InnoMedCatalyst is a European initiative designed to accelerate innovative startups and spinoffs working in digital medicine and health technologies. The programme supports solutions in 5P digital precision medicine — Preventive, Predictive, Personalised, Participatory and Precision — helping teams move from validation to investment readiness and international growth. It is delivered within the wider European programme “Catalysing the regional innovation capacity of the MedicNest Digital Precision Medicine ecosystem and beyond”, bringing together 13 partners from 10 European regions.
Support for startups in the validation phase
The programme targets ventures at TRL 4–6 and provides hands-on support to bridge the gap between validation and investment readiness. Selected teams will benefit from:
- tailored mentorship from industry experts
- specialised sessions on market access, regulation, fundraising and validation
- dedicated investor-readiness and pitching training
- free access to business intelligence tools
- access to a European network of 150+ partners, investors and mentors
The programme includes two international Demo Days:
- 16 June 2026 – Piatra Neamț, Romania
- 17 September 2026 – Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
Awards and international visibility
The top four startups in the final competition will have the opportunity to pitch at the HealthTech Investor Summit 2026 (Bruges) with dedicated pitching packages:
- 1st place – free pitching package (estimated value: €2,000)
- 2nd place – 40% discount (approx. €800)
- 3rd place – 30% discount (approx. €600)
- 4th place – 20% discount (approx. €400)
Knowledge Partner members may also receive an additional 15% discount. Participation offers direct access to international investors and relevant European health innovation communities.
Who can apply
The call is open to startups from Belgium, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain developing solutions in areas such as AI, diagnostics, medical robotics, telemedicine, or personalised medicine technologies.
Impact of the first edition
The first edition brought together 21 startups from nine European regions and concluded with a Demo Day in Bologna. Participating teams later gained access to the HealthTech Investor Summit 2025 and were featured in an investor-focused e-book distributed across the consortium’s network:https://medicnest.eu/innomedcatalyst-investors-eboo/
The 2026 edition expands international exposure by hosting two Demo Days and strengthening links with European health innovation ecosystems, giving teams two opportunities to showcase their solutions — in Romania and Portugal.
Timeline and application
- Application deadline: 6 March 2026
- Programme period: 13 April – 15 June 2026
Apply via the Life Science Open Space platform:https://www.lifescienceopenspace.com/v/programs
ADR Nord-Est (North-East Regional Development Agency) is the Lead Partner coordinating the InnoMedCatalyst project and continues, through this consortium, to support the internationalisation of the regional innovation ecosystem and connect startups from the North-East region to European growth opportunities.
