Library FAQ
Where can I find more details about award categories and portfolio considerations?
Further information and details will be provided in the EIC Pathfinder Challenge Guides.
Can the EIC Fund enter into contracts or maintain business relationships with institutions or individuals listed on sanction lists?
No. The EIC Fund shall not enter into any contract or maintain a business relationship with, nor make funds available directly or indirectly to, any institution or individual listed on sanction lists.
How are investment decisions by the EIC Fund taken?
The EIC Fund Manager makes investment and divestment decisions on companies selected through the EIC Accelerator following due diligence performed by the EIB according to the EIC Investment Guidelines, managing the portfolio in coordination with grant support...
How does the EIC collaborate with the EIT and its KICs?
Collaboration includes a Fast Track process allowing EIT KIC-selected companies to enter EIC Accelerator evaluation at stage two, access by EIC beneficiaries to services via BAS partnerships, the Next Generation Innovation Talents secondment scheme, and joint...
How is 'deep tech' defined in the EIC Work Programme?
Deep tech is technology based on cutting-edge scientific advances and discoveries, characterized by the need to stay at the technological forefront through interaction with new lab results, with the potential to deliver transformative solutions rooted in cutti...
What are EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)?
BAS are support services for EIC Awardees and other eligible organisations to support innovation development, commercialisation and scaling-up, including access to coaches and training, services of EIC Ecosystem Partners, and access to global partners.
What are EIC Ecosystem Partners?
EIC Ecosystem Partners are organisations selected to provide BAS or other support to EIC Awardees, including investors, business angels, mentors, innovation agencies, clusters, accelerators, incubators, technology transfer offices, KICs, members of the Enterpr...
What are EIC Programme Managers and an EIC Portfolio?
An EIC Portfolio is a set of actions with thematic similarities or contributing to the same EIC Challenge; EIC Programme Managers are high-level experts appointed to the Agency for a limited duration to develop visions for breakthrough technologies and proacti...
What is EISMEA in the EIC context?
EISMEA (the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency) is the Agency entrusted by the European Commission with implementing Horizon Europe EIC activities, except for the EIC Fund.
What is the EIC Community platform?
The EIC Community platform is a virtual platform available to EIC Awardees and Awardees of various Seals of Excellence that facilitates links to BAS and enables discussions, exchanges and matchmaking with ecosystem actors.
What is the EIC Fund and who manages it?
The EIC Fund is an alternative investment fund established to invest in companies selected through EIC Accelerator calls; it is managed by an external alternative investment fund manager (the EIC Fund Manager) with the European Investment Bank (EIB) supporting...
What is the Marketplace mentioned in the Work Programme?
The Marketplace is an EIC-dedicated space, supported by the Horizon Results Platform, where results from EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects will be made available to cross-fertilise activities and stimulate innovation; it is expected to become available du...
What is the Next Generation Innovation Talents scheme?
The scheme supports EU-funded researchers from EIC, ERC, EIT and MSCA to carry out an innovation internship in a startup funded by the EIC or EIT, aiming to give researchers direct experience of innovation and entrepreneurship while allowing startups to access...
What is the outlook for the EIC Work Programme 2026?
The 2026 Work Programme will be prepared following advice from the EIC Board; main calls on Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator are envisaged to continue without major changes; the STEP Scale Up call experience will be assessed; challenges will be identifie...
What is the role and composition of the EIC Board?
The EIC Board oversees the strategy and implementation of EIC activities and advises on Work Programmes; it comprises 20 leading innovators and researchers plus a full-time President, is appointed by the European Commission following an open call, and its memb...
What may happen if an entity breaches the EIC's investment-related obligations?
A breach of these obligations may lead to the interruption of the equity investment process.
Which EU rules and procedures does the EIC apply regarding money laundering, terrorism financing and tax-related risks?
The EIC applies the EU rules, policies and procedures addressing money laundering, terrorism financing, tax avoidance, tax fraud and tax evasion contained in Article 158(2)(a) of the Financial Regulation, and complies with the related prohibitions in Article 1...
Which list of jurisdictions does the EIC apply for EIC Accelerator investments regarding tax purposes?
The EIC applies the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes issued by the Council (OJ C 438, 19.12.2017, p. 5) in respect of EIC Accelerator investments.
Who are considered EIC Awardees or EIC recipients?
EIC Awardees or recipients are beneficiaries identified in EIC Grant agreements (Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator), investees for EIC Accelerator (including EIC STEP Scale-up Call), and winners of EIC Prizes.
Who are EIC business coaches?
EIC business coaches are independent external experts with entrepreneurial and investment backgrounds who provide business development insights and guidance to EIC Awardees and applicants as part of BAS.
Can EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition projects be asked to share their results?
Yes. EIC Programme Managers may request awardees to actively share information about results (including preliminary findings) within their EIC Portfolio and with other relevant EIC projects and parties, as detailed in Annex 6.
Do inventors of EIC Pathfinder or Transition results retain access and support for further development?
Yes. Inventors will be entrusted with appropriate access for further development and exploitation and are eligible for additional financial support and services offered by the EIC, as detailed in Annex 6.
How are investment decisions made for companies selected via the EIC Accelerator?
The EIC Fund Manager makes investment and divestment decisions by following a due diligence performed by the EIB according to the EIC Investment Guidelines; the manager oversees the invested portfolio supported by the EIB and in close coordination with grant s...
How is confidentiality managed when EIC Awardees share results?
Sharing is subject to non-disclosure obligations regarding confidential results, and EIC Awardees retain the right on a case-by-case basis to fully disclose or not their intellectual property.