The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator has launched its fourth open call, designed to foster partnerships among large companies, start-ups, and SMEs from the European Union (EU), Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The objective is to accelerate the development of innovative digital solutions through bi-regional cooperation that connects specific business challenges with emerging technological capabilities.
The call is open from July 1 to October 31. This fourth edition will have a thematic focus on e-services: business solutions that can be delivered, managed, or completed entirely digitally, without the physical presence of either the user or the provider. Examples include mobile applications for sports clubs to facilitate interaction with fans. These virtual exhibitions enable digital tours of museums and cultural centers, as well as digital onboarding processes in banks that utilize technologies such as artificial intelligence and biometric verification.
Despite this priority focus, the call is open to proposals from all sectors of the digital industry. The initiatives submitted must address fundamental challenges with innovative technological solutions and have the potential to be scaled up internationally.
Applicant partnerships must comprise at least one corporation or large company that poses an internal or customer-related challenge and at least one startup or SME that offers a viable digital solution. Both organisations must belong to two different regions among the three that make up the programme: the European Union, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Selected partnerships will receive an acceleration services package worth up to €30,000, which can increase to €40,000 if one of the partners is from the Caribbean region. The six-month acceleration programme supports three scenarios: joint product development adapted to corporate needs; integrating an existing solution into company processes; and adjusting a product for effective entry into one of the partners' local markets.
The EU-LAC Digital Accelerator offers support for each case, structured around three fundamental areas: technical validation of the solution through a proof of concept (PoC); design of a sustainable, internationally scalable business model; and preparation for investment and commercial growth. Selected alliances will be supported by a team of experts in designing a bespoke work plan to ensure the solution is ready for implementation and commercialisation by the end of the process.
New for 2025, the programme incorporates grants of up to €10,500 to support the development and execution of proof-of-concept projects. This funding includes up to €7,000 for the technical development of the PoC, up to €2,000 to cover travel expenses to the corporate partner's country, and up to €1,500 for transporting equipment necessary for implementation. Interested start-ups can verify their eligibility and apply for this support at the start of the acceleration process.
The programme also aims to facilitate the entry of products and services into new markets. To this end, the accelerator offers internationalisation services and soft landing strategies that address the regulations, fiscal aspects, and cultural particularities of each destination. This component is essential for ensuring the long-term commercial viability of the solutions.
The programme operates under a non-equity model, meaning startups do not have to give up equity to access its benefits. To facilitate the creation of new partnerships, the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator features an online matching platform with over 60 published business challenges and more than 1,500 registered startups, all of which are ready to collaborate and co-create solutions.
Funded by the European Union, the EU-LAC Digital Accelerator is one of the strategic pillars of the EU-LAC Digital Alliance, alongside the BELLA II project, the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme, and the Policy Dialogues.
