The EIC Partner EIT Digital is launching SPIN: RISE, a comprehensive technology transfer programme addressing Europe's persistent failure to commercialise research despite leading global scientific output. SPIN: RISE targets researchers, both individuals and teams, at all career stages, with particular focus on early-career scientists including PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows. Are you a EIC Pathfinder and Transition researcher, affiliated with a university or research organisation? EIT Digital reserved for you 5 spots for each of the four tracks (20 places in total)!
Are you a Pathfinder or Transition’s PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows?
Apply by 15 September 2025, limited places reserved to EIC beneficiaries!
The programme SPIN: RISE
The programme combines online training, personalised coaching, and intensive bootcamps in European innovation hubs. Unlike traditional entrepreneurship courses, SPIN: RISE focuses on multiple commercialization pathways including licensing, industry partnerships, and venture creation.
Participants will learn IP valorisation strategies, business model development, and stakeholder communication while building practical skills for research commercialization across multiple pathways.
Four specialized tracks cover critical technology domains, each hosted by leading partners at vibrant European hubs:
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Smart Manufacturing and Digital Factories, led by B4i - Bocconi for innovation in Milan
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Digital Health and AI-Driven Wellbeing, coordinated by Applejack Lab, Instituto Pedro Nunes, and PitchBob.io in Lisbon
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Cyber-Resilient Societies and Trustworthy AI, organised by SIBB in Berlin
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Dual-Use Technologies for Civil and Security Applications, hosted by Verhaert Strategic Innovation in Brussels
Who should apply?
SPIN: Rise is open to researchers at any career stage, including EIC Pathfinder and Transition beneficiaries. In particular, there is a focus on early-career researchers such as PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows. Applicants should be working on a research-based innovation with potential for commercial impact. Motivated MSc students may also apply, provided they are actively involved in a research project with clear market relevance.
Participants may apply individually or as part of a team. No prior entrepreneurial experience is required.
Participants must be affiliated with a university or research organisation in the European Union, or in a Horizon Europe associated country.
The first SPIN: RISE programmes will start in September 2025!
The programme expands EIT Digital's SPIN: Explore initiative, which attracted 117 participants from 29 countries and 50% female participation, addressing gender disparities in tech entrepreneurship.
Application opened on 9 July 2025 and will close on 15 September 2025. Following the scheme below, the programme will start in September/October 2025 and end in November/December 2025. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. After submitting the application, the applicant will be notified of the outcome within 2-3 weeks of submission.
Are you a EIC Pathfinder and Transition researcher, affiliated with a university or research organisation? EIT Digital reserved for you 5 spots for each of the four tracks (20 places in total)!
Addressing the Valley of Death
The technology transfer gap represents substantial economic losses for Europe. While EU innovation performance increased 0.5 percentage points between 2023 and 2024, the continent continues losing competitive ground to regions with more effective commercialization systems.
The result? European-born innovations frequently find their way to market through American or Asian companies, while European researchers watch from the sidelines as others reap the rewards of their intellectual labor.
The launch of SPIN RISE comes at a critical time for European innovation, as the region faces increasing global competition in Deep Tech areas including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced materials.
By creating a commercialization pipeline that begins at the research stage, EIT Digital is working to ensure that European scientific excellence translates more directly into market leadership and economic value.
About the EIC Service Catalogue
The EIC Service Catalogue is brought to you by the EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme, part of the EIC Business Acceleration Services. This programme is creating a network of partner organisations to address one of the greatest challenges for EIC innovators: accessing specialised sector-focused services. By forging new strategic partnerships with key actors such as business accelerators, incubators, and research and training organisations, the EIC helps its innovators access their resources, facilities and expertise so that no individual need is left unaddressed. These offers are then listed in the EIC Service Catalogue, a searchable platform through which EIC beneficiaries and Seal of Excellence holders can explore the service offers from the EIC Partners.
Visit EIT Digital dedicated webpage on the EIC Service Catalogue.
For any questions or technical issues concerning the programme, please contact us through the EIC Community’s contact page with the subject ‘EIC Ecosystem Partnership Programme’, or contact our helpdesk at eicpartnerships-helpdesk@eic-bas.eu.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.