What happens when an idea addressing a real community challenge gains access to mentoring, technology, prototyping, user testing and a European incubation programme? It can grow into a real solution, an initiative or even a new business.
This is, in short, the objective of Ignite NEB, a programme of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus that supports locally driven initiatives developing solutions to real challenges faced by communities.
In 2026, Romania joins the programme through a local partnership formed by Atelierul de Idei / Good Tech Living Lab, Digital Innovation Zone and Federation for Innovation and Sustainable Competitiveness in SMEs – FICSIMM, with activities taking place across North-East Romania.
The programme follows a clear development pathway:
Identifying a challenge → Developing an idea → Building a team → Prototyping → Testing with real users → Developing the solution → Turning the idea into a functional initiative or entity.
In Romania, at this stage, the programme is dedicated to women entrepreneurs from the North-East region, selected as the target group for the local implementation and for the development of solutions that respond to challenges within local communities.
What is Ignite NEB?
Ignite NEB is one of the programmes developed by the EIT Community New European Bauhaus, an initiative of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) supporting projects and initiatives that put the New European Bauhaus principles into practice: sustainability, inclusion and beauty.
The programme focuses on locally driven initiatives and helps participants move from identifying a challenge to developing a solution that can be tested in real-world settings.
As part of Ignite NEB, local partners organise an ideation and solution-development process, followed by an eight-month incubation programme for the winning teams.
Selected teams receive mentoring, support for solution development, prototyping, user testing, access to local and European innovation ecosystems, and guidance in developing a viable business or implementation model.
The programme is therefore highly practical: ideas are not left at concept stage — they are developed, tested and refined.
A European programme implemented in five countries
In 2026, Ignite NEB is implemented through five Local Hosts, bringing the programme to communities in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Italy .
In 2026, Ignite NEB is implemented through five Local Hosts, bringing the programme to communities in Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Italy .
Romania therefore becomes part of a European network of organisations implementing the same innovation journey locally and connecting community-driven initiatives to the wider EIT Community New European Bauhaus ecosystem.
This European dimension gives participants access not only to local expertise and resources, but also to mentors, organisations, initiatives and collaboration opportunities across the participating countries.
In Romania, this journey is designed specifically for the North-East region, where three partner organisations combine their expertise to create the local framework for Ignite NEB.
How Does Ignite NEB Come to North-East Romania?
In Romania, Ignite NEB is delivered through the collaboration between Atelierul de Idei / Good Tech Living Lab, Digital Innovation Zone and the Federation for Innovation and Sustainable Competitiveness in SMEs (FICSIMM) — three organisations with complementary areas of expertise, united around the same objective: to create a framework in North-East Romania where local ideas can be developed, tested and transformed into solutions with real impact.
The partnership brings together complementary expertise:
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Atelierul de Idei / Good Tech Living Lab contributes expertise in innovation, co-creation and the development of solutions with social and community impact;
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Digital Innovation Zone provides technology, prototyping infrastructure and expertise in digital transformation and innovation;
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FICSIMM contributes access to the entrepreneurial community, experience in supporting women entrepreneurs and strong regional connections.
The programme is also supported by the Organisation of Women Entrepreneurs (OFA), which contributes to the organisation and promotion of programme events and helps connect them with the regional community of women entrepreneurs — the main target group of Ignite NEB in North-East Romania.
Together, these organisations can support the entire Ignite NEB journey: from identifying a challenge and generating an idea to developing, prototyping, testing and preparing the solution to become an initiative or a business.
This is precisely why the partnership matters for North-East Romania: it connects the entrepreneurial community with innovation expertise and the technological resources needed to test and develop ideas in real-world conditions.
Who Can Take Part?
In Romania, the programme is open to women entrepreneurs with experience in the manufacturing sector who want to develop an innovative idea with an impact on resource consumption and who are prepared to establish a new company during the eight-month international accelerator programme.
The programme aims to bring together women who already run a business, are developing a new idea, or have identified a problem for which they see a potential solution and want to take it further by accessing European innovation and funding opportunities.
