Entries close on 19 October 2026, well over a year before the final. Twenty startups are selected and named at the JEC World 2027 Premiere on 11 January 2027, then pitch at JEC World in Paris on 2-4 March 2027, so an applicant should expect a long gap between submitting and knowing.
The contest is open to startups, entrepreneurs and academic spin-offs working in composites and advanced materials, across four areas: raw materials, processes, digital tools and circularity.
Prize money totals EUR 10,000. The grand winner takes EUR 5,000, with EUR 2,500 each for the runner-up and for a separate sustainability award. On top of the cash, the winner is given a booth at JEC World 2028. Nothing is given up in equity.
What it actually costs you
JEC’s European round is a pitch contest for startups, entrepreneurs and academic spin-offs working in composites and advanced materials, covering raw materials, processes, digital tools and circularity. The grand winner takes EUR 5,000, with EUR 2,500 each for the runner-up and a sustainability award, plus a booth at the following year’s JEC World in Paris. No equity is taken.