Support for Startup Events (Event Support Programme)

The Hungarian Innovation Agency (NIÜ) will provide HUF 30 million in 2024 to support the creation of domestic innovation events. The Agency's key mission is to deepen innovation knowledge and to make the ecosystem more dynamic by organising various national and international events, supported by the Event Support Programme for actors in the domestic innovation ecosystem.

The Hungarian Innovation Agency Nonprofit Zrt. (hereinafter referred to as "NIÜ") is launching a Call for Proposals (hereinafter referred to as "Call") to support the organisation of startup events in the framework of the project 2022-1.1.2-STARTUP-2022-00001 of the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, funded by the National Research Development and Innovation Fund.

Events, meetups, workshops and conferences are an important element of any well-functioning startup and innovation ecosystem. Successful events enable participants to get to know each other better, to work together to achieve common goals and solve problems, and to learn from international and national best practices. A key objective of the NIE is to give more emerging businesses, start-ups and investors the opportunity to present themselves. In the framework of this Call for Proposals, the NIÜ aims to support innovation events and activities that contribute to the development of innovation culture and the dynamisation of the innovation ecosystem. In line with these objectives, applications are invited for support for events that

• which aims to acquire international-level knowledge and skills not normally available in the domestic system;
• provides networking and exposure opportunities that enhance the target audience's access to international markets, international cooperation, access to investment resources or new domestic connections;
• as partnership-building events (TechMatch type) between international corporations and domestic start-ups and SMEs;
• which aims to develop and strengthen entrepreneurial attitudes and skills, showcasing domestic success stories;
• based on new innovative event organisation principles focused on strengthening the achievement of the above objectives.

The deadline for (electronic) submission of grant applications is 30 October 2024 at 16:00. 

Applications will be assessed in stages:

• in the first stage, by 16:00 on 10 September 2024;
• in the second phase, by 30 October at 16:00

will be evaluated.

Expected date of decision: 1 month after the closure of the phases.

Modifications to the Call for Proposals

which entered into force on 7 October 2024:

• The scope of applicants for support under point 3.1 of the Call has been extended: other associations or other associations with GFO 517 or 529, which qualify as research and knowledge intermediary organisations under Article 2(83) of Commission Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 and other public bodies with GFO 549, which do not carry out economic activities, may apply for support in the second phase of the Call.
• In the second phase of the Call, the ERC will provide the possibility to make a declaration of non-responsiveness for the criteria set out in point 3.5 of the Call when assessing the eligibility of grant applications.

In view of the above amendments, the (electronic) deadline for the submission of grant applications has been extended from 15 October 2024 at 16:00 to 30 October 2024 at 16:00.

For more information and to register for the programme: