Library FAQ
What environmental and AI-related compliance is required for projects?
Projects must comply with the 'do no significant harm' principle of the EU Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and not contravene Green Deal objectives (e.g., proposals to increase efficiency of fossil fuels will not be funded). Where relevant, projects must also com...
What evaluation methods does the EIC use for proposals?
Pathfinder uses peer review where experts score and rank proposals. Transition is evaluated remotely then top applicants are invited to face-to-face interviews decided by a binary GO/NO GO. Accelerator proposals are evaluated remotely and at face-to-face inter...
What is the EIC Work Programme 2021?
The annual work programme for the European Innovation Council (EIC) funded under Horizon Europe; it is the legal document setting how the EIC will allocate its funding for 2021, prepared following advice of the EIC pilot Advisory Board and adopted by the Europ...
What is the role of EIC Programme Managers?
EIC Programme Managers actively manage projects and portfolios: they identify, develop and implement business and technology visions, oversee milestone-based reviews, request amendments, deploy Business Acceleration Services, and may recommend Fast track entri...
What key performance indicators (KPIs) does the EIC target in this work programme?
Targets include supporting impact-oriented companies of which over 90% address Sustainable Development Goals; crowding in co-investments and follow-up investments of 3–5 times EIC funding; effectively bridging research to deployment; and achieving a balanced p...
What main funding instruments does the EIC provide?
Three main instruments: the Pathfinder (advanced research), the Transition (transforming research results into innovation opportunities), and the Accelerator (support for companies to develop and scale up breakthrough innovations). All are complemented by EIC...
What measures does the EIC take to improve gender balance and support women innovators?
At least 40% of the EIC Board, Investment Committee, juries and expert evaluators will be women (objective to reach 50%); the EIC aims for 40% of companies invited to face-to-face Accelerator interviews to have female CEOs; Business Acceleration Services will...
What measures support applicants from widening countries?
National Contact Points and Enterprise Europe Network members will provide additional targeted support. All Accelerator applicants receiving a GO on their short applications receive three days of coaching for full application preparation. Applicants awarded th...
What project review and milestone process applies to EIC-funded projects?
Applicants must define milestones used for periodic reviews. Reviews assess completion of activities against objectives, are supported by independent experts and overseen by Programme Managers. Outcomes can include continuation, requested amendments, suspensio...
Who should read this document?
Potential applicants, innovators, and stakeholders interested in EIC support for breakthrough technologies and scaling start-ups/SMEs, and those seeking information on EIC mission, organisation and application procedures.
How are companies selected for the EIC Accelerator?
Startups and scaleups apply anytime; independent experts assess social and economic impact, market-creation potential, risk and business plan. Top applicants are invited to live pitch to a jury of experienced investors and entrepreneurs who make the final deci...
How does the EIC support innovators beyond funding?
The EIC provides tailor-made business coaching and acceleration services via a network of 750 international business coaches, access to global business and finance partners, and a virtual EIC Community Platform for networking.
What are some gender-balance figures within the EIC portfolio?
Within the EIC portfolio, 30% of researchers involved in Pathfinder are female, 17% of companies selected in Accelerat or blended finance calls are women-led, and a May funding round resulted in 34% of selected companies being women-led.
What are the two main funding schemes of the EIC Pilot covered in the report?
The EIC Pathfinder, supporting early applied research, and the EIC Accelerator, supporting commercialisation and scale-up.
What budget did the EIC have in the pilot and what is the planned budget under Horizon Europe?
The EIC pilot budget was €3 billion (2018–2020) and the full EIC under Horizon Europe is expected to have over €10 billion (2021–2027).
What funding and support does the EIC Accelerator offer?
The Accelerator uses blended finance (grant or grant plus equity) of up to €15 million or more, targeting SMEs with highly risky, non-bankable ideas and scale-up potential.
What funding does the EIC Pathfinder provide and who is it for?
The Pathfinder provides grants up to €4 million targeting breakthrough research projects exploring radically new areas with market-creation potential.
What is blended finance in the context of the EIC?
Blended finance under the EIC combines grant funding with equity investments (direct or quasi-equity) to support and scale high-risk innovations.
What is the EIC Community Platform?
The EIC Community Platform is a virtual meeting place where companies and researchers can connect, share experiences, find investors and coaches, and leverage business partnerships.
What is the EIC Fund and what does it do?
The EIC Fund is the EIC's investment arm that provides investments from €0.5 million to €15 million to companies selected for blended finance under the Accelerator, making direct equity or quasi-equity investments for the first time by the Commission.
What is the EIC's wider ambition for the European innovation ecosystem?
The EIC aims to create a more connected innovation ecosystem across national and regional agencies, universities, tech transfer offices, accelerators, buyers, stock exchanges, corporates and investors to build a true European Innovation Area.
What is the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot?
The EIC Pilot (2018–2020) is a Commission initiative to identify, support and accelerate breakthrough technologies and game-changing innovations, tested ahead of full implementation under Horizon Europe from 2021.
What is the role of the EIC Advisory Board?
Appointed in June 2019 with 22 members, the Advisory Board provides strategic leadership, oversees the pilot rollout, and led the strategy and design of the EIC under Horizon Europe.
What KPI storylines has the EIC defined to measure success?
The EIC defined three KPI storylines: societal impact (contribution to SDGs and sustainability), economic impact (contribution to GDP and jobs), and attractiveness (hallmark of investment with equality and gender balance).