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European Innovation Council

Types of funding

Funding programmes that support research and innovation projects, with links to open and upcoming calls.

Horizon 2020

About the programme

Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU research and innovation programme ever with nearly €80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020) – in addition to the private investment that this money will attract. It promises more breakthroughs, discoveries and world-firsts by taking great ideas from the lab to the market.

Open and upcoming calls for Horizon 2020

The next funding programme

Horizon Europe, the framework programme that will succeed Horizon 2020 is being developed now. Read about the rationale, next steps and progress in the development of this programme.

The previous programme (FP7)

Research and Innovation funding 2007 - 2013

EIC Pathfinder Pilot

About the programme

The EIC Pathfinder Pilot comprises FET-Open and FET-Proactive and offers grants of up to €4 million to promote collaborative, inter-disciplinary research and innovation on science-inspired and radically new future technologies. These grants are for consortia of at least 3 entities from 3 different Members States and associated countries.

The scheme features ‘targeted calls’ based on topics or challenges identified in the Work Programme along with open bottom-up call for proposals.

The EIC Pathfinder pilot has a total budget of around €660 million for 2019-2020.

Apply here for Pathfinder Open

Apply here for Pathfinder Proactive

Who can apply?

EIC Accelerator Pilot

About the programme

The EIC Accelerator Pilot builds on the SME Instrument Phase II and provides grant-only support as well as support in the form of blended finance (combining grant and equity).

The scheme supports high-risk, high-potential small and medium-sized innovative enterprises willing to develop and commercialise new products, services and business models that could drive economic growth and shape new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and worldwide.

Applicants for funding must be established in an EU Member State or a Horizon 2020 associated country. Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019, only individual for-profit SMEs established in an EU Members State or a Horizon 2020 associated country will be able to apply for funding.

The EIC Accelerator pilot has a total budget of more than €1.3 billion for 2019-2020.

Apply here

Who can apply?

Fast Track to Innovation (FTI)

About the programme

This scheme is for relatively mature ground-breaking technologies, concepts and business models which are close to market.

Proposals must come from consortia of 3 to 5 legal entities who want to see quick market uptake of new technologies. Grants of up to €3 million may be awarded.

- For-profit entities will receive 70% co-financing
- Not-for-profit entities will receive 100% co-financing

Fast Track to Innovation has a total budget of around €300 million for 2018-2020.

Apply here

Who can apply?