(18 March 2021) – The European Commission launched today the European Innovation Council (EIC) with a budget of over €10 billion for 2021-2027 to develop and expand breakthrough innovations.
Building on a successful pilot programme under Horizon 2020, the new EIC is not only a novelty of Horizon Europe, but it is also unique in the world: it combines research on emerging technologies with an accelerator programme and a dedicated equity fund, the European Innovation Council Fund (around €3 billion), to scale up innovative start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs).
Furthermore, the first annual work programme of the EIC is published, opening funding opportunities worth over €1.5 billion in 2021.
At the same time, two prizes for Women Innovators and the European Capital of Innovation are opened for applications.