Library FAQ
What are the EIC's strategic goals?
Six goals: be investor of choice; crowd in EUR 30-50bn into deep tech; pull through high-risk critical technologies; increase European unicorns/scale-ups; catalyse impacts from public research; and achieve operational excellence.
What does the EIC Transition support and who can apply?
Validation and demonstration of technologies in application-relevant environments and business readiness. Single applicants (SMEs, spin-offs, start-ups, research organisations, universities) or small consortia (2–5 entities). Grants up to EUR 2.5 million.
What economic security safeguards apply to participation and investments?
Eligibility restrictions can bar entities directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible third countries from participating as beneficiaries in Accelerator grant-only actions where justified; investment agreements include economic security safeguards for Ac...
What is the EIC Pathfinder call for and who can apply?
Advanced research to validate scientific basis of breakthrough technologies. Open call: only consortia; Challenges call: smaller consortia or single applicants and larger consortia. Grants up to EUR 4 million (higher if justified).
What is the EIC STEP Scale Up call and who can apply?
Provides large investments to scale-up strategic technologies for Europe. Single startups and SMEs, small mid-caps, and investors on behalf of eligible companies may apply. Investment component EUR 10–30 million.
What is the purpose of the EIC Work Programme 2026?
To set out how the EIC will allocate over EUR 1.424 billion in 2026, define calls for applications, types of support, how to apply and how selection decisions are taken.
What is the Transition 2026 deadline and budget?
Deadline: 16/09/2026. Indicative budget: EUR 100 million.
What types of support does the EIC offer?
Grants, equity investments via the EIC Fund, prizes and Business Acceleration Services (coaching, mentoring, expertise and ecosystem access).
Where can potential applicants find more information and apply?
More information is on the EIC website; support is available via National Contact Points and the Enterprise Europe Network; applications are submitted through the Funding & Tenders Portal (also accessible via the EIC website).
Which main funding schemes are included in the 2026 Work Programme?
EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges, EIC Accelerator, and EIC STEP Scale Up, plus prizes and supporting actions.
Who can apply to Advanced Innovation Challenges and what is the 2026 budget?
Single applicants (SMEs, spin-offs, start-ups, research organisations, universities) or small consortia (2–3 entities). Indicative budget: EUR 6 million in 2026 (EUR 25 million in 2027). Deadlines include 26/02/2026 and 18/06/2027 for the second stage.
Who is eligible for the EIC Accelerator and what funding does it provide?
Single start-ups and SMEs (including spin-offs), individuals intending to launch a start-up/SME and, in some cases, small mid-caps (<499 employees). Grant component up to EUR 2.5 million; investment component EUR 1–10 million; grant-only or investment-only...
Who should read the EIC Work Programme 2026?
Innovative researchers, startups, SMEs, scale-ups, funders and other organisations or individuals interested in EIC funding and support, to understand objectives, eligibility and application processes.
Are EIC calls thematic or open?
The majority of funding is awarded through open calls with no predefined thematic priorities ('EIC Open') designed to support technologies and innovations across fields.
Does the Work Programme address open access and intellectual property rights?
Yes, the Work Programme includes a policy on open access and intellectual property rights (referenced but details not provided in this chunk).
How are proposals evaluated across the different EIC schemes?
Evaluation is tailored by scheme: Pathfinder uses peer review with weighted criteria and thresholds; Transition is remote scoring and ranking with top applicants invited to face-to-face interviews decided by binary GO/NO GO; Accelerator uses remote evaluation...
How does the EIC manage projects after funding is awarded?
EIC Programme Managers proactively manage projects and portfolios: funded projects must define milestones for periodic reviews by independent experts. Based on reviews, support may continue, be amended, or be suspended/terminated. Reviews can trigger access to...
How is the 2023 funding organised and what are linkage measures between schemes?
Funding is organised into Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator schemes. Linkages include Booster grants to ongoing Pathfinder/Transition projects, a future Marketplace to connect research with entrepreneurs/investors, and a Fast Track to accelerate successfu...
How were the EIC Challenges selected?
Most Challenge areas differ from previous years and many were designed to support broader EU policy objectives (e.g., RePowerEU, Chips Act, food security). The selection methodology and wider areas considered are provided in the EIC Emerging Technologies Repor...
What additional support does the EIC provide besides funding?
All EIC Awardees, and selected applicants, access EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) providing expertise, connections to corporates and investors, ecosystem actors, and the EIC also runs prizes and other activities.
What are the main EIC funding schemes?
EIC Pathfinder (advanced research), EIC Transition (transforming research results into innovation opportunities), and EIC Accelerator (support for individual companies to develop and scale up breakthrough innovations).
What are the six strategic goals of the EIC?
1) Be the investor of choice for visionary ideas; 2) Crowd in €30–50 billion into European deep tech; 3) Pull through high-risk technologies in critical areas and open strategic autonomy; 4) Increase the number of European unicorns and scale ups; 5) Catalyse i...
What is the aim of the EIC?
To identify and support breakthrough technologies and game-changing innovations with potential to scale internationally and become market leaders, supporting all stages from research to scaling up start-ups and SMEs.
What is the EIC Work Programme 2023?
The annual legal document prepared following the advice of the EIC Board and adopted by the European Commission that sets out how the European Innovation Council will allocate its funding in 2023 under Horizon Europe.