LLM-BRIDGE Venture Incubation Programme Open Call for Incubators, 2nd Call

What is this call about?

The call selects one EU-based incubator to run a 12-week incubation cohort for 30 early-stage generative AI start-ups. The incubator provides training, mentoring and access to AI infrastructure and expertise.

What does this call fund?

Scope

The Venture Incubation Programme (VIP) aims to strengthen incubation capacity in Europe for early-stage generative AI ventures. LLM-BRIDGE seeks one high-quality EU-based incubator able to help start-ups turn early-stage generative AI ideas into viable, scalable and ethically compliant ventures that may later apply to the Long Jump and European Grand Challenges.

Programme objectives

• Accelerate the commercialisation of LLM technologies through mentoring, access to high-performance computing, data infrastructures and regulatory guidance.
• Promote responsible AI innovation aligned with the AI Act, Data Act, GDPR and the Digital Decade targets.
• Foster cross-border collaboration, knowledge sharing and participation of underrepresented regions and groups.

Activities of the selected incubator

The incubator will run a 12-week VIP cohort across Europe, delivering structured training and mentoring to 30 start-ups, facilitating access to technical expertise and AI infrastructures, monitoring progress with standardised KPIs set out in Annex I, and contributing to the overall impact of LLM-BRIDGE.

Evaluation

At least two independent external experts assess each proposal on relevance, track record, networks and access, adaptability, monitoring framework and cost effectiveness, each with its own threshold. The maximum total score is 42 and the overall minimum is 26. Results are communicated within four weeks after the panel ranking, and the successful applicant signs a Financial Support Agreement with 28DIGITAL on behalf of the consortium.

When is the deadline?

28 November 2026 (23 days)