This program is designed for research teams, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and scale-ups aiming to turn their innovations into market-ready products or significantly scale their business.
Main Funding Schemes
The 2026 Work Programme includes five key funding schemes:
• EIC Pathfinder – approximately €262 million for multidisciplinary research teams pursuing visionary research with the potential for technological breakthroughs (grants of up to €4 million).
• EIC Transition – around €100 million, focused on transforming research results into innovation opportunities, building on results from collaborative projects funded under EIC Pathfinder, ERC Proof of Concept, Horizon Europe Pillar 2 (societal challenges), or research infrastructure projects (grants of up to €2.5 million).
• Advanced Innovation Challenges – around €6 million for high-risk but high-impact deep-tech innovations in fields where Europe has strong research but limited commercialization. Lump-sum funding of approximately €300,000.
• EIC Accelerator – around €634 million for start-ups and SMEs developing and scaling their innovations (grants up to €2.5 million plus investments from €0.5 to €10 million).
• STEP Scale Up (“Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform”) – around €300 million, offering additional equity funding for promising SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and scale-ups in critical innovation areas, with investments ranging from €10 to €30 million to attract larger private investments above €50 million.
Across all schemes, direct financial support for innovators is complemented by access to extensive “Business Acceleration Services” — consultations, corporate partnerships, investors, and other players in the innovation ecosystem.
Key Changes and Highlights for 2026
• Pilot launch of Advanced Innovation Challenges: A new programmatic approach inspired by the U.S. ARPA model — encouraging bold, outcome-driven projects.
• Simplified and faster process for EIC Accelerator applications: From 2026, full proposals will be shortened (e.g., from 50 to around 20 pages), evaluations will be more frequent (every two months instead of every six), and technology due diligence for investment will be deepened.
• Strengthened implementation of the EU Startup and Scale-up Strategy: The program supports several key actions outlined in the EU strategy — including building European corporate networks, facilitating entry into international markets, fostering partnerships, and promoting the Gender Index to strengthen women’s participation in innovation ecosystems.
Who Can Apply
The program is suitable for:
• Research teams pursuing visionary technological goals (Pathfinder)
• Teams ready to take their research to the next step toward innovation (Transition)
• High-risk, high-impact deep-tech projects (Advanced Innovation Challenges)
• Start-ups and SMEs aiming to launch and scale a product (Accelerator)
• Companies ready for rapid growth seeking major private investment (STEP Scale Up)
What It Means for the Czech Republic
If you are based in the Czech Republic and developing an innovative solution with European-level impact — particularly in critical technologies — this program offers a major opportunity. With the new simplified process (especially for the Accelerator) and a stronger focus on scaling, you have the chance to gain both financial support and strategic guidance.
How to Proceed
- Follow deadlines and info days: Info sessions for applicants will be held on November 13, 14, and 17, 2025 (recordings available here, here, and here).
- Prepare a well-structured project plan with a clear innovation, market potential, and scaling strategy.
- Leverage EIC consultation and networking services — not just funding, but also access to expertise and networks.
- Select the most suitable funding scheme according to your project’s stage (research → innovation → scaling).
- Monitor official program materials (PDF format for 2026).
The EIC 2026 Program represents one of Europe’s largest opportunities for innovators — with more than €1.4 billion supporting all stages of innovation, from fundamental research to rapid growth. Those prepared will have a chance to play a key role in Europe’s innovation landscape — including in the Czech Republic.
In 2026, CETAV will launch new grant consulting services, including dedicated support for EIC applicants.
Author: Jana Rylichová, Lucie Cáliková
Graphics: beda.org