Library FAQ
Who provides EIC business coaching and how are coaches selected and paid?
Coaches are highly qualified business coaches registered via an open call (EIC Coach Platform); selection follows Article 242 of the Financial Regulation. Coaches receive EUR 1,000 per day (EUR 500 per half day). The coaching action is an expert contracts acti...
Can a Member State or Associated Country choose not to implement the Plug-In scheme?
Yes. A Member State or Associated Country may decide not to implement the Plug-In scheme or to introduce it at a later stage.
Do selected Plug-In projects and companies receive EIC coaching?
Yes. Selected projects and companies have the same access to EIC coaching as proposals selected in the EIC Accelerator short application phase.
How are Booster grant proposals invited and assessed?
Potential beneficiaries can be invited to apply following a positive recommendation from an EIC Programme Manager, a project review, or participation in EIC Tech2Market BAS actions. Each proposal is assessed under Article 29(2) of Horizon Europe, taking into a...
How are full proposals originating from the Plug-In treated in assessment?
They are assessed as set out in Section V and treated exactly the same way as all other full proposals.
Is there a limit to the number of Plug-In proposals per country?
Yes. The number of proposals that can be given access via the Plug-In is limited at the level of Member States and Associated Countries.
On what basis should companies be selected for the Plug-In proposals?
Companies should be selected based on criteria equivalent to the EIC Accelerator short application and through a process that guarantees an independent assessment of proposals.
Under what circumstances may the Commission withdraw Plug-In certification?
If false information was used to obtain certification or if the project review does not comply with the provisions set out in the most recent EIC work programme.
What activities are Booster grants not intended to fund?
They do not fund research, activities already foreseen in the original project, or activities already funded by other EIC instruments.
What are Booster grants and what is their maximum amount?
Booster grants are fixed-amount awards not exceeding EUR 50,000, given outside any call to support portfolio coordinating activities or to nurture innovation from projects already selected under EIC Pathfinder or relevant Transition calls.
What are the award criteria for Booster grants for innovation and for portfolio activities?
For innovation activities: timeliness and pertinence (Excellence), potential to create markets or solve societal problems (Impact), and applicants' expertise and motivation (Quality and efficiency). For portfolio activities: contribution to EIC Portfolio objec...
What are the limits on the number of Booster grants per project?
A maximum of three Booster grants can be awarded for each EIC Pathfinder project (with exceptional justified cases possibly exceeding this). A maximum of one Booster grant can be awarded for each EIC Transition project (with exceptional justified cases possibl...
What are the objectives of the EIC Plug-In scheme?
Stronger alignment between national and EU innovation support; a more streamlined process to access funding for innovation projects from excellent companies; and identification of strategic companies with innovation projects based on excellent research and imp...
What does the EIC Plug-In scheme aim to support?
Collaboration between national or regional funding bodies providing grants and/or equity to deep tech startups, particularly around review and evaluation of suitable projects and companies for EIC Accelerator.
What portfolio activities can Booster grants support?
Activities like defining common objectives, building synergies within the EIC Portfolio and with external partners (including EIT), engaging strategic partners, (co)-organising events, maximising data sharing, and raising EIC Portfolio visibility.
What types of innovation activities can Booster grants support?
Activities to explore commercialisation pathways, such as defining commercialisation process, market analysis, technology assessment/certification, verification of innovation potential, IP consolidation, FTO, business case development, testing/piloting, start-...
Where will the list of certified national and regional funding bodies be published?
The list will be published on the EIC website.
Who can propose companies for direct access to the EIC Accelerator full proposal stage under the Plug-In?
Eligible national or regional funding bodies with certified programmes may propose a limited number of companies from national and regional programmes.
Who can receive Booster grants?
EIC Awardees, Technology Transfer Offices, EIC Inventors and other third parties linked to eligible Pathfinder or Transition projects, or entities provided with necessary access rights or entrusted with tasks by the concerned awardee.
Who certifies the eligible funding bodies, programmes and project review processes for the Plug-In?
The Commission certifies them with the support of external experts.
Who evaluates Booster grant proposals and how are decisions made?
A mixed evaluation committee composed of an EIC Programme Manager, an external expert from a trained pool, and either an EIC Project Officer or a second external expert will evaluate proposals. The committee gives a GO or NO GO on each award criterion; proposa...
Can EIC Booster grants fund research or activities already planned in the original project?
No. EIC Booster grants do not fund research or activities that were already foreseen in the original project or already funded by other EIC instruments.
Can the Agency impose conditions on dissemination activities proposed by EIC Awardees?
Yes. When approving a plan, the Agency may condition dissemination on prior assessment of innovation potential and prior protection of the result; the cost of protection is eligible. If the Agency disagrees with a dissemination activity, it will assist the Awa...
How are Booster grant proposals evaluated and selected?
The evaluation committee assesses whether the proposal meets each award criterion and gives a GO or NO GO. Proposals receiving at least two GO are selected; those not receiving at least two GO are rejected. A rejected applicant may be invited to resubmit an ad...