Library FAQ
What is the estimated total budget shown in Annex 1?
The estimated total budget is EUR 1 206.31 million (Horizon Europe) and EUR 449.84 million (Next Generation EU), as shown in Annex 1.
What is the expected indicative budget under indirect management?
The indicative budget under indirect management is expected to be around EUR 571,000,000.
What is the Fast Track scheme for the EIC Accelerator?
The Fast Track scheme allows proposals resulting from existing Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020 projects to be reviewed by the responsible funding body, which can submit outcomes to the EIC Accelerator if certain conditions are met, rather than applying directly...
What is the indicative budget and timeline for the expert group action?
The indicative budget is EUR 250,000 and the indicative timeline is Q2 2023.
What is the rule on using a portion of call budgets for Booster grants?
A maximum of 1% of the budget dedicated to a call may be used for additional grants (Booster grants) to existing projects, each a fixed amount of EUR 50,000.
What payment will experts appointed in their personal capacity receive?
Experts appointed in their personal capacity acting independently and in the public interest will receive a special allowance of EUR 450 per day.
What support do Fast Track applicants receive and what is the timing for submission?
Fast Track applicants are invited to prepare a full proposal to a chosen cut-off date within the next 12 months, and receive support through the EIC AI-based IT platform and coaching; full proposals are assessed and treated the same as other full proposals.
What type of action covers the expert group's engagement?
Type of action: expert contracts.
What will the expert group review regarding the EIC's first three years?
The expert group will review the first three years of EIC implementation including its governance, institutional architecture and its relationship with the EIT and the EIE, and make recommendations for improvements where relevant.
Which funding bodies and schemes were eligible for Fast Track in 2023?
In 2023 eligibility included EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition projects managed by the Agency; relevant KIC schemes identified by each KIC; Eurostars-2 and the Partnership on Innovative SMEs; WomenTech.EU; and companies awarded Horizon 2020 EIC pilot Accelerat...
With which bodies is the expert group expected to interact?
The expert group is expected to interact with the EIC Board, the EIT Governing Board and the EIC Forum.
How are applications evaluated and are hearings part of the process?
The jury reviews and scores eligible applications and invites shortlisted applicants to a hearing in front of jury members to defend their application; the hearing may take place remotely.
How are EIC Board members remunerated and what are the honoraria rates?
Members of the EIC Board (other than the President) receive honoraria and reimbursement of travel and subsistence expenses paid by the Agency. Honoraria are EUR 2,200 for full attendance at a plenary meeting and EUR 1,100 for partial attendance; other meetings...
How many prizes are awarded each year and on what basis?
Six prizes are awarded yearly after the contest closes to the applicants who, in the opinion of the jury, best address the cumulative evaluation criteria defined for the competition.
What are the expected results and benefits of the European Capital of Innovation Awards?
The Awards aim to champion municipality-enabled innovation, recognise courageous city administrators, raise public interest and media coverage, and increase the profile of cities that developed innovative policies, attracted investment and talent, promoted bes...
What are the indicative prize amounts for the 2026 competition?
European Capital of Innovation winner: EUR 1,000,000; 1st runner-up: EUR 100,000; 2nd runner-up: EUR 100,000. European Rising Innovative City winner: EUR 500,000; 1st runner-up: EUR 50,000; 2nd runner-up: EUR 50,000.
What are the objectives and scope of the communication, outreach and events action?
To prepare and implement EIC communication and outreach activities to strengthen the EIC's reputation among stakeholders, attract applicants and investors, promote global outreach, position the EIC as a thought leader in deep tech, maintain the EIC website and...
What does the 'Citizens' rights' evaluation criterion require?
Showing use of innovation to strengthen democracy, protect citizens' rights, foster social cohesion, and ensure integration with attention to minorities, gender, disability, or race, with details on concrete results of the showcased initiatives.
What does the 'City innovative vision' evaluation criterion require?
Demonstrating a long-term strategic vision/plan highlighting innovative initiatives that contributed to city transformation and will support a sustainable, resilient innovation ecosystem ensuring green and digital transition, with details on concrete results a...
What does the 'Ecosystem building' evaluation criterion require?
Fostering synergies among innovation ecosystem players (public, industry, start-ups, civil society, citizens, academia) to develop a local innovation ecosystem, with details on concrete results of showcased initiatives.
What does the 'Escalating' evaluation criterion require?
Promoting acceleration of local innovation actors, supporting growth of innovative start-ups and SMEs, establishing innovation-friendly legal frameworks, attracting investments, driving innovation demand (including through innovation public procurement), with...
What does the 'Expanding' evaluation criterion require?
Acting as a role model by supporting dissemination and replication of tested solutions, promoting mutual learning, knowledge transfer and capacity building, and enhancing cooperation between front-runner and exploring cities, with details on concrete results.
What does the 'Experimenting' evaluation criterion require?
Demonstrating innovative concepts, processes, tools, and governance models that show the city acts as a test-bed and mainstreams these practices into ordinary urban development, with details on concrete results of the showcased initiatives.
What external expertise does the EIC procure and what allowance is paid to independent experts?
The EIC uses external independent experts for project monitoring, ethics compliance, other compliance checks (including Gender Equality Plans), communication, technology assessments (including economic security risks), policy advice, innovation intelligence, a...