Library FAQ
What is the STEP proposal and how could it affect the EIC?
The Commission proposed a Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) that includes an increased EIC budget to enable larger investments (above EUR 15 million) through the EIC Fund; the Work Programme would be amended if the proposal is adopted.
What role does the European Investment Bank (EIB) play with the EIC Fund?
The EIB supports the EIC Fund as Investment Advisor and performs due diligence to support the EIC Fund Manager's investment and divestment decisions.
Which agency implements EIC activities under Horizon Europe?
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) implements Horizon Europe EIC activities, except for the EIC Fund.
Who are EIC Ecosystem Partners?
Organisations selected to provide EIC Business Acceleration Services or other support, such as investors, mentors, innovation agencies, accelerators, KICs, Enterprise Europe Network members and the European IP Helpdesk.
Who can apply to EIC Pathfinder Open?
Collaborative research consortia coordinated by a coordinator and including at least three independent legal entities established in different countries: at least one in a Member State and two other independents each in different Member States or Associated Co...
How can awardees access EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)?
EIC BAS services are available through the EIC Community platform, a virtual meeting place where awardees can connect, share experiences and form business partnerships.
How does the EIC classify its projects by technology?
Projects are mapped to a taxonomy of 11 primary categories and up to 15 secondaries; each project is assigned a single primary and at least one secondary from the same category and up to three from others.
How does the EIC collaborate with the First Movers Coalition?
Through a strategic collaboration on Innovation Procurement to leverage the purchasing power of global companies and scale next-generation technologies needed for decarbonizing heavy-emitting sectors.
How does the EIC support women innovators?
By prioritising women CEOs for Accelerator interviews, running dedicated initiatives like Women TechEU and a Women Leadership Programme, awarding the annual EU Prize for Women Innovators, and tracking gender participation in programmes.
How has the Co-Investment Support Programme helped companies?
By reviewing pitch material, organising investor meetings, connecting founders with interested investors, and facilitating investments such as Hoba Therapeutics’ Series A first close.
How many EIC Transition projects have been funded under Horizon Europe?
140 projects have been funded to date under Horizon Europe, with a majority involving a commercial partner.
What are Ecosystem Partnerships?
Links that connect beneficiaries to incubation, acceleration, growth and scale-up services, providing sector insights, business development, networking and market knowledge from leading ecosystem players.
What are the gender participation statistics mentioned?
To date 16% of applicants and 19% of successful companies are led by women CEOs; under Pathfinder 28% of project Coordinators and 27% of participants are female.
What does the Co-Investment Support Programme do?
It helps EIC beneficiaries become investor ready and access investors via pitching events and a database of over 800 investors, including VCs and business angels, and supports co-investment opportunities.
What has the EIC Pathfinder achieved so far?
Including Horizon 2020 predecessors, €2.3 billion of funding supported 438 Pathfinder projects that generated 1,686 unique innovations; under Horizon Europe the Pathfinder has supported over 275 early-stage projects.
What internationalisation services does the EIC offer?
Support that brings EIC innovators to trade fairs within and outside Europe and offers soft-landing support in the United States.
What is attosecond science and how is it supported by the EIC?
Attosecond science studies electronic response of matter on attosecond timescales; an EIC Transition project built on ERC-funded basic science and a spin-out, Sphere Ultrafast Photonics, to industrialise ultrafast laser tools for real-time analysis of femtosec...
What is EIC Transition and what funding does it provide?
A Horizon Europe instrument to turn deep tech research into innovations, providing up to €2.5 million for technology maturation, demonstration and business plan development aimed at commercialisation.
What is Tech 2 Market?
A programme to help researchers and innovators from EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects move from lab to market, offering tailored support via Entrepreneurship and Venture Building approaches.
What is the EIC Scaling Club?
A programme launched in 2023 to support 100 deep-tech companies from the EIC portfolio and beyond to help them grow into European tech champions and unicorns; the first cohort launches in April 2024.
What is the First Movers Coalition (FMC)?
An initiative that leverages members’ collective purchasing power to advance critical emerging climate technologies and send a credible demand signal to accelerate adoption in heavy-emitting sectors.
What is the Innovation Procurement Programme?
A programme that supports innovators in accessing markets in Europe and globally by connecting EIC-funded deep tech innovations with corporate buyers, utilities, hospitals and cities to achieve market or policy goals.
What is the NEMO-BMI project supported by the EIC Pathfinder?
A project coordinated by CEA developing a Brain-Computer Interface system based on WIMAGINE® and a brain signal decoder; coupled with spinal cord stimulation it enabled a paraplegic individual to walk naturally and received EIC Transition support for further t...
What is the size of the EIC portfolio since 2021?
Since 2021 the EIC has provided over €4.5 billion supporting over 275 Pathfinder projects, 140 Transition projects and over 500 start-ups and SMEs under the Accelerator.