The European Commission is launching Ready4EIC, a new training and support programme to help startups, scaleups and innovative SMEs in EU enlargement countries strengthen their investment readiness and access EU funding opportunities. The programme will be delivered through the newly established Innovation Advisors Network, which connects participating companies with a dedicated Innovation Hub in their country.
Ready4EIC will offer tailored training, mentoring and funding-readiness support to startups and innovative SMEs from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo*, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine. Through the programme, participants will receive practical guidance to improve their investment readiness, access finance opportunities – including European Innovation Council (EIC) support – and strengthen their competitiveness, with assistance delivered locally through their country’s Innovation Hub.
The programme will be officially introduced at an online launch event on 6 August 2026, where participating businesses will learn what Ready4EIC offers, how to apply, and what to expect throughout the support journey. The event will also highlight the opportunity for outstanding participants to be recognised later in the programme at the Western Balkans Ministerial Meeting.
Event details
- When: 6 August 2026, from 10:00 to 14:30 CEST
- Where: Online via Webex
- Registration: https://bit.ly/4x5du0u – register by 5 August.
- Agenda: https://bit.ly/4pPaGCg
About Ready4EIC
‘Ready4EIC – Accessing funding and enabling growth’ is a training and support programme helping innovative SMEs in EU enlargement countries build funding readiness and access EU funding instruments, including the European Innovation Council (EIC).
About the Innovation Advisors Network
The Innovation Advisors Network connects startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs in EU enlargement countries with dedicated Innovation Hubs, delivering Ready4EIC and other tailored support to strengthen innovation capacity and business growth.
For further information about the event or the registration process, contact: Ready4EIC@servicefacility.eu
* 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.
