Ignite NEB Open call for hosts
Your community. Your challenges. Your solutions.
Become a local host & empower changemakers!
Call closing: May 7, 2026, 17:00 CET
What is Ignite NEB?
Ignite NEB supports local organisations to run a full innovation journey that helps people:
- turn ideas into real projects, start-ups or initiatives
- create their own jobs
- solve challenges in their own communities
The content of this page is provided for information purposes only and may be subject to modification at any point during the open call.
Your role as a host
(1) Ignite NEB event (Ideation + Celebration)
A local, inspiring, 2+ day hackathon-style experience including:
- NEB Celebration (art, culture, performances)
- Ideation workshops (challenge → solution → pitch)
- Participants:
- citizens & change makers
- challenge owners (e.g. city, NGOs, industry)
- coaches & mentors
- Pre-event sessions (training, team formation, challenge definition)
- Jury selects two winning teams/ideas
- Should be delivered in September/October 2026
(2) 8-month incubation programme
Supporting winning teams from the Ignite NEB event to:
- Develop their ideas
- Build and test prototypes
- Validate or co-design solutions with real users
- Develop business or implementation models
- Engage stakeholders and communities
- Create new SMEs, start-ups, initiatives
What are we looking for?
We are looking for organising partners or consortia that:
- Can mobilise local communities
- Have an entrepreneurial network
- Can support teams through idea → prototype → real-world testing
- Have experience in NEB-related fields (sustainability, design, culture, social innovation)
- Can provide or connect to:
- mentors
- prototyping spaces
- local ecosystems (public, private, civil society)
- Have capacity for project, financial, and administrative management
What do you get?
- Up to €52,000 implementation budget per host
- Support from EIT Community NEB to deliver:
- Ignite NEB event
- peer group with other hosts across Europe
- support in event design and promotion
- Incubation programme
- EIT Community NEB mentors assigned to winning teams
- exchange with other programmes tapping into the pipeline of Ignite NEB winner projects
- In-person gathering with NEB Changemakers across Europe
- Ignite NEB event
Timeline
| Call opens | 23th March 2026 |
| Info-session | 9th April 2026 |
| Application deadline | 7th May 2026 (17:00 CEST) |
| Final selection | 29th May 2026 |
| Start of programme | 1st July 2026 |
How to apply:
- Go to MyEITFood.eu
- Complete the online application form
- Take a look at the evaluation criteria in the Call manual!
- Upload required documents:
- Proof of incorporation
- Proof of revenue or investment
- Filled in budget template following requirement mentioned in section 3.4 Funding, of the call guidelines
Submit by 7th May 2026 (17:00 CEST)
About the EIT Community NEB
The EIT Community New European Bauhaus (NEB) is a joint initiative by several Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): EIT Urban Mobility, Climate-KIC, and EIT Food. Together, we combine the power of innovation, education, and entrepreneurship to bring the New European Bauhaus values to life through citizen-centred projects across Europe.
Our shared mission: to make the green transition tangible, inclusive, and beautiful. Through various programmes, we help innovators transform ideas into tested solutions and viable start-ups that shape more sustainable, inclusive, and high-quality living environments.
Explore NEB news & stories
Rethinking Industrial Spaces: Towards More Inclusive Places
How co-creation can help transform industrial spaces into more inclusive, sustainable and resilient places.
Annual EIT Community NEB Gathering 2026
The NEB Gathering 2026 connected local changemakers with EU strategy, funding and future opportunities.
See how community-driven innovation is shaping a sustainable, beautiful and inclusive Europe.
Explore the booklet here!
Growing the Future of Sustainable Materials: How MycoLutions Is Scaling Circular Innovation with EIT NEB Catalyse
What if the future of insulation was grown from fungi, not made from foam? MycoLutions is turning agricultural residues into high‑performance mycelium panels.