European Innovation Council (EIC) Launches Calls for 2022 worth €1.7 billion

The Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator strands of the EIC have all launched for applications.

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has launched the majority of its calls under the 2022 Work Programme, releasing more than €1.7 billion for Europe’s most promising innovators.

The EIC is the Commission’s primary tool for identifying and supporting breakthrough technologies and significant innovations with the potential to scale up internationally and become market leaders. It supports all stages of innovation, from R&D on the scientific underpinnings of breakthrough technologies, to validation and demonstration of breakthrough technologies and innovations to meet real world needs, to the development and scaling up of start-ups and SMEs.

Financial support through the EIC is primarily provided under three main instruments:

  • The EIC Pathfinder (worth €350 million in 2022) – for multi-disciplinary research teams to develop the scientific basis to underpin breakthrough technologies.
  • The EIC Transition (worth €131 million in 2022) – for transforming research results into innovation opportunities, and to validate technologies and develop business plans for specific applications.
  • The EIC Accelerator (worth €1.16 billion in 2022) – to support companies (SMEs, start-ups, spin-outs and in exceptional cases small mid-caps) to bring their (usually high-risk/high-impact) innovations to market and scale up.

The majority of funding issued through the EIC takes the form of Open Funding with no predefined thematic priorities. This enables support for any technologies and innovations that cut across different scientific, technological, sectoral and application fields or represent novel combinations. However, a challenge-driven approach is also used to provide funding to address specific technological and innovation breakthroughs, taking into account EU priorities for transitioning to a green, digital and healthy society, as well as the overall strategic planning for Horizon Europe.

Application details for the three channels are as follows:

EIC Pathfinder

Proposals must be submitted by the coordinator on behalf of a consortium by the 3 May 2022 deadline. The Pathfinder Challenges will open on 15 June 2022.

EIC Transition

Applicants for both the EIC Open Call and Challenges will need to apply by either of the two deadlines:

  • 4 May 2022
  • 28 September 2022

EIC Accelerator

Applicants for both the Open Call and Challenges calls should submit a Short Application via the Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal at any time. Those successful at the Short Application stage will be invited to submit a Full Application by one of the periodic cut-off dates. The 2022 cut-off dates are as follows:

  • 23 March 2022
  • 15 June 2022
  • 5 October 2022

(This report was the subject of a ResearchConnect Newsflash.)