BIKiNNOV Launches BIKiNNOV IGNITE Competition to Support Innovative Projects in the Field of Soft Mobility
BIKiNNOV has just launched BIKiNNOV IGNITE – INOVC+ Ignition Projects and Proof of Concept Competition, an initiative aimed at strengthening the valorisation and transfer of scientific knowledge to the market by supporting lecturers and researchers in the development of innovative solutions in the field of soft mobility.
Integrated into the INOVC+ project – Innovation Ecosystem for Knowledge and Technology Transfer in the Central Region, this competition is aimed at R&D projects in the translational stage that have already demonstrated promising results but require further validation, experimental development, or proof of concept in order to progress in the technological maturity scale, moving closer to TRL 4 or 5.
The competition makes available a total fund of €15,000 to support up to five projects, with each selected application receiving technical and logistical support of up to a maximum of €5,000. This support will take the form of the direct procurement by BIKiNNOV of the goods and services required for project development, including consumables, use of facilities, specialised services, or prototyping.
The initiative seeks to encourage the transformation of scientific results into viable applications, promote the technical and economic validation of new technologies, and foster closer links between the scientific system and the business sector, thereby creating future partnerships and opportunities for commercial valorisation.
Lecturers and researchers affiliated with institutions in the Central Region of Portugal may apply, either individually or in partnership, provided that the proposed projects fall within the area of soft mobility and demonstrate clear commercial applicability, an innovative nature, and market valorisation potential.
Applications are open from 3 March to 30 April 2026, until 11:59 p.m., and the results will be announced by 30 June 2026.
For more information about the competition, applicants may consult the regulations and application form at the following link:
https://www.bikinnov.pt/inovc_home/
or contact BIKiNNOV at geral@bikinnov.pt.
INOVC+ is a strategic programme for Portugal’s Central Region focused on the implementation and consolidation of an Innovation Ecosystem for Knowledge and Technology Transfer which, through a collaborative network of 23 partners, aims to enhance the valorisation and transfer of knowledge and R&D+I results to the regional economy. It continues the previous InovC, InovC2020 and InovC+ programmes. The project has a duration of 30 months and a total eligible investment of around €4.1 million, 85% co-funded by CENTRO2030, Portugal 2030 and the European Union, The European Funds Closer to You.
