EIC International Trade Fairs and USA Soft-landing Programme 3.0

The EIC International Trade Fairs & USA Soft-landing Programme 3.0 (ITF) aims at supporting EIC beneficiaries in their commercialisation strategy in European and foreign markets; it opens business avenues through participation in renown trade fairs in the EU, the Middle East and the United States of America (USA), as well as soft-landing activities in the USA, putting EU innovation under spotlight in some of the most promising markets of the world.  

The programme allows companies to showcase their most innovative products in strategic markets, identify business opportunities and make contacts with new partners. It is open to startups, scaleups and SMEs from EU Member States and Associated Countries which have received EIC support, upon open call selection.  

Novelty: EIC Soft-landing Programme

When venturing into new markets and aiming for global expansion, EIC awardees often encounter numerous obstacles that hinder the growth of their businesses in unfamiliar territories. Beyond identifying suitable opportunities and partners, they must also understand the local cultures, regulations, and business landscapes. There is where the EIC Soft-landing programme come into play.

The United States stands as the primary target market for EIC awardees, and the EIC Soft-landing programme offers, for the first time, a comprehensive array of tailored services and support to help EIC Awardees in overcoming the challenges of entering the US market.

The EIC Soft-landing programme is a new exclusive business acceleration service that provides customised guidance and the adequate tools for EIC awardees who have launched and gained traction abroad and want to expand to a new market without keeping their attention away from their main operations at home.

This service will be delivered through four distinct cohorts spanning the period from 2024 to 2025.

The ITF Programme 3.0 is running throughout 2024 and 2025, offering the EIC awardees the opportunity to attend 12 international trade fairs across EU and extra-EU markets (Middle East and the United States of America) and 4 soft-landing activities in the United States of America in 4 different sectors. Specifically, the trade fairs cover the following sectors:   

• BioTech & Pharma   

• Health & Medical Care   

• Clean Tech Environment and Energy   

• New technologies & Industrial technologies   

In addition to maximising visibility onsite, the ITF 3.0 Programme enables EIC beneficiaries to:

• Explore high quality leads, including partnerships and business opportunities. 

• Connect with leading entrepreneurs in the industry and top business mentors. 

• Showcase their innovative technologies, products and services at the European Innovation Council / EU Pavilion. 

• Learn and share knowledge during workshops, preparatory training sessions with market experts and constructive debates. 

“We consider it a privilege to be part of the EIC ITF 3.0 Programme. Participating to major events have enhanced our branding and expanded our market reach." 

 

Mustafa Ergen, Founder at Ambeent, participant in CES 2024. 

The Programme includes a comprehensive set of business services for the EIC awardees: 

• End-to-end support to EIC awardees in the process of internationalisation with expert coaching services. 

• Pre-departure market briefings to maximise their trade fair participation. 

• Tailored coaching services adapted to EIC awardees needs including cultural and intellectual property training. 

• Networking support (including B2B matchmaking). 

• Additional customised services during the trade fairs. 

• Robust follow-up mechanisms to build business partnerships following the trade fair. 

• CES International, Las Vegas,USA, 9-12 January 2024  

• Mobile World Congress (MWC), Barcelona, Spain, 26-29 February 2024  

• Soft-landing Health & Life Sciences, San Francisco & Silicon Valley, USA, 19-24 May 2024  

• BIO, San Diego, USA, 3-6 June 2024 

• GITEX Global, Dubai, UAE, 14-18 October 2024  

• MEDICA, Dusseldorf, Germany, 13-16 November 2024  

The list of trade fairs scheduled for 2025 will be updated soon.

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) eligible to become EIC beneficiaries with a ready-to-market product or service with high innovation potential may apply for the EIC International Trade Fairs (ITF) & USA Soft-landing Programme 3.0. 

In order to be eligible for the Programme, EIC beneficiaries must apply to calls by completing the application that is part of the open call. Information about the company's product/service alignment with the trade fair's objective, internationalisation strategy, and commercialisation preparedness are all requested on the application form.  

The call for application is open 6 months prior to the trade fairs. All the open calls are directly published on the EIC Community Platform. 

In order for the EIC to choose the final participants, outside experts will review and rank the received applications. 

All information related to the ITF 3.0 Programme as well as stories, open calls and events can be found on the EIC Community Platform.

Specifically, the EIC Community helps EIC innovators establish on the European and global markets, by finding peers and business partnerships. It hosts over 6000 of Europe’s most innovative startups and scale-ups, many of which are already working on inventive solutions and services that positively contribute to the internationalisation of EIC-funded SMEs.

Find all the answers on the EIC ITF 3.0 programme in the FAQ below.