The programme is designed specifically to support this development journey: from idea and team formation to prototyping, testing and validation.
How Does the Programme Work in Romania?
1. Online Webinar – 9 September 2026
The first meeting takes place online and introduces the programme, the objectives of Ignite NEB and the schedule of activities planned for the region.
It is the first point of contact for women entrepreneurs who want to understand what the programme involves and how they can participate.
If this opportunity is relevant to you, follow our updates for information about registrations.
2. Caravan – Suceava, Neamț and Bacău
In October, the programme reaches three communities across the region. These meetings are designed to connect with local entrepreneurial communities and identify potential participants for the innovation programme.
These meetings are important because the programme starts from real challenges and opportunities identified within communities across the region.
3. Team Preparation – Iași, 26 October 2026
Following the regional stage, pre-selected participants and teams will enter a preparation and idea-development phase.
In Iași, with the support of experts from Atelierul de Idei, Digital Innovation Zone and FICSIMM, they will take part in mentoring sessions focused on innovation, solution development and pitch preparation.
This is where an initial idea begins to take the shape of a structured solution.
4. Ignite NEB Central Event – Iași, 29 October 2026
The programme reaches its central milestone on 29 October 2026 in Iași, with a conference focused on the core themes of Ignite NEB and the sustainable innovation challenges faced by Romanian SMEs.
The event will bring together presentations, discussions and contributions from experts and representatives of the innovation ecosystem, offering participants context and inspiration to better understand the challenges and opportunities addressed through the programme.
A key moment of the conference will be the pitching sessions, during which participating teams will present the ideas and solutions they developed throughout the previous stages.
A jury will review and assess the proposals, after which the two winning teams will be announced and awarded.
For the two selected teams, the competition does not end here. The award marks the beginning of an eight-month incubation journey, during which they will continue developing and testing their solutions with support from mentors and programme partners, while connecting to the wider European Ignite NEB ecosystem.
What do the winning teams receive?
For the two selected teams, winning the competition marks the beginning of an eight-month incubation programme focused on developing and testing their solutions with the support of mentors, programme partners and the wider European Ignite NEB ecosystem.
This is one of the most important components of Ignite NEB: incubation is not simply about developing an idea on paper, but about prototyping, testing and validation.
The teams will have access to:
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mentoring and expertise from local partners and EIT Community NEB mentors;
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prototyping infrastructure and spaces through Digital Innovation Zone and Good Tech Living Lab;
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business and technology mentoring;
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support in developing a business or implementation model;
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testing with real users;
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support in developing and formalising a new entity;
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access to innovation ecosystems and networks;
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opportunities to connect with other European initiatives and programmes.
During the incubation period, teams will take part in at least three prototyping and real-user testing sessions, allowing solutions to be validated and improved based on feedback.
Each winning team will receive a EUR 4,000 award and an invitation to attend the Slush Conference in Helsinki in November 2026.
The value of the programme goes far beyond the financial award.
Teams will benefit from a European incubation experience, international mentors and connections, as well as opportunities to further develop their solutions and access other European funding opportunities and programmes, such as Catalyse NEB or Connect NEB.
At the end of the programme, teams will be able to present their results during a Demo Day, connecting their progress with the regional innovation ecosystem.
Why should you follow the programme?
Because Ignite NEB is not simply a networking event or an entrepreneurship workshop.
It is a structured journey for developing an idea.
If you are a woman entrepreneur from North-East Romania and you have an idea, a challenge you want to solve or a solution you want to develop, the programme can give you access to resources that are often difficult to build independently: a team, mentors, technology, prototyping infrastructure, real users for testing and connections to the European innovation ecosystem.
The first step is simple:
Join the programme activities and discover how you can take your idea further.
Follow Atelierul de Idei, Digital Innovation Zone and FICSIMM for updates about registration and the selection stages.
Your idea could be the next one to move from challenge to prototype — and from prototype to a functional solution.
Ready to take the next step? Complete the application form and submit your idea to join the SHE BUILDS NEB programme.