EIT Health

What EIT Health does

EIT Health is a pan-European healthcare innovation ecosystem operating as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Founded in 2015/2016 and headquartered in Munich, it connects approximately 100 member organisations spanning business, research, education, and healthcare delivery through its "knowledge triangle" model. Its core activities are structured accelerator programmes (Catapult, Headstart, Wild Card, Gold Track, Bridgehead), education programmes (EIT Health Academy, EIT Label), innovation challenges, and the Think Tank policy platform, with regional delivery through Co-Location Centres in Germany, France, Scandinavia, Belgium-Netherlands, Ireland-UK, Spain, and Austria, plus InnoStars RIS hubs in Central/Eastern Europe and an EIT Hub in Israel. Since 2016, it has supported nearly 3,000 startups and scaleups, helped attract over €2.4 billion in investment to those ventures, and trained more than 65,000 students and healthcare professionals.

Name

EIT Health

Legal name

EIT Health

Website

https://eithealth.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

EIT Health is a Munich-headquartered, EU-funded innovation ecosystem connecting approximately 100 member organisations across business, research, education, and healthcare delivery to accelerate healthcare ventures, train professionals, and shape European health policy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Healthcare Innovation Services

NAICS

Computer Training (611420), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

International & Global Public Health Aid Administration (Government Donors) (HLAJALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Global Health Institutes & Programs (EDAHAGAM), Healthcare Access & Life Sciences Impact Funds (FSANAJAI)

Keywords

• Healthcare innovation ecosystem
• Startup acceleration programmes
• Medical education training
• Life sciences venture capital
• Innovation partnership network

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. EU Grant Funding (EIT): EIT Health is primarily funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union. It receives multi-year institutional funding to build and operate a health innovation ecosystem across Europe. The organisation does not generate commercial revenue from product sales; its funding is non-dilutive grant support from the EU.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EIT Health is a pan-European healthcare innovation ecosystem that runs named accelerator programmes (Catapult, Headstart, Wild Card, Gold Track, Bridgehead), delivers accredited education (EIT Label degrees, EIT Health Academy), facilitates investment via the Venture Centre of Excellence with the European Investment Fund, and convenes the Think Tank for healthcare policy and regulation. It supports nearly 3,000 startups and scaleups since 2016 through non-dilutive EU grant funding, mentorship, market access and cross-border collaboration across more than 15 European countries.

Product overview

EIT Health is an EU-funded innovation body that operates as a platform and consortium supporting healthcare innovation across Europe. Rather than offering a unified commercial product, it provides a portfolio of programs and services including startup acceleration programs (Catapult, Headstart, Bridgehead, Gold Track), innovation challenges (Wild Card, Open Innovation), education and training initiatives (Campus, EIT Label), thought leadership (Think Tank), and funding facilitation. These programs connect the worlds of business, research, and education to enable people in Europe to live longer, healthier lives. The organization supports startups and scaleups through the innovation lifecycle, from ideation to commercialization, but does not itself manufacture or sell healthcare products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EIT Health Catapult: Programme showcasing top European healthtech startups
• EIT Health Bridgehead
• EIT Health Headstart
• EIT Health Wild Card
• EIT Health Gold Track
• EIT Health Think Tank
• EIT Health Academy
• EIT Health Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE)

