Library FAQ
How much funding does the EIC have?
Over €10 billion of funding.
On which legacy programmes do the EIC schemes build?
They build on the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) programme, the SME instrument, and EIC Pilot activities under Horizon 2020.
What are the EIC’s three core schemes and their focus?
EIC Pathfinder supports deep tech research and development; EIC Transition carries ideas from lab to business; EIC Accelerator supports startup development and scaling up, including investments via the EIC Fund from seed to early growth.
What did the expert-based horizon-scanning involve?
Qualitative data collection via surveys and eight participatory workshops engaging 155 top-level experts and the ERC, collecting 1,037 initial signals and trends and prioritising 58 top signals for further exploration.
What did the final in-house review focus on and what are Pathfinder figures?
It combined JRC results with an internal review focused on the EIC Pathfinder Open programme; the Pathfinder attracted over 3,000 applications and supported nearly 250 early-stage high-risk/high-gain projects (Horizon Europe 2021–23).
What did the literature review component consist of?
Desk research starting from 170 sources, narrowing to 24 reports for deeper dives, and contributing to a final list of 106 signals and trends mapped by JRC and external experts.
What does Chapter 1 of the report highlight?
Novel technologies and innovations submitted to the EIC under Horizon Europe, with emphasis on early-stage research projects funded after independent expert review, and some areas that attracted high-quality proposals but have not been funded to date.
What does Chapter 2 of the report provide?
The perspectives of the 10 EIC Programme Managers through ‘deep dives’ that consider potential of technologies, overview EIC activity and trends, and provide insights on gaps and barriers.
What is the European Innovation Council (EIC)?
A European Commission initiative, part of the Horizon Europe programme, established as a flagship to identify, develop and scale up emerging deep technologies and breakthrough innovations.
What main methodological streams were used to identify topics for the report?
Text mining and scientometric analysis (JRC TIM Analytics), expert-based horizon-scanning via surveys and workshops, and literature review of third-party reports.
What must the EIC do to achieve its mission?
Be at the forefront of developments in science and technology and identify technologies emerging from the science base that could create new value propositions and/or disrupt existing markets.
What role did JRC TIM Analytics play in the analysis?
It conducted text mining and analysis aggregating algorithmic techniques and scientometric indicators focused on EIC Pathfinder Open and Transition Open calls (2021–22) to detect signals of innovation, validated in a pilot with patent and publication data.
What was the main selection criterion for topics presented in Chapter 1?
The relative novelty of the topics to the EIC; topics were not prioritised based on potential impacts nor benchmarked against global trends.
Which technological and economic sectors are highlighted as part of the EIC’s strong portfolio?
Examples include renewable hydrogen, cell and gene therapies, quantum technologies, and agrifood.
Which topics are identified in Chapter 1 of the report?
Liquid-based memories for computing; Metabolic MRI; Scaling up mRNA-based therapies; 3D interconnects based on nanomaterials; Superhuman robot enabled surgery; Electronics based on biomolecules; Exosome based drug delivery systems; Novel qubits; Room-temperatu...
Who supported the identification of technologies for Chapter 1?
An ongoing partnership with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) and discussions with EIC Programme Managers.
Are proposals with nuclear applications eligible for the EIC Accelerator?
Yes. The Work Programme clarifies that proposals with nuclear applications are eligible for the EIC Accelerator.
How are proposals evaluated for Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator?
Pathfinder: peer review with weighted criteria and thresholds. Transition: remote scoring and ranking, then jury interviews for top applicants using binary GO/NO GO. Accelerator: remote evaluation and interviews using binary GO/NO GO; Step 1 short proposals ar...
How does proactive project and portfolio management work?
EIC Programme Managers review project milestones periodically with independent experts, may request amendments, deploy additional BAS, suspend or terminate projects not meeting milestones, and include projects in thematic or Challenge portfolios with shared ro...
How do I submit an application or get national support?
Applications are submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (accessible via the EIC website). Support and advice are available via National Contact Points of Horizon Europe and the Enterprise Europe Network.
How much funding does the EIC allocate for 2025?
The Work Programme sets out how the EIC will allocate over EUR 1.4 billion for 2025.
What are EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)?
Externally contracted, bespoke services provided to all EIC awardees, including coaching and mentoring, access to expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem partners to accelerate growth and leverage EIC investments.
What are Fast Track and Plug in schemes?
Fast Track accelerates access for successful projects from other EU programmes to the EIC Accelerator. Plug in gives access for projects stemming from national programmes. Both aim to improve linkages between funding schemes.
What are the main changes introduced in the 2025 Work Programme?
Key changes include introducing the STEP Scale Up pilot call, reducing the EIC Accelerator maximum investment component from EUR 15 million to EUR 10 million, broader Seal of Excellence award rules in Transition, increased Transition jury invitations and GO re...