EIC Board welcomes the 2026 work programme

The European Innovation Council Board has publicly welcomed the EIC 2026 work programme, describing it as an important step for Europe’s ambitions in deep tech and the scaling of competitive companies. The Board praised several structural elements in the plan, notably a focus on Advanced Innovation Challenges, efforts to make the EIC Accelerator more streamlined, and measures designed to knit national and regional innovation actors into a stronger ecosystem.

In its statement the Board also emphasised that the new programme aligns with the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Multiannual Financial Framework, and 'Draghi report' recommendations. It specifically welcomed steps to increase the impact of the EIC Pathfinder, broaden eligibility for EIC Transition grants, improve the STEP Scaleup call, and to expand collaboration, diversity and international reach across Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The Board made a full statement on 4 November 2025, which was published by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency and summarised on 6 November 2025.

What the Board said and why it matters

The EIC Board is the EIC’s senior advisory body and its endorsement is a signal that the Council of the EIC and agency managers believe the programme sets the right strategic priorities. The Board framed the programme as central to Europe’s ability to produce breakthrough technologies and scale companies internationally, priorities that policymakers tie to economic resilience and strategic autonomy in critical sectors. The language of the statement is consistent with previous EIC messaging that positions the EIC as a major investor in European deep tech.

What the 2026 work programme emphasizes

The public materials describing the work programme and the EIC’s web pages highlight several priorities and funding figures. The EIC describes itself as one of the largest deep tech investors in Europe and the 2026 work programme opens calls and funding opportunities. Official EIC communications have referenced funding windows worth over 1.4 billion euros for strategic technologies and scaling companies, as well as longer term support instruments tied to the EIC Fund and other initiatives. Those headline numbers matter for signalling but do not in themselves guarantee outcomes.

Board priorities called out in the statement

The Board highlighted a short list of priorities where the 2026 programme should make a difference. These include: strengthening high-risk exploratory research through Pathfinder, broadening Transition grants so more inventions can prepare for market readiness, refining the STEP Scaleup call to support major scale efforts, improving the Accelerator for faster and more effective support, and using Advanced Innovation Challenges to target demand driven, high impact deep tech needs. The statement also stresses improved ecosystem integration, greater collaboration across member states, more diversity among beneficiaries, and wider international reach.

Context and caveats to the programme claims

The Board’s welcome is expected. What matters next is execution. Several contextual points are important to keep in mind when evaluating the 2026 programme and the Board statement. First, headline funding figures and broad strategic direction do not guarantee that the money reaches the right projects in a timely way. Application volumes for EIC instruments have historically outstripped available budgets and selection processes can become bottlenecks.

Second, the EIC operates in a complex EU innovation ecosystem with regional disparities in absorptive capacity. Without parallel investments in local ecosystems and venture markets, additional public funding can have limited scaling effect. Third, private co-investment is essential to push companies to global scale. The EIC Fund and co-investment networks are important, but co-investment levels vary across sectors and countries.

Finally, the Board references the Draghi report recommendations. That alignment signals support across parts of the EU policy establishment. The specifics of how those recommendations are implemented through procurement, regulatory reform and network building will determine whether the work programme helps create a stronger single market for scaleups or simply reshuffles existing instruments.

How to judge success and what to watch

The Board’s approval sets expectations. To judge the 2026 programme’s success pay attention to the following indicators over the next 12 to 24 months. First, whether calls open on schedule and whether the volume of funding matches announced figures. Second, selection timelines and administrative burden for applicants. Faster processing and clearer criteria will show the promise of a more streamlined Accelerator. Third, evidence that Pathfinder outputs are moving into Transition projects and that Transition grants lead to commercially viable products or investment. Fourth, the level and speed of private co-investment following EIC Fund decisions. Finally, geographic distribution of grants and investments to see whether widening countries and underrepresented founders are accessing support.

It is also worth monitoring governance and transparency. EISMEA has published information on agency structure and transparency rules and the EIC Board itself saw a refresh of membership in December 2025. Independent evaluations and public data on outcomes will be central to judging whether the new measures produce measurable improvements in Europe’s ability to produce and scale strategic technologies.

Conclusions and risks

The EIC Board’s statement is an endorsement of the 2026 work programme and of the strategic direction EU managers have set. The plan emphasises priority topics that matter for technology sovereignty, commercialisation of research, and creating globally competitive firms. However, welcome words need to be followed by transparent implementation, adequate budgets, faster processes, and evidence that funds are reaching a broader and more diverse set of innovators across Europe. Without that follow through the programme risks reinforcing existing imbalances in the European innovation landscape.

Stakeholders should examine upcoming calls, the detailed eligibility changes, how the STEP and Accelerator calls are implemented, and EIC Fund co-investment outcomes. Those details will determine whether the 2026 work programme is a turning point or a reiteration of well intentioned policy statements.

Where to read the official statement

The EIC Board statement on the 2026 work programme was published by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency. The full statement dated 4 November 2025 is available as a PDF through the EIC site and was reposted in the EISMEA news item published on 6 November 2025.