HAMAG-BICRO Seeks Croatia's Most Innovative Startups: Prize Fund Exceeds €30,000
The competition offers four awards, including a national Grand Prix, with applications open until September 1, 2026.
The competition offers four awards, including a national Grand Prix, with applications open until September 1, 2026.
The Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation, and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO) announced on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, a public call for selecting the most innovative startups. The most successful companies can expect a prize fund exceeding €30,000.
The competition is conducted within the framework of the Horizontal Transformational Project for Strengthening the Regional Ecosystem for Industrial Transition (HIT), and is intended for entrepreneurs whose innovative products, services, and technological solutions contribute to the development of the Croatian economy and regional value chains.
An expert jury will select the most innovative startup in three regions: Adriatic, Pannonian, and Northern Croatia. Regional winners automatically enter the race for the national Grand Prix, the award for the most innovative startup in the Republic of Croatia, for which entrepreneurs from the City of Zagreb can also compete.
Applicants can simultaneously compete for both regional and national awards, opening up space for additional promotion and networking.
Evaluation will be conducted according to a predefined methodology that values concrete results and growth potential. The highest weight, 38 percent of the total score, is given to traction, i.e., the startup's results so far. Innovation and uniqueness account for 32 percent, while market potential and scalability bring the remaining 30 percent.
"This way, beyond the innovativeness of the idea itself, the concrete results achieved by the startup and its potential for further growth are also valued," HAMAG-BICRO states.
Last year's winner was Hidrocibalae, which today has more than 80 employees and has completed over 300 international projects. Their example shows how such recognitions can serve as a springboard for further development and business internationalization.
In addition to the monetary fund, selected startups will have the opportunity to present themselves at startup and tech conferences, be included in the official brochure and video spots, and gain additional visibility before investors and potential business partners. Organizers expect that such visibility will help winners attract investments and connect with new business opportunities in both domestic and international markets.
The public call is open to sole proprietorships, limited liability companies (LLCs), and simple limited liability companies (SLLCs) that meet the criteria for micro, small, or medium-sized enterprises. An important condition is that companies must have been established after January 1, 2020.
For regional awards, applicants must link their business and innovations to S3 priorities and the regional value chains of the respective region. The application deadline is September 1, 2026, and all detailed information about the conditions and methodology is available on HAMAG-BICRO's official website.
