European Innovation Council (EIC)

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is aimed at basic scientists from universities and research institutions as well as SMEs (including start-ups and spin-offs).

The EIC Pathfinder promotes research in the early phases of technological development through grants and builds on the content of the FET Open and FET Proactive programs that already exist under Horizon 2020.

The EIC transition measures, as a link between the EIC Pathfinder and the EIC Accelerator, support further development work and initial commercialization steps.

The EIC accelerator, which is linked to the SME instrument in Horizon 2020, supports innovation and market launch measures as well as company growth - both through grants and through mixed funding of grants and loans. It is primarily aimed at companies that have high growth potential and operate on a European or international basis.