Expression of Interest for Entrepreneurs in Residence: Join the EIC Tech to Market Venture Building programme and support the creation of EIC-backed deep-tech ventures
- ›The EIC Tech to Market Venture Building programme invited Entrepreneurs in Residence to work with researchers for six months part time to turn research into deep tech startups.
- ›Entrepreneurs in Residence would participate in due diligence, business ideation, validation and could become eligible to join the founding team after residency.
- ›Applications were closed and talent matchmaking was planned to run through the programme implementation period, with details on remuneration to be discussed with selected candidates.
- ›The programme sits inside the EIC Business Acceleration Services which provides a broader suite of market and scaling support for EIC awardees.
EIC seeks Entrepreneurs in Residence to help turn research into deep tech startups
In mid 2023 the European Innovation Council launched an Expression of Interest for Entrepreneurs in Residence to participate in the EIC Tech to Market Venture Building programme. The role offered a six month, part time residence during which entrepreneurs would join EIC-led due diligence and lead business ideation and validation activities alongside researchers from EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects. The public call described access to mentors, industry specialists and potential cofounders, and highlighted the possibility of joining the venture as a founding team member after the residency.
What the Entrepreneur in Residence role involved
The announcement emphasized access to a community of experts, investors and industrial partners and described the position as a 'front row seat' to the EIC's approach to venture building. In plain terms this meant exposure to EIC due diligence, workshops, and tailored support services during the residence.
Who the EIC wanted to recruit
| Thematic area | What experience is useful | Why this matters |
| Advanced materials for energy and environmental sustainability | Materials R&D, productisation, supply chain knowledge | Materials ventures face long development cycles and regulatory constraints |
| Architecture, engineering, construction technologies | Scale up of hardware solutions, pilot management | Construction procurement and pilots require domain contacts and long sales cycles |
| Energy systems and green technologies | Energy market knowledge, grid integration experience | Energy projects often need validation with utilities and regulators |
| Food chain technologies and sustainable food | Food science, regulatory pathways, manufacturing scale up | Food tech ventures need early manufacturing and safety validation |
| Health and biotechnology, medical technologies and devices | Clinical, regulatory, translational experience | Health ventures require clinical validation, clear regulatory strategies and long timelines |
| Quantum tech and electronics | Hardware commercialisation, ecosystem partnerships | Quantum and electronics require deep hardware expertise and access to specialised supply chains |
| Renewable energy conversion and alternative resource exploitation | Process engineering and pilot deployment experience | Scaling resource conversion usually demands capital intensive pilots |
| Responsible electronics, space systems and technologies | Systems engineering, certification and industry partnerships | These sectors combine complex engineering and high customer validation thresholds |
The list of thematic areas highlights that the EIC was targeting entrepreneurs comfortable with science heavy, capital intensive and regulatory sensitive sectors. That requirement narrows the candidate pool but aims to reduce friction in researcher entrepreneur collaboration.
Application status, selection and compensation
The lack of transparent, published compensation and equity guidance is not unusual in early stage venture building calls but it increases the negotiation burden on candidates and can create uncertainty about incentives and long term commitment.
How the Venture Building offer fits inside EIC Tech to Market and the EIC BAS
| Phase | Purpose | Typical outputs |
| Tech Demo Days | Expose technology to market actors and gather feedback | Market signals, initial interest lists, refinement needs |
| Opportunities Exploration | Assess technical feasibility and commercial potential | Feasibility assessments, recommended pivots |
| Team Creation | Recruit founders and early team members | Founding team, role definitions, talent matches |
| Venture Support Services | Address gaps such as IP, finance, pilots and HR | Advisory reports, pilot agreements, fundraising plans |
The Venture Building track sits within the EIC Business Acceleration Services or BAS. The BAS is a broader set of supports that includes corporate partnership programmes, international trade fairs, investor readiness, procurement matches and coaching. Since 2021 the BAS reported numerous matchmaking meetings and funding outcomes for awardees. These ecosystem services are designed to reduce friction for deep tech ventures that typically face longer development timelines and require specialised buyer or investor introductions.
Practical implications and caveats for prospective applicants
The position offered real access to networks and structured venture building support. That access can be valuable for entrepreneurs who want to engage with high quality research teams. The role also comes with typical early stage risks. Research based ventures often require lengthy technical validation and regulatory work. The announcement made clear that the Entrepreneur in Residence would be expected to help ensure the team's survival beyond the venture builder stage, but it left many operational details unspecified. These include precise remuneration, equity allocation, IP ownership or licensing terms, time allocation rules, and the interaction between the research organisation and commercial entity.
Where to get more information and next steps
The EIC asked interested entrepreneurs to register their profile for a talent pool and to monitor the EIC Tech to Market programme page for future open calls. Inquiries were to be routed through the EIC Community contact options and the programme helpdesk by selecting the appropriate subject. The Tech to Market programme page later stated that the programme was paused and expected to resume in 2026. Prospective applicants should therefore check the EIC Community portal for the latest status and for any future reopening of calls.
Bottom line
The EIC Tech to Market Venture Building offer represented a structured route for experienced entrepreneurs to co-create startups from European research. It combined access to networks and advisory services with the practical tasks of validating markets and building teams. The promise of becoming a founder after residency is attractive but applicants should approach the opportunity with careful due diligence on IP, compensation and long term governance. Public information left several implementation details to negotiation and the programme later entered a pause with a planned resumption in 2026. Candidates should therefore remain alert to new calls and seek clarity before committing time or accepting a founding role.