Library FAQ
What is microbial biomining?
A biotechnological process that uses extremophilic, acidophilic microorganisms (thriving at about pH 0.05–3.0) to oxidise metal sulphides and release metal ions, enabling extraction of metals from ores, solid materials, water, and waste streams; it also includ...
What is new about recent developments in in-space servicing robotics?
A shift from isolated demonstrations to integrated, repeatable maintenance and reuse concepts, including robotic-assisted assembly, coordinated clusters of simpler robotic arms, in-orbit additive manufacturing, and feasibility studies for reusing space debris...
What kinds of operations can in-space servicing robotics perform?
Inspection, repair, refuelling, relocation, assembly, end-of-life handling of spacecraft and orbital assets, and extraction, processing, and transformation of materials present in orbit.
What recent advances have been made in microbial biomining?
Extending biomining to mine tailings, industrial residues, e‑waste and wastewater; improvements in metal selectivity and extraction via bioengineered surfaces, synthetic peptides, customised microbial collections; use of multi-omics, synthetic biology, adaptiv...
What recent developments improve electrochemical destruction of PFAS and plastics?
Advanced electrode materials and architectures (including three-dimensional graphene-based electrodes) that enhance electrocatalytic activity, improve pollutant–electrode interaction, suppress unwanted by-products, and enable operation at ambient conditions wi...
Which metals can microbial biomining target?
Gold, silver, uranium, nickel, cobalt, copper, lithium, and zinc, among others.
Which thermoelectric materials and approaches are highlighted as emerging?
Established systems (bismuth telluride, lead telluride, skutterudites, half-Heuslers) and emerging classes (magnesium-based compounds, organic and polymer thermoelectrics, organic–inorganic hybrids), plus approaches using topological band structures, magnetic...
Why are electrochemical systems for contaminant destruction important for Europe?
They address regulatory and public-health priorities (e.g., Drinking Water Directive, REACH) by enabling decentralised, reagent-free treatment of PFAS and plastics, reducing environmental liabilities and improving control over advanced water-treatment capabili...
How are EIC Pathfinder proposals evaluated?
Evaluation is in two steps: remote evaluation by EIC expert evaluators against the award criteria, then an EIC evaluation committee reviews proposals passing the first step to select the best portfolio to meet the Challenge objectives.
How are EIC Transition proposals selected and what happens at the interview?
A pool of the best ranked proposals requesting about double the available budget may be invited to interview. The EIC aims to adjust to ensure at least 30% of applications are from women-led SMEs/consortia where possible. At interview up to five persons (who m...
What are the 2022 cut-off dates and the evaluation timeline for EIC Transition proposals?
Cut-off dates are 4 May 2022 and 28 September 2022 at 17:00 Brussels time. Remote evaluation results are provided within 9 weeks after the cut-off; interviews are organised approximately 13 weeks after the cut-off; and interview results are communicated within...
What are the award criteria and thresholds for EIC Pathfinder Challenges?
Three criteria: Excellence (threshold 4/5, weight 60%), Impact (threshold 3.5/5, weight 20%), and Quality and efficiency of the implementation (threshold 3/5, weight 20%). Subcriteria include objectives and relevance, novelty, methodology, potential impact, in...
What are the award criteria and thresholds for EIC Transition Open and Challenges?
Excellence (threshold 4/5), Impact (threshold 4/5) and Quality and efficiency of implementation (threshold 3/5). Subcriteria include technological breakthrough, credibility and feasibility of objectives, methodology (including gender dimension and stakeholder...
What are the specific objectives for the CO2 and nitrogen Challenge?
Develop a proof of concept or lab-scale validated technology to manage and valorise CO2, N, or both into value-added net zero commodities, chemicals, fuels, or energy vectors, using non-critical raw materials, systems integration and life-cycle/circular approa...
What does the Towards the Healthcare Continuum Challenge seek?
Develop low-TRL systems and technologies for unobtrusive, continuous health monitoring with new personal imaging and sensing modalities, achieve PoC with preliminary safety and performance, make the case for HTA-acceptable solutions, and outline integration in...
What financial support is available for EIC Pathfinder Challenges?
The total indicative budget is EUR 167 million, expected to be allocated approximately equally across the challenges. Funded proposals receive a Research and Innovation Action grant covering eligible costs, including portfolio activities.
What funding and additional support does EIC Transition provide?
Total indicative budget is EUR 131.36 million (EUR 40.5 million via Next Generation EU). EUR 70.86 million for Transition Open and EUR 60.5 million for Transition Challenges. The EIC considers grants between EUR 0.5 million and EUR 2.5 million for 1–3 years as...
What is EIC Transition and why apply?
EIC Transition funds innovation activities that go beyond lab proof of principle to mature and validate novel technologies in relevant application environments, develop business models and reach TRL 5-6 and market readiness, including regulatory and standardis...
What is expected from the Alternative approaches to Quantum Information Processing, Communication, and Sensing Challenge?
Develop innovative approaches that encode, manipulate or store information in quantum objects or exploit quantum phenomena differently from mainstream approaches, demonstrate proof of principle (TRL 2 to 3/4) and a clear quantifiable advantage over classical a...
What is the aim of the Cardiogenomics Challenge?
To combine genetic testing, multi-omics and clinical phenotyping to improve diagnosis, risk stratification and clinical management of cardiovascular diseases, identify high-significance gene variants and novel targets for first-in-class therapies, and accelera...
What is the focus of the Mid to long term and systems integrated energy storage Challenge?
Support mid/long term storage technologies for stationary applications (including power and thermal storage) with non-CRM, life-cycle driven approaches, for centralised or decentralised applications from large to mid scale.
What is the goal of the DNA-based digital data storage Challenge?
Explore scalable, reliable high-throughput approaches using DNA or certain synthetic alternatives as general data-storage media, develop new coding/decoding/modification approaches with quantitative targets, demonstrate PoC and outline end-to-end use scenarios...
What is the scope of the Carbon dioxide and nitrogen management and valorisation Challenge?
It focuses on new biological, chemical or physical routes that integrate capture/recovery, storage and conversion of CO2 and/or nitrogen species into value-added products and/or net zero commodities, chemicals, fuels and energy vectors, using renewable inputs...
What is the submission deadline and page limit for EIC Pathfinder Challenge proposals?
The call deadline is 19 October 2022 at 17:00 Brussels local time. Sections 1 to 3 of part B must consist of a maximum of 25 A4 pages.