

De-TECH Innovation Tech Challenge 2026 – Agriculture & Food Edition

Call for Industry Challenges – Focus on Agriculture & Food Technologies, Bio-Plastics (food packaging), Waste Utilization and Soil Health Funded by the European Union – EIT HEI Initiative

The De-TECH Innovation Tech Challenge 2026 connects companies with interdisciplinary student teams from leading European universities to develop solutions for real-world technological challenges. We’re looking for companies in the field of Agriculture & Food Technologies, Bio-Plastics (food packaging), Waste Utilization and Soil Health.

The initiative is part of the EIT Higher Education Initiative, which promotes collaboration between academia, industry and innovation ecosystems across Europe.

Our academic partners include:

• Technical University of Madrid (UPM)
• Estonian Business School (EBS)
• Istanbul Technical University (ITU)
• Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)

What are Tech Challenges?

A Tech Challenge is a real-world problem provided by a company or industry stakeholder. International student teams work on innovative solution concepts addressing current technological or innovation-related challenges.

The challenges should be:

• High-tech-oriented, in the field of Agriculture & Food Technologies, Bio-Plastics (food packaging), Waste Utilization and Soil Health or related sectors.
• Open-ended, allowing interdisciplinary and creative solutions
• Optional: linked to cross-over fields such as AI, sensor technologies, materials, robotics, etc.
• Based on real needs and relevant to current market or research trends.

See example Tech Challenge below. For more information about the Tech Challenges, please click the download link.

Why participate as a company?

• Gain fresh ideas and perspectives from talented students across Europe.
• Connect with leading universities and young innovation talent.
• Receive tailored, early-stage solution concepts for your challenge.
• Engage in international knowledge exchange and visibility.

Companies should name a contact person for the specific challenge. Ideally this person could participate at the finale event. 

What happens next?

• 12 April 2026: Deadline for companies to submit a Tech Challenge.
• April 2026: Selection of challenges.
• April – May 2026: Student teams select a challenge and begin working on solution proposals.
• 17 May 2026: Deadline for student teams to submit solution proposals.
• End of May 2026: Selection of the best proposals together with the participating companies.
• 6 – 7 July 2026: Final workshop and presentations in Hannover, Germany.

After the workshop, companies may further collaborate with selected teams.

Win a Fully Funded Trip to Istanbul – Join the De-TECH Tech Challenge 2025

Solve a real-world problem and win a fully funded trip to Istanbul.

Flights, accommodation, and the full program are covered for the winning teams.

What are Tech Challenges?
A De-TECH Tech Challenge is a real-world problem provided by a company or industry stakeholder. The challenge reflects current technological or innovation-related issues. International, interdisciplinary teams of students and research staff develop innovative solution concepts to address these challenges.

This Year’s Challenge — Aerospace: Space Debris and Orbital Safety

Theme: Sustainable satellite structures and mission end-of-life strategies to minimize environmental impact.
Aluminum currently dominates satellite structures, but its re-entry produces alumina particles that harm the ozone layer. Additional concerns include uncontrolled metal dispersion in the upper atmosphere and the lack of systematic approaches to ensure safe satellite demise.

Topics include:
1. Replacing aluminum with alternative materials
2. Minimizing metal dispersion during re-entry
3. Develop robust “Design for Demise” or “Design for Non-Demise” models to reduce the Earth–space–Earth environmental footprint
4. Design market-based mechanisms (e.g., orbital debris credits, insurance models) to incentivize responsible satellite design)
5. Proposing business models that support the adoption of sustainable satellite technologies (e.g., licensing, spin-offs, service models)

6. Creating go-to-market strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, or policy frameworks that promote long-term orbital sustainability

Solutions may be technical, economic, regulatory, interdisciplinary, or a combination of these approaches.

Who Can Participate?
• Students and research staff (junior or senior) from all disciplines at De-TECH partner universities
• No specific field required — all backgrounds are welcome
• Travel and accommodation are covered for winning teams
• Teams of three members.
• Gender diversity within the team is positively evaluated during selection

How It Works
1. Form a team of three participants (students or research staff).
2. Choose a topic from the challenge.
3. Develop a solution concept freely and creatively:
4. Submit your solution in PDF format by 3 November 2025, 23:59 CET to de-tech@ite.uni-hannover.de
5. Jury selects the best teams -> Winners go to Istanbul

The deadline for participating in the De-TECH Aerospace Tech Challenge ends on 30 September

Only a few days remain to take part in the open call for aerospace companies and related fields to submit their proposals to the De-TECH Innovation Tech Challenge 2025, an initiative funded by the European Commission under the EIT Higher Education Initiative. The goal is to strengthen collaboration between industry and academia by connecting real technological challenges with interdisciplinary student teams from across Europe.

The application form will remain open until 30 September.

A consortium of prestigious universities leads the project –Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM), Estonian Business School (EBS), Istanbul Technical University (ITU), and Leibniz University Hannover (LUH)– which will facilitate the connection between companies and young innovative talent.

The so-called Technology Challenges are concrete problems proposed by companies in the sector, related to current technological or innovation difficulties. In this edition, challenges must focus on the aerospace sector or related fields, be open to creative and interdisciplinary approaches, and respond to real market or research needs. These challenges will be addressed by international student teams working over several months to develop innovative solutions.

The benefits for participating companies are access to new ideas and perspectives from Europe’s young talent, direct connection with leading universities, initial tailored solution concepts and visibility in an international knowledge exchange context.

The process to participate is simple: companies submit a short description of their Technology Challenge through the application form. The most relevant challenges will be selected. Student teams will then choose one of the selected challenges and begin developing solution proposals. Finally, the best teams will be invited to present and refine their ideas at an international workshop in Istanbul in December 2025. At this stage, companies will have the chance to continue interacting with students and explore the potential implementation of the proposed solutions.