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Source verified September 27, 2026
Investment Readiness
Connects innovators with corporate investors
Latest source updateLast Update: September 27, 2026Latest change: Several Investment Readiness pages now show 2026 intake windows, new registration or submission steps, and updated challenge scopes for specific corporate sessions.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: September 27, 2026
Latest change: Several Investment Readiness pages now show 2026 intake windows, new registration or submission steps, and updated challenge scopes for specific corporate sessions.
Investment Readiness: new calls, dates, and submission steps
Several Investment Readiness session pages now show newly published 2026 intake windows and participation steps. The Turkish Airlines page has changed from an online session to a submission call with a deadline of 16 October 2026, and the MC Sonae call now shows an intake window from 24 September to 16 October 2026 with one-to-one meetings planned for 3 to 20 November. Other pages add new registration or post-session submission instructions, including Eksim Ventures, Motherson, Siemens Healthineers, and İnci Holding-Vinci VC. The updated sources also expand the described challenge scope, including ground-handling innovations, retail-industry pilots, autonomous medical devices, and energy-transition technologies; one page also now states investment tickets of €1–5 million.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
October 22, 2026
Opened June 15, 2026
Location
Canada
Who can apply
Startups and SMEs in Eureka countries and regions for Investment Readiness Corporate Challenges.
See full eligibility
Overview
Investment Readiness is a Eureka programme for startups and SMEs in Eureka countries and regions that connects them with multinational corporates and private investors to support growth in Europe and beyond. It supports Corporate Challenges, international missions to investment conferences, and discussions around pilot projects, proof-of-concept work, or investment.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Startups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Availability timeline
2026
Periods: 5
Activities funded
- Corporate Challenges
- Missions to major international investment conferences
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Startups and SMEs in Eureka countries and regions for Investment Readiness Corporate Challenges.
- Startups and scaleups for the Yanmar Ventures Corporate Challenge.
- Startups, scaleups, SMEs, and technology providers for the Alfa Laval Corporate Challenge.
- Startups across all technological readiness levels with digital solutions for the retail sector for the MC Sonae Corporate Challenge.
- Startups and scaleups, pre-Series A to Series B, developing Agentic AI solutions for the Telefónica Agentic AI Open Call.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Submissions with incremental improvements or lower-cost alternatives to existing solutions will not be considered.
How to apply
- Find a list of all open Corporate Challenges on the calls page.
- If no challenges are open, check back later or subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed.
Processing and Agreement
- If successful, you will be invited to a meeting with the corporate to discuss future projects or investment.
- Alaian will invite a select number of applicants to pitch in front of alliance members on 23 April.
- Based on applications received, a select number of startups will be invited to a one-to-one meeting with MC.
- After the session, you may submit a pitch deck through the IRP application form for a chance to discuss investment with Verge HealthTech Fund.
Additional information
- The programme is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs and is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe.
- In 2026, Eureka will organise three international missions for SMEs and startups, including South Summit Brazil in Porto Alegre and the Swiss Biotech Days in Basel.
- A third mission destination will be announced soon.
- Some programmes allow joining a project on a self-funded basis.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Investment Readiness Program
What is the Investment Readiness?
Investment Readiness is a Eureka programme for startups and SMEs in Eureka countries and regions that connects them with multinational corporates and private investors to support growth in Europe and beyond. It supports Corporate Challenges, international missions to investment conferences, and discussions around pilot projects, proof-of-concept work, or investment.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program is October 22, 2026. Applicants must submit their complete application before this date to be considered for funding.
Who is eligible for the Investment Readiness program?
To be eligible for the Investment Readiness program, you must:
Applicants must be startups or SMEs.
Applicants must be located in Eureka countries and regions.
Some calls require a solution in the relevant sector and TRL range.
What expenses are eligible under Investment Readiness?
Corporate Challenges
Missions to major international investment conferences
Who can I contact for more information about the Investment Readiness?
You can contact Eureka Network (EUREKA).
Where is the Investment Readiness available?
The Investment Readiness program is available across Canada.
Is the Investment Readiness a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Investment Readiness is a Partnering and Collaboration