About
The European Innovation Council (EIC) invites you to apply for Mobile World Congress 2024, the largest international trade show for the mobile communications and telecoms industry and provides the exceptional opportunity to be a part of the European Pavilion under EIC International Trade Fairs and USA Soft-Landing Programme 3.0. The trade show will be held in Barcelona, Spain, from 26 to 29 February 2024.
The MWC Barcelona stands as the preeminent international trade fair for the mobile communications and telecoms industry, providing a collaborative platform for networking and fostering global connections. Some key highlights of the 2023 edition are:
- 88,500+ attendees from 202 countries, with 56% linked to mobile industries.
- Showcased 2,400+ exhibitors, 1,000+ speakers, and inclusive keynote sessions.
- Diverse high-level participation: 21% C-suite, 26% female attendees, and 196 delegations.
- Engaged 4YFN with 800+ exhibitors, 375+ speakers, and 250+ pitching sessions.
- Extensive media coverage: 2,400 journalists, a dynamic networking platform, and a million viewers across platforms for keynote sessions.
If you are an EIC-funded company and you would like to be among the 15 companies selected, apply now!
Applications are open until 8 December.
What’s in it for you?
SMEs, startups, and scale-ups funded by the EIC and chosen to participate in MWC 2024 will gain exclusive access to high quality business services. This includes pitching opportunities, matchmaking support, complimentary booths within the European Innovation Council Pavilion to showcase their innovations, and comprehensive coaching services pre, during, and post the trade fair.
Applying for this call will get you an special service: Accio, the public catalan regional Agency, will provide access to all EIC beneficiaries applying to the EIC MWC to its MWC’24 Open Innovation Challenges platform in which forty corporations, such as LG, SEAT, BMW or ENEL will promote their challenges to startup/scaleups registered and offer them business meetings onsite or online.
Who can apply?
MWC 2024 is looking for EIC-funded SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups working on innovative advancements in the following fields:
- FinTech, Blockchain and digital currencies
- Internet of Things (IoT)
- Cloud and Mobile solutions
- Artificial Intelligence
- Quantum Computing
- Smart Cities
- Telecom & 5G
Application
After logging in with your EU-Login credentials, please fill in the application form and answer all the questions.
You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- You will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Your plan to internationalise your innovative products and services overseas.
- The expected impact of your participation to the trade fair.
- The fit of your innovative products and services with the trade fair.
- Your commitment of financial and human resources for participation to a trade fair.
- Your contribution to EU strategic autonomy and/or the image of the EU as technology powerhouse.
Kindly note that the details furnished in your application form will be shared with external specialists to optimize potential benefits and ensure the efficiency of scheduled meetings.
Subsequently, the EIC ITF 3.0 team will reach out to all candidates in mid-December post the completion of the selection process to communicate the status of their applications.
About the EIC International Trade Fairs and USA Soft Landing programme 3.0
The EIC ITF and USA Soft-landing Programme 3.0 empower EIC awardees, enabling them to strengthen their commercial strategies in global markets and leverage business opportunities at major international trade fairs. By facilitating soft-landing activities for EIC awardees in the USA, this initiative supports EIC-funded companies within Europe and abroad, significantly expanding the EU's innovation footprint worldwide. Eligible participants encompass EIC-funded SMEs, startups, and scale-ups from EU Member States and associated nations.
Operational between 2024 and 2025, the EIC ITF and USA Soft-landing programme 3.0 offer EIC awardees access to 12 diverse international trade fairs spanning EU and non-EU markets (Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and the United States of America) and 4 soft-landing business missions in the US.
For inquiries, please reach out to us via the EIC Community Helpdesk, by selecting "EVENT – EIC ITF Programme – MWC 2024" as the subject in the "Category" field.
Cancellation policy
Cancellations will only be considered in duly documented cases of “force majeure”. Unjustified cancellation can lead to exclusion in future EIC Business Acceleration Services initiatives.