What EIT Digital does

EIT Digital, now operating under the brand 28Digital following a 2026 rebranding, is a Brussels-headquartered European digital innovation and entrepreneurial education organization established in 2010 as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an EU body. The organization functions as a pan-European innovation ecosystem rather than a product company, operating across at least 24 European countries and coordinating programs that span the full lifecycle from research-to-market through to startup creation and scaleup growth.

Its core offerings are structured as multiple interlocking programs rather than a single technology platform. These include the SPIN: Explore and SPIN: Rise training programs for deep tech researchers (with nearly 200 applications to SPIN: Rise in 2025 and 102 participants across 42 universities in 12 countries for SPIN: Explore), acceleration programs (Venture Incubation Program, Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027, Scale Smart, Speed Master, SpeedTech, Sports Master), open innovation mechanisms (Open Innovation Factory, Mentor Me), an Equity Portfolio providing direct investment, Access to Finance services, and thematic initiatives spanning agrifood (NEXTCHAIN), cybersecurity (COcyber), and physical AI (STMicroelectronics scouting). The organization does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it curates and operates a multi-stakeholder platform connecting universities, startups, SMEs, researchers, investors, and corporate partners.

The business model is institutionally funded rather than market-driven. Revenue is sourced primarily from EIT core funding and EU framework program contributions, supplemented by partnership fees from industry and academic members. Programs are provided free of charge to selected participants (freemium model), and the organization sustains itself through periodic EU institutional funding cycles. The 2026 Strategy 2026-2030 explicitly aims to expand operations to 35 countries and diversify revenue streams, signaling an evolution from a purely grant-funded model toward broader commercial sustainability.

Name

EIT Digital

Legal name

EIT Digital

Website

https://eitdigital.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

EIT Digital (rebranded to 28Digital in 2026) is a Brussels-based European non-profit innovation ecosystem, operating pan-European programs that accelerate deep tech, climate tech, and digital startups through training, mentoring, and equity investment, funded primarily by EU institutional sources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Investments & Capital Markets (Trading, Portfolio, Derivatives) (EDABAJAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Career Exploration, Interest/Skills Assessment & Pathway Planning (EDAFAMAK), Education / EdTech Growth Equity (FSANACAL)

Keywords

• Digital innovation programs
• Startup acceleration services
• Deep tech commercialization
• Entrepreneurship education
• EU innovation ecosystem

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. EU Institutional Funding: EIT Digital is funded through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), receiving EU institutional funding to support innovation programs, startup acceleration, and ecosystem development across Europe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

EIT Digital (trading as 28Digital) operates a pan-European innovation and entrepreneurship education platform delivering free, application-based programmes for researchers, startups, scaleups, and SMEs. Its core offering comprises research-to-market training (SPIN: Explore, SPIN: Rise), startup and scaleup acceleration programmes (Venture Incubation Program, Co-Creation Accelerator, Scale Smart, Speed Master, SpeedTech, Sports Master), open-innovation collaboration (Open Innovation Factory, Mentor Me), and access-to-finance support including an equity portfolio, all anchored to a 42-university partner network and EIT institutional backing.

Product overview

EIT Digital (now operating as 28Digital) is a European Institute of Innovation and Technology initiative that operates a comprehensive innovation ecosystem supporting the entire startup lifecycle. The offering is a multi-faceted platform comprising research-to-market programmes (SPIN: Explore, SPIN: Rise), startup and scaleup acceleration (Venture Incubation Program, Co-Creation Accelerator, Scale Smart, Speed Master, SpeedTech, Sports Master), talent development (Tech Skills and Masters Studies, Self-Paced Online Courses), open innovation collaboration (Open Innovation Factory, Mentor Me), and financial support (Equity Portfolio, Access to Finance). The ecosystem is connected through EU-wide collaborations, thematic initiatives like COcyber and NEXTCHAIN, and partnerships with universities, incubators, and industry actors across 35 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPIN: Online training program for Deep Tech researchers and scientists focusing on research commercialization, IPR strategy, and innovation storytelling
• SPIN: Rise
• Co-Creation Accelerator
• Venture Incubation Program
• Scale Smart
• Speed Master
• SpeedTech
• Sports Master
• Open Innovation Factory
• Mentor Me
• NEXTCHAIN