Products and services

• EIT Health Catapult Flagship competition and showcase programme for Europe's top healthtech startups, ranking European biotech, medtech and digital health ventures. Includes regional in-kind prizes and finalists (e.g., NimBio EIT Health Catapult 2025 finalist).
• EIT Health Headstart Early-stage funding and mentoring programme that helps European healthtech startups validate their market and secure follow-on investment.
• EIT Health Wild Card Innovation challenge programme that invites teams to develop solutions for specific healthcare themes, including hackathons in regions such as Galway (with NUI Galway's BioExcel Accelerator).
• EIT Health Gold Track Programme supporting growth-stage health companies in scaling internationally; alumni have raised over €500M to date across 45 supported companies.
• EIT Health Bridgehead Programme that helps European healthcare scaleups expand into new geographic markets via matched support from local partners.
• EIT Health Academy Continuing-education and upskilling programme for students, researchers, healthcare professionals and entrepreneurs, including AI/digital health courses (e.g., HelloAI), the Women Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, and summer schools.
• EIT Label Accreditation European quality label awarded to degree programmes (master's, PhD, summer schools) delivered by EIT Health partner universities, providing an EIT-certified credential in health innovation.
• EIT Health Think Tank Platform convening healthcare thought-leaders across Europe for round tables and policy publications on topics including Digital Medical Devices, Biobanks & Health Data, High Value Care Forum, and EP PerMed.
• Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE) Joint EIT Health-EIF investment platform making €1.7 billion available for life-science investment across Europe. Institut Mérieux is a partner. Provides deal flow to investors and growth capital to portfolio startups.
• Open Innovation Programme Programme of open innovation challenges (e.g., on IBD flare detection, breast cancer, EGPA, Axial Spondyloarthritis) that brings together startups, pharmaceutical companies and academic clinical partners to co-develop and pilot solutions.
• Seeds of Bravery (EIT Health Consortium Role) EIT Health's contribution to the Seeds of Bravery consortium providing Ukrainian deep-tech startups with funding, client introductions to European investors and corporations, and access to a European coworking network.

Quantifiable outcome

• €2.4 billion in investment attracted to supported startups and scaleups since 2016
• +6 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NimBiocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EIT Health selected NimBio (Israeli healthtech startup) as an EIT Health Catapult 2025 finalist and winner of the EIT Open Innovation Challenge for IBD. EIT Health's Open Innovation programme brought together NimBio, Takeda Belgium, and KU Leuven to pilot an AI-powered Inflammometer for IBD flare detection.
• Takeda BelgiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Takeda Belgium partnered with EIT Health and KU Leuven through the Open Innovation programme to co-develop and pilot NimBio's IBD flare detection technology.
• KU LeuvencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025KU Leuven partnered with EIT Health and Takeda Belgium in the Open Innovation programme to pilot NimBio's IBD flare detection technology, providing clinical validation infrastructure.
• BioPhoTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EIT Health and BioPhoT signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen health and life-science innovation collaboration in Latvia, supporting the Latvian biotech ecosystem.
• EUREGHA (European Regions and Local Health Authorities)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EIT Health partnered with EUREGHA (European Regions and Local Health Authorities) to drive innovation in European healthcare systems through regional collaboration.
• Seeds of Bravery Consortium (FundingBox, Ukrainian Startup Fund, CyberInnovate, Plug and Play, Aalto University, EIT Health)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EIT Health joined the Seeds of Bravery consortium, a EUR 20 million EU-funded initiative to develop Ukraine's deep tech industry over 2.5 years. EIT Health contributed its innovation ecosystem expertise, helping distribute EUR 12 million to 318 Ukrainian tech startups, facilitating 600+ client meetings, connecting startups to 2,430+ European investors and corporations, and providing access to 61 coworking spaces across Europe.
• HIMSS (Partner Innovation Exchange)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EIT Health renewed its strategic alliance with HIMSS Partner Innovation Exchange (PIE) Initiative, connecting healthcare innovators with the HIMSS global network for digital health innovation.
• IHI (Innovative Health Initiative)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EIT Health and IHI united to drive healthcare innovation, forming a joint commitment to accelerate the development and adoption of health innovations in Europe.
• Novartis (Beyond Rheum)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023EIT Health and Novartis launched 'Beyond Rheum' to support patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis, connecting startups developing solutions for axSpA patients with pharmaceutical expertise and clinical validation.
• PSCC (Public Sector Consulting Consortium)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2022EIT Health partnered with PSCC (Public Sector Consulting Consortium) to drive innovation in healthcare systems through consulting support.
• European Youth Parliament (EYP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022European Youth Parliament partnered with EIT Health to engage young Europeans in addressing health innovation challenges.
