Library FAQ
What is the mutual insurance mechanism at pre-financing?
A mutual insurance mechanism retains 5–8% of the maximum grant amount at pre-financing.
What is the normal pre-financing rate for EIC grants?
Pre-financing is normally 160% of the average EU funding per reporting period.
What is the Plug-in scheme for the EIC Accelerator?
The Plug-in scheme is equivalent to Fast Track but applies to proposals resulting from certified national or regional programmes; a certified programme conducts a project review and, if positive, the outcome can be submitted to the EIC Accelerator.
What open science requirements apply to EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects?
They must provide immediate open access to publications, manage data responsibly per FAIR principles, make research data 'as open as possible, as closed as necessary', provide information and access needed to validate conclusions, and in public emergencies ens...
When are certificates on financial statements required?
Certificates may be required according to thresholds set out in Article 24 of the MGA.
Which projects are eligible for Fast Track in 2025?
Eligible in 2025: EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition projects (including EIC pilot), relevant EIT KIC schemes, Eurostars-2 and Partnership on Innovative SMEs schemes, companies awarded grant-only under H2020/Horizon Europe EIC Accelerator, companies awarded gra...
Are Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) eligible for funding?
Yes. Entities from OCTs are eligible for funding under the same conditions as entities from the Member State to which the OCT is linked.
Do affiliated entities count toward consortium composition requirements?
No. Affiliated entities do not sign the grant agreement and therefore do not count towards minimum eligibility criteria for consortium composition.
How are grant preparation, starting date and funding rates handled?
During grant preparation applicants work with the Agency project officer; the applicable model General MGA is available on the topic page. The project starting date and duration are fixed in the grant agreement (normally after signature; retroactive starts may...
How are proposals scored and what thresholds apply?
Each award criterion is scored out of 5 with an individual threshold of 3. The overall threshold (sum of the three scores) is 10. All scores are weighted equally. Proposals passing both the individual and overall thresholds will be considered for funding withi...
How are Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) addressed?
Where a specific call/topic requires a TRL, the definitions set out in the Glossary of the Work Programme apply, unless otherwise specified in the call.
How must proposals be submitted and what documents are required?
All proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal. The application form has Part A (administrative information, summary budget, call-specific questions) and Part B (technical description). Annexes and supporting documents must be...
What activities are eligible for funding?
Eligible activities are those described in the call conditions and must correspond, wholly or in part, to the topic description. Projects must focus on civil applications and comply with EU policy priorities. Proposals that aim at human reproductive cloning, h...
What are the award criteria for Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs)?
CSAs are evaluated on three award criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of implementation. These cover clarity and pertinence of objectives; quality of coordination/support measures and methodology; credibility of pathways to outcomes and im...
What are the eligibility rules for mono-beneficiary and multi-beneficiary proposals?
Mono-beneficiary applicants must be established in a Member State or an Associated Country. Multi-beneficiary proposals require at least three independent legal entities established in different countries: at least one in a Member State and two other independe...
What are the ethics requirements for proposals?
Projects must comply with ethical principles, the highest standards of research integrity, and applicable EU, international and national law. Applicants must complete an ethics self-assessment as part of their application. Projects with ethics issues will unde...
What are the gender equality plan (GEP) requirements?
Public bodies, research organisations and higher education establishments from Member States and Associated Countries must have a gender equality plan meeting minimum process-related requirements (publication, dedicated resources, data collection/monitoring, t...
What are the rules for consortia of two entities and for Coordination and Support Actions (CSAs)?
Consortia of two must consist of independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries. Coordination and Support Actions may be submitted by one or more legal entities established in a Member State, Associated Country, or, in exce...
What are the rules for providing financial support to third parties?
If allowed by the call, applicants must describe objectives and expected results for financial support to third parties. Projects must publish their open calls widely, on the Funding & Tenders Portal and beneficiaries’ websites, remain open for at least two mo...
What budget categories and cost eligibility rules apply?
Budget categories include actual costs (personnel, subcontracting, purchase costs, financial support to third parties), unit costs (e.g., SME owner personnel, average personnel), flat-rate indirect costs (25%), and lump sums where applicable. Costs can be decl...
What is the 'Do Not Significant Harm' (DNSH) principle applied by the EIC?
Innovations that significantly harm the environment, social welfare, or are primarily designed for military applications (or otherwise excluded under Article 18 Horizon Europe Regulation) will not be funded. Proposals should not contravene Green Deal objective...
What is the evaluation procedure and indicative timetable?
Proposals are checked for formal admissibility and eligibility and then evaluated by a committee of independent external experts (and where indicated, representatives of EU institutions). For equal scores, priority considers uncovered call aspects, then Excell...
What requirements apply to proposals involving AI?
AI-based systems must be developed safely, securely and responsibly, in accordance with the AI Act. They should be technically robust, socially robust, reliable, explainable where impactful, and include preventative approaches to risks. Proposals must describe...
What security rules apply to projects handling classified or sensitive information?
Projects involving classified and/or security-sensitive information must undergo a security appraisal and may be subject to specific security rules (including provisions for EU-classified information). Projects involving TRES SECRET UE/EU TOP SECRET (or equiva...