Products and services

• SPIN: Explore and SPIN: Rise Research-to-market training programmes for European deep tech researchers and scientists, teaching research commercialisation, IPR strategy, and innovation storytelling. SPIN: Explore is a 10-hour online training course; SPIN: Rise is the flagship programme calling Europe's researchers to transform scientific excellence into real-world impact.
• Venture Incubation Program Incubation programme supporting startup creation and development within the EIT Digital innovation ecosystem.
• Co-Creation Accelerator Accelerator programme for co-creation initiatives, currently running its 2026-2027 cycle.
• Scale Smart Scaling programme designed to help startups scale their operations and expand to new markets.
• Speed Master Accelerator programme focused on rapid startup development and scaling.
• SpeedTech Technology-focused acceleration programme for rapid development of technology startups.
• Sports Master Specialised acceleration programme targeting sports technology and innovation startups.
• Open Innovation Factory Programme enabling open-innovation collaboration between startups, enterprises, and ecosystem actors.
• Mentor Me Mentorship programme connecting entrepreneurs with experienced mentors from the innovation ecosystem.
• Self-Paced Online Courses Digital skills and entrepreneurship courses available for self-directed learning.
• Talent – Tech Skills and Masters Studies Educational programmes focused on developing tech talent and advanced technical skills at master's level across EIT Digital partner universities.
• Tech – Startup and Scaleup Programmes Comprehensive programmes supporting startup creation and scaleup growth across the innovation lifecycle.
• Equity Portfolio Investment portfolio providing equity financing to startups and scaleups in the innovation ecosystem.
• Access to Finance Financial support services connecting startups and innovators with funding opportunities and investment networks.
• NEXTCHAIN Agrifood Value Chains Collaboration between EDIH Network and Enterprise Europe Network supporting innovation in agrifood value chains by connecting SMEs, startups, technology providers, researchers, and ecosystem actors.
• COcyber European Cybersecurity Cooperation Initiative European cybersecurity cooperation initiative bringing together policymakers, practitioners, researchers and innovators to build Europe's cyber shield across borders.
• ClimaTech Connect Programme Joint training and mentoring programme with Climate KIC accelerating early-stage climate-tech startups through a three-gate system embedding DEI practices, concluding with Demo Day grant opportunities.
• EIT Digital Summer School on Maritime Informatics and Robotics Educational programme on maritime innovation, autonomous systems, and marine technology delivered in partnership with the University of Aegean in Syros, Greece.
• Champions Programme celebrating and supporting top-performing startups and innovations within the EIT Digital ecosystem.
• EU Collaborations Cross-border collaboration initiatives connecting European innovation ecosystems and supporting international partnerships.
• Mission Innovation: Tech Diplomacy & Leadership Programme focused on tech diplomacy, leadership development, and international innovation cooperation.
• Become a Partner Partnership programme enabling universities, corporations, and ecosystem actors to join the EIT Digital network as contributing partners.
• EIT Water Scarcity Initiative Programme supporting 40 European SMEs and startups with water sector solutions to promote water-saving practices across industries, with testing opportunities and sector engagement events.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15% increase in Greek startup investments from €485M to €555M+
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025EIT selected 40 European SMEs and start-ups with water sector solutions to participate in a water scarcity initiative. The selected companies are from 15 countries and aim to promote water-saving practices across industries, with support including testing opportunities and sector engagement events.
• I3P (Italian Incubator for Entrepreneurial Projects)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2025AdapTronics, a deep tech spin-off of University of Bologna, won the Italian Master Startup Award (IMSA) 2025 co-funded by PNICube and I3P. AdapTronics develops lightweight thin-film electroadhesive technology for robotics and has raised over €1.3 million in grants and pre-seed funding.
• 42 European UniversitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 January 2025SPIN: Explore online training course organized by EIT Digital attracted 102 participants from 42 universities across 12 countries. The 10-hour course taught research commercialization, IPR strategy, and innovation storytelling for Deep Tech researchers and scientists.
• Climate KICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Joint training and mentoring programme called ClimaTech Connect 2025 to accelerate early-stage climate-tech startups, embedding DEI practices throughout its three-gate system. Climate KIC's Gender & Inclusivity Portfolio Coordination Task supported the programme, which concluded with Demo Day featuring grant opportunities for winning teams.
• University of AegeancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership to host EIT Digital Summer School on Maritime Informatics and Robotics in Syros, Greece. The program involved participants from across Europe exploring the future of marine technology with focus on autonomous systems, positioning Syros as a European hub for maritime innovation.
• Found.ationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2024Collaborative research report on Greek startup ecosystem showing €555M+ investments across 90+ companies in 2024 (15% increase from €485M in 2023). Report highlights BETA CAE Systems acquisition for $1.24 billion as Greece's largest tech exit and identifies 36% of investors originating from the United States.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• EIT Manufacturing: EIT KIC dedicated to manufacturing innovation. Comparable KIC structure, EU institutional funding, deep-tech focus, and partnership-based acceleration across European universities and corporates.
• EIT Food: EIT KIC focused on agrifood innovation. Operates with the same EIT funding model, accelerator framework, and cross-border European partnership approach used by EIT Digital, including adjacent sectors like NEXTCHAIN Agrifood.
• EIT Health: EIT KIC supporting health innovation across Europe. Shares the same institutional framework, multi-stakeholder governance, and accelerator/education mix as EIT Digital, targeting European university-affiliated startups.
• Climate KIC: Sister EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on climate innovation. Runs joint training and mentoring programs with EIT Digital (e.g., ClimaTech Connect), operates the same EU KIC funding model, and serves overlapping European deep-tech/climate-tech startup segments.
• EIT InnoEnergy: EIT KIC focused on sustainable energy innovation and startup support. Operates the same EU KIC funding structure and partnership-driven accelerator model, serving European deep-tech founders with similar talent, mentorship, and capital access.

Broad incumbents

• Y Combinator: World's leading startup accelerator. Offers comparable seed-stage acceleration, Demo Day investor exposure, and founder education, but operates a US-anchored, equity-for-cash model rather than an EU public-private partnership.
• Techstars: Global accelerator network running mentorship-driven startup programs worldwide. Comparable accelerator model (Speed Master, Co-Creation Accelerator), but commercially funded and broader in scope rather than EU mission-driven.

Regional players

• Found.ation: Greek innovation platform and EIT Digital partner. Co-publishes ecosystem research (e.g., €555M+ Greek startup investment report) and shares focus on European early-stage startup development, though with a Greek geographic emphasis.
• Station F: World's largest startup campus based in Paris. Comparable pan-European founder support and accelerator programming, but regionally focused on France and operates a private commercial model rather than an EU KIC structure.

Others

• European Innovation Council (EIC): EU flagship innovation funding program under Horizon Europe providing grants and equity to European startups and scaleups. Adjacent enabling body that often co-funds or substitutes for the types of programs EIT Digital runs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/28DGTL
• Facebookfacebook.com/28dgtl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28dgtl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments38 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EIT Digital