transport

Boosting Regional Innovation: Upcoming EIC and EIT Opportunities for funding mobility projects

On 12 June, the Transport Working Group organised a meeting focused on enhancing regional participation in key EU innovation programmes, with a special emphasis on the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology  (EIT) Urban Mobility.

The event featured two expert presentations:

During the event, moderated by the Transport Working Group leader Françoise Guaspare, Marta Wysoczynska from the EIC provided a comprehensive overview of the EIC’s instruments for funding regional innovation. Julienne Chen, Head of City Partnerships at EIT Urban Mobility, presented the wide range of opportunities that EIT Urban Mobility offers to support regional innovation efforts.

The presentations used during the event are available on the event page.

EIC Instruments for Funding Regional Innovation

The European Innovation Council (EIC), part of Horizon Europe, supports high-risk, deep-tech innovations and helps startups and SMEs scale internationally. With a €10 billion budget (2021–2027), it backs disruptive technologies and promotes market creation and global competitiveness through public and private investment.

It functions as a comprehensive support mechanism for all Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), covering the entire innovation journey from early-stage research to commercialisation and growth financing for startups and SMEs. Its funding model offers both bottom-up (open) and top-down (challenge-driven) opportunities, allowing for flexibility and rapid response to emerging innovation priorities.

To address the different stages of innovation, the EIC offers several instruments. 

The EIC Pathfinder provides grants to support advanced research in the early stages of developing breakthrough or game-changing technologies.
The EIC Transition offers grants to turn research results into innovation opportunities.
The EIC Step – Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform focuses on projects within sectors crucial to the green and digital transitions, specifically digital and deep-tech innovation, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies.

Particularly relevant for startups and SMEs, the EIC Accelerator offers blended financial support that combines grants and equity investments. It aims to help companies develop and scale high-risk, high-impact innovations. Among its priorities, the Accelerator allocates €50 million specifically to breakthrough innovations in future mobility. Under the EIC Accelerator, grant funding of up to €2.5 million is provided as lump sums for innovation activities at technology readiness levels 6 to 8, to be completed within 24 months. For equity investments, companies can receive between €0.5 million and €10 million to support the most risky stages of innovation, bridging the gap until full private financing becomes feasible.

The application process for the EIC Accelerator follows a three-step approach. First, applicants submit a short proposal, which includes a brief application form, a pitch deck of up to ten slides and a video pitch lasting no longer than three minutes. These proposals are evaluated remotely within approximately four to six weeks. If successful, applicants proceed to the second step, where they submit a full proposal by the designated cut-off dates. The next cut-off opens on 1 October, therefore, Ms Wysoczynska suggested applying to step one as soon as possible to ensure eligibility for step two in time. To assist in preparing these proposals, applicants are offered up to three days of remote coaching through the EIC Business Acceleration Services. In the final stage, applicants present their proposals before a jury of EIC experts. Those selected receive full funding, while others may be awarded a Seal of Excellence, which can facilitate access to alternative funding sources and continued business acceleration support.

EIT Urban Mobility – opportunities for regional innovation 

The EIT Urban Mobility supports the European objective of developing smart, green and integrated urban transport systems. EIT Urban Mobility is dedicated to accelerating solutions that optimise the use of urban spaces, while ensuring that urban mobility is accessible, convenient, safe, efficient, sustainable and affordable for all.

Among the many funding opportunities, the EIT Mobility Innovation Open Call supports pilot projects that demonstrate strong scalability and market adoption potential. To apply, consortia must consist of at least two partners from different EU Member States or countries associated with Horizon Europe. The next call is scheduled to launch in the coming weeks, with the first cut-off date expected in September. Selected projects may run for up to 24 months, with funding of up to €1 million per year. To help prospective applicants, an Info day will be organised in July.

EIT Urban Mobility also offers the Market Expansion Call, which supports SMEs in testing, refining, and commercialising their solutions at advanced stages of development, starting from technology readiness level 7. Unlike the Open Call, these projects are open to single applicants. The next Market Expansion Call is expected to be launched in October.

In addition to direct funding opportunities, EIT Urban Mobility is piloting innovation procurement mechanisms through Challenge-Based Pilots. In this initiative, five cities or regions will be selected to conduct pilot projects, with successful applicants receiving free legal and advisory support to guide their innovationprocurement processes.

Beyond these funding programmes, EIT Urban Mobility offers a wide range of education and training opportunities. Among them is the RIS Academy Call, which is open to civil servants, industry professionals, researchers and young people. Numerous additional courses are also available, supporting the upskilling of professionals involved in the rapidly evolving urban mobility sector.