News

At the Business Incubator BIOS today, an informational lecture was held for tenants on funding opportunities through EU funds in 2026. The lecture was given by BIOS tenant Tomislav Barbarić from the company K2 projekti.

What awaits us in 2026: more calls, but also the need for timely preparation

According to the schedule of planned calls under the Competitiveness and Cohesion Programme 2021–2027, a total of 42 calls are planned for 2026, with a total allocation of around EUR 1.1 billion, of which entrepreneurs can apply to 13 calls (around EUR 158 million). Under the Integrated Territorial Programme 2021–2027, 45 calls are planned for 2026, and entrepreneurs are eligible for 2 calls (around EUR 145 million).

Experience from 2025 was also highlighted, in which a large number of calls were postponed or not published as initially announced, further underscoring the importance of continuously monitoring publications and having documentation ready.

Central topic: Proof of Concept (POC)

The call “Proof of Innovative Concept (POC)” attracted the greatest interest among tenants. It was presented as particularly useful for companies in the early stages of innovation development – when it is necessary to prove feasibility, validate market needs and prepare the foundation for commercialisation.

Calls that may be relevant to BIOS tenants

Other calls that may be relevant to tenants were also presented, such as the Integrator call, the Digital Voucher, investments in the circular economy, support for start-up/spin-off companies of young researchers, innovation in S3, as well as energy-related calls (energy storage, smart grids and hydrogen).

Practical recommendations for tenants: how to increase your chances in a call

In addition to an overview of upcoming calls, the lecture had a clear practical component: what to pay attention to, which mistakes are most frequently repeated, and how to structure the project story. The key to a successful application was highlighted as ensuring that the project idea is aligned with the call, realistic planning of the applicant’s capacities, and linking the project to strategic documents, especially to S3 areas. For tenants considering a PoC, the recommendation is to start preparing in good time.

The lecture was organised to present funding opportunities to BIOS tenants early enough and to make it easier for them to prepare project applications for calls expected in 2026.