Call

The accelerator programme dedicated to new businesses developing solutions or services for infrastructures. The initiative is part of the CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerators Network for startups specialising in high-growth potential markets, which now has 20 vertical programmes operating across Italy.

The accelerator programme dedicated to new businesses developing solutions or services for infrastructures. The initiative is part of the CDP Venture Capital’s National Accelerators Network for startups specialising in high-growth potential markets, which now has 20 vertical programmes operating across Italy.

The call closed on 2 July 2025.

Eni Joule for Entrepreneurship - In 2008 Eni set up the Eni Award to reward and promote research and technological innovation in the energy and environment fields. Starting from 2021, through Joule, the company has launched a further prize to foster the application, enhancement and transfer of technologies in the energy transition field, helping to develop a sustainable innovation ecosystem. The “Eni Joule for Entrepreneurship” prize was born with the aim of promoting innovative and sustainable entrepreneurship in the field of decarbonisation of processes and products, the circular economy, the fight against climate change, in order to contribute to the energy transition and foster the country’s socio-economic development.

The call is open to teams, university spin-offs, startups, that have developed or are developing innovative business projects that are sustainable not only in economic but also environmental and social terms, with high technological value. The three selected winners will be awarded a prize by the President of the Italian Republic during the Eni Award ceremony held in Rome.

The call closed on 11 April 2025.

The Call4Innovationis part of the Basilicata Open LAB programme and aims to identify and support innovative and sustainable business projects in the fields of energy, agriculture, construction and mobility that can be tested and developed in the Basilicata region. In particular, co-innovation activities will be carried out with Lucanian companies and teams of innovators from across Italy, as well as the implementation of innovative business projects presented by Lucanian companies. The call has been developed by Joule in cooperation with PoliHub, the Innovation Park & Startup Accelerator of Milan Polytechnic, and with the support of the ELIS Consortium.

The call is open to teams of innovators (startups, spin-offs and entrepreneurial teams of individuals, students and researchers) from across Italy who are able to pilot their solutions in Basilicata in cooperation with local companies.  Companies from Lucania can also apply if they are open to working with teams of innovators from across Italy, are based in Basilicata and have innovative projects for the development of their business.

The call closed on 17 February 2025.

“Yasika - L’innovation prend racine au Congo” is a call for innovators issued by Joule in collaboration with Cariplo Factory, Seedstars, Fondazione AVSI and BeEntrepreneurs APS, designed to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Congo, a country in which Eni has worked for many years. The initiative is in line with the company’s Dual Flag model, which is founded on respect for individuals, knowledge of local areas, and the support of partners who are assisting Eni in the energy and digital transition.

The call is open to all Congolese startups and businesses with innovative ideas in agritech, agro-energy and cleantech, which have a sustainable impact on the local area in environmental, social and financial terms. 

The call closed on 19 January 2025.

“Call4Ideas – Energy and Digital Transition” is a call created by OMC Med Energy in collaboration with Joule, Fondazione Enrico Mattei, and Accenture. The main objective is to identify innovative ideas in relation to the energy transition and create a support pathway for startups, companies and researchers both in the testing and development phase of their solution. 

The call is for early-stage startups, early-stage companies and researchers working on the energy and digital-transition solutions and technologies. In particular, the areas of interest are:

carbon capture, use and storage; new energy sources and storage; new energy carriers; bioenergy; circular economy; sustainable mobility; agritech; water and waste management.   

The call closed on 15 November 2024

Zero is Italy’s top accelerator for leading startups in the Cleantech sector. It was founded by the National Network of CDP Venture Capital and has Eni as its main partner, through its Joule business school. Zest and Elis run the programme, with backing from Acea, Microsoft, Vodafone, CNR, SACE, and ESA. It aims to identify startups with high business potential and solutions that have no environmental impact. The programme is industry-driven, promoting systemic collaboration between startups, corporations, and small and medium-sized enterprises. 

All Cleantech startups offering innovative software (with working MVPs) or hardware (with a working prototype and clear industrial production plan) may apply in these sectors: alternative energy, circular economy and waste management, sustainable systems, and conservation and sustainable land development.

The call closed on 13 November 2024

The WomenX Impact Startup Competition is one of the main events supporting female entrepreneurship. It was set up to offer startups founded by women or which have at least one woman on the board a unique experience of growth and dialogue, extending and consolidating their network and coming into contact with a panel of sector experts.

The programme is open to all startups founded by a woman or which have at least one woman on the Board; all established businesses with a product or service already being marketed or which will be marketed in the coming 6 months; all startups falling into at least one of the following categories: Lifestyle (Fashiontech-Traveltech-Foodtech-Designtech-Influencer Marketing); Sustainable & Circular; Education; Health & Fitness; Fintech & Insurtech. 

The call closed on 9 October 2024.

The sustainability innovation accelerator based in Venice and focusing on the development of business ideas and technological solutions for tackling climate change and other environmental challenges.

VeniSIA is an acronym for Venice Sustainability Innovation Accelerator, its mission is to accelerate corporate labs and startups working to achieve environmental SDGs and at the same time develop their market potential using disruptive technologies and strategic innovation. The ultimate aim is not to set up an accelerator in Venice but to make Venice and accelerator.

VeniSIA attracts institutions, businesses and individuals sharing the belief that this is the ideal context for offering ideas and solutions for valid sustainable development challenges in Venice’s fragile and unique environmental ecosystem, but at the same time scalable solutions that can be of benefit to the whole planet.

The call closed on 15 September 2024

Encubator is the entrepreneurial accelerator programme that supports startups with technology solutions that accelerate the energy transition to a carbon free model, making cities and the way people and goods move more sustainable. The aim is to reduce waste and move towards a circular economy model that respects human, animal and plant life. The programme is promoted by the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi and Milan Polytechnic.

The call is open to Italian, European and international early-stage startups, whether established or not, and university spin-offs or those from Italian, European and international research centres.

The call closed on November 13, 2023.