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European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026

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The European Innovation Council supports high-risk, high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets, strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty, and scale globally. Funding is available from early-stage scientific research to commercialisation and scale-up.

Open till 2026-10-28

  • Deadline Varies by instrument: Pathfinder Open – 12 May 2026; Pathfinder Challenges – 28 Oct 2026; Transition – 16 Sept 2026; Advanced Innovation Challenges – 26 Feb 2026; Accelerator and STEP Scale Up have continuous submission with periodic cut-offs throughout 2026
  • Category Deep Tech | Innovation | Research & Development | AI | Biotechnology | Advanced Materials | Energy | Climate Tech | Scale-up Finance
  • Funding Competitive grants and equity investments managed by the European Innovation Council under Horizon Europe
  • Max grant amount Pathfinder: up to €4 million; Transition: up to €2.5 million; Accelerator grant: up to €2.5 million; Accelerator equity: up to €10 million; STEP Scale Up equity: €10–30 million
  • Company size SME | Large companies
  • Location EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries
  • Duration Typically 1–4 years depending on the instrument and project maturity level

Purpose

  • – Support breakthrough and disruptive innovations.
    – Accelerate the development and commercialisation of deep-tech technologies.
    – Strengthen European competitiveness and strategic autonomy.
    – Increase the number of European scale-ups and unicorns.
    – Mobilise private investment into deep-tech sectors.

Potential applicants

  • – Start-ups, SMEs and spin-offs.
    – Universities and research organisations.
    – Individual researchers and innovators.
    – Small consortia and larger research consortia depending on the call.
    – Small mid-caps for selected instruments.

Funding

  • – Pathfinder: grants for early-stage breakthrough research.
    – Transition: grants for technology validation and business development.
    – Accelerator: grants and/or equity investments for market deployment and scaling.
    – STEP Scale Up: large-scale equity investments for strategic technologies.
    – Business Acceleration Services included for selected beneficiaries.

Intensity

  • – Grants generally fund up to 100% of eligible costs for Horizon Europe actions.
    – Accelerator combines grant and equity financing.
    – STEP Scale Up provides equity-only investments.

Technologies

  • – Artificial Intelligence and Cognitive AI.
    – Biotechnology and Health Technologies.
    – Advanced Materials.
    – Energy Generation and Storage.
    – Fusion Technologies.
    – Climate Adaptation Technologies.
    – Critical Raw Materials.
    – Robotics and Physical AI.
    – Other breakthrough deep-tech innovations through Open calls.

Eligibility

  • – Applicants must be established in eligible countries under Horizon Europe.
    – Projects must demonstrate breakthrough innovation potential and strong impact.
    – Specific eligibility rules vary by instrument and topic.
    – Open calls accept projects from any technology field; Challenge calls target strategic priority areas.

Additional information

  • – Total EIC 2026 budget: approximately €2.024 billion.
    – Includes Pathfinder, Transition, Advanced Innovation Challenges, Accelerator, and STEP Scale Up instruments.

  • – Provides access to coaching, mentoring, investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners through Business Acceleration Services.
    – New in 2026: Advanced Innovation Challenges pilot and Scaleup Europe Fund.

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Agnes Kask

Associate Partner, Tartu, Estonia