EIC Community season's greetings and a short roadmap to early 2025 opportunities

As 2024 closed, the EIC Community published a seasonal message thanking members for a year of matchmaking, pitching events, trainings, business opportunities and partnerships. The team said that 2025 will continue those high quality activities and add new programmes within the EIC Business Acceleration Services. They wished members happy holidays and invited innovators to remain engaged with the platform and upcoming open calls.

What the EIC Community says it delivered and what to expect in 2025

The EIC Community is positioning itself as the single gateway for EIC awardees to access business acceleration services and networked partners. It highlights matchmaking and pitching events, trainings, corporate and procurement matchmaking, investor outreach and targeted programmes such as trade fair participation, winter schools and talent initiatives. Many of these services are channelled through the EIC Business Acceleration Services, the EIC Community platform and partner programmes such as SPIN4EIC, EIC ACCESS+ and InnoNext.

Open calls and deadlines to watch

Below is a consolidated list of the open calls and events highlighted in the EIC Community message. This is the substantive list the Community circulated as 2024 ended. Deadlines and modalities vary. In all cases, check the relevant call page and the EIC Community platform for full eligibility, registration and application instructions.

How to apply and practical steps

Most opportunities are coordinated through the EIC Community platform and require an EU Login to access application forms and Business Acceleration Services resources. Some offers are open calls with a fixed deadline while others operate as rolling or cohort-based assessments. A number of investor days and corporate matchmaking events require availability for preparatory activities, rehearsal sessions and representation by senior executives.

Events, rehearsals, travel and visibility expectations

Many EIC matchmaking events include rehearsal sessions or pitch training the week before the main event. Event organisers often request that the person who will attend be named at application, and selectees are featured in event brochures and shared with investors or corporate partners. For in-person investor days or trade fair invitations, travel and accommodation costs are usually the responsibility of selected participants unless explicitly stated otherwise. Cancellation policies generally accept only documented force majeure reasons, and unjustified no-shows can affect eligibility for future Business Acceleration Services.

How to keep up to date

The EIC recommends monitoring the EIC Community platform, subscribing to the EIC BAS newsletter and the EIC BAS Open Calls digest, and following EISMEA on LinkedIn and the EIC on X for real time updates. For transactional access to services and calls you will often need EU Login and an EIC Community account where applicable.

Implications and critical considerations for applicants

The EIC ecosystem offers multiple channels to reach investors, corporate buyers and procurement teams. That diversity is an advantage but it also means competition for limited slots and funding. Programmes that operate on a first-come, first-served or rolling basis favour applicants who register early and have ready documentation. Corporate days and procurement matchmaking can open commercial doors but they do not guarantee contracts. Procurement assistance is useful for navigating public tenders yet typical expert input is limited to a few consultant days, so procurement-ready organisations should budget internal resources for follow-up work. Similarly, co-funding schemes such as EIC ACCESS+ reduce the cost of specialist services, yet the overall service costs, VAT treatment and supplier choice still matter for financial planning. Finally, selection criteria for investor events may prioritise companies that have not recently raised capital or participated in similar events, so applicants should read call notes carefully.

For organisations based in EU or associated countries, these mechanisms are relevant ways to accelerate commercialisation, but sensible budgeting, a clear IP and contractual strategy, and readiness to engage with buyers are necessary to convert introductions into measurable outcomes.

Practical checklist before you apply

1) Verify eligibility for the specific call and confirm legal domicile requirements. 2) Prepare concise non confidential pitch material for brochures and investor review. 3) Reserve availability for rehearsals, event dates and potential travel. 4) Budget for uncovered costs such as VAT, travel and local expenses. 5) Review privacy and data sharing clauses and decide what information you can make public. 6) Read cancellation and survey obligations to avoid future disqualification from Business Acceleration Services.

Closing note and season's greeting

The EIC Community team closed their December message by wishing all members happy holidays and a strong start to 2025, and by expressing the intent to keep collaborating on services that enhance Europe’s innovation ecosystem. The Community also reminded members that the information provided is for knowledge sharing and should not be read as the official view of the European Commission or other organisations.

If you plan to act on any of the calls above, visit the EIC Community platform, register with EU Login where required, and consult the specific call pages for full details, document templates and contact points for helpdesk enquiries.