The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is proud to announce the 12 finalists selected for the first-ever EIT Regional Innovation Booster (RIB) pre-pilot in Poland — a new initiative designed to accelerate the internationalisation of promising scale-ups from the region.
A Highly Competitive Selection
The pre-pilot has attracted over 80 high-quality applications from Polish scale-ups operating at Technology Readiness Level 7 (TRL7), meaning their solutions have already been validated in operational environments.
With only 12 seats available, competition was intense — nearly seven applicants for every place. This outstanding interest demonstrates both the maturity of the Polish innovation ecosystem and the strong appeal of the EIT’s tailored support for international growth.
“The number and quality of applications prove that Poland’s innovation scene is ready for global expansion. The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is designed to open those doors — connecting local deep-tech talent with Europe’s innovation powerhouses,” said Marta Kaczmarek, Director of the EIT Community Strategic Regional Innovations Cluster.
The Selected Scale-ups
The 12 selected scale-ups represent the diversity, excellence, and international potential of the Polish innovation landscape. Their solutions address key challenges across health, energy, food, mobility, and digital transformation, embodying the EIT’s mission to drive positive change through innovation.
List of selected start-ups:
- WindTAK Sp. z o.o.
- NanoSci sp. z o.o.
- Unicorn VR World
- MIGAM S.A.
- SEEDiA
- Bio Ice Cream Dots Sp. z o.o.
- WIDMO
- My OVU
- EcoBean Sp. z o.o.
- Intelligent Hives Sp. z o.o. (operating under the brands Intelligent Hives® and BeeHUB.app)
- Zolak
- WeavAir Sp. z o.o.
Insights from the Applications
The data from the pre-pilot paints an inspiring picture of ambition and diversity among Polish scale-ups:
International ambitions:
- 32% plan to expand to Germany
- 28% target the Nordic countries
- 23% focus on Spain
Sectoral distribution across EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs):
- EIT Health – 26%
- EIT Digital – 15%
- EIT Food – 14%
- EIT Climate-KIC – 14%
- EIT InnoEnergy – 11%
- EIT Urban Mobility – 7%
- EIT Manufacturing – 5%
- EIT RawMaterials – 4%
Diversity matters:
An impressive 87% of participating start-ups feature female leadership, reflecting the inclusive and forward-looking nature of Poland’s innovation community.
What’s Next: The Programme Journey Ahead
The EIT Regional Innovation Booster officially launches on 15 October 2025 at 3:00 PM CET (online) with a Kick-off Meeting that brings together all selected scale-ups, mentors, and organisers.
From there, the journey continues through a series of intensive activities aimed at transforming strategic visions into actionable internationalisation roadmaps.
Programme Timeline
Kick-off Meeting
15 October 2025 | Online
A joint session introducing objectives, structure, and milestones — setting the tone for collaboration and success.
Bootcamp 1: Market Readiness & Strategic Fit
24–26 October 2025 | Warsaw
Focus: operations, legal and product readiness, market prioritisation, and early financial modelling.
Includes workshops on scaling strategies, value proposition, and protecting intellectual property across borders, along with dedicated networking opportunities.
Deep Tech CEE Summit
27–29 October 2025 | Warsaw
Participants will connect with the broader Central and Eastern European innovation community — including investors, corporates, and policymakers — for increased visibility and collaboration.
Bootcamp 2: Market Execution & Growth Roadmap
8–9 November 2025 | Online
Focus: converting strategies into action — KPI setting, mentoring, and operational alignment with the EIT’s support networks.
Matchmaking Event: Successful and Efficient Expansion
14 November 2025 | Online
A high-impact networking day connecting start-ups with investors, corporates, accelerators, clusters, and innovation agencies from across Europe.
Includes real-life “How We Made It” case studies and sessions on navigating public funding and state aid.
A Launchpad for International Success
The EIT Regional Innovation Booster is part of the broader EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (EIT RIS), which strengthens innovation capacity in Central and Eastern Europe. By helping promising Polish scale-ups validate their market strategies and connect with EIT’s European ecosystem, the programme accelerates regional growth and fosters sustainable internationalisation.
This inaugural edition sets the stage for future expansion of the EIT Regional Innovation Booster across other RIS countries, enabling more local innovators to reach global markets.
Learn more about the programme: eit-ris.eu/regional-innovation-booster
