Library FAQ
What are EIC Business Acceleration Services?
They are tailor-made services for EIC Community members aiming at commercialisation and scaling up of EIC innovations and companies through access to coaches, mentors, expertise, training, global partners, ecosystems and peers.
What are EIC Juries and how do they operate?
EIC Juries are panels of independent investors, entrepreneurs and external experts who conduct face-to-face interviews (physical or virtual) with applicants to EIC Transition and Accelerator calls as a critical part of the selection process; in specified cases...
What are EIC Programme Managers and what do they do?
EIC Programme Managers are officials appointed by the granting authority to manage one or more EIC Portfolios; they are high-level experts appointed for a limited duration to develop visions for breakthrough technologies and proactively manage portfolios to ac...
What are the eligibility and consortium requirements for EIC Pathfinder Open?
This call is open for collaborative research and requires a coordinator submitting on behalf of a consortium of at least three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with at least one entity established...
What funding and additional support does EIC Pathfinder Open provide?
The total indicative budget is EUR 168 million; funded projects receive a Research and Innovation Action grant with a funding rate of 100% of eligible costs, with EUR 3 million considered appropriate (larger amounts may be requested if justified); previous EIC...
What is a Seal of Excellence and what does it provide?
A Seal of Excellence is a certification awarded to individual SMEs that meet funding criteria for EIC Transition or Accelerator but lack sufficient level of risk or need for Union support; it provides access to Business Acceleration Services and facilitates fu...
What is EIC Pathfinder Open intended to support?
EIC Pathfinder Open supports early stage development of radically new future technologies based on high-risk/high-gain science-towards-technology breakthrough research at low TRLs (1-4), aiming to provide proof of principle for the envisioned technology.
What is the application deadline and submission method for EIC Pathfinder Open?
The call deadline is 19 May 2021 at 17:00 Brussels local time, and applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal.
What is the definition of SMEs under the EIC?
SMEs are enterprises employing fewer than 250 persons and having either an annual turnover not exceeding EUR 50 million or an annual balance sheet total not exceeding EUR 43 million; this definition includes start-ups under the EIC.
What is the difference between EIC Project officers and EIC Programme Managers?
EIC Project officers are officials appointed to manage an individual action, whereas EIC Programme Managers manage one or more Portfolios and proactively steer portfolios toward breakthroughs.
What is the EIC Forum?
The EIC Forum is a platform bringing different innovation drivers and governance levels together to discuss relevant policy issues and to support and complement initiatives undertaken in Horizon Europe.
What is the role and composition of the EIC Board?
The EIC Board oversees strategy and implementation of EIC activities, provides advice on EIC work programmes, comprises 15-20 leading innovators and researchers including a President, and is appointed by the European Commission; it is due to be established in...
What is the role of the EIC Fund in the Accelerator scheme?
The EIC Fund decides on and manages the investment component of EIC Accelerator blended finance; investment decisions are taken by the EIC Fund’s Board of Directors following recommendations by the Investment Committee and guided by the EIC Fund’s Investment G...
What rules apply to EIC Board members and EIC Programme Managers?
They are subject to strict rules concerning conflicts of interest and confidentiality.
Which instruments were not introduced in this EIC work programme and why?
Inducement Prizes, further actions to support procurements of innovation, and the EIC Fellowship scheme were not introduced because further preparatory work is needed to design and implement them.
Which organisations may receive support from the EIC to proactively seek and support applicants?
Support may be foreseen for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (and its Knowledge and Innovation Communities) and the Enterprise Europe Network.
Who are EIC beneficiaries?
EIC funded projects and companies are the consortia, institutions and/or companies named in an EIC grant agreement or contract to receive EIC funding; in agreements they are called 'beneficiaries'.
Who are EIC expert evaluators and where are they selected from?
EIC expert evaluators are external independent experts who assess funding applications against the work programme criteria and are selected from the Funding & Tender Opportunities portal Expert Database.
How did EIC financing change in 2020?
From 2014–2019 support was grant-only (up to €2.5M); in 2020 the EIC piloted blended finance via the EIC Fund, combining grants with equity investments up to €15M.
How does the EIC Accelerator selection process work?
Start-ups can submit ideas continuously, prepare a full application with EIC coaches and an AI tool for regular cutoffs, undergo an initial assessment by 4 evaluators within 4 weeks and a full assessment by 3 evaluators, then pitch to a jury (up to 6 members);...
How does the EIC connect its beneficiaries with investors?
Through pitching events, a database of more than 400 investors (including VCs and business angels), and collaborations with organisations and stock exchanges; 40 pitching sessions have produced about 40% follow-up discussions between companies and investors.
How many EIC Fund investments were concluded between January and July 2021 and what was their scale?
The EIC Fund concluded 137 investments out of 159 companies recommended for equity support, representing over €600 million of investments across 23 EU countries.
How many start-ups and SMEs did the EIC support between 2014 and 2020?
5,500 start-ups and SMEs in 39 countries received support, with €3.1 billion in grant funding and €9.6 billion in follow-up investments.
What are EIC Seals of Excellence and how prevalent are they?
Seals of Excellence certify high-quality applicants who meet EIC standards but were not funded; more than 3,800 Seals were awarded between October 2019 and December 2020, and over 30 national or regional funding schemes in 15 countries support Seal companies.