FundedBy
Grants
Sign inJoin
FundedBy

The European funding ecosystem, in one place.

GrantsJoin FundedBy
Impressum·Privacy Policy·Terms of Use·Report content
Grants›EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges 2026 — Stage 1 (pilot)
Grant

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges 2026 — Stage 1 (pilot)

by European Commission
administered by EISMEA — European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency
Before you plan around this

Pilot unter dem EIC-Arbeitsprogramm 2026; für 2027 ist eine Aufstockung auf 25 Mio. EUR vorgesehen.

Summary

A new pilot under the EIC Work Programme 2026, inspired by the US ARPA model: bold, challenge-driven funding for high-risk, high-reward breakthrough deep-tech innovation in areas where Europe is strong in research but slow to commercialise. Stage 1 projects receive a lump sum of EUR 300,000. The 2026 indicative budget for Stage 1 is EUR 6 million (a further EUR 25 million is planned under the 2027 EIC Work Programme).

Can you apply?

Who
Teams pursuing high-risk, high-reward breakthrough deep-tech innovation in strategic areas where Europe has strong research but weak commercialisation; this is a pilot under the 2026 EIC Work Programme.
Money
€300k–€300k
share of eligible costs not stated
When
Rolling — apply any working day
Effort
Very high
editorial estimate of the application, not the funder's word
Find a grantwriter for this call →

Eligibility

  • •High-risk, demand-driven deep-tech innovation with transformative potential
  • •Focus on areas with extensive research but limited commercial uptake
  • •Stage 1 lump sum of EUR 300,000
  • •Pilot under the 2026 EIC Work Programme (Stage 2 via the 2027 programme)

About this grant

Pilot under the 2026 EIC Work Programme testing an ARPA-style, challenge-driven approach as a bridge to the next Horizon Europe Programme. Supports high-risk, demand-driven deep-tech innovation with transformative potential, especially where there is extensive research but a lack of commercial uptake. Stage 1 projects receive a EUR 300,000 lump sum. Indicative budget EUR 6 million for Stage 1 in 2026, EUR 25 million planned for 2027. The harvested materials do not state per-call deadlines, eligibility detail or funding rate for this pilot.

Details

Programme
Horizon Europe — European Innovation Council (EIC)
Eligible region
Europe
Total call budget
€6M

Sectors

Digital & TechnologyScience & Technology / R&D

Compiled by FundedBy from public sources. Confirm details with the funding body before applying.

Last updated 15 September 2026 · Last verified 2 September 2026

Official funder website☆ Save grantFind a grantwriter for this grant
☆Join FundedBy to save this grant