Get up to 12.5 M€ Support for your Innovation:
Your Guide to the EIC Funding Programme

The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Horizon Europe’s key funding instrument for breakthrough deep-tech innovations. With a total budget of €10 billion, the EIC supports the entire innovation journey – from early research to market deployment – through a mix of grants and equity investments.

The EIC offers three distinct funding schemes, each targeting a specific stage of technology development:

🔹EIC Pathfinder

  • Supports early-stage research and innovation (TRL 1-3) in small consortia
  • Focus on radical, breakthrough, market-creating technologies
  • Grants of up to €3-4 million per project

🔹EIC Transition

  • Bridges the gap between lab-scale proof-of-concept and application-relevant environments (TRL 3/4 → 5/6)
  • Open to single applicants or small consortia
  • Grants of up to €2.5 million to validate technologies and develop a solid business case

🔹EIC Accelerator

  • Fast-tracks deep-tech SMEs and startups from TRL 6 → 8 toward market readiness
  • Grant funding of up to €2.5 million (70% funding rate)
  • Equity investment from €0.5-10 million (minority stake < 24.99%)
  • 2025 budget: €384 million for OPEN calls plus €50 million/year per Challenge topic

Who should apply?

  • Pathfinder: research groups, academic teams, early-stage spin-offs
  • Transition: SMEs or teams with validated lab results seeking to scale
  • Accelerator: Startups and SMEs with proven deep-tech innovation, IP, and go-to-marketstrategy

The EIC funding programme is highly competitive and – unlike other EU funding programmes – is focused on turning a technology into a business. The right support is key to success. Therefore KETMarket has launched a new service package for your application:

  1. We help you identify the right EIC programme for your technology or product
  2. We support you in shaping your idea to the call requirements.
  3. We build the consortium and support in proposal preparation
  4. With our strong network of business experts we cover the business and marketing part for you! 

💡Now ist the right time to prepare for the next cut-off in March 2026.

💬 Book your free 30-minute consulting session — let us help you shape your project idea and identify the best fitting EIC funding opportunity.

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