The European Commission adopted the European Innovation Council’s 2027 Work Programme, setting an estimated €1.816 billion for calls and related actions as Horizon Europe’s 2021-27 cycle approaches its close.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is the EU’s innovation program under Horizon Europe. This is its final work programme in the framework’s current cycle. The Commission says the funding is intended to support high-risk innovation and strategic technologies, helping researchers and companies bring technologies toward market and scale up. Intended beneficiaries include researchers, startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, spin-offs and scaling companies.
The funding summary assigns €248 million to Pathfinder, which offers research grants of up to €4 million; €92 million to Transition; and €25 million to Advanced Innovation Challenges. The Accelerator has €578 million and offers grants below €2.5 million to startups and small and medium-sized businesses developing innovations for market.
Later-stage financing includes €290 million for STEP Scale Up, whose investments range from €10 million to €30 million, and €400 million for the Scaleup Europe Fund, which can make equity investments above €30 million. The EIC STEP Scale Up Defence call has €100 million and offers up to €30 million in direct equity for technologies including air and missile defense, drones and counter-drones.
The application process will change for some programs. Pathfinder Open proposals will go through a two-stage evaluation, with interviews for shortlisted applicants. Transition will move from a consortium scheme to a single-beneficiary model.
The listed amounts are estimates; evaluation can change them by up to 20%. The EIC’s online information day on the 2027 opportunities is scheduled for Nov. 19, from 3:30 to 9:40 a.m. ET (09:30 to 15:40 CET).
