European Innovation Council
The European Innovation Council (EIC) is Europe’s flagship innovation programme to identify, develop and scale up breakthrough technologies and innovations. It was launched under the EU Horizon Europe programme in March 2021, following a pilot phase in 2018-2020. It has a budget of €10.1 billion to support game changing innovations throughout the lifecycle from early stage research, to proof of concept, technology transfer, and the financing and scale up of start-ups and SMEs.
The strategy and implementation of the EIC is steered by the EIC Board, which has independent members appointed from the world of innovation (entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, corporates and others from the innovation ecosystem).
In November 2021, the EIC Forum formally kicked off to promote dialogue on the development of the EU's innovation ecosystem, and improve coordination between national and regional innovation programmes and innovation activities under Horizon Europe. Consisting of six Working Groups, it aims to serve as an essential tool to help shape a new European Innovation Strategy with Member States and Associated Countries.
ERRIN recommendations on the EIC going forward
March 2024
ERRIN's work around EIC
Since 2022, ERRIN has been engaged in the work of two of the EIC Forum Working Groups on Innovation Policy; and on Innovation Procurement. Since 2023, we have also maintained direct dialogue with the EIC Board to provide continuous support to EIC. In October 2023, we organised a direct exchange between EIC and regional stakeholders. Based on this, in March 2024 we formulated recommendations on the EIC going forward, exploring how to better link regional and European level support for innovation.
