The 2025 Work Programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC) under Horizon Europe has published the conditions for its four main call categories:
EIC Pathfinder: €262 million for collaborative, multidisciplinary research projects that pursue visionary research with potential to generate technological breakthroughs, offering grants of up to €4 million.
EIC Transition: €98 million to turn research results into innovation opportunities with small consortia or single beneficiaries, providing support and ensuring continuity of results generated by EIC Pathfinder projects, European Research Council proof-of-concept projects, and collaborative projects under Horizon 2020-Societal Challenges and Horizon Europe-Pillar 2, with grants up to €2.5 million.
EIC Accelerator: €634 million for technology-based startups and SMEs to finalize development and scale innovations with potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones, offering grants up to €2.5 million complemented by co-investments ranging from €0.5 to €10 million.
STEP Call: dedicated to strategic technologies for Europe: €300 million to provide additional investment for promising companies driving innovation and business scaling in critical areas, with private co-investment in rounds supported by the EIC Fund, contributing between €10 million and €30 million.
These financial supports are complemented by access to business acceleration services, including training, access to expert advice, and links with corporations, investors, public buyers, and other ecosystem players.
Further information can be accessed through this link.
Additionally, the European Commission has published a summary and several factsheets and related information available in this link.
The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is organizing an information day on the funding opportunities of this 2025 Work Programme on November 5, 2024, and a specific session to explore the challenge-based calls in depth on November 6, 2024.
During the event, the three main EIC funding programs and the participation process will be presented:
- EIC Pathfinder (10:00 AM)
- EIC Transition (11:15 AM)
- EIC Accelerator (1:00 PM)
No registration is required to participate; the event will be streamed online, and questions can be asked via Slido.
