Overview: EIC 2023 deadlines, topics & dates

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe's funding programme for cutting-edge innovations and novel leading-edge technologies. With its three funding pots, the EIC supports the identification, development, and dissemination of highly innovative technologies.

In total, the EIC has a budget of €10.1 billion. This year there are again calls for proposals for EIC Pathfinder for early-stage research projects, EIC Transition for concept testing and EIC Accelerator for technology transfer to finance and grow start-ups and SMEs.

There are different application deadlines depending on the funding pot, open or theme-specific calls and helpful webinars on how to apply for funding.

The EIC Pathfinder enables challenging, ground-breaking and novel approaches to scientific, technological or deep-tech research and development to be undertaken. The funding programme is aimed at those who are willing to experiment and who want their research and development to produce cutting-edge technologies and shape progress in their field.

Topics & application deadlines

Initially, there are no thematic restrictions. The EIC Pathfinder call will open in early 2023, so all innovative science, technology or application project proposals can apply for funding. The deadline for project proposals is 7 March 2023.

There are also five thematic challenges defined in the EIC Pathfinder. Here, the funded project proposals should contribute to advancing research and development in specific thematic areas. The application deadline for the EIC Challenges is 18 October 2023.

Funding amount & rate

•  EIC Pathfinder open: max. €3 million at 100%.
• EIC Pathfinder Challenge: max. €4 million at 100%.

Webinars & Dates

For your information, the EIC offers free webinars on the Pathfinder Challenges. Take this opportunity to find out more! You can access the webinar via the link, the presentations are in English.

EIC Transition has a very specific focus in the innovation development process. The aim of the funding programme is to address, mature and validate a novel technology application up to the development of a sustainable business model and commercialisation. EIC Transition acts as a transition programme and only supports projects that are linked to a previous EU-funded project.

Topics & application deadlines

There are two opportunities to apply for EIC Transition funding this year. There will be an open call and a thematic call. Both calls have a spring deadline of 12 April 2023 and an autumn deadline of 27 September 2023.

Funding amount & quota

• EIC Transition open: max. 2.5 million €, at 100%
• EIC Transition Challenge: max. € 2.5 million, at 100%

Webinars & Dates

For your information, the EIC offers free webinars on the challenges. Take this opportunity to find out more! You can access the webinar via the link, the presentations are in English.

The EIC Accelerator is particularly exciting because it supports innovative and ambitious start-ups, SMEs and, in some cases, larger companies with up to 500 employees. The Accelerator focuses on deep-tech innovation and ideas that are high risk but have the potential to make a big difference in the marketplace.

Topics & application deadlines

For this year's EIC Accelerator, there are open topic calls and topic-specific calls. There are four deadlines for the EIC Accelerator open call:

• 11 January 2023
• 22 March 2023
• 7 June 2023
• 4 October 2023

In addition, there will be the opportunity for participation in seven challenges in the EIC accelerator. Applications can be submitted on the following dates:

• 22 March 2023
• 7 June 2023
• 4th of October 2023

Funding amount & quota

• EIC Accelerator open/Challenges: A maximum of €2.5 million in funding at a rate of 70% and a maximum of €15 million in equity in exchange for 10% to 25% of the company's shares

Webinars & Dates

For your information, the EIC offers free webinars on the challenges. Take this opportunity to find out more! You can access the webinar via the link, the presentations are in English.

You are interested in the EIC-programmes and want to find out more? Then simply get in touch with us!