EIC Work Programme 2026 Adopted: €1.4 Billion for Strategic Technologies, and Scale-Up Support

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has officially adopted its 2026 Work Programme, unlocking over €1.4 billion in funding to strengthen Europe’s leadership in strategic technologies and deep-tech scaleups.

Building on the achievements of 2025, the new programme introduces simpler procedures, more frequent evaluations, and a stronger focus on transformative innovation, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of global deep-tech entrepreneurship.

This latest evolution aligns with the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Multiannual Financial Framework, and recommendations from the Draghi report, marking a decisive step toward a more competitive and autonomous European innovation ecosystem.

A Simpler, Faster, and Smarter Framework

The 2026 Work Programme continues the EIC’s mission to identify, develop, and scale Europe’s most promising technologies — from early-stage research to market deployment, while making the journey simpler, faster, and more accessible.

Key simplifications include:

• Shorter proposals (20 pages instead of 50 for full Accelerator applications).

• Remote evaluations now held every two months, and interviews held every two batches.

• Enhanced due diligence processes to streamline investment decisions.

• Reduced administrative burden and broader eligibility under Horizon Europe.

The EIC Board has praised these changes as “a key milestone in advancing Europe’s deep-tech and scale-up ambitions.”

The Five Main Funding Schemes

According to the European Commission’s adopted plan, the EIC Work Programme 2026 supports innovators through five complementary funding schemes. Together, these instruments form a continuum from research (TRL 1–2) to market scale-up (TRL 9), ensuring that every stage of innovation can receive tailored EU support:

What’s New in the EIC Accelerator 2026

The EIC Accelerator, the EU’s flagship programme for high-impact startups and SMEs, undergoes a major transformation in 2026, with changes aimed at improving transparency, speed, and technical depth.

Major Process Updates:

• New Technology Expert Evaluator: Each full proposal will be reviewed by an external technology specialist, who meets applicants and produces a technical due diligence report for evaluators and the EIC Fund.

• Introduction to Evaluation Panels: Panels of independent experts will assess proposals, taking into account both individual evaluations and the tech expert’s report.

• Six Cut-Off Dates for Full Proposals: 7 Jan, 4 Mar, 6 May, 8 Jul, 2 Sep, and 4 Nov 2026, ensuring faster funding cycles.

• Three Face-to-Face Interview Weeks: Shortlisted companies from paired deadlines will attend interview rounds with the EIC jury.

• Shorter Full Proposal: Reduced from 50 to 20 pages; the short proposal remains 12 pages + 10 slides + 3-min video.

• New Rule for Listed Companies: Only firms in EIC STEP strategic sectors can access the investment component.

• Eligibility for Foreign-Owned Companies: Applicants controlled by non-EU or non-associated holding companies (e.g. “Delaware flips”) are no longer eligible.

• Three-Submission Rule: After three unsuccessful submissions (at any stage), applicants may not reapply under Horizon Europe.

Funding Breakdown

The EIC Accelerator’s €634 million budget is divided into Open and Challenge calls:

• Open Call (€414M):

  • €165M in grants

  • €249M in equity

• Challenge Calls (€220M):

  • €88M in grants

  • €132M in equity

Thematic Challenges:

• Advanced materials for renewable energy and storage.

• Biotech for sustainable agriculture and soil regeneration.

• Alternative fusion energy concepts.

• Deep-tech solutions for climate adaptation.

• Critical raw materials and supply chain resilience.

Together, these priorities strengthen the EU’s industrial resilience, technological autonomy, and sustainability leadership.

Funding Types

• Grant Only: up to €2.5M (70% funding rate; 30% co-financed by the beneficiary).

• Blended Finance: Grant + equity (€1–10M).

• Equity Only: €1–10M, depending on company stage and sector.

TRL Requirements

All applicants must begin from TRL 6, technology validated in a relevant environment.
Activities at TRL 5 must be completed before applying.

An exception applies to the Challenge Call “Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants”, which allows applicants with TRLs 4-6.

EIC Pathfinder: New Scale and Topics

The EIC Pathfinder’s maximum grant rises to €4 million, enabling deeper technological development.

Calls:

• Open Call: 12 May 2026 — €166M budget

• Challenges: 28 Oct 2026 — €96M budget

2026 Challenges include:

• Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems

• Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing

• IDeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning for Trustworthy Cognitive AI

Pathfinder funding now also applies lump-sum budgeting, simplifying financial management for applicants.

EIC Transition: Expanded Eligibility

The EIC Transition now accepts results not only from EIC Pathfinder, ERC Proof of Concept, and Horizon Europe Pillar II projects, but also from Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 Research Infrastructures.

• Single call deadline: 16 September 2026

• Total budget: €100M

This scheme continues to bridge the critical gap between research validation and market readiness.

Advanced Innovation Challenges: A Bold Experiment

The EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges (AIC) pilot introduces a bold new funding model inspired by the US ARPA approach, backing high-risk, transformative deep-tech innovation.

2026 Challenge Topics:

• Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied Intelligence for the Next Frontier of AI-Powered Robotics

• Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Practice

Funding Phases:

• Stage 1 (2026): €300,000 lump sum for validation and benchmarking (TRL 4, 9-month projects). Open to monobeneficiaries. 

• Stage 2 (2027): up to €2.5M for development, validation, and testing (TRL 6–7, 2.5-year projects). For small consortia (2-3 partners).

Eligible applicants include SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, research organisations, and small consortia (2–5 entities).

Business Acceleration Services: Beyond Funding

All EIC awardees, and even selected applicants, gain access to Business Acceleration Services (BAS), offering:

• Expert coaching, mentoring, and training.

• Access to corporate partners, investors, and global clients.

• Opportunities to test innovations with potential customers.

• Integration within the European Innovation Ecosystem for networking and peer exchange.

In 2026, BAS will place even greater emphasis on internationalisation, investor matchmaking, and corporate partnerships.

Alignment with EU Strategic Priorities

The EIC Work Programme 2026 aligns with major EU policy frameworks such as the Clean Industrial Deal, the Strategy for European Life Sciences, and the Competitiveness Compass.

Key Deadlines at a Glance

🗓️ Application Dates for 2026

• EIC Pathfinder (Open): 12 May 2026

• EIC Pathfinder (Challenges): 28 Oct 2026

• EIC Transition: 16 Sept 2026

• EIC Accelerator: 7 Jan | 4 Mar | 6 May | 8 Jul | 2 Sep | 4 Nov 2026

• STEP Scale-Up: 11 Feb | 6 May | 9 Sep | 25 Nov 2026

• AIC (Stage 1): 26 Feb 2026

👉 Check details and apply at eic.ec.europa.eu

Looking Ahead: A Stronger, Smarter Europe

The EIC Work Programme 2026 signals a shift toward a more investment-oriented, performance-driven funding landscape.

With stricter TRL requirements, streamlined due diligence, and limited resubmission windows, preparation and positioning are more critical than ever.

At Evolution, we stand ready to guide innovators through this exciting new landscape. With two decades of experience securing EIC and Horizon Europe funding, our team combines strategic insight, technical expertise, and a proven track record of success to help you turn breakthrough ideas into funded projects.

Whether you’re preparing for the EIC Accelerator 2026, exploring Transition opportunities, or targeting scale-up investment, our experts are your trusted partners for success.