The European Innovation Council (EIC) was established under the EU Horizon Europe programme with a budget of EUR 10.1 billion and it represents Europe’s main innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and game changing innovations. The EIC funds companies at critical stages of research and development (R&D) and commercialization to support advancing breakthrough innovations to market. The EIC’s unique feature is that it provides funding for individual companies (mainly startups and SMEs) through both grants and investments. The investments currently take the form of direct equity or quasi-equity investments and are managed by the EIC Fund.
Funding opportunities
EIC Pathfinder
Support to research teams to research or develop an emerging breakthrough technology
EIC Transition
The EIC Transition funding scheme builds on promising research results to demonstrate and mature the technology and develop business plans for specific strategic fields.
EIC Accelerator
Funding and investments through the EIC Fund for individual start-ups and small companies to develop and scale up game changing innovations. A new application submission system is available via EIC AI Platform. This platform supports EIC Accelerator by reducing asymmetry of information between innovators and funders. Guide for Applicants
Business Acceleration Services
All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering, as well as events to meet investors, corporates and procurers, and various other EIC Business Acceleration Services.
European Innovation Ecosystems
Specific support to enable innovation ecosystem actors to work together across Europe.
EIC Prizes
Take the challenge and compete for an EIC Prize that rewards Europe’s leading innovators.