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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

The core objective of the EIC Transition Open grant is to mature and validate novel technologies from a laboratory proof-of-concept (TRL 3-4) to viable demonstrators (TRL 5-6). It also aims to develop a sustainable business case and model for subsequent commercialisation. - Target recipients: Single legal entities or small consortia (2-5 entities), including start-ups, SMEs, and research performing organizations. - SECTOR-AGNOSTIC: This call is open to all technology sectors. - Geographic scope: Entities established in EU Member States or Associated Countries. - Key filtering criteria: Proposals must be based on results (at least TRL 3, ideally TRL 4) already achieved within a previously eligible project, as defined in the EIC Work Programme 2025. - Grant frequency: Part of the annual EIC Work Programme, indicating a recurring opportunity.

Financial Structure

Funding type: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant (fixed payments based on agreed milestones).
Project budget range: Between EUR 500,000.0 and EUR 2,500,000.0 per grant.
Total budget for the call: EUR 98,000,000.0 for the 2025 budget year.
Eligible costs: Activities directly contributing to technology maturation and validation (from TRL 4 to 5-6) and the development of a sustainable business case towards commercialisation. For lump sums, focus is on outputs and milestones rather than itemized costs.
Co-financing: Not applicable in the traditional sense for lump sum grants, as funding is a fixed amount tied to deliverables, not a percentage of actual costs.
Payment mechanisms: Payments are typically linked to the successful completion of agreed milestones and deliverables, as outlined in the Model Grant Agreement (MGA).
Financial reporting: Financial reporting requirements are specified in the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) for EIC actions under Horizon Europe, adapted for lump sum grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational Type

Eligible: Single legal entity or a consortium.
Consortium structures:
- Mono-beneficiary: A single legal entity established in a Member State or an Associated Country.
- Small consortium: Two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries.
- Multi-beneficiary consortium: Minimum three and maximum five independent legal entities. Must include at least one legal entity established in a Member State and at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
Entity types: Start-up, SME, or research performing organization (university, research or technology organization). Includes teams, individual Principal Investigators, and inventors in such institutions who intend to form a spinout company.

Geographic Location

Established in: An EU Member State or an Associated Country.

Project Basis

Project foundation: Must build on results already achieved within an eligible previous project, as described in the EIC Work Programme 2025.
Technology Readiness Level (TRL) requirement: Results must be at least experimental proof of concept (TRL 3), ideally technology validated in the lab (TRL 4).

Financial and Operational Capacity

Requirements: Detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2025 (refer to the EIC Work Programme 2025 for specifics).

Exclusion Criteria

Disqualifying factors: Detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2025 (refer to the EIC Work Programme 2025 for specifics).

Application Process

Submission system: Proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal.
Application form: Use the standard application form made available in the submission workflow. Do not use previous years' template versions.
Submission type: Single-stage process.

Deadlines

Application deadline: 2025-09-17 00:00:00+00:00.
Call opening date: 2025-04-22.

Documentation

Required proposal sections: Sections 1 to 3 of Part B (corresponding to Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation) and the cover page.
Page limit: A maximum of 22 A4 pages for sections 1-3 and the cover page. Pages exceeding this limit will be automatically hidden and not considered during evaluation.
Cover page content: Must include information about the related eligible project on which the current EIC Transition proposal is built.
Additional documents for reference: EIC Work Programme 2025, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION), Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), Call-specific instructions, Detailed budget table (HE LS), Guidance on clinical studies (HE), and other related EU legal and financial regulations and guides.

Support and Assistance

Support resources: Online Manual, Horizon Europe Programme Guide, Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, Research Enquiry Service, National Contact Points (NCPs), Enterprise Europe Network, IT Helpdesk, European IPR Helpdesk, CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk, ETSI Research Helpdesk, and the Partner Search tool.

Evaluation Criteria

Award Criteria

Scoring factors: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation.
Detailed scoring: Specific award criteria, scoring, and thresholds are described in section III of the EIC Work Programme 2025.

Technology Development

Expected TRL Progression: The proposed activities should advance technology maturity from TRL 4 up to Technology Readiness Level 5 to 6.
Activities mix: A suitable mix of technology development and validation activities is expected to increase maturity beyond proof of concept.

Market/Business Development

Commercialisation focus: Activities must comprehensively address market readiness towards commercialisation and deployment.
Business plan elements: Expected to include market research, value proposition, business case and business model, prospects for growth, intellectual property protection, and competitor analysis.
User-centric approach: Must follow user-centric methodologies and incorporate iterative learning processes based on early customer or user feedback.

Regulatory and Standardisation Aspects

Compliance: Relevant aspects of regulation, certification, and standardisation (if applicable) should be addressed, aimed at making both the technology and business idea investment-ready.

Compliance & Special Requirements

Previous Project Requirement

Critical pre-condition: Proposals must demonstrate that they are built upon results (at least TRL 3-4) generated by an eligible previous project, as detailed in the EIC Work Programme 2025. This is a non-negotiable entry criterion.

Technology Readiness Level Progression

Core technical focus: Projects are expected to advance the technology from its current TRL 4 state up to TRL 5 or 6, signifying a move towards a demonstrable and validated prototype in a relevant environment.

Business Development Integration

Holistic approach: Beyond technological advancement, a significant focus is placed on parallel development of a comprehensive and sustainable business case. This includes aspects like market research, value proposition, and intellectual property protection.

Lump Sum Funding Model

Disbursement mechanism: Funding is provided as fixed lump sums, tied to the successful achievement of predefined project milestones and deliverables, rather than being based on actual incurred costs. This requires precise upfront planning and clear definition of outcomes.

Intellectual Property (IP) Considerations

Strategic importance: IP protection is explicitly mentioned as a key area to address within the market readiness activities, emphasizing its role in future commercialization.
Policy framework: Intellectual property policies are governed by the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) for EIC actions under Horizon Europe.

Regulatory and Standardisation Compliance

Market entry preparedness: Proposals must consider and address relevant regulatory requirements, certification processes, and standardisation efforts to ensure the technology and business model are prepared for market entry and investment.

Grant Details