Reaching the prototype stage is already a significant achievement for any startup, particularly those active in the healthcare industry. But moving beyond that stage can be even more challenging. Healthtech startups in the region have the opportunity to transition from promising concepts to real-world impact with the support of the EIT Health InnoStars Awards, a Europe-wide accelerator program that offers funding, mentoring, and strategic hospital partnerships to early- and growth-stage innovators.
Backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), the program aims to compensate against the lack of access to resources and investors as well as bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and patient care, particularly in CEE.
“Startups often approach hospitals with great technology, but without the right framing,” explains Tamás Békási, RIS business creation lead at EIT Health and manager of the InnoStars Awards. “We help them think about their solution from the hospital’s perspective: what problems it solves, how it integrates into care pathways, and what outcomes matter to clinical staff. That’s often the missing link between a great idea and a successful pilot.”
Recognizing the challenges faced when navigating complex hospital systems, the program offers a dedicated hospital engagement module as part of its validation track. This hands-on support teaches startups how to launch pilot projects, navigate procurement systems, and align with healthcare workflows, a crucial need in Hungary’s mixed public-private healthcare environment.
The validation track targets early-stage teams, offering up to EUR 18,000 in smart funding, interactive training modules, and a unique Early Health Technology Assessment to assess the overall feasibility of their solutions in the early development stages.
“The Early Health Technology Assessment minimizes costly late-stage corrections and reduces the overall risk of failure,” says Rok Hren, senior researcher at Syreon Research Institute, a regional leader in health technology assessment. “This enables early project owners to manage risks, maximize the potential of their technology and reach the market with a solid business model.”
Meanwhile, the investment track supports scale-ready startups with EUR 12,000 in funding, investor coaching, and a realistic board meeting simulation where founders pitch to seasoned investors.
The program concludes at the InnoStars Grand Final in November, where top performers from both tracks compete for additional awards of up to EUR 25,000.
Hungarian startups have already benefited from the scheme and achieved significant success in the business arena. Nicowl, which developed an AI-based monitoring tool for neonatal intensive care, secured public funding and spun out as a dedicated company. Another graduate, DokiApp, is growing its on-demand digital healthcare platform with video consultations and mental health services, and it is preparing for international expansion.
This article was first published in the Budapest Business Journal print issue of July 11, 2025.
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