Can I apply to EIT & the KICs?

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
• Can a startup apply?Yes
• Can an established SME apply?Yes
• Can a mid-cap company apply?Yes
• Can a large company apply?Yes
• 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?Yes
• 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?Yes
• Can I apply with a product on the market?Yes

The rules in full

Where you must be based

the EU or countries fully associated with Horizon Europe

KIC calls are generally open to entities in EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Some calls add places or prizes for Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries.

Who can apply

a founder without a company yet, a startup, an SME, a mid-cap, a large company, a university, a research organisation, a public body or a non-profit

Depends on the call. Pre-company teams fit idea-stage programmes such as EIT Jumpstarter; start-up funding calls need a registered company; KIC partnerships take universities, research bodies and corporates.

Alone or with partners

Alone

Start-up programmes take one company or team. Some KIC innovation project calls ask for partners; check the call manual.

Stage

TRL 1 to 9

Set per call, from idea stage (Jumpstarter) to market-ready start-ups. Start-up funding calls usually need at least a prototype, pilot or MVP.

What you get

grants, equity or services, up to €2.5M

From prizes of a few thousand euros to up to EUR 2.5M per company (EIT Urban Mobility start-up investment call). Each KIC sets its own amounts and terms.

Funding rate

Varies by call: prizes, grants with co-funding, services, or co-investment alongside private investors.