European Innovation Council (EIC) funding
Please check the open and forthcoming calls under the EIC Programme on the Funding and Tenders Portal.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe’s flagship innovation programme that supports game changing innovations throughout the lifecycle from early stage research, to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale up of start-ups and SMEs. It provides funding through Pathfinder, Accelerator and Transition Programmes.
Note: The UK will participate in all parts of the Horizon Europe programme with the only exception of the EIC Fund. EIC Accelerator Programme under Horizon Europe has grant and investment components.
The EIC Fund, which is part of the EIC Accelerator Programme, provides investment through equity or other repayable form).
Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply for the "grant only" scheme of EIC Accelerator.
EIC Pathfinder
The EIC Pathfinder supports research and deep tech projects with a high degree of scientific ambition and risk.
Applicants are typically visionary scientists and entrepreneurial researchers from universities, research organisations, start-ups, high-tech SMEs or industrial stakeholders interested in technological research and innovation.
EIC Transition
The EIC Transition supports maturation and validation of novel ideas from lab to business, bridges between research and application development.
Single applicants (SMEs, spin-offs, start-ups, research organisations, universities) or small consortia (max 5 partners) may apply.
EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator supports start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises to develop and scale up to new markets or disrupt existing ones.
Support from Cambridge Enterprise
Further support is available from Cambridge Enterprise for PIs intending to submit an application under EIC calls. CE can provide expert guidance for applications on:
- translational project shaping & eligibility guidance
- IP, exploitation and freedom-to-operate (FTO)
- spinout and venture readiness (especially for Transition/Accelerator-type pathways)
- interview and panel preparation