Library FAQ
Who is the EIC Accelerator intended for?
It targets start-ups and SMEs with high-impact innovative technologies, products, services or business models (deep tech) that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones and need substantial funding where private investors alone face too high risks.
Will the European Patent Office (EPO) be involved in evaluations?
The Agency may seek assistance from the EPO to analyse technological novelty and inventive merit for proposals shortlisted for Jury interview. EPO experts provide assessments as material 'for information' only; they do not participate directly and their assess...
What are EIC Transition Challenges designed to do?
They leverage outstanding results from ongoing or recently finished projects in a specific domain to push groundbreaking innovations toward market uptake for specific applications, managed as a portfolio of complementary or competing projects.
What are Engineered Living Materials (ELMs) and what does that Pathfinder Challenge support?
ELMs are materials composed entirely or partly of living cells. The Challenge supports technologies and platforms for controlled production of made-on-demand living materials with predictable dynamic functionalities, shapes and scales, and to build an ELM rese...
What are the application steps and timelines for Transition Challenges?
The call opens 15 April 2021 and the deadline is 22 September 2021 at 17:00 Brussels time. Applications must be submitted via the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. Sections 1–3 of part B must be a maximum of 25 A4 pages. Evaluation has a first remote step...
What are the expectations for proposals targeting a full device in the brain sensing/stimulation challenge?
They are strongly encouraged to establish a plausible work plan to deliver by project end at least (1) a working prototype device or instrument and (2) pre-clinical data with proof of therapeutic action.
What budget and duration are considered appropriate for the Medical Technology Transition Challenge?
Proposals with up to EUR 2.5 million and up to 3 years are considered appropriate, though larger amounts or different durations may be justified.
What clinical and societal considerations must all proposals justify?
All proposals must fully justify the clinical need for the development, structure the work plan towards credible market transition, consider cost-benefit and acceptability to clinicians and patients, and take into account the gender dimension where relevant.
What funding and support can successful Transition Challenge applicants expect?
The total indicative budget is EUR 40.5 million (Next Generation EU). Successful projects receive a Research and Innovation Action grant at 100% funding rate; proposals around EUR 2.5 million are considered appropriate though larger amounts may be justified. A...
What is advised for proposals aiming to discover new mechanisms for monitoring or stimulation?
They are advised to de-risk the work plan by exploring multiple strategies in parallel and to merge competing strategies into a single proposal for cost efficiency and higher likelihood of success.
What is the aim of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge on Emerging Technologies in Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT)?
To reinforce critical components of the European CGT community by supporting emerging technologies or technological solutions that overcome current cell and gene therapy challenges.
What is the aim of the Transition Challenge 'Medical Technology and Devices: from Lab to Patient'?
To advance an existing proof-of-principle technology from an early prototype (TRL 3–4) to a mature version suitable for clinical validation (TRL 5–6), including R&D, safety and efficacy work and a sound exploitation strategy toward patients.
What is the goal of the Novel Routes to Green Hydrogen production challenge?
To develop novel processes and technologies to produce green hydrogen at different scales entirely from renewable sources and non-toxic, non-critical raw materials, improving lifetime and lowering cost of systems.
What outcomes are expected from projects on Engineered Living Materials?
Projects are expected to develop technologies for producing at least two different living materials (different applications, 10× scale difference, different cellular composition); demonstrate proof of principle to produce at least two novel biological ELMs >1...
What specific conditions apply to green hydrogen proposals?
Proposals should develop a proof of concept or lab-scale validated innovative green H2 technology by biological, chemical or physical routes without fossil fuels, potentially using salt/wastewater, air moisture, biomass or recycled by-products, and are strongl...
What specific conditions apply to the CGT Pathfinder Challenge proposals?
Proposals must focus on emerging or breakthrough technology solutions far beyond current state-of-the-art, aiming to overcome CGT challenges at preclinical, clinical or bio-manufacturing level and to deliver by project end at least one of the specific outcomes...
What topic areas are invited for CGT proposals?
Areas include: advancing cell therapy manufacturing and products to clinical stage; improving adoptive cell therapies (CAR-T, TCR, TIL); identifying next-generation cell therapies for cancer; enabling personalised cell-based cancer therapies; improving effecti...
What two types of challenges should proposals tackle for the brain sensing and/or stimulation call?
They should address at least one of: (1) a full device with unique features; or (2) new or nascent physical principles or methodologies that could form the basis for future brain sensing and/or stimulation technologies with clear and quantifiable advantages.
What validation requirements apply to ELM proposals?
Proposals must validate technologies by producing at least two different living materials that are not derivatives of each other. If a synthetic cell is used, it must already have a peer-reviewed demonstration of cellular reproduction by division and adaptatio...
Who can apply to EIC Transition Challenges and on what basis?
Proposals must build on demonstrated proof-of-principle results from eligible projects (for 2021 restricted to EIC Pathfinder, FET Flagships and ERC Proof of Concept). Applicants can be a single legal entity established in a Member State or Associated Country...
How is the budget allocated between cut-offs?
The budget will be allocated approximately equally between the cut-offs; if the amount allocated to GO applicants is less than the budget for that cut-off or additional budget becomes available, the remaining budget will be allocated to subsequent cut-offs.
May the jury ask questions during face-to-face interviews?
Yes, for face-to-face interviews the jury may ask questions concerning any of the award criteria.
What are the objectives, expected outcomes and TRL expectations for the RNA Challenge?
Objectives include advancing RNA delivery methods (including robust mRNA formulations), designing and preclinically validating novel miRNA/lncRNA/tRNA/siRNA-based therapies, and developing RNA-based diagnostics and predictive biomarkers. Expected outcomes are...
What are the thresholds for the award criteria?
Excellence: 4/5; Impact: 4/5; Quality and efficiency of the implementation: 3/5.