European Innovation Council Grants

Open European Innovation Council grants

• EIC Pathfinder: Physical AI

  Deadline: Oct 28, 2026open

  EIC Pathfinder: Physical AI is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports visionary research in embedded intelligence for AI-driven robotics, ...

  artificial_intelligenceai_roboticsai_foundation_modelsai_social_goodai_science

• EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2025

  Deadline: Oct 28, 2026open

  EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2025 is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports breakthrough deep-tech projects with high scientific and technolo...

  artificial_intelligenceautonomous_systemsinnovationdeep-techbreakthrough technology

• EIC Accelerator Challenges 2025

  open

  EIC Accelerator Challenges 2025 is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports start-ups and SMEs developing breakthrough technologies in prede...

  biotechnologymaterials_scienceelectric_vehiclesinnovationbreakthrough innovation

• EIC Accelerator Open 2025 (Short Application)

  open

  EIC Accelerator Open 2025 is a flagship funding program from the European Innovation Council that supports high-potential startups and SMEs developing...

  small_businessinnovationgrantequity investmentsme

• EIC Pathfinder

  open

  EIC Pathfinder is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Funds breakthrough deep tech projects with high scientific and technological ambition.

  ai_foundation_modelsai_sciencematerials_sciencetechnology breakthroughsvisionary research

• EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

  open

  EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports high-risk, demand-driven deep tech innovation with transforma...

  small_businessinnovationdeep techhigh-risk innovationtransformative technology

• EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up 2026

  open

  EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up 2026 is a grant from European Innovation Council that who can apply Startups, SMEs and ...

  small_businessinnovationequity fundingscale upstart-ups

• EIC Pathfinder 2026

  open

  EIC Pathfinder 2026 is a grant from European Innovation Council that the overall objective of the EIC Pathfinder for advanced research is to develop t...

  ai_foundation_modelsai_sciencequantum_computingtechnology breakthroughsvisionary research

• EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026

  open

  EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026 is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports breakthrough technologies or game-changing innovations in predef...

  small_businessinnovationeic acceleratorbreakthrough technologygame-changing innovation

• EIC Accelerator 2025 Open – Short Application (HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-01)

  open

  The EIC Accelerator 2025 Open – Short Application (HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-01) is a grant from the European Innovation Council that funds breakth...

  small_businessinnovationsmesstart-upsmid-caps

• EIC Accelerator: GenAI4EU Challenge

  open

  EIC Accelerator: GenAI4EU Challenge is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Provides blended finance for AI startups and scale-ups targeting sect...

  artificial_intelligenceai_foundation_modelsai_roboticssmall_businessinnovation

• EIC Accelerator 2025 Open – Short Application

  open

  EIC Accelerator 2025 Open – Short Application is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports SMEs, startups, and mid-caps in developing and sca...

  small_businessinnovationsmesstartupsmid-caps

• EIC Accelerator Challenges 2025: GenAI4EU

  open

  EIC Accelerator Challenges 2025: GenAI4EU is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports start-ups and SMEs developing transformative AI-driven...

  artificial_intelligenceai_ethics_researchai_social_goodsmall_businessinnovation

• EIC Pre-Accelerator

  open

  EIC Pre-Accelerator is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Strengthens the capacity of early-stage deep tech companies in Horizon Europe widenin...

  small_businessinnovationdeep-tech startupsearly-stage startupsbusiness readiness

• EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up

  open

  EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Provides additional equity funding to prom...

  innovationsmall_businessequity fundingscale upstart-ups

• EIC 2025 Work Programme

  open

  EIC 2025 Work Programme is a grant from the European Innovation Council that allocates over €1.4 billion to fund innovators, startups, SMEs, and resea...

  small_businessinnovationai_foundation_modelsai_healthcareai_climate

• Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation

  open

  Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Supports deep-tech solutions addressing climate adaptation challenges in...

  discover:climate adaptationfit_score:45

• EIC Seal of Excellence Opportunities

  open

  EIC Seal of Excellence Opportunities is sponsored by European Innovation Council. The EIC Seal of Excellence is a quality label awarded to high-qualit...

  innovationsmall_businesseconomic_developmenteic seal of excellenceeuropean innovation council

• EIC Pre-Accelerator 2025

  open

  EIC Pre-Accelerator 2025 is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Aims to boost the innovation potential of early-stage deep-tech startups in wide...

  small_businessinnovationdeep-tech startupsearly-stage innovationbusiness readiness

• EIC Transition Open 2025

  open

  EIC Transition Open 2025 is sponsored by European Innovation Council. Aims to turn research results into innovation opportunities.

  innovationsmall_businesstechnology validationmarket readinessbusiness development

What European Innovation Council funds

Top program areas based on GrantMind's analysis of recent European Innovation Council awards:

How to apply for European Innovation Council grants

Most European Innovation Council applications require: an organizational profile with mission and programs, a project proposal aligned with the funder's stated priorities, a project budget, and supporting attachments (IRS determination letter, board list, recent financials). Federal applicants additionally need a SAM.gov UEI and an active Grants.gov account.