European Innovation Council

Funding and investment to develop breakthrough technologies and help high-potential innovations reach the market and scale.

At a glance

• Calls: Calls and application deadlines run throughout 2026. Dates and application processes vary between EIC funding schemes.
• Opportunity type: Research, innovation, commercialisation, business growth
• Award: The EIC Work Programme 2026 provides more than €1.4 billion across its funding schemes. Support ranges from grants for early-stage technology development to equity investments of up to €30 million. Funding levels and types of support vary by scheme.
• Sectors: All areas of technology and innovation, with a strong focus on breakthrough and deep-tech solutions

Overview

• The European Innovation Council, known as the EIC, is part of Horizon Europe’s Pillar 3: Innovative Europe.
• It supports breakthrough technologies and high-risk innovations with the potential to create new markets or transform existing ones.
• Funding is available across different stages of innovation, from early-stage research and technology development to commercialisation and business growth.
• The EIC combines grants, equity investment and business support. The type of support available depends on the funding scheme and the stage of the innovation.
• The EIC Work Programme 2026 provides more than €1.4 billion for strategic technologies and scaling innovative companies.

Read the EIC Work Programme 2026 on the European Commission website

What the EIC funds

The EIC supports breakthrough research, technology development, commercialisation and business growth through several funding schemes.

EIC Pathfinder

Funding for multidisciplinary research teams developing ambitious, high-risk technologies at an early stage.

Pathfinder supports research with the potential to lead to major scientific and technological breakthroughs. It includes open calls across all fields and challenge-led calls focused on specific priorities.

Grants of up to €4 million are available.

Explore EIC Pathfinder

EIC Transition

Funding to develop research results into viable technologies and business opportunities.

Transition supports activities such as technology validation, prototyping, market analysis, business planning and preparation for commercialisation.

Projects must build on eligible results from EIC Pathfinder, ERC Proof of Concept, Horizon Europe Pillar 2 collaborative projects or Research Infrastructures projects.

Grants of up to €2.5 million are available.

Explore EIC Transition

Advanced Innovation Challenges

A pilot scheme supporting high-risk, demand-led deep-tech innovation in areas where strong research has not yet resulted in commercial uptake.

The scheme uses a staged approach to help develop, test and demonstrate promising technologies.

Stage 1 provides a €300,000 lump-sum grant. The most promising projects may progress to further development and real-world testing through Stage 2.

Explore Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Pre-Accelerator

A joint scheme between the EIC and the Widening Participation programme, known as WIDERA.

It supports early-stage deep-tech start-ups in Widening countries to strengthen their technology readiness, business readiness and investor readiness.

The scheme helps companies prepare for later-stage funding and investment opportunities, including the EIC Accelerator.

The EIC Pre-Accelerator is funded through the WIDERA Work Programme 2025.

Explore EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Accelerator

Funding and support for start-ups and SMEs developing innovations that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones.

It supports later-stage technology development, commercialisation and business growth where the risks are too high for private investment alone.

Support can include:

grant funding below €2.5 million
equity investment of between €500,000 and €10 million
access to coaching, investors, partners and markets
UK applicants can apply for grant-only support but are not currently eligible for the EIC equity investment component.

Explore EIC Accelerator

Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up

Equity investment for high-growth companies developing strategic technologies and seeking major private investment rounds.

It focuses on:

• digital and deep-tech innovation
• clean and resource-efficient technologies
• biotechnology

Investments of between €10 million and €30 million are available to help companies secure wider investment rounds of at least €50 million.

UK-established companies are not currently eligible for STEP Scale Up funding.

Explore STEP Scale Up

EIC STEP Scale Up Defence

Equity investment for companies scaling critical defence technologies and industrial capabilities.

The 2026 call provides direct equity investment of up to €30 million. Eligibility is more restricted than for other EIC schemes, and this opportunity is not currently available to UK organisations at this early stage.

Explore EIC STEP Scale Up Defence

Business Acceleration Services

Organisations receiving EIC funding can also access tailored business support.

This can include:

• coaching and mentoring
• connections to investors and corporate partners
• support to enter international markets
• access to expertise and innovation ecosystems
• opportunities to attend business and investor events

Business Acceleration Services complement the financial support provided through EIC schemes.

Explore EIC Business Acceleration Services

Who this is for

The EIC supports researchers, innovators and companies working on ambitious technologies and innovations with significant commercial or societal potential.

Depending on the funding scheme, it may be relevant for:

• universities and research organisations
• multidisciplinary research teams
• principal investigators and inventors
• start-ups and spin-outs
• small and medium-sized enterprises
• small mid-cap companies
• technology and innovation organisations
• businesses preparing to commercialise or scale an innovation
• organisations seeking to create a new company from research results

The most appropriate funding scheme depends on the maturity of the technology and the applicant.

• EIC Pathfinder supports early-stage research and technology development.
• EIC Transition supports eligible research results moving towards market readiness.
  Advanced Innovation Challenges support high-risk, challenge-led deep-tech development.
• EIC Pre-Accelerator supports early-stage deep-tech start-ups in Widening countries.
• EIC Accelerator supports start-ups and SMEs commercialising and scaling breakthrough innovations.
• STEP Scale Up supports companies seeking major equity investment.

Compare EIC funding opportunities on their website

Eligibility

Eligibility depends on the EIC funding scheme.

• EIC Pathfinder is mainly for international research consortia, although some challenge calls may allow smaller consortia or single applicants.
• EIC Transition is open to eligible single organisations or small consortia developing results from specified earlier projects.
  Advanced Innovation Challenges are open to eligible start-ups, SMEs and research-performing organisations.
• EIC Pre-Accelerator is for early-stage deep-tech start-ups in Widening countries.
• EIC Accelerator is mainly for individual start-ups and SMEs. UK companies can apply for grant-only support.
• STEP Scale Up is not currently open to UK-established companies.
  Individual calls may include additional conditions relating to the applicant, consortium, technology maturity, previous project results or funding requested.

Always check the current EIC Work Programme and individual call conditions before applying.

Next steps and support

1. Read on their website the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the relevant call conditions for the latest priorities, eligibility rules, budgets and deadlines.
2. Compare the EIC funding opportunities and identify the scheme that matches the maturity of your technology and your funding needs on their website.
3. Read the guidance for the relevant EIC scheme and check whether you can apply as a single organisation or need to build an eligible consortium.
4. Where a consortium is required, find partners and build a consortium and agree partner roles, activities, responsibilities and costs.
5. Contact the relevant EIC NCP for further guidance and support with your application.

Find current EIC calls

Open and upcoming EIC calls, official call documents and submission deadlines are listed on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Find current EIC calls on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Registering for EU Login and a PIC

To apply for funding through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, you need an EU Login account. If you do not already have one, register for an EU Login account on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.

Your organisation also needs a Participant Identification Code (PIC) to be included as a participant in a funding application and to manage the grant if the application is successful. If your organisation does not yet have one, find out how to register your organisation and get a PIC on the EU Funding and Tenders portal.

Last updated: 9 September 2026

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