EIC awards 35 Innovation Launchpad grants to accelerate takeup of breakthrough research

On 5 February 2021 the European Innovation Council announced 35 projects selected under the Pathfinder Pilot Innovation Launchpad call. Each project was awarded a fixed grant of €100,000. The funding is explicitly targeted at short, focused activities that move technology results originating from EIC Pathfinder research closer to commercialisation. The European Commission framed the selection as part of a broader effort to strengthen European competitiveness by turning deep science into economic and societal innovations.

How the Innovation Launchpad works

Selection and applicant profile

The Innovation Launchpad call recorded 118 proposals, described by the EIC as a record for this instrument. From that pool 35 projects were chosen. The composition of successful applicants reflects a mix of institutional types: higher education institutes accounted for 23 percent of winners, small and medium sized enterprises for 38 percent, research organisations for 23 percent and private organisations for 17 percent. Several university teams signalled intentions to use the grant to bridge research prototypes to pre-commercialisation through spin-off creation.

Examples that illustrate the range of funded work

The selection covers a broad set of technologies and sectors. Examples highlighted by the EIC include mid-air haptic texture generation which aims to virtualise mid-air touch interactions and could be used to 'touch' holograms. Another project plans a fast, non-invasive 3D imaging solution for the bladder to assist in early diagnosis of bladder cancer. A further group is working on ultrathin carbon nanomembranes for batteries and fuel cell applications which, if technically and economically viable, could reduce size and increase reliability of energy storage devices.

Follow on support, ecosystem links and where this sits in EU policy

All beneficiaries will be offered access to the wider EIC community platform and to business acceleration supports and coaching services organised by the EIC. This Launchpad scheme is part of the EIC Pathfinder Pilot. The EU has signalled that the full fledged European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe will include 'transition' activities for Pathfinder projects building on the Innovation Launchpad experience but with more flexibility and presumably a broader range of funding modalities.

Critical perspective and implications

The awards underline the continued policy and political appetite in Brussels to move deep science closer to market. That said there are practical limits. A €100,000, 18 month grant can fund market validation, IP clearing and business planning but rarely covers capital intensive prototype development or regulatory pathways especially in health and energy. For most deep tech projects follow-on financing will be essential. The EIC and associated instruments such as the EIC Fund can play a role in co-investment but the success of these Launchpad projects will depend on whether they can attract additional private or public funding, secure IP, and show credible routes to customers.

The record number of applications signals strong demand for translation support. It also raises questions about selection transparency and downstream metrics. For public programmes it is important to track whether these relatively small early grants actually increase the rate of spin-off formation, private investment raised, licensing deals and jobs created. The EIC has mechanisms such as acceleration services and the EIC Fund but independent evaluation and public data will be needed to judge impact over time.

Operational and governance notes

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, EISMEA, is the executive agency responsible for implementing the EIC programmes. The EIC Fund operates alongside the grant instruments and seeks to co-invest with private investors. Beneficiaries of Launchpad grants were selected under the Pathfinder Pilot procedures in place at the time. The Commission stated that future arrangements under Horizon Europe will offer more flexible transition activities to support Pathfinder projects.

Publication metadata and practical follow up

This selection was announced on 5 February 2021. Recipients and the EIC will report progress through EIC channels. Observers and stakeholders should follow subsequent EIC communications for updates about follow-on financing, commercial milestones and independent assessments of the Launchpad pilot's effectiveness. For those interested in details of each project, the list of beneficiaries and websites is included in this article.

Suggested monitoring indicators for policymakers and observers

Relevant metrics to track the Launchpad cohort would include the number of spin-offs created, follow-on funding amounts and sources, patent filings or licences executed, pilot deployments with paying customers, and time to next funding round. Reporting these metrics in an open and standardised way would improve accountability and help the Commission refine instruments as the EIC evolves under Horizon Europe.