Funding organization: European Innovation Council (EIC)
Total funding amount: EUR 0.5 million to EUR 12.5 million
Duration: Continuous application with specific cut-off dates
Primary objective: Support companies in scaling up high-impact innovations
Key stakeholders: SMEs, start-ups, individual entrepreneurs, and legal entities
Eligible organization types: SMEs, small mid-caps, individual entrepreneurs
Specific qualifications: Must be established in a Member State or Associated Country
Organizational size: SMEs (fewer than 250 employees), small mid-caps (up to 499 employees)
Limitations: Only one grant component per legal entity during the Horizon Europe program
Location requirements: Must be established in a Member State or Associated Country
International collaboration: Possible for non-associated third countries intending to establish SMEs
Core focus areas: High-impact innovations, deep tech
Specific project types: Innovations that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones
Expected outcomes: Attract further investment, scale up innovations
Alignment with grant objectives: Must demonstrate potential for significant market impact
Budget information: Funding ranges from EUR 0.5 million to EUR 12.5 million
Matching fund requirements: 30% co-funding from the beneficiary's own resources
Financial limitations: Maximum grant amount of EUR 2.5 million for grant-only applications
Application deadlines: Continuous submission with monthly evaluations
Key milestones: Evaluation results provided within 4-6 weeks after submission of short proposals
Restrictions on prior grant funding: Only one grant component per legal entity during the Horizon Europe program
Required documentation: Short proposals followed by full proposals for successful applicants
Evaluation criteria: Based on technology readiness, market potential, and innovation impact
Review process: Monthly evaluations of short proposals, followed by interviews for selected applicants
Focus on deep tech innovations requiring significant funding
Support for scaling up innovations that can attract further investment
High competition for funding due to limited budget
Need for strong business plans and market readiness
Demonstrate clear market potential and innovative technology
Engage with Business Acceleration Services for support
Neglecting to address market readiness and business model development
Underestimating the importance of technology readiness levels