Call for proposals "Validation of Social Innovations by Startups (VALID)"

Call reference number: DIGIT.2.1.01
Funding source: DIGIT Project
Type of call: Temporary open – one stage submission
Status: Open
Publication date: May 8, 2026, 16:00
Start date for project application submission: June 8, 2026, 9:00
Deadline for project application submission: September 4, 2026, 12:00
Responsible authority: Ministry of Science, Education and Youth

Subject of this call:

The subject of this Call is to fund research and development (R&D) activities at the pre-commercial stage that support the development and practical demonstration of social innovation solutions. The Call targets R&D sub-projects that address clearly identified societal challenges and advance innovative solutions toward validation and demonstration in relevant or operational environments. Projects are expected to integrate digital and/or green components where relevant, using them as instruments to generate measurable social outcomes and improved well-being of individuals and communities. By supporting socially driven innovation processes and reducing the risks associated with testing and validating new solutions in practice, the Call aims to strengthen the capacity of enterprises and research organizations to deliver sustainable and scalable social impact.

Total grant funding available: €5,000,000.00
Minimum grant amount: €80,000.00
Maximum grant amount: €300,000.00

Eligible applicants for this call: start-ups (micro and small enterprises up to 5 years following its registration)

Documentation of this call: