European Innovation Council (EIC)

The EIC pilot supports top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists with bright ideas and the ambition to scale up internationally. It brings together the parts of Horizon 2020 that provide funding, advice and networking opportunities for those at the cutting edge of innovation.

The European Commission intends to launch the EIC pilot initiative in 2019, following the European Council’s request in July 2018. The enhanced pilot will build on the structure of the EIC under the Horizon Europe proposal to fast track disruptive and market-creating innovation.



The pilot will be implemented using 2019-2020 budgets under Horizon 2020, and will involve a revision to the Horizon 2020 work programme.

A first phase of the pilot was launched on 27th October 2017 as part  of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020. These instruments continue to offer funding to innovative companies in support of market-creating innovations.

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