What is the EIC Transition ?
The EIC Transition is a funding programme under Horizon Europe targeting innovation activities that goes beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory. It supports both the maturation and validation of novel technologies from the lab to the relevant application environments.
The EIC Transition offers support to SMEs, start-ups and organisations that:
- have identified EU-funded project result(s) with promising commercial potential that could be the basis for innovation and promising new businesses
- envision novel promising technology that is ready for the next steps towards its maturation and validation, to be further developed and validated for some specific, high potential, commercial applications
- have conducted a preliminary market research to identify potential markets for their innovation and explored potential competitors
- envisage building a motivated and entrepreneurial team with a mix of skills, including researchers, business people, marketers etc. to develop and drive the idea towards commercial success
- Grant funding
- Grants of up to EUR 2.5 million to validate and demonstrate technology in application-relevant environment (starting at TRL 3/ 4 aiming to achieve TRL 5/ 6) and develop business and market readiness.
- Booster grants of a fixed amount not exceeding EUR 50 000 to undertake complementary activities to explore potential pathways to commercialisation or for portfolio activities
- Extensive support
Early stage business support services
Access to a range of tailor-made Business Acceleration Services (BAS) for beneficiaries:
- Access to global partners
- Access to coaches, mentors, expertise and training
- Access to innovation ecosystem and peers
- EIC Transition Open
The EIC Transition Open has no predefined thematic priorities and is open to proposals in any field of science, technology or application.
The overall budget for the EIC Transition Open in 2025 is EUR 98 million.
- Streamlined application process
EIC Transition selection process comprises 3 steps. Each step passed successfully give access to the next step:
- Writing your proposal
- Evaluation by an EIC Jury
- Face to face interview with the EIC Jury
This document presents the 2025 European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. It sets out how the EIC will allocate its funding of over EUR 1.4 billion for the year 2025 and has been prepared following the advice of the EIC Board.
Who can apply?
- Single legal entities established in a Member State or an Associated Country (‘mono-beneficiary’) if you are a start-up, SME or research performing organisation (university, research or technology organisation, including teams, individual Principal Investigators and inventors in such institutions who intend to form a spin-off company). Larger companies (i.e. which do not qualify as SMEs) are not eligible to apply as a single legal entity
- Small consortia of two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries
- Consortia of minimum three and maximum five independent legal entities (‘multi-beneficiary’) following standard rules i.e. 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
Your proposal must build on results already achieved within an eligible project that are, at least, at experimental proof of concept (TRL 3) or, ideally, technology validated in the lab level (TRL 4). Proposals building on project results at TRLs other than TRL3 or TRL4 are not eligible.
EIC Transition is restricted to proposals based on results generated by the following eligible projects:
- EIC Pathfinder projects (including projects funded under the Horizon 2020 EIC pilot Pathfinder, FET-Open, FET-Proactive, CSA and CSA Lump sum FET Innovation Launchpad.)
- European Research Council Proof of Concept projects funded Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe.
- Research and Innovation Actions funded under Horizon 2020 Societal challenges and Leadership in Industrial Technologies and under Horizon Europe pillar II, with an eligible TRL
- European Defence Fund (EDF), including the Preparatory Action on Defence Research, research projects, but only for proposals which are focused on civil applications (including dual use).
The list does not include projects funded under Joint Undertakings (JUs) in H2020 and HE whose results are also eligible for funding if projects satisfy all eligibility criteria from the EIC Work Programme 2025 (such as start and end dates and TRL). The list will be updated soon with eligible JU projects.
How to apply for the EIC Transition?
The application process consists of 3 steps:
- Step 1Write your proposal
Submit your proposal via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal before the given deadline.
Sections 1 to 3 and the cover page (that includes the information about the related project on which the current EIC Transition proposal is built on) of part B of your proposal must consist of a maximum of 22 format A4 pages.
- Step 2Evaluation by an EIC Jury
Your proposal will be evaluated first by EIC expert evaluators. If your proposal successfully passes this first evaluation phase (see details below), you will be invited for an interview, which will be organised approximately between 12-14 weeks after the deadline.
- Step 3Interview
At the interview, you will be assessed by a panel of maximum 6 EIC Jury Members. You will be informed about the result of the interview indicatively within 4 weeks from the start of the interviews.
Timeline for submissions and evaluation in 2025
- 17/09 at 17:00 CETDeadline for submissions
- OctoberEvaluation
- 1-5 DecemberInterviews
All applicants (including those unsuccessful in step 1) will be informed about the result of the evaluation approximately 4 months after the cut-off. Proposals invited for grant preparations are expected to start the projects in the first half of 2026. If you meet all evaluation criteria thresholds at the first step but are not selected for funding (including from a NO-GO recommendation from the jury), you will be awarded a Seal of Excellence. If the proposal is submitted by a consortia, Seal of Excellence will be awarded to the coordinator of the proposal, listing the other participating legal entities
Important remark: the purpose of this template is to provide an overview of the information that is needed to be filled in when applying. Applicants must download and fill in the application template from the Funding and Tenders portal.
Important remark: the purpose of this template is to provide an overview of the information that is needed to be filled in when applying. Applicants must download and fill in the application template from the Funding and Tenders portal.
Do you need help ?
- NCPs
The network of National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure providing guidance, practical information, and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe.
- FAQs
Find answers to questions frequently asked by applicants about types of funding, eligibility, submission of proposals, and more.
- BAS
All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering and other EIC Business Acceleration Services (BAS).
Transition plan
Each Transition project is encouraged and offered support to come up with a Transition plan to support them in their transition journey to the market. The Transition plan will be discussed during the progress meeting(s). We are offering as a starting point, a guide and a template, to help EIC Transition projects but these documents are available for anybody who is interested in transitioning research results and deeptech to the market.
Do you have any feedback? Do not hesitate to leave it EISMEA-EIC-TRANSITION-CALLS
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (here).
Direct submissions
- Fast Track scheme
The Fast Track scheme allows specific treatment of proposals that result from existing Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020 projects. Such projects can submit projects directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator subject to a review of the ongoing project.
- Plug-In scheme
The Plug-In scheme is equivalent to the Fast Track, except that it applies to proposals that result from existing national or regional programmes. So far, 50 programmes have been certified for the scheme.
News
EISMEA has launched a call for tenders on Access to expertise and training through EIC Tech to Market training programme and venture building activities
The EIC has been instrumental in accelerating the growth trajectory of start-ups. Over 70 EIC-backed companies have attained 'centaur' status, with valuations exceeding €100 million, and six of these companies are valued at over €500 million. Read more in the EIC Impact Report 2025.
Trusted Investor Network brings together a select group of investors committed to co-investing in high-potential deep-tech companies alongside the EIC Fund.
The latest episode of the Ideas Powered for business (IPFB) Talks highlights how IP due diligence helps protect innovation.
A new set of 40 projects have been selected to receive EIC funding following the 2024 EIC Transition call.
The recording and presentations of the EIC Work Programme 2025 info days are now available