Launch of the enhanced EIC pilot

Enhanced EIC pilot to be launched in 2019 as per request of European Council

Following the European Council's request in July this year, the European Commission have proposed an enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot initiative expected to be launched in 2019.

The enhanced pilot will build on the proposed structure of the EIC under the Horizon Europe proposal to fast track disruptive and market-creating innovation. The pilot will be implemented using 2019-2020 budgets under Horizon 2020, and will involve a revision to the Horizon 2020 work programme. Further details of the pilot will be released in the last quarter of 2018.

A first phase of the EIC pilot was launched on 27th October 2017 as part of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, to support top-class innovators via the SME Instrument, the Fast Track to Innovation (FTI), Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) Open and the Horizon Prizes, and provide opportunities for networkingmentoring and coaching.  These instruments continue to offer funding to innovative companies in support of market-creating innovations.