Library FAQ
Which organisations supported the report’s methodology and assessment?
The analysis was supported by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and informed by all 10 EIC Programme Managers and 25 external experts.
How does the EIC Accelerator application and investment process work?
The Accelerator uses a single application for grant and equity, with due diligence by the European Investment Bank followed by an investment decision by the EIC Fund manager; it offers grants up to EUR 2.5 million and equity investment up to EUR 10 million plu...
How frequently do EIC-catalysed equity investments involve non-domestic investors and cross-border flows?
About 80% of equity investments catalysed by the EIC involve a non-domestic investor, with a majority of those seeing cross-border investment flows within Europe; this is close to double the European average of 43.4%.
How has the EIC targeted critical technology areas and what funding amounts were directed to them?
The EIC built portfolios across critical areas, including EUR 850 million for quantum and semiconductors, EUR 725 million for AI, EUR 700 million for energy generation and storage, EUR 625 million for biotechnology and biomanufacturing, EUR 500 million for adv...
How many high-valued companies has the EIC portfolio produced?
Over 70 companies in the extended portfolio achieved centaur valuations (above EUR 100 million), including six with valuations above EUR 500 million.
How many start-ups and projects does the Horizon Europe EIC portfolio cover (2021–2024)?
The Horizon Europe EIC portfolio covers over 700 start-ups, 400 advanced research projects, and 180 translation projects funded in 2021–2024.
How many unique innovations and spin-out start-ups arose from Pathfinder and Transition projects?
There are over 1,350 unique innovations from Pathfinder and Transition projects, with 75% assessed as market creating or targeting emerging markets, and over 100 start-ups established or in the process of being established to commercialise those results.
How much additional investment has the EIC Fund mobilised and what leverage does it deliver?
The EIC Fund has crowded in over EUR 2.6 billion of additional investment and has leveraged over EUR 3 of additional investment for every euro invested through the Fund.
How much external investment have EIC portfolio companies attracted?
Portfolio companies have attracted over EUR 12 billion of additional investments, primarily from venture capital, with significant cross-border capital flows.
How much support has the EIC allocated since launch in 2021?
Since 2021 the EIC has allocated over EUR 6 billion in support.
What diversity and geographic reach does the EIC report show?
In 2024, 30% of supported companies were women-led (female CEO/CTO/CSO); EIC-supported start-ups and SMEs span 30 countries; and over 20% of research project coordinators and participants were female in 2024.
What does the EIC ‘extended portfolio’ include?
The extended portfolio includes projects and companies funded under the EIC Pilot phase: about 800 start-ups and SMEs from 2018–2020 and 400 technology projects from 2014–2020.
What growth impacts have EIC-supported companies experienced?
For the extended EIC portfolio, companies averaged over 50% employment growth and 55% revenue growth in the two years following EIC support.
What is the EIC Fund and what has it achieved?
The EIC Fund is the EIC’s investment arm. It has signed 384 investment agreements, invested in 272 companies with approved investments worth over EUR 1 billion, and completed over 150 investment rounds (including over 60 in 2024).
What is the EIC’s budget and time frame under Horizon Europe?
The EIC has a budget of over EUR 10 billion under the Horizon Europe Programme for 2021–2027.
What is the European Innovation Council (EIC)?
The EIC is a flagship initiative of the European Commission to turn disruptive European science into commercial propositions and accelerate scale-up of game-changing deep tech innovations.
What is the Trusted Investors Network (TIN)?
TIN is a cohort of over 100 investors assembled by the EIC, mainly private venture funds plus public investment banks and others, collectively representing over EUR 100 billion of assets to support co-investment in European deep tech companies.
What non-financial support does the EIC offer?
The EIC offers tailored Business Acceleration Services, including help to find opportunities with large corporates, specialist infrastructures, and access to public procurement to increase market entry and scaling likelihood.
What types of support does the EIC provide?
The EIC provides integrated support across technology maturity stages via three core schemes: Pathfinder (early-stage research), Transition (transform research into innovation opportunities), and Accelerator (support and finance for start-ups and SMEs).
With what investors does the EIC Fund co-invest?
The EIC Fund has co-invested alongside nearly 500 VCs, over 30 government and sovereign funds, 120 corporate/strategic investors, several hundred business angels and founders, and the 25 largest VCs in Europe.
How are proposals evaluated across the EIC schemes?
Evaluation is tailored: Pathfinder uses peer review with weighted criteria; Transition uses remote scoring then interviews with binary GO/NO GO decisions for top applicants; Accelerator uses remote evaluation and interviews with binary GO/NO GO scoring.
How does the EIC balance open and challenge-driven funding?
The majority of funding is through open calls (EIC Open) with no predefined themes, while EIC Challenges fund specific technological and innovation breakthroughs aligned with EU priorities.
How is the EIC collaborating with the EIT and KICs?
The EIC and EIT signed a Memorandum of Understanding (8 January 2021) to strengthen collaboration, including FastTrack implementation by EIT KICs and consideration of coordination with KIC business acceleration services.
What additional support does the EIC provide besides direct funding?
Access to EIC Business Acceleration Services (expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem actors), prizes, and other activities such as Booster grants, Marketplace and Fast Track opportunities.