European Innovation Council

EIC Pathfinder (Open & Challenges)

This call aims to develop the scientific basis for breakthrough technologies at the earliest stages. Projects typically start at TRL 1–2 (observation of basic principles or formulation of the concept) and are expected to conclude at TRL 3 or 4 (experimental proof of concept or laboratory validation). The programme offers grants of up to EUR 4 million for interdisciplinary teams working on ambitious visions of future technologies.

The EIC Pathfinder operates through:

• EIC Pathfinder Open: calls with no predefined priorities, open to projects in any field of science, technology, or application;
• EIC Pathfinder Challenges: calls with clearly defined strategic thematic areas, where projects must address the specific objectives and expected outcomes described for each challenge.

Under EIC Pathfinder Open, only consortia of at least three organisations from different countries are eligible, with at least one organisation established in an EU Member State. In contrast, EIC Pathfinder Challenges also allow for single applicants (except medium-sized and large companies) or smaller consortia.

More information about the call can be found at the link.

EIC Transition (Open & Challenges)

The call finances activities aimed at transforming the results of previous research into market-ready innovations. Funding may be awarded exclusively to projects based on the results of the following calls: EIC Pathfinder projects (including those funded under Horizon 2020); European Research Council Proof of Concept projects funded under Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe; Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) funded under the Societal Challenges and Leadership in Industrial Technologies pillars of Horizon 2020 and under the Horizon Europe Pillar II, provided the appropriate TRL level is met; projects of the European Defence Fund (EDF), including the Preparatory Action on Defence Research, but only for applications focused on civil applications (including dual-use); as well as Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) funded under the Research Infrastructures of Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020.

EIC Transition operates through:

• EIC Transition Open: calls without predefined priorities, open to projects in any field of science, technology, or application;
• EIC Transition Challenges: calls with clearly defined strategic thematic areas, where projects must address the specific objectives and expected outcomes described for each challenge.

An application to EIC Transition may be submitted by a start-up, SME, or research organisation (including universities, research or technology organisations, principal investigators, inventors, or spin-off teams), either as a single beneficiary (subject to eligibility) or as a part of a small or standard consortium composed of independent legal entities from at least two (and up to five) different EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Projects must start at TRL 3 (completed) or TRL 4 and are expected to reach TRL 5 or TRL 6 (technology demonstrated in a relevant environment). The programme provides grants of up to EUR 2.5 million for the simultaneous further development of the technology and the development of a viable business model. The main objective is to prepare a product or service for commercial deployment.

More information about the call is available at the link.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges (Pilot)

This pilot call introduces a two-stage funding model for the rapid solution of specific technology or societal demand-driven challenges. The programme aims to bridge the gap between research and commercial deployment through active involvement of end-users and regulators at early stages. Projects typically start at TRL 4 and aim to reach TRL 6 or 7 (system prototype demonstrated in an operational environment). In 2026, the call is organised around the following thematic challenges: «Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied Intelligence for the Next Frontier of AI-Powered Robotics» and «Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Practice».

Stage 1: Validation and Benchmarking (2026). Applications may only be submitted by individual applicants (mono-beneficiary): start-ups, SMEs, universities, or research organisations (including teams and individual researchers). Large companies that are not SMEs are not eligible as single entities. Winners receive a fixed grant of EUR 300,000 for a duration of up to 9 months.

Stage 2: Development and User Testing (2027). Only participants who successfully completed Stage 1 may apply. At this stage, both individual applicants and small consortia (2 to 3 independent organisations) are eligible. Winners receive a grant of up to EUR 2.5 million for a period of up to 2.5 years.

More information about the call is available at the link.

EIC Pre-accelerator – Widening

This call serves as a bridge for promising deep-tech start-ups, helping them reach the level of maturity required to successfully apply to the main EIC Accelerator programme or to attract private investment. The programme focuses on deeptech innovations based on advanced scientific breakthroughs that have the potential to create new markets or transform existing ones.

Only individual applicants (mono-beneficiaries) that are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in one of the Widening countries (which include Ukraine) may apply.

