Calling Startups in Transport, Logistics, Operations & Construction

We’re inviting ambitious startups working in Transport, Logistics, Operations, and Construction to apply and take their solutions to the next level. If you’re building technology that can transform these sectors, this is your opportunity to scale faster, connect with industry leaders, and bring your innovation closer to market.

This cohort is specifically designed for startups developing solutions with strong potential to reduce emissions, improve efficiency, and enable industrial transformation across these domains. We are looking for technologies that tackle real operational challenges—whether that means enabling new energy sources without requiring full asset replacement, creating retrofit-ready solutions for existing infrastructure, or designing tools that support infrastructure planning and phased deployment.

We also welcome innovations that enhance performance in live, mission-critical environments, integrate seamlessly with legacy industrial systems, or automate energy and emissions monitoring with compliance-by-design capabilities. Scalable solutions that can adapt across regions and regulatory contexts are especially encouraged.

What Selected Startups Will Gain

Participants in the programme benefit from a comprehensive support package designed to accelerate growth and market entry:

• Tailored business and technical guidance to refine strategy and scale-up roadmaps.
• Open Innovation Workshops to develop collaborations with industrial partners and test solutions through pilots or demonstrators.
• Matchmaking with investors, corporates, and stakeholders interested in disruptive technologies.
• Access to public funding opportunities at regional, national, and EU levels.
• Investor readiness and fundraising support, including pitch preparation and financial strategy refinement.

Participation is free of charge, no equity is taken, and selected startups may receive travel support (up to €600) for programme-related ecosystem visits.

Focus Areas and Innovation Challenges

The accelerator is looking for solutions that can deliver measurable impact in sectors where transformation is hardest. Priority innovation areas include:

• Cross-border scalable technologies
• Low-carbon fuels and energy transition technologies
• Retrofit and modular solutions for existing infrastructure
• Infrastructure planning and coordination tools
• AI-driven operational optimisation
• Interoperability with legacy industrial systems
• Automated emissions monitoring and compliance solutions
• Decision-support tools that de-risk investments

Who Should Apply

The programme targets EU-based startups and SMEs that:

• Demonstrate strong scale-up potential and industrial relevance
• Are legally established in an EU or Horizon Europe-associated country
• Have technologies at TRL 5–8 (validated to near-market readiness)
• Address challenges in hard-to-abate or energy-intensive sectors

Timeline at a Glance

• Applications open: 18 February 2026
• Deadline: 15 March 2026
• Results announced: 31 March 2026
• Programme duration: 1 April 2026 – November 2026

The accelerator runs in structured phases covering onboarding, go-to-market strategy, and funding readiness, with mentoring, investor sessions, and collaborative project development opportunities throughout.

Ready to Scale Your Solution?

If you are building a technology that can transform heavy industry, reduce emissions, or unlock efficiency gains at scale, the Hard2Scale Accelerator is your opportunity to accelerate growth and connect with Europe’s innovation ecosystem.

Applications open next week! Join the next generation of industrial innovators shaping a cleaner, more competitive future.

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Article written by Sofia Baptista / EurA Innovation Ecosystems