• Astellas (EIT Health startup partnership)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022An EIT Health startup partnered with Astellas to research therapies for mitochondrial dysfunction.
• HealthTech For CareminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021HealthTech For Care partnered with EIT Health to benefit the Venture Centre of Excellence and promote access to healthcare for all.
• BioMed AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health and BioMed Alliance signed an MoU for a two-year collaboration to advance biomedical research and innovation in Europe.
• Biogen (neurotechprize)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health and Biogen launched the 'neurotechprize' addressing Alzheimer's Disease globally, accelerating Alzheimer's care through a competitive innovation prize for startups.
• Roche (Bits & Pretzels HealthTech)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health and Roche were founding partners of the first annual Bits & Pretzels HealthTech conference, a major healthtech networking and startup event in Europe.
• AmgenminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health and Amgen officially signed a partnership to advance value-based innovation in healthcare.
• McKinsey & CompanyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health and McKinsey & Co. co-authored an AI report urging healthcare providers to invest in professionals for AI adoption in healthcare.
• LongenesisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021EIT Health-supported Longenesis teamed up with Novartis for a digital heart care innovation pilot project for cardiovascular disease treatment, and also with MSD to launch an online test for cervical cancer risk.
• Roche (Optellum partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EIT Health partners Optellum and GE Healthcare joined forces with Roche to advance lung cancer diagnosis, aiming to increase survival rates through AI-powered early detection.
• GE Healthcare (Optellum partnership)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EIT Health partners GE Healthcare and Optellum partnered to advance lung cancer diagnosis using AI, with EIT Health facilitating the collaboration between the two companies.
• EIT FoodminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019EIT Health and EIT Food co-organised workshops on food and health, co-creating strategies to help citizens and patients through integrated food-health innovation.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MedTech Innovator: Medical device-focused accelerator running the largest medtech accelerator program globally, with cohort-based mentorship, corporate partnerships, and grand prize competitions — directly comparable to EIT Health's medtech and digital medical device focus.
• IndieBio (SOSV): Biotech and health-focused startup accelerator providing seed funding, lab infrastructure, and mentorship to life-science and digital health founders globally — comparable to EIT Health in biotech/health acceleration and the magnitude of capital it deploys to early-stage health ventures.
• MassChallenge HealthTech: Global non-profit accelerator with a major HealthTech vertical in partnership with healthcare industry leaders (including Massachusetts-based hospitals and pharma), offering equity-free funding, mentorship, and corporate piloting opportunities similar to EIT Health's model.
• Plug and Play Health: Silicon Valley-based corporate-backed startup accelerator with a dedicated Health vertical running cohort programs, corporate open-innovation challenges, and venture investments — structurally analogous to EIT Health's Catapult, Headstart, and Open Innovation programmes.
• Rock Health: US-based digital health venture fund and accelerator supporting entrepreneurs across the healthcare innovation lifecycle with seed funding, mentorship, and corporate partnerships — directly comparable to EIT Health in supporting early-to-growth-stage healthtech ventures.
• Startupbootcamp Digital Health: Europe-headquartered accelerator operating digital health and medtech cohorts with mentorship, seed funding, and corporate partner access, directly comparable to EIT Health's accelerator programmes in geography, sector focus, and program design.

Others

• EIT InnoEnergy: Sibling Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) under EIT focused on sustainable energy — directly comparable in governance, EU funding structure, multi-country Co-Location Centre model, accelerator/education programme mix, and partnership framework to EIT Health.

Emerging players

• Bayer G4A (formerly Grants4Apps): Corporate-led digital health partnership and accelerator program run by Bayer, combining open-innovation challenges, mentorship, and pilot partnerships with pharma — directly comparable to EIT Health's Open Innovation Challenges co-led with pharma partners like Takeda, Biogen, and Roche.

Regional players

• Health Hub Vienna (now Health Hub Tirol / Health Hub Vienna): Austrian health innovation hub connecting corporates, providers, and startups across the DACH region — directly comparable to EIT Health's Austria Co-Location Centre activity and reinforces parallel regional health-innovation ecosystem-building in central Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Wellcome Trust: UK-based charitable foundation (one of the world's largest) funding health research and innovation with multi-billion-pound deployed capital — a broad incumbent in health innovation funding that, like EIT Health, channels institutional resources into health research, R&D, and translation at large scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8W06RVPIATNIxFMVyi6Ujw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eithealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/eithealth
• Xx.com/eithealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/eithealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments101 records

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

Frequently asked questions about EIT Health