Overview
28DIGITAL is the name adopted on 10 October 2025 by EIT Digital, an organisation founded in 2010 as EIT ICT Labs, a Knowledge and Innovation Community of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. The legal entity, 28DIGITAL IVZW, is registered at Rue Guimard 7 in Brussels. Over its 15-year KIC phase it received EUR 1.1 billion from the EIT. An EIT KIC receives European Commission funding for a maximum of 15 years, after which 28DIGITAL continues as an independent foundation with a Memorandum of Collaboration with the EIT. The organisation works along three pillars: Talent (tech skills and master studies), Tech (startup and scaleup programmes and research to market) and Trust (partnerships). Programmes include the Co-Creation Accelerator 2026-2027, the MANOLO Summer School on AI, the OpenEU investor programme, Master School programmes and Access to Finance. Since 2011 the organisation has created or supported 968 start-ups, brought 631 innovations to market and graduated 2,503 students from EIT-labelled programmes. It operates 23 European offices and a hub in Silicon Valley, and its portfolio holds around 300 companies. On 10 June 2026 it announced Strategy 2026-2030: expansion to 35 countries, 2.5 million learners, 1,000 startups and scaleups supported, 500 new ventures, EUR 2 billion mobilised, EUR 250 million invested in early-stage startups and a 50-50 split between commercial and public income. Federico Menna has been CEO since March 2023, succeeding Willem Jonker.
Funding history
- 2010-2025 EIT KIC grant: EUR 1.1B in funding from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology over 15 years
Stated facts & numbers
- Founded: 2010 (as EIT ICT Labs, later EIT Digital)
- Renamed: 28DIGITAL, 10 October 2025
- Headquarters: Brussels (Rue Guimard 7)
- Legal form: IVZW (international non-profit association)
- Offices: 23 in Europe plus Silicon Valley hub
- EIT funding received: EUR 1.1B over 15 years
- Start-ups created or supported: 968 (since 2011)
- Portfolio: About 300 companies
- CEO: Federico Menna (since March 2023)
Key people
In the news
- Having boots on the ground in all corners of Europe matters. 🇪🇺🥾 Because Europe’s startup story isn’t written in one city, one market or one ecosystem. It’s built by founders, innovators and communities across the continent — and 28DIGITAL has been there, on the ground, helping make those connections happen. Now, that work is getting some well-deserved attention. The Financial Times and Statista are identifying Europe’s leading startup hubs for 2027, and 28DIGITAL is in the running. 🏆 But rankings can only tell part of the story.
- Mentor Me applications for our November start are ongoing, but don't miss out! 🚀🌍 The 28DIGITAL's Mentor Me Program is designed to help new entrepreneurs with fantastic mentorship and offer incredible resources to participants. Listen to the experiences of past participants! Aja Hadzic from Shario said: "Mentor Me has been much more than a mentoring program for me. It has been an opportunity to look at my startup from a completely different perspective and learn from people with real experience in building successful companies.
- Europe's healthcare is evolving fast - The 2nd UNITE Digital Health Open Call is here - and 28DIGITAL is coordinating it! 🚀 UNITE Digital Health is offering €6 million in total financial support for breakthrough solutions with the potential to transform European healthcare and to assist you, an info session will be taking place. 📅 30 September 🕒 14:00-15:30 (CEST) 💻 Online Don't forget solutions must address one of UNITE Digital Health's key challenges: ⚫ Deep-tech innovations to secure equal health for the entire population. ⚫
- European Startups Matter. And so does your story. 🇪🇺 We’ve got some exciting news: 28DIGITAL has been nominated among the startup hubs being considered by the Financial Times and Statista for 2027. 🏆 Now comes the part where our community can make a real difference. Were you once part of the EIT Digital Master School, Summer School, 28DIGITAL Alumni, Venture Incubation Program, Open Innovation Factory, Champions, Growth Services — or one of our regional and specialty programmes? Then you’ve seen first-hand what being part of
- Thinking about expanding into LATAM? Start with Brazil. 🇧🇷🌎 Brazil isn’t just one of the region’s biggest markets — it can be a powerful gateway to the wider LATAM ecosystem. But entering successfully takes more than market research. It takes the right mindset, local context, and connections. Join us for Madrid TechConnect: Brazil as a Gateway to LATAM, an online session for European companies exploring opportunities in Brazil. We’ll explore: 🇧🇷 How to navigate Brazil’s business mindset and culture 🌎 Soft-landing opportunities
- Don't miss out on becoming a part of 28DIGITAL's inaugural TTO Club 🚨 Not every TTO gets access to what’s next. The 28DIGITAL TTO Club is bringing together Technology Transfer Offices across Europe to connect, collaborate and share what works. From peer learning and best-practice exchange to new partnerships and opportunities, the Club is designed to strengthen the people and organisations turning knowledge into impact. 🚀 Connect with Europe’s TTO community. 🤝 Exchange ideas and expertise. 💡 Discover new opportunities. 🌍
- 28DIGITAL and its partners have several open calls and challenges to support its ecosystem 🤝🌍 1) RIVCircular Cascade Funding 🗓 17 September Enterprises operating in five topic areas: 🟢 Construction and Demolition Waste 🟢 Circular Energy Integration 🟢 Electric Vehicles 🟢 Circular Economy in the textile industry 🟢 Digital solutions for the circular economy Up to 600,000€ to effectively develop and scale innovative ideas. More info + apply 👉 https://okt.to/i81bEZ 2) DiGi-SEII Training & Capacity Building Programme for
- Backing founders early. Building Europe’s next success stories. 🚀 That’s what 28DIGITAL has been about — and now, the Financial Times and Statista are recognising Europe’s leading startup hubs for 2027, with 28DIGITAL in the running. 🏆 From first idea to international growth. Our programmes are designed around the realities founders face. And that’s no coincidence: many of the experts supporting our startups have been founders themselves. But the best people to judge that impact are the founders who’ve experienced it firsthand.
Alumni
Federico MennaInterim Chief Executive Officer→Board Member at Adra - AI-Data-Robotics-Association
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