Library FAQ
What non-financial support does the EIC Pathfinder offer?
Projects receive access to EIC coaching, mentoring and networking, and may access follow-up funding through EIC Transition activities and the EIC Accelerator.
What scientific outputs have Pathfinder projects produced?
The portfolio has produced 4,324 publications (3,010 in peer-reviewed journals), over 61% published in high-profile journals; there are 112 projects with public-private publications accounting for 581 such publications.
Are there additional supports for Transition projects besides the grant?
Yes — projects are eligible for additional fixed-amount portfolio grants up to EUR 50,000, can submit Accelerator proposals via Fast Track, and receive free Business Acceleration Services and matchmaking events.
Do applicants need to be participants or IP owners of the prior project?
You do not need to be a participant or PI, but you must demonstrate you own or have the necessary rights to commercialise the relevant IPR and include written evidence of agreements from the IPR owner(s).
How does the Accelerator application process work?
Submit a short application any time via the Portal/AI platform; receive result in ~4 weeks. If successful, prepare a full application (cut-off dates in 2021: 9 June and 6 October) with access to an EIC business coach (3 days remote). Full applications are remo...
How long are the proposal sections and what is the page limit?
Sections 1 to 3 of Part B must consist of a maximum of 25 A4 pages.
What are the evaluation criteria and thresholds for EIC Transition?
Excellence (threshold 4/5), Impact (threshold 4/5), and Quality and efficiency of implementation (threshold 3/5). Specific subcriteria address novelty, feasibility, market fit, economic/societal benefits, team quality, milestones/work plan and resource allocat...
What are the time limits relating to the linked eligible project for Transition applications?
If the eligible project is still active you may apply if it started more than 12 months before the Transition call deadline; if completed you may apply within 24 months of its end date from the call deadline.
What funding does the EIC Accelerator provide?
The Accelerator offers blended finance: an investment component (equity or quasi-equity) and a grant component to reimburse eligible innovation costs. Total call budget is EUR 592.5 million (EUR 143.05 million from NextGenerationEU). Grant component normally s...
What funding is available for EIC Transition projects?
The total indicative budget for the call is EUR 59.6 million. Grants are Research and Innovation Actions covering eligible costs; the EIC considers requests up to EUR 2.5 million appropriate though larger amounts may be requested with justification. Funding ra...
What happens at the face-to-face interview stage for Transition?
A jury (max six members) interviews the proposal; up to five persons named in the proposal may represent it. The jury gives a GO or NO GO recommendation and provides jury feedback if invited.
What happens during due diligence for the Accelerator investment component?
The EIC Fund conducts compliance checks, due diligence, and syndication. The Commission may reject the investment based on due diligence results or other issues; in such cases the project may start with the grant component first with the investment conditional...
What is EIC Transition?
EIC Transition funds activities that mature and validate novel technologies beyond proof of principle, and develop a business case and model to increase market readiness and investment-readiness.
What is the application deadline and where do you apply for EIC Transition in 2021?
For this call the deadline is 22 September 2021 at 17:00 Brussels time. Applications must be submitted via the European Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal.
What is the evaluation process and timeline for Transition proposals?
First evaluation by EIC expert evaluators with results and feedback within 9 weeks after the call deadline. Successful proposals are invited to a face-to-face interview around 13 weeks after the deadline; interview results communicated within 4 weeks from the...
What is the purpose of the EIC Accelerator?
The Accelerator supports start-ups and SMEs to scale up high-impact (deep tech) innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones, combining funding and Business Acceleration Services.
What is the Seal of Excellence in the Transition context?
If an individual SME meets all evaluation criteria at the first step but is not selected for funding, it may be awarded a Seal of Excellence.
What outcomes are expected from an EIC Transition project?
A demonstrated technology effective for its intended application, a business model and business plan toward market development, and formally protected intellectual property.
What types of activities should a Transition project include?
A suitable mix of research, technology development and validation to raise TRL to about 5–6, plus market-readiness work (market research, business case, IP protection, regulation, certification, standardisation) and user-centric validation.
Which prior projects make you eligible to apply for EIC Transition?
Applications must build on results from eligible projects: EIC Pathfinder (including pilot Pathfinder, H2020 FET-Open, FET-Proactive), FET Flagships (including ERANET under FET) or ERC Proof of Concept projects.
Who can apply for EIC Transition (legal configuration)?
A single legal entity (mono-beneficiary) established in a Member State or Associated Country if an SME or research performing organisation, or a multi-beneficiary consortium of 2–5 independent legal entities (consortia of two must be from different Member Stat...
Who can apply to the EIC Accelerator?
Eligible applicants include a single SME established in a Member State or Associated Country; a small mid-cap (up to 500 employees) established in a Member State/Associated Country for rapid scale-up and investment-only; or natural persons/legal entities inten...
Are proposals directed towards nuclear energy applications eligible here?
No. Research proposals within the scope of Annex I to the Euratom Treaty (nuclear energy applications) must be submitted to relevant calls under the Euratom Research and Training Programme.
How are Pathfinder Challenge proposals evaluated and how does portfolio selection work?
Evaluation is two‑step: remote evaluation by at least three experts (median scoring per criterion) with a rebuttal (maximum two A4 pages), followed by an evaluation committee of experts and EIC Programme Managers that assesses proposals passing the first step...