Open Calls

The Gap in Between Startup Challenge is an international competition organized by Social Nest Foundation, open to startups developing innovative solutions across five key verticals: climate technology and energy, smart cities and mobility, agri-tech and food systems, health and wellbeing, and social and economic systems. The 20 semifinalists receive a physical exhibition space at the event and access to investors, mentors and leading ecosystem events. The winner receives a 10,000 euro prize, along with access to a top-tier network including events such as 4YFN and South Summit

The Cotec Foundation for Innovation launches the PIA 2026 Open Innovation Projects Call, open to individuals, universities, companies, associations and public or private entities with projects addressing the role of industry in competitiveness, strategic autonomy, sustainability and European defence and security. Proposals are accepted across multiple formats and disciplines, with the only requirement being that they are grounded in knowledge. Selected projects receive up to 40,000 euros and are developed jointly with the Cotec team through a formal contract. This edition includes a special line in collaboration with CDTI for research on business innovation in Spain.

INNOGLOBAL 2026 is a CDTI funding call aimed at financing international R&D projects developed by Spanish companies, within the framework of the Spanish State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research 2024-2027. It targets SMEs and large companies with tax domicile in Spain that participate in international R&D consortia under international technology cooperation programmes or Big Science cooperation initiatives. Grants cover up to 80% of eligible costs for small companies, with a minimum eligible budget of 175,000 euros per project and a total maximum budget of 30,250,000 euros.

The Conselleria of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Commerce of the Generalitat Valenciana launches the EMPYME 2026 grants, open to entrepreneurs and SMEs based in the Comunitat Valenciana that have started their activity within the last five years in growing sectors such as technology, sustainability, health, tourism, food or education. The grants cover 70% of eligible current expenses incurred between May 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026, with a minimum eligible budget of 5,000 euros and a maximum grant of 15,000 euros per beneficiary. Applications are assessed through a competitive concurrency process.

The València Chamber of Commerce launches the 2026 Innovation Vouchers, open to SMEs and self-employed professionals in the province of València looking to incorporate innovative solutions into their processes, products or business models. The programme funds consultancy services, technology diagnostics, digital tool implementation and specialised innovation advisory, with the aim of improving the competitiveness of local businesses. Grants are awarded through a competitive concurrency process and the application deadline was extended to July 31, 2026.

The Commerce Department of the Quart de Poblet City Council announces the 2026 Q Awards, open to local businesses and entrepreneurial projects based in the municipality. The awards are structured in two categories: local commerce, recognising outstanding initiatives in accessibility, sustainability, excellence and innovation, and local entrepreneurial initiative, with distinctions for youth, innovation and women entrepreneurs. Each prize in the entrepreneurial initiative category is endowed with 500 euros. Applications must be submitted through the forms available on the municipal website.

Go Healthy with Taiwan is an international competition launched by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade and organized by TAITRA, in its second edition, aimed at promoting the internationalization of Taiwan’s health and wellness industry. It is open to companies, institutions, associations, universities and research centers in Spain with innovative projects that incorporate Taiwanese products or technology in high end bicycles, sports fitness equipment or smart health devices. Participants gain access to prizes of up to 30,000 USD, international visibility, specialized mentorship and a sponsored trip to Taiwan for finalists.

City Resilience Hack es un hackathon internacional organizado por la ciudad de Tallin y Tehnopol, con la participación de las ciudades socias de València, Helsinki, Dnipro y Lviv. Está dirigido a equipos, startups y profesionales de tecnología, datos, ciberseguridad, diseño, salud, logística y planificación urbana que quieran desarrollar soluciones prácticas para mejorar la resiliencia de las ciudades ante crisis y emergencias. Los retos abordan plataformas digitales, comunicación en emergencias, infraestructuras críticas y coordinación sociosanitaria. El fondo de premios es de 75.000 euros, con acceso a entornos de prueba, proyectos piloto en ciudades socias y al programa de aceleración de Tehnopol.

The València City Council announces the 2026 Social Entrepreneurship Awards, open to self-employed individuals, companies and entities based in the municipality that develop projects or actions contributing to creating wealth, improving quality of life or the local environment, beyond their own economic interest. The competition includes two categories: trajectory in social entrepreneurship, for entities with at least five years of activity, and social entrepreneurship projects or actions, both completed and ongoing. The total prize fund amounts to 52,000 euros, with individual prizes ranging from 5,000 to 12,000 euros depending on category and position.

The Conselleria of Industry, Tourism, Innovation and Commerce of the Generalitat Valenciana launches the EMDANA 2026 grants, aimed at self-employed workers, commercial companies and cooperatives with a place of business in the municipalities affected by the DANA storm of October 29, 2024. The programme supports business projects started from November 1, 2024 onwards that contribute to the economic recovery of the area, covering current operating expenses directly linked to the activity. The total budget amounts to 3.2 million euros and applications are processed in order of submission until funds are exhausted.

CoCreate Pitch is Alibaba.com’s global entrepreneurship competition, organized together with Plug and Play, open to product-focused founders building physical, hardware or direct-to-consumer software businesses. Selected projects gain access to over one million dollars in non-dilutive prizes, with no equity stake or conditions attached. The competition includes exposure to more than 8,000 real business buyers, access to over 200 pre-selected suppliers, integration with the AccioWorks AI agent platform and an estimated reach of over 700 million people across all platform channels.

ESA BIC Valencia Region is the European Space Agency’s incubation programme, managed in the Comunitat Valenciana in collaboration with the Spanish Space Agency. It is open to startups and companies under five years old registered in the provinces of Castellón, Alicante or Valencia with a demonstrable connection to the space sector, either applying space technology to non-space solutions or non-space technology to the space market. Selected projects gain access to funding of up to 50,000 euros, specialised mentorship and a top-tier innovation ecosystem. The call is permanent with periodic evaluation cut-off deadlines.

International program by Santander X aimed at startups and scaleups developing solutions to improve the quality of life of older adults. The call focuses on technological innovation applied to longevity, health, inclusion, and wellbeing, providing visibility, strategic support, and access to a global network of experts, corporates, and investors committed to the challenges of the Silver Economy.