EIC Work Programme 2026: €1.4 billion available for advanced technological innovation

The European Commission has adopted the new work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC) for 2026. The EIC supports innovations deep tech, from early stage research and technological development (EIC Pathfinder ed EIC Accelerator), up to growth and expansion (EIC STEP Scale-up programme).

The EIC Fund has invested €1,4 billion in over 300 deep-tech startups selected through the EIC Accelerator, with 3,5 times leverage in co-investments, making it Europe's largest and most active deep-tech co-investment fund.

The new program will allocate €1.4 billion to support entrepreneurs and researchers in the advanced technologies sector in Europe. Specifically, the EIC 2026 work program provides funding for the following main schemes:

E.I.C. Pathfinder: will be allocated EUR 262 million for multidisciplinary research teams undertaking visionary research with the potential to lead to technological breakthroughs;
EIC transition: availability of EUR 100 million to transform research results into innovation opportunities, following up on the results generated by the EIC Pathfinder, the European Research Council Proof of Concept, Horizon Europe Pillar 2 collaborative projects and research infrastructure projects;
Challenges of advanced innovation: EUR 6 million to support high-risk, transformative advanced technological innovation;
EIC Accelerator: EUR 634 million for startups and SMEs that want to develop and scale innovations with the potential to create new markets or revolutionize existing ones;
The EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe (STEP) Scale Up platform: EUR 300 million to provide additional equity financing to promising companies driving innovation in critical sectors to help them secure larger private co-investment rounds of EUR 50 million or more.

Among the main innovations of the EIC Work Programme is the experimentation of advanced innovation challenges (Advanced Innovation Challenges) aimed at supporting high-risk, high-reward projects in areas where the EU is struggling to transform ideas into concrete products or commercial activities. In this regard, a phased funding approach will be introduced. In addition, the programme includes a EIC Accelerator application process faster, simpler and more robust, as well as support for the implementation of a series of actions defined within the Strategy for Start-ups and Scale-ups.

They will also be introduced targeted challenges with topics ranging from critical raw materials to nuclear fusion, from artificial intelligence to climate adaptation.

For more information: info@iniziativa.cc

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ISTHMUS

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Contribution to spending: €1.834.279,63
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AERONAUTICAL CONSTRUCTION TECNAM SPA

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Contract: Development Contract
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Non-refundable contribution: €13.638.819,00
Concessionary Financing: €4.417.290,00
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Contribution to spending: €812.156,25
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Giffoni Innovation Hub

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SGAM SpA

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Contract: Development Contract
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Colser Services

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€1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported | €1.9 billion Production investments supported | €435 billion Investments in Research & Innovation subsidized | 200 active customers with hundreds of completed transactions | 100 Project Financing/PPP Operations Supported |