18 / 03 / 2019
EC announced important steps to support the EIC
On 18 March, the European Commission announced to take further steps towards the creation of the European Innovation Council (EIC). Currently in its pilot phase, from 2021 the EIC will be established as a pillar under the next EU research and innovation programme, Horizon Europe.
The measures, announced by the European Commission, cover:
- An updated version of the EIC Pilot Work Programme 2018-2020;
- Parts of the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) programme will be implemented under the new EIC Pathfinder in 2019-2020;
- The first topics under the new EIC Accelerator will open in June 2019, providing opportunities for SMEs and startups and including an option to access blended financing (i.e. grants and equity);
- The establishment of an EIC Advisory Board which will monitor the current pilot phase and support the preparation of the future EIC;
- The recruitment of “programme managers” which will provide support to the projects funded under the EIC.
