The EIT Jumpstarter 2025, a flagship pre-accelerator focused on unveiling talented innovators from emerging European countries including Malta, is now open. This year’s programme will seek innovative ideas in more than 27 countries and territories in Europe, with a special focus on the Western Balkans, the EU Outermost Regions and Mediterranean, offering additional prizes and opportunities. The EIT Jumpstarter is an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union.

This programme supports innovators in transforming their innovative ideas into prosperous start-ups in a safe and supportive business environment. It does not require equity and is free of charge for individuals and teams coming from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe, where the pace of innovation is still progressing1. During the last eight editions the EIT Jumpstarter has upskilled more than 1,300 individuals in the field of entrepreneurship and helped establish 124 start-ups. These companies have already raised approximately 150 million euros in the form of external investment.

“The EIT Jumpstarter is the perfect platform to validate an innovative idea and determine whether your research results can be commercialised as a product or service. We offer support in the initial stages of setting up a start-up and developing an entrepreneurial mindset. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with like-minded individuals and learn from industry experts who will help refine their idea and establish a prosperous startup,” underlines Tina Benda from the EIT RawMaterials, who curates the Metals, Minerals, Advanced Materials & Industrial Side Streams Cohort in the EIT Jumpstarter.

Startups based in Malta have benefited from previous editions of the EIT Jumpstarter. One example is Wharps Technologies Malta, whose Nanostars project will be developed between Malta and Poland through an industrial spin-off, leading to the foundation of a new startup, Wharps Industries. This new venture focuses on the development, production, and commercialisation of the Nanostars system, a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor designed to produce implosive nanobubbles smaller than 100 nanometers. This reactor is an evolution of the Hydrocavitator, the first centrifugal-type cavitation reactor developed by Cristian Isopo, CEO of WHARPS, as part of a technology transfer programme with the European Space Agency (ESA), aiming to apply space technologies to non-space applications. The Nanostars system generates implosive nanobubbles that can be utilised in multiple applications, such as waste treatment, water purification, sugar reduction in fresh fruit juices, and the extraction of active compounds from fruits and vegetables.

Ewa Milewska, CFO of Wharps Technologies, stated: “Every major innovation needs the right ecosystem to grow and develop. EIT Jumpstarter has been fundamental to our journey, helping us validate our technology, structure our business model, and refine our growth strategy. Through this exciting experience, we have defined and structured our business roadmap, honed our market positioning, and received exceptional coaching support. Without a doubt, EIT Jumpstarter has helped us transform an idea into a scalable business.”

Diana Miceli, EIT Community Officer for Malta, said, “Since its inception, EIT Jumpstarter has supported scientific project teams, innovators, scientists, PhD and Master’s students, and entrepreneurs with innovative ideas in many different sectors, including health, agriculture and food, energy, urban mobility, manufacturing and the digital economy. It is a fantastic opportunity for anyone developing an innovative idea to tap into a wealth of knowledge from across Europe.”

The application deadline for the 2025 programme is 2 April 2025. The application process is straightforward and free of charge with more information available at https://eitjumpstarter.eu/. The website also offers the opportunity to register for an information session which will take place on 10 March 2025.The EIT Community Hub Malta, can also be contacted on malta@eitcommunity.eu

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