The European Innovation Council
The European Inovation Council, part of the European Union’s Framework Programme for research and innovation (Horizon Europe), aims to identify, develop and support innovative, high-risk projects.
The EIC supports all stages of innovation; from the laboratory-based research that enables breakthrough technologies, through to the development and scaling up of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
EIC funding is organised into three main programmes:
EIC Pathfinder for research developing the scientific basis for breakthrough technologies. Pathfinder funding is awarded to consortia, which usually consist of partners from both academia and industry.
EIC Transition for transforming research results into innovation opportunities.
Transition grants are awarded to consortia of academia and companies, who wish to further develop research results from ERC Proof of Concept, EIC Pathfinder or FET grants.EIC Accelerator to support individual companies to develop and scale up breakthrough innovations with high risk and high impact.
The majority of EIC funding is awarded through open calls with no predefined thematic priorities (‘Open Funding’). There are also a smaller number of challenge driven calls, which address specific technological and innovation breakthroughs aligned with EU priorities for transitioning to a green, digital and healthy society.
Information on current and upcoming funding opportunities can be found in the EIC Work Programme 2022