ELIgnite Consortium wins 5mEUR EU grant to support science startups
Europe is home to some of the world's most advanced research infrastructures. Yet for many startups and innovative SMEs, accessing these facilities remains a significant challenge. ELIgnite aims to change that.
ELIgnite: Bringing Europe's Most Advanced Laser Infrastructure to Deep-Tech Innovators
Funded with €5 million through the Horizon Europe programme, ELIgnite brings together leading research infrastructures and innovation organisations from across Europe to make world-class laser and photonics capabilities accessible to companies developing breakthrough technologies.
The consortium combines scientific excellence with business acceleration to help transform cutting-edge research into market-ready innovation. Notably, ELIgnite is the only project selected under this Horizon Europe call, highlighting the European Commission's confidence in the project's vision.
Accelerating Deep Tech Innovation
At the heart of ELIgnite is a simple ambition: reduce the distance between scientific discovery and commercial impact.
The project will enable startups, scaleups, SMEs and industrial innovators to access facilities and expertise that would otherwise be unavailable to them. This includes state-of-the-art laser technologies, advanced diagnostics, specialised engineering support and world-leading testing environments.
Rather than supporting research alone, ELIgnite focuses on helping companies validate technologies, accelerate product development and prepare for market entry. This is complemented by business support through mentoring, training and an Entrepreneur in Residence programme.
More Than Funding
A key element of the project is its ambitious cascade funding programme. Around 60% of the project's total budget will be distributed directly to companies through competitive open calls, with grants of up to 500,000EUR available for selected innovators.
Successful applicants will receive much more than financial support. Depending on their needs, companies will gain access to:
Europe's leading research facilities
Scientific and engineering expertise
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence providing commercial mentoring
Tailored business acceleration support
Connections to international investors and venture capital networks
The programme is designed to help companies simultaneously advance both their technological maturity and their commercial readiness.
Focus Areas
ELIgnite will support breakthrough innovations across several strategically important sectors, including:
Clean energy and sustainable industry
Advanced manufacturing, materials and semiconductors
Space, security and resilient infrastructure
Health technologies and life sciences
These are areas where Europe's research excellence can generate significant industrial and societal impact when combined with entrepreneurial ambition.
A Strong European Consortium
ELIgnite brings together organisations with complementary expertise spanning research infrastructure, technology validation, venture building, policy implementation and business acceleration.
The consortium consists of:
Extreme Light Infrastructure ERIC (ELI ERIC) – Project Coordinator
The consortium is further supported by an outstanding network of associated partners across Europe, including INAM members Humboldt-University, the Centre for the Science of Materials Berlin, cic Nanogune as well as INAM partners Commercialisation Reactor and Politecnico di Milano research institutes and innovation organisations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia and Lithuania.
Together, the partners share a common goal: creating a seamless pathway from scientific excellence to commercial success.
Looking Ahead
The first ELIgnite open calls are expected to launch in early 2027, providing startups, SMEs and industrial innovators with a unique opportunity to access Europe's premier laser infrastructure, substantial non-dilutive funding and tailored business support.
At INAM, we are proud to contribute our expertise in deep-tech commercialisation and ecosystem development, helping ensure that breakthrough technologies reach the market faster and generate lasting impact for European industry and society.
We look forward to working with our consortium partners and the next generation of innovators to unlock the full potential of Europe's world-leading research infrastructure.
