Applications open for BIOSTARS Youth Innovators Program

Deadline: 31-Oct-2026

BIOSTARS Youth Innovators supports young individuals and teams developing innovative ideas and early-stage projects that can contribute to sustainable and resilient rural development in selected Mediterranean territories. The initiative provides selected innovators with training, mentoring, mini-incubation support, European funding guidance, and opportunities to showcase their projects internationally. One Youth Innovator will be selected from each of six BIOSTARS territories and will join a transnational community of young rural innovators.

About BIOSTARS Youth Innovators

The BIOSTARS Youth Innovators initiative aims to identify and support a new generation of young people developing practical solutions to rural development challenges. The programme gives visibility to innovative ideas and early-stage projects that can create positive environmental, social, and economic impacts in rural areas. Selected innovators become part of the BIOSTARS community and receive opportunities to develop their ideas, strengthen their skills, build networks, and increase the visibility of their projects. BIOSTARS Territories One Territorial Youth Innovator will be selected from each of the following six territories: - Western Macedonia, Greece. - Eastern Croatia. - Abruzzo, Italy. - Larnaca, Cyprus. - Andalusia, Spain. - Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Each selected innovator will represent their territory as a BIOSTARS Youth Ambassador. What Areas Can Projects Focus On? BIOSTARS Youth Innovators is open to innovative ideas and projects addressing a wide range of rural development and sustainability challenges.

Relevant areas include:

- Bioeconomy. - Sustainability. - Circular economy. - Renewable energy. - Sustainable food systems. - Nature-based solutions. - Digital innovation. - Youth entrepreneurship. - Social innovation. - Other solutions supporting sustainable and resilient rural development. Projects should demonstrate potential to create meaningful environmental, social, or economic benefits for rural communities. Who Can Apply? The call is open to young individuals and teams working on innovative rural development ideas or early-stage projects.

Applicants can include:

- Students. - Researchers. - Young entrepreneurs. - Young innovators. - Individuals developing new ideas. - Informal groups. - Early-stage project teams. Individuals must be 35 years old or under. Teams can apply if they are led by a person aged 35 or under. Geographic Eligibility Applicants must either reside in or be economically or operationally active within one of the six BIOSTARS territories.

Eligible territories are:

- Western Macedonia, Greece. - Eastern Croatia. - Abruzzo, Italy. - Larnaca, Cyprus. - Andalusia, Spain. - Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Applicants should be able to demonstrate their connection to one of these territories. What Stage Can a Project Be At? BIOSTARS Youth Innovators is intended for projects at early stages of development.

Eligible projects can be at:

- Idea stage. - Prototype stage. - Early business stage. Applicants do not necessarily need to have a fully developed business or market-ready product. The initiative is designed to help promising young innovators develop and strengthen their concepts. What Support Do Selected Innovators Receive? Selected innovators receive the BIOSTARS Youth Innovators Pack, which provides several forms of development and visibility support.

The package includes:

- Access to BIOSTARS training resources. - Mentoring. - Mini-incubation support. - Dedicated sessions on European funding opportunities. - Communication and visibility support. - Opportunities to develop and strengthen the project. - Opportunities to connect with other young innovators. The support is intended to help innovators move their ideas forward and improve their ability to create long-term impact. BIOSTARS Youth Ambassadors The six selected Territorial Youth Innovators will become BIOSTARS Youth Ambassadors. As Youth Ambassadors, they will join a transnational community of young innovators working on rural development and sustainability.

This provides opportunities to:

- Exchange experiences with innovators from other territories. - Build international connections. - Learn from different approaches to rural innovation. - Increase project visibility. - Explore potential partnerships. BIOSTARS Final Conference The selected Youth Ambassadors will have the opportunity to present their projects at the BIOSTARS Final Conference in Sarajevo in May 2027. An international jury will review the projects presented at the conference and select the BIOSTARS International Youth Innovator. This creates an additional opportunity for the selected innovators to gain international recognition for their work. Environmental, Social and Economic Impact Projects should have the potential to create positive impacts in rural areas. Applicants should consider how their innovation could contribute to: - Environmental sustainability. - Rural resilience. - Sustainable economic development. - Social inclusion. - New opportunities for young people. - More sustainable use of natural resources. - Innovation within rural communities. - Stronger local economies. The strongest ideas are likely to demonstrate a clear connection between innovation and a specific rural development need. How to Develop a Strong Application Applicants should clearly explain the problem their project addresses and how their proposed innovation provides a solution. A strong project description should cover: - The rural challenge being addressed. - The proposed idea or innovation. - The current development stage. - The target users or beneficiaries. - The environmental, social, or economic impact. - Why the idea is innovative. - How the project could be developed further. - How participation in BIOSTARS would help advance the project. Applicants should keep the focus on the practical value and potential of their innovat