Grant for Incubation Programs

The grant programme is implemented under the EU4Innovation East initiative, aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of startup ecosystems in Eastern Partnership countries.

Key characteristics:

• The programme covers five countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine.
• In Ukraine, it supports startups through funding, skills development, and regulatory assistance.
• Strong emphasis is placed on gender inclusion and sustainable growth.
• The programme is funded by the European Union and co-funded by the French government.

Programme objectives:

• Strengthening Ukraine’s innovation ecosystem by supporting high-potential sectors.
• Supporting incubation and acceleration programmes.
• Promoting inclusion of youth, IDPs, women, and veterans in innovation.
• Contributing to economic recovery and vibrant innovation communities.

Context:

• Ukraine’s startup ecosystem shows growth (ranked 42nd in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025).
• Key strengths include AI, digital governance, and tech sectors.
• Challenges remain: infrastructure instability, limited investment access, and talent outflow.

Priority areas:

• Software & Data, DeepTech, EdTech, marketing & sales.
• Key verticals: cybersecurity, biotech, healthcare, finance, AI.

Requirements for the lead applicant:

• Must be a legal entity registered in Ukraine.
• Belong to eligible categories (NGOs, public operators, universities, incubators, accelerators, etc.).
• Demonstrate experience working with startups and implementing donor-funded projects.
• Have experience in grant management.
• If selected, assumes full financial responsibility and coordinates the project.

Requirements for partners:

• Must meet the same eligibility criteria as the lead applicant.
• Participate in implementation and sign a mandate.
• Cannot simultaneously act as contractors.

Other participants:

• Associates may participate without receiving funding (except per diems/travel).
• Contractors are engaged under procurement rules.

Project requirements:

• A project consists of activities with a duration of up to 12 months (minimum 6 months for incubation).
• Must be implemented in Ukraine, covering at least 10 regions.
• Focus on incubation and acceleration programmes.

Ineligible project types:

• Individual participation in events without broader impact.
• Training grants without ecosystem contribution.
• Purely commercial projects without innovation.
• Projects lacking clear plans or measurable outcomes.
• Research without commercialization potential.

Financial support to third parties:

• Allowed but not as the main objective.
• Maximum EUR 10,000 per third party.
• Clear criteria for selection, amounts, and objectives must be defined.
• Target groups include innovators, startups, and entrepreneurs.

Key points:

• The total indicative budget is EUR 150,000.
• The maximum grant amount per project is EUR 150,000.
• The organizer reserves the right not to allocate all available funds.

Co-financing:

• A minimum of 10% co-financing of the total project budget is required.
• Co-financing must come from non-EU sources (own funds or other partners).

Additional notes:

• An additional grant contract may be awarded to one successful applicant for a similar project.
• The period for entering into new contracts is up to 3 years from notification of the initial grant.

Eligible costs:

• Only eligible costs may be covered by the grant.
• A contingency reserve of up to 5% of direct costs may be included (with prior approval).
• Indirect costs may not exceed 7% of direct costs (flat-rate).
• The budget must be realistic and cost-effective.

Ineligible costs:

• Debt and interest.
• Provisions for future losses.
• Costs already funded by other EU or Expertise France programmes.
• Purchase of land or buildings (unless strictly justified).

Additional notes:

• Costs are subject to verification and may be adjusted before contract signing.

Main activity types:

• Development and implementation of incubation programmes (minimum 6 months) for students, startups, and early-stage spin-offs.
• Provision of mentoring in areas such as marketing, investment attraction, commercialization, and technology transfer.
• Delivery in online, offline, or hybrid formats, covering at least 10 regions of Ukraine.

Expected outcomes:

• Engagement of at least 50 participants (innovators, startups, entrepreneurs).
• Strengthened collaboration between academia, industry, and investors.
• Support for regional innovation ecosystems.

