EIC seasonal note and early 2023 programme: events, open calls and what applicants should know
- ›The European Innovation Council (EIC) sends seasonal greetings and lists a series of Business Acceleration Services events and open calls for early 2023.
- ›Key activities include winter schools, investor days, corporate matchmaking days and an overseas pavilion at BIO 2023 in Boston.
- ›Most opportunities are available to EIC beneficiaries and many require applications by mid to late January 2023.
- ›Participation is competitive and selection is typically driven by corporate or investor preferences rather than first come first served.
EIC season's greetings and the slate of early 2023 activities
At the end of a busy year the European Innovation Council (EIC) Community Team offered holiday wishes to its members and highlighted a line up of Business Acceleration Services scheduled for early 2023. The messaging combines celebration with a practical reminder of several targeted events and open calls intended to help EIC beneficiaries with fundraising, market entry, corporate partnerships and communications training. The list below consolidates the events published by the EIC and notes application deadlines where specified.
| Event | Dates | Format and location | Application deadline or note |
| EIC Winter School 2023 - Session I: Personal & Business Branding | 20 January 2023 | Online | Places limited. Register early |
| EIC Investor Day on Industrial Tech | 24-25 January 2023 | Online | Applications open through EIC Dashboard |
| EIC Winter School 2023 - Session II: Public Speaking & Social Media | 27 January 2023 | Online | Places limited. Register early |
| EIC ePitching with Investors on Agritech, Food & Beverages | 15 February 2023 | Online | Applications open until 6 January 2023 |
| EIC Multi-Procurer Day with Třinecké Železárny & Refrasil | 28 February - 1 March 2023 | Online | Apply via EIC Community |
| EIC Corporate Day with VELUX | 6-7 March 2023 | Copenhagen, Denmark | Apply via EIC Community |
| EIC & EuroQuity-Bpifrance Deep Tech Investor Day | 7 March 2023 | Paris, France | Applications open until 8 January 2023 |
| EIC Corporate Day with Safran | 15-16 March 2023 | Online | Applications open until 6 January 2023 |
| EIC Corporate Day with Shell Ventures | 26-27 April 2023 | Amsterdam, the Netherlands | Applications open until 13 January 2023 |
| European Pavilion at BIO 2023 | 5-8 June 2023 | Boston, USA | Applications open until 25 January 2023 |
What these activities are and who they target
The events listed by the EIC fall into a few recurring categories. Winter Schools are short training sessions aimed at improving founders' communication and brand skills. Investor Days and ePitchings are structured pitching and matchmaking opportunities where EIC beneficiaries present to investor juries. Corporate Days bring the EIC community together with strategic corporate partners for targeted scouting and potential procurement or partnership talks. Overseas Trade Fair participation embeds selected EIC companies within an EIC‑organised pavilion at major international shows.
Why these services matter and how they normally work
The EIC Business Acceleration Services are intended to increase the commercial impact of funded deep tech projects. For founders the main benefits are coaching, exposure to investors and potential pilot customers, and introductions that can accelerate fundraising or procurement. However the services are selective and come with caveats. Corporates and investors typically select participants based on strategic fit. Travel and participation costs can be partially supported in some schemes but are not always fully covered. Selected participants are usually expected to engage with follow up surveys and business impact reporting.
Event highlights and themes to note
Several events on the schedule reflect priorities in EU innovation policy and market needs. Corporate Days with VELUX, Safran and Shell Ventures target construction and building health, sustainable aviation and decarbonisation, and energy system transformation respectively. Investor days focus on industrial technologies, deep tech fields such as advanced computing, quantum, semiconductors, AI and big data, and sectoral areas such as agritech and food. The EIC Pavilion at BIO 2023 indicates continuing interest in life sciences and biomanufacturing as strategic international showcases.
A quick primer on common terms used by the EIC
Practical guidance for applicants
If you plan to apply keep these operational points in mind. First check your eligibility as an EIC beneficiary. Second tailor applications to the corporate or investor’s stated challenges and funding stage. Third be realistic about what the event delivers. Investor Days can shorten due diligence timelines but they rarely replace a formal investment process. Fourth respect deadlines and prepare for coaching sessions and dry runs if selected. Finally keep records of any commitments you make during application and follow up promptly after meetings.
| Action | Why it matters | Practical tip |
| Confirm EIC beneficiary status | Most EIC BAS activities are reserved for beneficiaries | Log in to the EIC Community or Dashboard and verify your award status before applying |
| Customise your application | Selection is based on fit with corporate or investor interests | Use the application's question prompts to highlight exact matches with challenges |
| Prepare to participate | Coaching and dry runs are usually required | Schedule team time for preparatory sessions and practice a short investor pitch |
| Budget for costs | Not all travel or exhibiting costs are covered | Clarify reimbursement rules for trade fairs or in person events before booking travel |
| Comply with post event reporting | Follow up is often requested and can affect future invitations | Respond to impact surveys and satisfaction questionnaires in the timeframe requested |
Where to find more information and the next steps
The EIC advised members to consult the EIC Community platform for full event pages and application forms and to monitor the EIC social channels for updates. The Community, EIC LinkedIn and EIC Twitter accounts were specifically called out as the places to watch for news and additional opportunities. If you are an EIC beneficiary and have questions about a specific event you should use the event helpdesk or the contact form provided on the Community portal.
The tone of the EIC message was optimistic about 2023 activities and the continuing role of the EIC in matchmaking and business development. That stated ambition is consistent with the agency mandate under EISMEA to deliver acceleration services for EU-funded innovators. Applicants should however remain aware that participation is competitive and that real commercial outcomes from such events depend on subsequent follow through, market readiness and investor or corporate priorities.
Closing note
The EIC Community Team wished members warm holiday greetings and encouraged innovators to apply for the open calls. If you plan to apply soon review the event descriptions carefully, check application deadlines and be ready to demonstrate concrete technical fit and business traction.