What happened

By the 28 September 2022 cut-off the European Commission’s European Innovation Council recorded 287 applications to its second 2022 EIC Transition call. That is materially higher than the 165 submissions received for the first 2022 cut-off earlier in the year. The submissions split into two streams: an open call without thematic priorities and three challenge topics that focused on green digital devices, clean energy system integration and RNA solutions for complex or rare genetic disease.

Some simple arithmetic from the published figures helps to put the call into perspective. The second cut-off saw a roughly 74 percent increase in proposals versus the first 2022 cut-off (from 165 to 287 submissions). Of the 287 submissions, 181 were judged eligible, an overall eligibility rate of about 63 percent. For the Open stream the eligibility rate was about 66 percent and for the Challenges about 47 percent. The combined requested grant volume across eligible proposals came to about €430.3 million.

Who applied and where they came from

For both the EIC Transition Open and the Challenges the top four participating countries were the same: Spain, Italy, Germany and France. The Open call drew submissions from 33 countries. The Challenge calls collectively drew proposals from 19 countries. Those distribution patterns mirror familiar talent and company concentrations in several Western European innovation hubs, but the headline does not capture participation levels from so called widening countries or smaller innovation ecosystems.

What the challenge topics sought

Each Challenge has a clearly stated technological and policy objective. They are written to channel research results into application areas where the Commission sees strategic value and public interest. Below are the aims as set out in the EIC call descriptions.

How EIC Transition sits in the innovation chain

EIC Transition is explicitly designed to fund projects that have already reached experimental proof of principle in the laboratory. In practice that often means projects starting from Technology Readiness Level 3 or 4 and aiming to reach TRL 5 to 6 by the end of the Transition project. The objective is to combine further technical maturation and validation in relevant environments with concrete steps on market and business readiness. The EIC Transition grant instrument typically supports grants up to around €2.5 million per project, although requests above or below that figure are seen in practice and are considered case by case during evaluation.

What the numbers mean and why to be cautious

The jump in applications signals rising interest among research teams, spinouts and firms to convert laboratory results into marketable innovations. That is a positive sign for the EU innovation ecosystem. However, application counts alone are blunt instruments. A larger number of submissions can mask lower average quality, attempts to chase limited public funding, or a backlog of projects ready to transition but not backed by viable business strategies. Equally, a low eligibility rate in a specific stream can indicate that many applicants misread the call or submitted projects that were outside scope.

In this cut-off the Open stream showed a two thirds eligibility rate while the Challenges stream saw under half the proposals judged eligible. Lower eligibility in the Challenges cohort suggests applicants either misunderstood the thematic constraints or struggled to align early lab results with a Challenge - specific outcome. Eligibility is a blunt gatekeeper and does not guarantee final award.

Finally, the aggregate requested amount of about €430 million from eligible proposals is substantial. Call budgets are finite. High aggregate demand means that even well scored proposals will face competition. High demand is not equivalent to guaranteed funding.

Implications for applicants and funders

For applicants the signal is to calibrate proposals carefully to the EIC Transition remit. That means clear demonstration of experimental proof of principle, a realistic plan to progress to TRL 5/6, and credible steps toward market readiness. Intellectual property strategy, regulatory and standards pathway clarity and evidence of engagement with potential users or customers will strengthen applications.

For funders and policymakers the rise in submissions underlines unrestained demand for middle stage funding that bridges lab research and market deployment. It also points to the continued importance of coordination with national and regional programmes to avoid duplication and to offer follow - on financing options for projects that receive high scores but cannot be funded in full by EIC alone.

Process and next steps

All proposals will be evaluated under the EIC selection procedures. For Transition the process typically involves remote expert review followed by a jury interview for the top candidates. Successful projects move towards grant signature and project starts, with EIC Business Acceleration Services available to beneficiaries. For the first 2022 cut-off the EIC indicated projects would start in autumn 2022 after evaluation. For this second cut-off the EIC will follow its standard evaluation calendar and publish results after assessments are complete.

A note of caution

Numbers are useful but not definitive. A rise in submissions signals appetite but not success. Eligibility percentages, thematic alignment and, crucially, scoring at the expert and jury stages determine which projects receive funding. Applicants should therefore treat the call as competitive and prepare proposals that demonstrate both technical plausibility and commercial potential.

Further reading and related mechanisms

Applicants and observers should consult EIC programme material for rules, templates and services: the EIC Transition page for full guidance on eligibility and the application process, the EIC Work Programme for 2022 for budgetary and procedural context, and the EIC Business Acceleration Services information for possible follow - on support. The EIC also operates mechanisms such as Booster grants for Pathfinder and Transition awardees and a Fast Track route to the EIC Accelerator for projects showing strong commercial potential. Those mechanisms change over time so applicants should read the current Work Programme and call guidance.