The project must start at no lower than TRL 4 (completed) (technology validated in a laboratory). The objective is to develop the innovation to TRL 5 or 6 (technology validated or demonstrated in a relevant environment).

Successful applicants are awarded a grant in the amount of EUR 300,000 to EUR 500,000 under a lump-sum funding scheme for a period of up to 2 years, covering 70% of the costs, with 30% co-financing required from the participant’s own resources.

Successful applicants receive free access to EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS) (coaching, mentoring, networking). After finishing of the project and a corresponding review, companies gain access to the Fast Track scheme for a simplified application to the main EIC Accelerator.

More information about the call is available via the link.

EIC Accelerator (Open & Challenges)

EIC Accelerator is aimed at supporting start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that develop high-impact innovations based on deeptech technologies with the potential to create new markets.

EIC Accelerator runs calls under two schemes:

• EIC Accelerator Open: calls have no predefined priorities and are open to projects in any field of science, technology, or application;
• EIC Accelerator Challenges: calls have clearly defined strategic thematic priorities, and projects must address the specific objectives and expected outcomes described for each challenge.

Applications may be submitted by individual SMEs (including start-ups and spin-offs), natural persons, including entrepreneurs planning to establish a company, as well as, in certain cases, small mid-caps with up to 499 employees. Companies must be established in EU Member States or Associated Countries (which include Ukraine), or be willing to relocate their business to them.

At the time of application, the project must have reached technology readiness level TRL 5 (completed) or TRL 6 (technology demonstrated in a relevant environment). The objective of the call is to bring the innovation to TRL 8 (system complete and qualified) or TRL 9 (market deployment).

The EIC Accelerator application procedure consists of three main stages:

Stage 1: Submission of a Short Proposal.

It can be submitted at any time via the call page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. If successful, you will be invited to prepare a full proposal and will receive access to 3 days of free coaching.

Stage 2: Submission of a Full Proposal.

The full proposal can be submitted by one of the fixed cut-off dates (batches) in 2026: January 7, March 4, May 6, July 8, September 2, or November 4. At this stage, the proposal is also assessed by a technical expert who conducts an in-depth evaluation, including an online meeting with the applicant for clarification. If successful, you will be invited to an interview with the jury.

Stage 3: EIC Jury Interview.

This is the final selection stage, to which only the top candidates are invited.

Projects that pass the quality threshold but do not receive funding due to budget limitations may be awarded a Seal of Excellence or a Sovereignty Seal to facilitate access to other funding sources.

The programme offers applicants a choice of the following unique funding schemes:

1. Grant funding: up to EUR 2.5 million under a lump-sum scheme for up to 24 months, covering 70% of eligible costs, with 30% co-financing required from the applicant.
2. Blended finance (the most requested option), consisting of grant funding combined with an investment component.
3. Investment component: from EUR 1 to 10 million in the form of direct equity or quasi-equity (e.g. convertible loans) through the EIC Fund to support market deployment and scaling.

Successful applicants also gain access to Business Acceleration Services, including coaching, mentoring, and direct access to a network of global corporate partners and investors.

More information about the call is available via the link.

EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up Call

This call is designed to support ambitious companies operating in sectors of critical importance for Europe: digital technologies and deeptech innovations; clean and resource-efficient technologies, including net-zero technologies; and biotechnologies, including medicinal products on the EU list of critical medicines and their components.

Applications may be submitted by individual SMEs (start-ups and spin-offs) or small mid-cap companies with up to 499 employees, as well as by investors on behalf of such companies. A mandatory condition for participation is the existence of a prior financial pre-commitment from at least one qualified investor amounting to no less than 20% of the total targeted funding round.

The call provides exclusively equity-only investments ranging from EUR 10 to 30 million; no grant component is offered. The EIC investment is intended to act as a catalyst for raising large funding rounds (EUR 50 to 150 million), where private capital exceeds the EIC contribution by a factor of 3 to 5.

Projects typically start at high levels of market readiness (TRL 6–8) and are aimed at full commercial deployment and market dominance (TRL 9).

Successful candidates also receive the Sovereignty Seal, which confirms the strategic importance of the project and facilitates access to other EU funding sources.

More information about the call is available via the link.