Library FAQ
What is the additional Impact criterion for Strategic Digital and Health proposals?
Assessors evaluate whether the innovation has the potential to be a strategically important technology for Europe in terms of citizens’ welfare or economic development; proposals must describe this impact in relation to the call’s priority areas (assessed at f...
What is the additional Impact criterion for the Green Deal challenge?
Assessors evaluate whether the innovation has the potential to make a significant impact on at least one Green Deal goal; proposals must describe this impact in relation to the goals, including estimated quantitative impacts such as reduction or avoidance of G...
What is the EIC Accelerator Green Deal challenge?
It funds transformative green innovations that contribute to the European Green Deal and the Recovery Plan for Europe, focusing on disruptive and breakthrough innovations by SMEs (including midcaps) and start-ups to scale up next-generation low-carbon technolo...
What is the EIC Accelerator Strategic Digital and Health Technologies challenge?
It supports start-ups and SMEs (including small mid-caps) developing strategic technologies that enable innovative business models, smart products/services, and aim for global leadership, while enhancing Europe’s technological sovereignty and competitiveness.
What is the purpose of the EU Prize for Women Innovators mentioned in the text?
To ensure Europe does not miss opportunities from novel technologies and disruptive innovations by overlooking half its population, recognising women as a source of innovation and creative talent for a fair and sustainable recovery.
What must Green Deal proposals include regarding business planning and IP?
Proposals must be based on a strategic business plan, specify success criteria and expected outcomes, pay particular attention to IPR strategy and freedom to operate, and address regulatory and standardisation issues.
What project activities can be supported under the Strategic Technologies challenge?
Activities may include product/service development, trials, optimisation, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real-world conditions, and market replication. Essential actions for the innovation project can be subcontracted.
What requirements apply to Strategic Technologies proposals regarding business plan and IP?
Proposals must be based on a strategic business plan, specify success criteria, milestones and expected outcomes, pay particular attention to IP protection, licensing and ownership, present evidence of freedom to operate, and address regulatory and standardisa...
What specific priority areas are emphasised for the Green Deal challenge?
At least 50% of companies invited to interviews must relate to one of: renewable energy (including renewable hydrogen and energy storage); deep renovation of buildings; low carbon industries (decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries); batteries and other...
What strategic technologies are covered under the Strategic Digital and Health challenge?
Digital technologies such as advanced high performance and edge computing, quantum technologies, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, blockchain, cloud infrastructure, and IoT technologies; and healthcare technologies including AI-driven early diagnosis too...
Which sustainability goals must a Green Deal project support?
Projects must significantly contribute to at least one of: increasing EU climate mitigation/adaptation ambition; supplying clean, affordable and secure energy; transitioning industry to a clean/circular economy; building and renovating energy/resource efficien...
Who can apply to the Green Deal challenge?
Applicants must meet the eligibility conditions set out in the EIC Accelerator call (Section II.3) and Annex 2. The challenge targets high-risk, high-potential SMEs (including start-ups and midcaps) from any sector whose proposal contributes to Green Deal goal...
Who is eligible to apply to the Strategic Digital and Health Technologies challenge?
High-risk, high-potential SMEs, including start-ups, spin-outs and small mid-caps from any sector that are potential leaders in the identified strategic technologies; applicants must meet the EIC Accelerator eligibility conditions (Section II.3) and Annex 2.
How did the report prioritise which signals to feature?
Priority was given to signals not considered main topics for EIC Challenges during 2018–2023 and signals not featured in previous EIC reports or communication outputs; counts of funded projects were used only as an indication, not a decisive factor.
How do flexible PCBs improve space mission design and reliability?
They reduce harness requirements and mass, eliminate points of failure, enable integration of electronics into single mechanical parts, and support better stowage and deployment, improving mission performance and reliability.
How many proposals and projects were reviewed quantitatively for the report?
The first stage reviewed over 6,650 proposals submitted to the EIC between 2018 and 2023, including around 720 beneficiary projects and approximately 5,940 non-funded proposals.
How was the qualitative assessment stage organised?
EIC Programme Managers led expert-based qualitative assessments of the selected signals, conducted by 11 sector-specific panels each coordinated by Programme Managers and including 1 to 4 external experts, culminating in a final selection of 34 signals.
How were technology 'signals' identified and filtered in the quantitative stage?
About 300 individual signals were identified through data mining; after cleaning and filtering, more than 260 signals were selected for qualitative assessment, with data elements including numbers of related projects/proposals, top keywords, patents/publicatio...
What are flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) for space sub-systems?
Flexible PCBs and Electronic Assemblies are adaptable electronic interconnects and assemblies that enable lightweight, streamlined designs, reduce wiring harnesses, and integrate electronics into mechanical components for space systems.
What are the main EIC funding schemes and their purposes?
EIC Pathfinder supports high-risk early-stage research for scientific/technological breakthroughs; EIC Transition advances projects from lab to commercialisation; EIC Accelerator supports startups and SMEs with grants and equity to scale innovations to market...
What datasets and tools supported the quantitative horizon scanning?
The quantitative review used advanced text mining and signal clustering via the JRC Tools for Innovation Monitoring (TIM), GPT@JRC machine inputs, patent data from EPO PATSTAT, and scientific publication data from the SCOPUS database.
What environmental and societal impacts may LiDAR have in the next five to ten years?
LiDAR could improve ecosystem and biodiversity mapping, support better forest and ocean management, enable more accurate atmospheric air quality assessments, and inform public health initiatives and environmental policy.
What is the JRC 'signal activeness' index?
It is a custom-built JRC indicator ranking signals by a ratio between signal occurrences retrieved in internal and external data for the previous two years (y–2).
What is the key innovation of LiDAR systems described in the report?
LiDAR systems achieve high measurement accuracy that surpasses traditional remote sensing instruments, enabled by meeting a specific combination of technical specifications (e.g. high signal-to-noise ratio and extensive swath width) for continuous, precise mon...