NEWS

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is one of Europe's most prominent innovation support programmes, designed to discover, develop, and scale up breakthrough and game-changing innovations. With its combined grant and investment instruments, the EIC provides comprehensive support across the entire innovation lifecycle.

Established under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme, the EIC operates with a budget of approximately €10 billion until the end of 2027. It supports innovations with the potential to disrupt markets and address global challenges, ranging from early-stage research and proof of concept, to technology transfer, and ultimately the funding and scale-up of start-ups and SMEs. The activities set out in the EIC Work Programme are implemented by the EIC and SME Executive Agency (EISMEA).

The EIC specifically targets deep-tech innovations, which are based on cutting-edge scientific advances and require continuous interaction with new research outcomes and prototypes to remain at the forefront of technology.

The EIC offers five main funding instruments, each addressing different technology readiness levels (TRLs). These programmes include both open calls (Open), which are bottom-up and have no thematic restrictions, and challenge-driven calls (Challenges) that focus on predefined strategic priorities. The five instruments are:

  • EIC Pathfinder
    Open to projects at TRL 1 to 4, EIC Pathfinder supports early-stage research into radically new technologies with market-creating potential or the ability to solve global challenges. EIC Pathfinder Open requires applications from consortia and offers project budgets of €3–4 million. EIC Pathfinder Challenges allow individual applications (no consortium requirement) and are tailored to strategic priorities, enabling both research institutions and SMEs to apply independently.

  • EIC Transition
    Targeting technologies at TRL 3 to 6, EIC Transition aims to further develop proof-of-concept results from previous Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe projects listed as eligible for the programme (see EIC Transition – List of eligible projects 2025). Applications may be submitted by individual entities or consortia of 2 to 5 partners. The maximum project budget is €2.5 million.

  • EIC Pre-Accelerator Call
    The EIC Pre-Accelerator is designed for early-stage SMEs from Widening countries developing deep-tech solutions at TRL 4 to 6. Projects may receive between €300,000 and €500,000 in funding, with a grant rate of up to 70% of eligible costs. The main objective is to build SMEs’ technical and commercial capacities through mentoring, coaching, and market-readiness support. Applications must be submitted directly to the European Commission, and the deadline for the 2025 call is 18 November 2025.

  • EIC Accelerator
    The EIC Accelerator supports SMEs (particularly start-ups and spinouts) in scaling up disruptive innovations. Under certain conditions, mid-cap companies (up to 500 employees) may also be eligible. The programme targets innovations at TRL 6 and above, providing support for market entry and scale-up. A blended finance model is offered, comprising: Up to €2.5 million in grant funding for innovation development activities such as prototyping, demonstration, regulatory compliance, IP management, and TRL advancement (6 to 8). Up to €10 million in equity investment, managed by the EIC Fund, to support scale-up and related activities. Companies working on strategic technologies for Europe may request amounts exceeding €10 million, typically provided through direct equity or convertible instruments.

  • EIC Accelerator STEP Scale-Up
    The new STEP (Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform) Scale-up Call was launched in 2025 with a budget of €300 million, expected to reach €900 million by 2027. It focuses on digital, clean, resource-efficient technologies, and biotech. Through the EIC Fund, each successful company may receive €10 to €30 million in equity investments, aiming to mobilise €50 to €150 million per company in total funding, including private sector co-investments.

Additional EIC Support Mechanisms
Beyond funding, the EIC offers complementary instruments to enhance the capacity and visibility of its beneficiaries. These include:

EIC Prizes

  • Women Innovators Prize – For outstanding women entrepreneurs who have founded a company and brought disruptive innovation to market.

  • iCapital (European Innovation Capital Award) – Recognising cities that foster innovation ecosystems through legal, financial, and testbed support.

  • Innovation Procurement Prize – Encouraging innovation-friendly public procurement practices and supporting SMEs and start-ups.

  • Social Innovation Competition – Promoting social innovation as a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth in Europe.

EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS)
All EIC-funded companies and projects have access to EIC Community & BAS, which provide:

  • Coaching and training from expert advisors

  • Opportunities to meet global partners (e.g. corporates, investors, suppliers, customers)

  • Access to innovation ecosystems relevant to their sector or region

Useful links