EIC Transition calls open: turning lab proof of principle into market‑ready technology

On 20 May 2021 the European Innovation Council opened its first Transition calls, offering roughly €100 million in funding. The calls are explicitly aimed at technologies that have already passed the experimental proof of principle stage in the laboratory and that originate from EIC Pathfinder pilot projects or European Research Council Proof of Concept projects. The stated objective is to fund work that takes novel technologies through further maturation and validation in laboratory and relevant application environments while developing a credible route to market.

What the EIC Transition funding is for

Transition funding sits between early exploratory research and company - led scale up. The EIC frames it as a support to bridge the so called “valley of death” by: advancing technological maturity beyond experimental proof of principle validating performance in environments closer to real use developing an exploitation and business case addressing regulatory, standardisation and user acceptance hurdles preparing for further private investment or for entry to EIC Accelerator scale up support.

Who is eligible

The 2021 Transition calls explicitly prioritise results coming from EIC Pathfinder pilot projects and from European Research Council Proof of Concept projects. Those outputs are the intended starting point for Transition activities. Applicants should be able to demonstrate they own or have the necessary rights to the intellectual property they propose to develop, or provide evidence of collaboration arrangements with the IP owners. Proposals may come from a range of legal entities including research organisations, universities, SMEs and spin‑outs, depending on the exact scheme rules in the EIC Work Programme.

Challenge strands and priorities

Alongside a general Transition Open stream that accepts technologies from any scientific field, two challenge strands were announced with domain specific goals. These are intended to channel funding into areas of policy interest while keeping the Transition objective of market readiness in view.

Medical Technology and Devices Challenge

This challenge targets novel technologies and devices that respond to important health needs in direct clinical treatment and patient care. The emphasis is on work that moves a proof‑of‑concept result to a technology maturity level appropriate for clinical evaluation. That means not merely bench validation but demonstrators and evidence sufficient to justify clinical testing, initial regulatory assessment and development of an exploitation strategy. For clinical technologies applicants should expect close scrutiny of ethics, clinical study design, regulatory pathways (for example CE marking under MDR or equivalent), patient safety mitigation and plans for clinical engagement. Early arrangements with clinical partners and realistic plans for clinical evaluation are critical.

Energy harvesting and storage Challenge

This strand funds innovative technologies that aim to deliver efficient, low cost, sustainable, compact and flexible energy harvesting, conversion and storage solutions. The EIC presents these technologies as relevant to the Green Deal goals of decarbonised energy systems and the transition to secure and affordable energy. Examples of relevant technical domains are advanced battery chemistries, hybrid storage systems, novel photovoltaic or thermoelectric harvesters, energy capture from vibration or body motion, power management electronics and compact system integration. As usual with broad challenge labels, applicants should clearly justify how their approach compares to the state of the art and how it contributes to climate and energy security objectives while avoiding vague sustainability claims.

How much funding and who runs the calls

The headline figure announced for the Transition calls is roughly €100 million. Implementation follows the EIC Work Programme 2021 and is carried out by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) on behalf of the European Commission. That agency now administers EIC grants and associated business support services. Applicants should consult the EIC Work Programme 2021 and the Funding & Tenders Portal for full, formally binding details on eligible costs, funding rates and contractual arrangements.

What evaluators and juries will be looking for

Transition proposals are assessed on both technological and market readiness. Successful applications must balance credible technical work with a strong exploitation plan. Expected elements in a robust application include:

How Transition sits in the broader EIC pathway

Transition funding is explicitly intended to feed later stages: companies can use Transition outputs to apply to the EIC Accelerator or to attract private investors. The EIC also offers Business Acceleration Services such as coaching, mentoring and investor matchmaking to successful applicants. The European Research Council Proof of Concept scheme is a frequent source of candidates for Transition calls. Applicants should be prepared to show how Transition will reduce technical risk and de‑risk their idea for private capital or for a Fast Track to Accelerator support.

Practical advice for applicants

Applicants should not treat Transition funding as open ended R&D. Review panels expect concrete, timebound milestones that will demonstrably increase technology maturity and prepare the innovation for market steps. Practical preparation includes securing IP rights or clear licensing arrangements, early engagement with regulators and potential users, and credible plans for follow‑on financing or commercialisation channels.

Realistic caveats and limits

A few words of practical scepticism are warranted. The announced budget, while significant for individual projects, is small relative to the capital needs of energy or medtech scale‑up activities. Transition grants can bridge important early gaps but rarely fully fund commercial scaling. Applicants should expect a strong competition, rigorous scrutiny on IP and ownership arrangements, and detailed requests for evidence rather than high level promises. Public statements tying single projects to large policy goals such as full decarbonisation should be treated with caution. The Transition calls can help make early steps but will not on their own deliver systemic change.

Key deadlines, where to apply and practical resources

Useful practical next steps: check the EIC Work Programme 2021 for the full call texts, verify your project’s eligibility (is it clearly linked to an eligible Pathfinder or ERC PoC result), prepare documentation to show IP ownership or licensing, plan milestone deliverables aligned to TRL advances, engage potential clinical or industry partners early and consider National Contact Points or Business Acceleration Services for coaching.

Where to get help and further reading

Primary sources and support channels include the EIC Transition call page on the EIC website, the EIC Work Programme 2021, the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for formal submission, National Contact Points for Horizon Europe in your country, and EIC Business Acceleration Services. ERC Proof of Concept grantees should also consult the ERC PoC guidance for timing and eligibility. The EISMEA is the executive agency implementing the EIC activities and can be contacted via the EIC web pages.

Bottom line

The EIC Transition calls are a targeted and useful instrument for moving proven lab concepts closer to demonstrators and market readiness. They are most effective when applicants present clear, measurable TRL progression, a solid IP and regulatory plan and demonstrable engagement with users or customers. Applicants should not expect Transition funding alone to solve the larger funding and commercialization challenges inherent to medtech or energy innovations. It is an important piece in a wider innovation pathway that must be combined with private investment, strategic partnerships and strong execution to reach market impact.