Library FAQ
What is plant-based biomanufacturing and metabolic reprogramming?
Plant-based biomanufacturing uses plants to synthesise complex molecules (e.g., proteins, enzymes, biopharmaceuticals) sustainably; metabolic reprogramming manipulates cellular metabolic processes to influence cell behaviour and stress responses, together offe...
What is the EIC Tech Report 2024?
A watchlist and overview of promising emerging developments (signals) identified from EIC internal data, highlighting early-stage technologies and innovations with potential short- to mid-term impact.
What is the objective of future-oriented monitoring in this report?
To emphasise the value of identifying and tracking early-stage ideas within EIC data, enabling collective monitoring of their development into impactful innovations that can inform discussions and evidence-based policymaking.
What is the role and mission of the EIC as described in the report?
The EIC is the EU’s flagship programme to support deep tech from early-stage research to market scale-up, positioning Europe at the forefront of global innovation; it has a budget of over €10 billion.
What is tri-parental plant breeding?
A breeding technique where fertilisation occurs among three parents (one mother and two fathers) to combine genomes and traits, accelerating selection and enabling creation of polyploid plants with enhanced resilience without direct genetic modification.
Which EIC programmes provided the data for this report?
Data were derived from the EIC Pathfinder instrument under Horizon Europe and the final stage of the FET programme in the EIC pilot under Horizon 2020, including bottom-up/open calls and targeted/topic-driven calls.
Who led the qualitative review and final selection of signals?
EIC Programme Managers led the qualitative review and final selection in collaboration with 32 external experts.
Why is the agrifood sector a focus for EIC monitoring and support?
Because agriculture works with living organisms in changing conditions, integrates multiple enabling technologies, is the largest global employer, requires long development cycles, has complex global supply chains, and depends on social sciences as well as STE...
Why were both funded and unfunded proposals included in the analysis?
Including both ensures early-stage ideas are captured regardless of funding outcomes, since unfunded proposals may still demonstrate scientific or technological excellence but were not selected for reasons beyond those criteria.
Does the EIC support diversity and underrepresented regions?
Yes. The EIC outperforms the market in supporting women-led companies (20% of funding to women-led companies) and supports entrepreneurs across all EU regions, while taking active steps to promote untapped potential in central and eastern Europe.
How does the EIC award funding and set priorities?
A majority of funding is awarded through open calls with no predefined thematic priorities, complemented by a challenge-driven approach via EIC Programme Managers who direct funding toward EU policy priorities such as REPowerEU, the New Industrial Strategy and...
How does the EIC help companies connect with investors and corporates?
Beyond funding, all beneficiaries receive tailor-made Business Acceleration Services that facilitate connections with corporates, public procurers and potential investors; Transition calls also connected beneficiaries with over 100 corporates and public procur...
How many companies and projects has the EIC supported?
From 2014–2021 the EIC supported over 1 600 startups and SMEs, more than 500 technology projects, 503 Pathfinder research projects and 55 Transition projects.
How many investment agreements has the EIC Fund signed and what leverage has it achieved?
The first EUR 260 million of EIC Fund investments resulted in 92 investment agreements; 48 matured investments leveraged just under EUR 500 million in co-investments, a leverage of 2.6 times the EIC Fund equity investments.
How many jobs have EIC portfolio companies created?
EIC portfolio companies created a total of 6 800 jobs following receipt of EIC support.
How many Unicorns and Centaurs has the EIC supported?
EIC-supported companies have helped generate 12 deep-tech Unicorns and 112 Centaurs.
What budget does the EIC have?
The EIC has a budget of over EUR 10 billion under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021–2027). Since 2014, EUR 5 billion has been provided through the EIC and its predecessor programmes.
What forms of finance has the EIC Fund used?
The EIC Fund has used equity investments and convertible loans; 44 investment agreements took the form of convertible loans acting as a bridge to next fundraising rounds.
What funding does the EIC Accelerator offer?
The Accelerator offers non-dilutive grants of up to EUR 2.5 million plus equity of up to EUR 15 million; a single application covers both grant and equity.
What impact has the EIC portfolio achieved in valuation and follow-on investment?
EIC-supported companies have a combined portfolio valuation of over EUR 40 billion and have attracted over EUR 10 billion in follow-on investments.
What is ‘grant-first’ support under Horizon Europe?
‘Grant-first’ is a modality where companies receive grant funding to mature their ideas into an investible proposition; in 2021, 47 companies received grant-first funding with an expectation of raising funds within 18–24 months.
What is the EIC’s ambition for crowding in private investment?
The EIC Fund aims to leverage EUR 10 billion of its own resources to crowd in EUR 30–50 billion from private investors, becoming the largest early-stage deep-tech investor in Europe.
What is the European Innovation Council (EIC)?
The EIC is a flagship initiative of the European Commission that identifies, develops and scales up breakthrough deep-tech innovations, with a mandate to support each stage of the innovation chain.
What is the role of the EIC Fund?
The EIC Fund is the investment arm of the Accelerator that provides seed to early-growth equity or convertible finance for startups and SMEs selected through the Accelerator evaluation.