Funding for medtech start-ups

EIC Accelerator (European Innovation Council)

The EU's main scheme for start-ups and SMEs with a breakthrough product close to market. A grant of up to €2.5 million for innovation work, and optionally an investment of €1–10 million from the EIC Fund. Open to SMEs in EU member states and countries associated with Horizon Europe.

• How: a short application (form, up to ten slides and a three-minute video) at any time; if it passes, a full proposal and then an interview with a jury.
• When: in 2026, full proposals have cut-offs every two months; the dates for 2027 are 20 January, 17 March, 1 September and 4 November.

EIC Accelerator (official page)

EIT Health

The EU's health innovation network runs programmes for health and medtech start-ups: training, investor pitching, prizes, and help entering new European markets. Calls open at different times of year.

EIT Health (official site)

Biomedical Catalyst (Innovate UK)

Innovate UK's main grant scheme for UK small and medium-sized companies developing health innovations, including medical devices. It runs in rounds: feasibility work (the Accelerator route), industry-led research and development, and Investor Partnerships, where the grant comes alongside private investment. £140 million is set aside over the current spending period.

Biomedical Catalyst (UKRI) · Open Innovate UK competitions

EXIST-Gründungsstipendium

For founders coming out of a university or research institute: a monthly stipend for up to three people for one year (for example €2,500 for graduates and €3,000 for founders with a doctorate), up to €30,000 for materials for a team, and coaching. The university applies on the team's behalf; new applications are accepted until 31 December 2027.

EXIST-Gründungsstipendium (Förderdatenbank)

ZIM: Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand

Federal grants for research and development by small and medium-sized companies, alone or with partners: up to €690,000 eligible costs for a single-company project. New applications have been paused since 7 July 2026 because demand exceeded the budget; the ministry aims to reopen in early 2027, depending on the 2027 federal budget.

ZIM (official site)

Medical Valley Award (Bavaria)

For research teams at Bavarian universities, university hospitals and research institutes who want to turn a medtech idea into a company: up to €500,000 per project over two years. The 2026 call closed on 19 June 2026.

Medical Valley Award 2026 call (PDF, German)

Innosuisse start-up innovation projects

For Swiss start-ups that have not yet reached the market: Innosuisse pays up to 70% of the direct costs of an innovation project, and the start-up pays at least 30%. The company must be registered in Switzerland, generally no more than five years old, with fewer than 50 full-time staff. Applications are taken at any time, at least eight weeks before an Innovation Council meeting.

Innosuisse start-up innovation projects

Bourse French Tech Emergence (Bpifrance)

For deep-tech companies less than a year old, often built on laboratory research: up to 70% of eligible costs, capped at €90,000. Bpifrance's smaller Bourse French Tech covers other young innovative companies. Apply through a Bpifrance regional office.

Bourse French Tech (La French Tech)

SBIR and STTR (including NIH)

The US federal programmes for small businesses doing research and development. After a six-month lapse they were renewed on 13 April 2026, through 30 September 2031. For medical devices the National Institutes of Health is the main funder; its next standard deadlines are 5 January and 5 April 2027. The programmes are for US small businesses.

NIH SEED: SBIR and STTR · NIH omnibus funding opportunities and dates

A few schemes pay towards a stand at international trade fairs. None we found pays for attending medical congresses or courses.

• Germany, Young Innovators: up to €7,500 per fair for companies under ten years old with fewer than 50 staff, on joint stands at listed international trade fairs in Germany (for example MEDICA). The company pays 40%. Details
• Bavaria: Bavarian joint stands at trade fairs worldwide (53 fairs in 2026). Bayern International
• Switzerland: Innosuisse trade fair support for start-ups in Innosuisse coaching, including a "Pick Your Fair" option for fairs abroad where the start-up has a stand. Travel is not covered. Switzerland Global Enterprise
• United Kingdom: the government's Tradeshow Programme closed in June 2023, and no successor has been announced.

• Most grants pay only part of the costs: plan how you will fund the rest.
• Work started before a grant is approved is usually not funded.
• Grant consultants often charge a success fee. Read the official guidance first; many programmes offer free advice.
• Public grants to companies count as state aid; different grants for the same costs usually cannot be combined.