Library FAQ
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...
How does the evaluation committee decide the final score for Open proposals?
A different set of EIC expert evaluators (the evaluation committee) considers the remote score and consensus discussions, taking into account rebuttal comments, and decides the final score, focusing on proposals with diverging opinions that have a realistic ch...
How is a Pathfinder Open proposal evaluated remotely?
Each proposal is evaluated and scored remotely by at least four EIC expert evaluators. For each award criterion the remote score is the median of evaluators’ scores, and the overall remote score is the weighted sum of the three median criterion scores.
What additional support do successful applicants receive besides funding?
Successful applicants receive tailor‑made access to Business Acceleration Services, interactions with EIC Programme Managers, and may be eligible for EIC Booster grants (up to EUR 50,000), to submit EIC Transition or EIC Accelerator Fast Track proposals, and t...
What are the award criteria, thresholds and weights for EIC Pathfinder Open?
Excellence: threshold 4/5, weight 60%; Impact: threshold 3.5/5, weight 20%; Quality and efficiency of implementation: threshold 3/5, weight 20%.
What are the basic consortium eligibility requirements for collaborative proposals?
The coordinator must submit the proposal on behalf of a consortium including at least three independent legal entities established in different countries: at least one in a Member State and at least two other independent legal entities each established in diff...
What are the key eligibility rules for applying to a Pathfinder Challenge?
Proposals must meet general eligibility requirements and any Challenge‑specific requirements. Challenges support collaborative or individual projects from consortia or single legal entities established in a Member State or Associated Country. For consortia, ru...
What are the submission deadline, page limit and timeline for Pathfinder Challenges?
Deadline: 18 October 2023 at 17:00 Brussels time. Submit via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal. Sections 1–3 of Part B must be a maximum of 25 A4 pages. You will be informed about the outcome within 5 months (indicative) and, if accepted, can expect...
What budget and typical EU contribution are indicated for the Pathfinder Challenges?
The total indicative budget for the Challenges call is EUR 163.5 million, expected to be split approximately equally across Challenges. The EIC considers proposals requesting up to EUR 4 million EU contribution as appropriate, though larger amounts may be requ...
What happens after a proposal is retained for funding in a Challenge?
The coordinator receives a letter with next steps. Grant agreement preparation and signature is expected within three months. The Project Officer and EIC Programme Manager will support you to plan portfolio activities and prepare the Challenge roadmap. During...
What is an EIC Pathfinder Challenge and how are projects managed within it?
EIC Pathfinder Challenges build portfolios of multidisciplinary, high‑risk/high‑gain projects addressing a specific Challenge. A dedicated Programme Manager establishes a common roadmap, proactively steers the portfolio, and expects projects to interact, excha...
What is the rebuttal procedure after the remote evaluation for the Open call?
You receive evaluators’ comments about 1.5–2.5 months after the deadline and have eight calendar days (by 17:00 Brussels time) to submit a reply of maximum two A4 pages. Replies must not alter proposal content and should address misunderstandings or errors; th...
What is the scope of the EIC Pathfinder Challenge 'Clean and efficient cooling'?
The Challenge covers cooling as an essential process across society with applications in built environment (HVAC, building health and comfort, interoperable urban energy systems), data centres, electronics and superconductors, food production/processing/storag...