Can I apply to EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges?

By country

• Can a company from an EU country apply?Yes
• Can a company from Poland (a Widening country) apply?Yes
• Can a company from the UK apply?Yes
• Can a company from Switzerland apply?Yes
• Can a company from Norway apply?Yes
• Can a company from Israel apply?Yes
• Can a company from Ukraine apply?Yes
• Can a company from Türkiye apply?Yes
• Can a company from Canada apply?NoOrganisations in Canada can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from Japan apply?NoOrganisations in Japan can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from South Korea apply?NoOrganisations in South Korea can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from the United States apply?NoOrganisations in the United States can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.
• Can a company from India apply?NoOrganisations in India can't apply: it is open to the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe.

By organisation

• Can a founder without a company yet apply?Yes, ifRegister a company first: the applicant must be an incorporated SME.
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?Yes, ifA mid-cap can take part as a partner, not as the applicant.
• Can a large company apply?Yes, ifA large company can take part as a partner, not as the applicant.
• Can a university apply?Yes
• Can a research organisation apply?Yes
• Can a company apply on its own, without partners?Yes

By stage

• Can I apply with an idea or early research?NoToo early: this starts at TRL 4 (a proof of concept).
• Can I apply with a proof of concept?Yes
• Can I apply with a prototype?Yes
• Can I apply with a pilot with real users?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 5.
• Can I apply with a product on the market?NoToo far along: this funds work up to TRL 5.

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe

Applicants must be in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country. Canada, New Zealand, South Korea and Japan are associated to Horizon Europe Pillar II only, so they do not count for this programme.

Who can apply

a startup, an SME, a university, a research organisation or an individual researcher

Start-ups, SMEs and research organisations (including teams, principal investigators and inventors). Companies larger than an SME cannot apply alone.

Who can join as a partner

a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body, a non-profit or an individual researcher

Alone or with partners

Alone, or as a consortium

Stage 1 was single-applicant only. Stage 2 (2027) is expected to allow one entity, two independent entities in two countries, or three entities with at least one in an EU Member State. More than three is ineligible.

Stage

TRL 4 to 5

Stage 1 required a solution at TRL 4 (lab, or in silico for NAMs). Stage 2 aims for TRL 6 (NAMs) or TRL 6 to 7 (Physical AI).

Also required

Selected in stage 1

What you get

grants, up to €2.5M

Stage 1: 300,000 euros for up to 9 months. Stage 2: up to 2.5 million euros for up to 2.5 years, 25 million euros in total, subject to the 2027 work programme.

Funding rate

100% of eligible costs, lump sum