Implementation requirements:

• Open and transparent selection of participants.
• Communication activities (launch/closing events, media outreach, social media).
• Internal procedures for awarding grants/prizes to top performers.

Mentorship requirements:

• At least 50% of mentors from universities.
• At least 30% practitioners with market-oriented experience.

Priority areas:

• Alignment with WIN WIN 2030 strategy: DeepTech, GreenTech, AI, BioTech, MedTech, EdTech, AeroSpace, etc.
• Inclusive approach: involvement of women, youth, veterans, and IDPs.

Key milestones:

• Information meeting — 26 March 2026, 10:00 (Paris Time).
• Deadline for clarification requests — 10 days before submission deadline (until 18:00).
• Deadline for providing clarifications — 5 days before submission deadline.
• Application submission deadline — 13 May 2026, 15:00 (Paris Time).

Evaluation and results:

• Notification on administrative checks and early-stage evaluation — 15 May 2026.
• Notification on full application evaluation — 1 June 2026.
• Notification of award — 1 June 2026.

Final stage:

• Contract signing — 22 June 2026.

Stage 1 — administrative check:

• Compliance with deadlines and completeness is verified.
• Non-compliant or incomplete applications are automatically rejected.

Stage 2 — concept note evaluation:

• Applications are scored on a 1 to 5 scale per sub-criterion.
• Maximum score — 50 points.
• Only applications scoring at least 30 points proceed further.

Key criteria (Concept Note):

• Project relevance (up to 30 points): alignment with objectives, country needs, target groups, and added value.
• Project concept (up to 20 points): coherence and feasibility.
• Some criteria are weighted more heavily (scores ×2).

Stage 3 — full application:

• Quality, budget, and applicant/partner capacity are assessed.
• Maximum score — 100 points.

Main criteria (Full Application):

1. Relevance — up to 30 points.
2. Effectiveness and feasibility — up to 30 points:

3. • alignment of activities with objectives;

   • feasibility of the plan;

   • measurable indicators;

   • partner involvement.

4. Durability — up to 20 points:

   • long-term impact;

   • multiplier effects;

   • sustainability after funding ends.

5. Budget efficiency — up to 20 points:

   • cost justification;

   • cost-result balance.

Additional notes:

• Evaluation includes risk, compliance, and quality assessment.
• Applications are assessed competitively against each other.

General requirements:

• Applications must be submitted exclusively via the POPS electronic system (Annex A — grant application form).
• All documents must be in English.
• Only the official application form and published annexes (including budget and logical framework) will be evaluated.
• Errors or inconsistencies (e.g., in the budget) may lead to immediate rejection.
• Handwritten applications are not accepted.

Submission requirements:

• The application must be submitted before the deadline (time confirmed electronically).
• Submissions via other channels (email, fax, etc.) are not accepted.
• Incomplete applications may be rejected without evaluation.

Additional notes:

• Clarifications may not be provided if information is unclear.
• Questions and answers are shared publicly, without individual responses.

Within the grant programme, additional reporting and financial verification requirements apply at the pre-selection stage.

Key requirements:

• Applicants provisionally selected or placed on a reserve list are notified in writing and must submit supporting documents.
• An external audit report from an approved auditor is required.
• The report must certify the accounts for the most recent financial year available.
• This requirement applies when the grant exceeds EUR 750,000 (or EUR 100,000 for operating grants).

Additional notes:

• Project partners are not required to submit an audit report.
• These documents are used to verify eligibility.

Key provisions:

• The full application must comply with all requirements set out in the application form and call rules.
• If information is missing or incorrect, the application may be rejected without further evaluation.
• The assessment includes verification of project eligibility criteria.

Selection criteria:

• Selection criteria are used to assess the operational capacity of applicants and partners.
• Management, technical, and professional capabilities are evaluated.

Award criteria:

• Award criteria are used to assess the quality of the application.
• Evaluation includes alignment with programme objectives, effectiveness, impact, and sustainability.
• Cost-effectiveness is also considered.