EIC Applicants' Day: presentations from 19 March 2021 are available and what applicants should know

Brussels, March 29th 2021

Summary

›The European Innovation Council held an Applicants' day on 19 March 2021 alongside the EIC launch ceremony of 18 March 2021.
›Presentations and recordings from the Applicants' day are available to download and stream, including a ZIP of presentations in English (6.08 MB).
›Sessions covered the EIC programme streams: Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator including the EIC Fund and related services like coaching and jury interviews.
›Applicants should use the sessions as orientation but must still read the official calls and work programme closely and pay attention to data sharing and due diligence processes.

EIC Applicants' Day material released and how to use it

The European Innovation Council organised an Applicants' day on 19 March 2021 immediately after the EIC launch ceremony held on 18 March. The event aimed to give potential applicants an oriented briefing on the full EIC under Horizon Europe and on forthcoming calls for proposals. Presentations and recordings from both the morning and the afternoon sessions were published on 29 March 2021 and are available for streaming and for download.

What has been published:The presentations used during the Applicants' day are available to download as an English ZIP file of 6.08 MB. In addition, both the morning session and the afternoon session were recorded and published for streaming on the EIC site. The publication date is 29 March 2021.

What the Applicants' day covered

The Applicants' day was positioned as a practical briefing. It covered the structure of the European Innovation Council, the changes introduced by Horizon Europe, and specific guidance for the three main EIC streams and associated services. Dedicated sessions addressed EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and the EIC Accelerator including the EIC Fund and the investment component.

EIC Pathfinder:Focused on high risk breakthrough research, Pathfinder supports early stage research from laboratory concept toward proof of principle and prototype activities. The session explained research grant opportunities and selection criteria.

EIC Transition:Transition targets projects that need support to move results from research into commercially viable technologies or demonstrators. Sessions explained how Transition funding differs from Pathfinder by prioritising market readiness and targeted maturation activities.

EIC Accelerator and the EIC Fund:The Accelerator is the stream for scaling deep tech companies with blended support in grant and equity through the EIC Fund. Presentations covered steps from short proposal through full proposal to interview and contracting. The EIC Fund's investment role and co-investment model were described.

Practical steps and resources for applicants

The Applicants' day provides useful orientation. It does not replace the formal call documents and the official work programme. Applicants still need to follow the published calls, use the Funding and Tenders portal and comply precisely with eligibility, admissibility and reporting rules. The event pointed applicants to support mechanisms such as business coaches, National Contact Points and the Enterprise Europe Network.

Registration and portals you will use:Applicants must obtain a Participant Identification Code, known as a PIC, register with EU Login and submit proposals through the Funding and Tenders Portal. These platforms have their own authentication and privacy arrangements and are required parts of any application process.

Coaching, Seal of Excellence and ecosystem support:The EIC offers business coaching lists and a Seal of Excellence route to help projects access national or regional funding. The Applicants' day explained how applicants can request coaching support and how, with explicit consent, limited application data can be shared with National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network members and other public bodies to facilitate follow up.

Data processing, third parties and due diligence you should expect

The EIC and its implementing agency EISMEA are the primary controllers for applicant data. Where the EIC Fund or managed investment components are involved, additional controllers and processors participate in the evaluation and due diligence workflow. Applicants must be aware of what they consent to when they allow data sharing and of the practical implications for confidentiality and data retention.

Who controls and processes applicant personal data:The joint data controllers for EIC Accelerator processing are the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, known as EISMEA, and the EIC Fund. Third parties who may process personal data on their behalf include the European Investment Bank as investment adviser and commercial service providers such as due diligence and paymaster contractors.

Third party processors involved in the investment component:Examples of contractors routinely involved in the EIC investment workflow include the European Investment Bank acting as adviser, specialist firms that run 'know your company' checks and valuation support, and platforms that manage investor co-investment contacts and deal flow. These actors are contractually bound to confidentiality but they will see a level of company and personal data necessary for due diligence and investment decisions.

What personal data is collected and retention periods:Application data typically includes names, contact details, CVs, organisational information and any documentation submitted with proposals. For interview participants additional identity and employment documentation may be requested to verify authority to represent a company. Retention rules stated in the EIC Accelerator data protection notice include keeping funded applicants' data for up to 10 years after programme closure. In limited circumstances and for research or statistical archiving, certain data may be held up to 25 years. Selected evaluators and coaches' personal data may be retained for around 7 years.

Use of automated tools and AI:The EIC may use AI or automated processing to help manage and structure information. Crucially this will not be used to make automated decisions about funding. Final decisions remain under human control.

A practical table for quick reference

Topic	What was announced or available	Practical action for applicants
Applicants' day date	19 March 2021 following EIC launch ceremony on 18 March 2021	Watch recordings and download presentations published 29 March 2021
Presentations package	English ZIP, 6.08 MB	Download and keep for call preparation and clarifications
Key EIC streams	Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator including EIC Fund	Choose stream that matches maturity and objectives
Application platforms	EU Login, PIC, Funding and Tenders Portal	Register early and verify organisational details
Data controllers and processors	EISMEA and EIC Fund; EIB and third party contractors for investment work	Read the data protection notice and consent options carefully
Data retention	Funded applicants up to 10 years; possible limited archival up to 25 years	Plan for confidentiality and record keeping in line with the notice

Critical considerations and cautions

The Applicants' day and its materials are a practical introduction. They are not definitive legal documents. Applicants should not rely solely on webinar content when preparing submissions. Read the published calls and the EIC work programme carefully and treat event guidance as supplemental. Be mindful of the following points.

Competition and success rates:The EIC is highly competitive. Presentations may highlight support mechanisms and success stories but they do not change the underlying competition or selection criteria. Applicants should prepare evidence of market potential, technical validation and team capability.

Data sharing and consents:Some follow up services depend on explicit consent to share application data with national, regional or investment partners. If you choose to allow sharing, understand the extent of that sharing and the retention rules. Third parties such as investment advisers and due diligence providers will require access to company information if an equity component is pursued.

Due diligence for investment:The EIC Fund invests via co-investment and due diligence will be performed by advisers and specialised contractors. Expect standard investor checks on corporate and financial information. These are separate from the basic proposal evaluation and are necessary before any equity commitment.

If you missed the live Applicants' day you can stream the recordings and download the presentation ZIP from the EIC website. Use these materials to prepare, but treat the official work programme and call text as the final authority, and pay attention to data protection and consent options when engaging with coaches, NCPs or potential investment partners.

Where to find more information

The official EIC and EISMEA web pages host the recordings, presentations and the legal and administrative documents that govern calls. For data protection details consult the EISMEA data protection notice and the EIC Accelerator data protection notice which explain retention periods, controllers and processors involved in the investment component and applicants' rights under Regulation (EU) 2018/1725. For application logistics use the Funding and Tenders Portal and the EU Login documentation.

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EIC Applicants' Day: presentations from 19 March 2021 are available and what applicants should know

EIC Applicants' Day material released and how to use it

What the Applicants' day covered

Practical steps and resources for applicants

Data processing, third parties and due diligence you should expect

A practical table for quick reference

Critical considerations and cautions

Where to find more information

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