Funding Calls under Pillar 3: Innovative Europe

European Innovation Council (EIC)

The European Innovation Council builds on the success of the enhanced EIC pilot in Horizon 2020 and serves as a ‘one-stop shop’ for European innovators. It aims to support high-risk innovations with a potential to create new markets and contribute to tackling societal challenges where the risk cannot be borne by the market alone. It also aims to support the rapid development of technologies and the scale-up of companies (start-ups, spinouts, SMEs) to bring their ideas to market.

All projects of the European Innovation Council have access to Business Acceleration Services, which provides coaches, mentors and expertise, partnering opportunities with corporates, investors and others, and a range of other services and events.

EIC Pathfinder

The EIC Pathfinder is for multi-disciplinary research teams to undertake visionary research with the potential to lead to technology breakthroughs.

Call name	Call ID	Deadline
EIC Challenge: 'Solar-to-X' devices towards cement and concrete as a carbon sinkLink opens in a new window	TBC	16 Oct 2024
EIC Challenge: Nature-inspired alternatives for food packaging and filmsLink opens in a new window	TBC	16 Oct 2024
EIC Challenge: Nanoelectronics for energy-efficient smart edge devicesLink opens in a new window	TBC	16 Oct 2024
EIC Challenge: Strengthening the sustainability of EU space infrastructureLink opens in a new window	TBC	16 Oct 2024

For full details, see the EIC Work Programme 2024Link opens in a new window.

EIC Transition

The EIC Transition is for turning research results into innovation opportunities. Calls focus on results generated by EIC Pathfinder projects and ERC Proof of Concept projects, to mature the technologies and build a business case for specific applications.

EIC Transition eligibility is restricted to applications based on results generated by H2020/ HE funded projects.

Call name	Call ID	Deadline
EIC Transition	TBC	18 Sep 2024

For full details, see the EIC Work Programme 2024Link opens in a new window.

Please note that there are no Challenge topics under the 2024 Transition call.

EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator is for start-ups and SMEs to develop and scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones.

Please note that EIC Accelerator calls are NOT open to universities to apply to directly. Only start-ups, SMEs and natural persons intending to establish an SME in a Member State or Associated Country are eligible to apply to EIC Accelerator calls. However, the EIC Accelerator calls are listed here for any university applicants intending to serve a sub-contractor role on a bid with an eligible applicant.

Call name	Call ID	Deadline
EIC Accelerator	TBC	Short applications: anytime Full applications: 13 Mar 2024, 3 Oct 2024
EIC Accelerator: Human centric generative AI	TBC
EIC Accelerator: Virtual worlds and augmented interaction	TBC
EIC Accelerator: Enabling the smart edge & quantum technology components	TBC
EIC Accelerator: Food from precision fermentation and algae	TBC
EIC Accelerator: Monoclonal antibody-based therapeutics for emerging viruses	TBC
EIC Accelerator: Renewable energy sources and their whole value chain	TBC

For full details, see the EIC Work Programme 2024Link opens in a new window.

See the EIC Work Programme 2024Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

See all EIC open and forthcoming calls on the Funding & Tenders PortalLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

Pillar 3 aims to foster all forms of innovation, including breakthrough innovation, and market deployment of innovative solutions.

It comprises:

the European Innovation Council (EIC);
European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE);
the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).

European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)

This part of Pillar 3 is intended to better connect innovation ecosystems at the European, national and regional levels.

While many of the calls for proposals target national authorities and innovation agencies, some opportunities for higher education institutions exist in calls focused on testing a failure friendly culture, enabling talent exchange between business and academia, or expanding entrepreneurial ecosystems.

EIE calls open for submission Forthcoming EIE calls

Call name	Call ID	Opening	Deadline
Startup Europe	HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-01-03	11 Jan 2024	25 Apr 2024
The African Union-European Union Innovation Platform	HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-01-01Link opens in a new window	11 Jan 2024	25 Apr 2024
Mutual learning and support scheme for national and regional innovation programmes	HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-02-02Link opens in a new window	6 June 2024	19 Sep 2024
Expanding Academia-Enterprise Collaborations	HORIZON-EIE-2024-CONNECT-02-01Link opens in a new window	6 June 2024	19 Sep 2024

See the EIE Work Programme 2023-24Link opens in a new window.

See all EIE open and forthcoming calls on the Funding & Tenders PortalLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The EIT is an EU body based in Budapest, Hungary which aims to contribute to European competitiveness, sustainable economic growth and job creation by promoting and strengthening synergies and cooperation among businesses, education institutions and research organisations.

The EIT works through nine Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs). KICs bring together the ‘knowledge triangle’ of business, education and research to form partnerships which address the entire innovation chain, including training, education and business incubation programmes.

EIT calls open for submission

See the current EIT Work Programme 2023-25.

See all EIT open and forthcoming calls on the Funding & Tenders PortalLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window.