InnoStars Connect is an open innovation and challenge-based collaboration programme that brings EIT Health InnoStars partners—acting as challenge owners—together with Europe’s most promising healthcare start-ups, hospitals, universities, research institutions, and SMEs.

Through close, hands-on collaboration, selected teams work to solve real-world healthcare challenges, pilot innovative solutions, and drive forward value-based healthcare models. With funding and expert support, InnoStars Connect fuels impactful partnerships that improve patient outcomes and accelerate meaningful innovation.

Challenge 1

Improving Neonatal Respiratory Care (In particular NRDS & BPD)

Chiesi Group is looking for groundbreaking solutions in Neonatal Respiratory Care.

Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS) and Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) are critical challenges in neonatal care, impacting survival and long-term health.

Challenge 2

Enhancing Prenatal & Neonatal Care

Challenge 3

Innovating Hospital Scheduling: Enhancing Care Delivery and Patient Experience

ULS de Coimbra seeks innovative digital solutions to optimise hospital scheduling, enhancing clinical workflows and patient appointment management.

This programme is open to:

• Hospitals
• Universities
• Research institutions
• SMEs – as defined by the European commission
• European health start-ups with a solution technology with a maturity level of at least TRL 6 – 9

The participants must have an established and registered representation/branch in:

• • EU Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain.
  • Horizon Europe Associated Countries: Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Israel.
  • Outermost Regions: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Réunion, Martinique, Mayotte and Saint-Martin (France), the Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and the Canary Islands (Spain)

Key dates

• Call opening: 31.03.2025
• Proposals submissions deadline: 13.06.2025
• Proposals evaluation: Early-June 2025
• Invitations to hearings: Mid-June 2025
• Announcing the final selected teams: End-June 2025
• Bootcamp first cycle: September 2025 (offline)
• Bootcamp second cycle: November 2025 (online/offline)
• Activity closure & Reporting: December 2025

The call document can be accessed here.