EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges – Pilot introduce a two‑stage, ARPA‑inspired support model to speed up high‑risk, demand‑driven deep tech innovation from solution concept to real‑world validation with users.​

Opportunity overview

The EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges (AIC) – Pilot aim to close the gap between strong scientific knowledge and limited commercial uptake, by combining stage‑gated funding, early user involvement and proactive portfolio management. The scheme targets deep tech innovations with transformative potential, particularly where there is extensive research but slow or fragmented deployment, and will test whether competitive, staged support with strong demand‑side integration can deliver faster, more effective routes to market than existing Horizon Europe instruments.​

Each Challenge is shaped and steered by an EIC Programme Manager, working closely with users and ecosystem actors, to align cutting‑edge technology development with market demand and policy priorities. The pilot focuses on:​

• Stage‑gated funding (Stage 1 and Stage 2).
• Demand‑side integration (commercial and/or public users, end‑users, regulators) from the outset.
• Single entities or small consortia, to keep decision‑making agile.
• Proactive portfolio management, including cross‑project learning, potential consortium formation and strategic selection for Stage 2.

Funding structure and activities

The pilot operates in two stages:​

• Stage 1 – Solution validation and benchmarking (2026)
  • Budget: EUR 6 million under the 2026 EIC Work Programme.
  • Grant: Fixed EUR 300 000 lump sum for up to 9 months (Research and Innovation Action).
  • Purpose:
    • Demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed solution.
    • Benchmark the solution against alternatives, providing a robust basis for any Stage 2 application.
    • Validate the solution in close interaction with users/demand‑side stakeholders.
  • Activities must include participation in a user workshop organised by the EIC, bringing together Stage 1 projects, external experts and potential users, and allocate at least 1 person‑month for proactive portfolio management (interaction with the Programme Manager, joint activities, etc.).​
  • Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs (covered by the lump sum).​
• Stage 2 – Development and user testing (anticipated 2027)
  • Budget: Indicative EUR 25 million under the 2027 EIC Work Programme (subject to formal adoption).​
  • Access: Restricted to applicants that participated in Stage 1 (or that can demonstrate rights to use the relevant technology/results if the Stage 1 entity is not a direct participant).​
  • Grant: Up to EUR 2.5 million lump sum for up to 2.5 years (Research and Innovation Action).​
  • Purpose:
    • Further develop the most promising Stage 1 solutions to higher maturity.
    • Test and validate them in real‑world environments with direct involvement of users and other demand‑side actors.
  • Funding rate: 100% of eligible costs.​

In both stages, projects benefit from tailor‑made Business Acceleration Services (BAS), including coaching, mentoring and matchmaking.​

Eligible applicants and countries

The pilot is open to entities established in EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries, following standard Horizon Europe rules.​

• Stage 1 (2026 call) – who can apply:​
  • Single legal entities (mono‑beneficiary) only, established in an EU Member State or Associated Country, and falling into one of the following categories:
    • Start‑ups.
    • SMEs.
    • Research‑performing organisations (universities, research or technology organisations, including teams, Principal Investigators and inventors).
  • Large companies (i.e. non‑SMEs) are not eligible to apply as mono‑beneficiaries.
• Stage 2 (anticipated restricted call in 2027) – who can apply:​
  Access will be restricted to Stage 1 participants (or entities with rights to the Stage 1 technology/results) and, subject to the 2027 work programme, applications are expected to be possible as:
  • Single legal entity (mono‑beneficiary) – start‑up, SME, or research‑performing organisation (including teams intending to form a spin‑off) established in an EU Member State or Associated Country. Large companies again cannot apply as single entities.
  • Small consortium of 2 entities – two independent legal entities from two different EU Member States or Associated Countries.
  • Consortium of up to 3 entities – maximum of three independent legal entities, each established in a different Member State or Associated Country, with at least one in a Member State and two others in different eligible countries. Consortia with more than three eligible entities will be ineligible.

Spin‑offs with a legal or capital link to a research‑performing organisation can be treated as affiliated entities under Article 8 of the Model Grant Agreement.​

Application process and timelines

• Stage 1 (2026 – solution validation and benchmarking)​
  • Call opening: 3 December 2025 (possible shift by up to one month).
  • Deadline: 26 February 2026, 17:00 Brussels local time.
  • Submission: Via the Funding & Tenders Portal; Part B (cover page + Sections 1–3) max 11 A4 pages.
  • Evaluation:
    • Conducted by a committee of EIC expert evaluators chaired by the relevant EIC Programme Manager.
    • Uses a portfolio approach to select a diverse set of promising solutions.
  • Time to grant: Applicants informed shortly after evaluation; grant agreements expected to be signed no later than 5 months after the deadline, with projects starting immediately and no later than 1 October 2026.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to prepare in advance with their National Contact Points (NCPs) to speed up grant preparation (PIC validation, financial identification, bank account, etc.).
• Stage 2 (2027 – development and user testing, restricted call)​
  • Indicative deadline: 18 June 2027, 17:00 Brussels local time.
  • Submission: Via the Funding & Tenders Portal; Part B (cover page + Sections 1–3) max 22 A4 pages.
  • Evaluation:
    • Via a live pitch before an independent expert jury, chaired by the relevant EIC Programme Manager.
    • Focus on readiness for real‑world deployment, scalability and potential for market uptake.
  • Time to result: Applicants informed roughly six weeks after the submission deadline.

Key value proposition for innovators and users

The EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges – Pilot offer:​

• A fast, competitive path from early solution concepts to real‑world testing in under three years.
• Early and structured involvement of demand‑side actors (industry, public authorities, end‑users, regulators), improving relevance, validation and pathway to adoption.
• Close Programme Manager guidance and portfolio‑level collaboration, enabling shared benchmarks, cross‑project learning and the formation of strong Stage 2 consortia.

For innovators with bold deep tech solutions and committed user partners, this pilot provides a high‑intensity, ARPA‑style pathway within the Horizon Europe framework to de‑risk development, validate impact and accelerate uptake across European and global markets.​

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