About
Funded under Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation that preceded Horizon Europe, each EIC Horizon Prize has an ambitious goal to solve a major challenge facing society, without detailing how this should be achieved or who should achieve it.
These prizes are open to anyone willing to think outside the box across sectors and disciplines. The prize is awarded to whoever best meets the challenge.
If you want to use your creativity and expertise to develop breakthrough solutions to society's challenges – have a go.
2021 calls
OPEN: 2nd QUARTER 2018 CLOSE: 1 JUNE 2021
Low-Cost Space Launch
Prize value: €10 million
The challenge is to develop a solution for launching small satellites into Low Earth Orbit, to allow dedicated low-cost launches with committed schedule and orbit. The solution must be European and technologically non-dependent. The Horizon Prize on a Low Cost Space Launch worth EUR 10 million was awarded to Isar Aerospace Technologies GmbH.
OPEN: 4th QUARTER 2017 CLOSE: 5 MAY 2021
Fuel from the Sun: Artificial Photosynthesis
Prize value: €5 million
The challenge is to build a functional prototype of an artificial photosynthesis-based system which is able to produce a useable synthetic fuel.
OPEN: 23 February 2018 CLOSE: 6 OCTOBER 2021
AWARD : 5 DECEMBER 2022
Award Ceremony
The winner of this € 5 million cash prize will be announced at an Award Ceremony, taking place in Brussels on 5 December 2022.
For the first phase of the Prize contest, 22 proposals were received. From these, an independent Jury selected three finalists who participated in a 72-hour test run of their prototypes at the Joint Research Centre in ISPRA, Italy in July 2022. On the basis of the results of this test, the Jury selected the winning invention.
Innovative Batteries for eVehicle
The challenge is to develop a safe and sustainable battery for electric-vehicles through the development of new materials and chemistries making use of abundant, sustainable low cost materials, which are easily available in Europe.
OPEN: 26 APRIL 2018 CLOSE: 3rd QUARTER
Early Warning for Epidemics
This prize aims to develop an early-warning system to help prevent disease outbreaks and reduce the impact should they occur. The prize worth EUR 5 million was awarded to a Greece-based project EarlY WArning System for Mosquito-borne Diseases (EYWA).
Past calls
OPEN: 4th QUARTER 2017 CLOSE: 1st QUARTER 2020
Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid
Prize value: €5 million
The challenge is to develop innovative and more cost-effective solutions to be used in a humanitarian aid context,based on frugal application of advanced technologies.
OPEN: 2nd QUARTER 2018 CLOSE: 3rd QUARTER 2019
Blockchains for Social Good
This prize aims to develop solutions to social innovation challenges using distribute ledger technology.
Prize value: €5 million
The challenge is to use Distributed Ledger Technology, such as the one used in blockchain, to develop scalable, efficient and high-impact solutions to social challenges.