Access EUR 13 billion to develop and scale breakthrough innovations through Horizon Europe Pillar III
What is Pillar III?
Pillar III focuses on supporting the development of disruptive and market-creating innovations and on enhancing European innovation ecosystems. It operates through three distinct and complementary instruments:
| Instrument | Focus |
|---|---|
| European Innovation Council (EIC) | Supports startups, SMEs and research teams developing high-risk, high-impact breakthrough innovations |
| European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) | Builds an interconnected, inclusive innovation ecosystem across European, national, regional and local levels |
| European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) | Strengthens Europe's innovation ability through education, entrepreneurship and knowledge communities |
Together, these instruments cover the full innovation journey, from radically new technologies emerging from research to the scaling of companies into global players.
The European Innovation Council (EIC)
The EIC is Europe's dedicated innovation funding body, providing financial support in the form of grants and equity investments alongside business acceleration services. It targets high-risk innovations that cannot be financed by the market alone.
The EIC is structured around three instruments tailored to different stages of development:
EIC Pathfinder
For radically new technologies emerging from research excellence. Supports early-stage, high-risk collaborative research with the potential to create entirely new technological foundations.
EIC Transition
Bridges the gap between research results and market application. Supports activities to validate and demonstrate technologies in real-world conditions.
EIC Accelerator
For startups and SMEs ready to develop and scale up high-risk innovations. Offers blended finance combining grants with equity investment through the EIC Fund (up to EUR 10 million per company).
EIC STEP Scale Up
For startups, SMEs and small mid-caps seeking major funding rounds to scale up strategic technologies. Part of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), it provides equity-only investments of between EUR 10 and EUR 30 million per company, targeting digital and deep tech, clean technologies and biotechnologies. Applicants must demonstrate initial market interest from a qualified investor covering at least 20% of the total target funding round. The 2026 budget for this scheme is EUR 300 million.
EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges - Pilot
For startups, SMEs or research performing organisation (university, research or technology organisation, including teams, individual Principal Investigators and inventors). Aims to support high-risk, demand-driven deep tech innovation with transformative potential especially in areas where there is extensive research but lack of commercial uptake.
The EIC also provides tailor-made coaching, mentoring and matchmaking for all supported companies and projects. Fast-track access is available
Beyond funding, the EIC offers tailor‑made Business Acceleration Services (BAS), including coaching, mentoring and matchmaking, to EIC‑supported projects and companies. Fast‑Track access to the EIC Accelerator can be granted via eligible Horizon projects and, in particular, through EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs); in parallel, the Plug‑in scheme enables certified national/regional programmes, such as Fit 4 Start, to channel selected projects directly to the Accelerator full‑proposal stage (bypassing the short application step).
European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
The European Innovation Ecosystems initiative focuses on building more connected and efficient innovation ecosystems that support the scaling of companies and encourage open innovation. Key activities include:
- co-funding joint innovation programmes managed by national authorities
- improving flows of knowledge, talent and capital within and between ecosystems
- fostering innovation procurement initiatives
- supporting mentoring, coaching and technical assistance for innovators in cooperation with local and international partners
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
The EIT delivers cutting-edge solutions, entrepreneurial talent and a supportive environment for innovation through its multi-disciplinary network of Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs). Nine KICs are currently active, covering:
- Climate Change
- Cultural & Creative Sectors & Industries
- Digitalisation
- Future of Food
- Health Innovation
- Sustainable Energy
- Added-Value Manufacturing
- Raw Materials
- Urban Mobility
Between 2021 and 2027, the EIT will create two new KICs covering the Cultural and Creative Sectors and Industries, and Water, Marine and Maritime Sectors and Ecosystems. It will also increase its regional dimension, providing targeted support to countries that lag behind in innovation performance.
Key figures
Who can apply?
Pillar III instruments are open to:
- Startups and SMEs at any stage of development, from early research to near-market scaling
- Individual innovators and research teams
- Spin-outs from universities and research organisations
- Companies seeking equity investment alongside grant funding through the EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator is specifically designed for single companies, including startups and SMEs, and does not require a consortium. The EIC Pathfinder and Transition instruments support collaborative projects.
How Luxinnovation supports you
As Luxembourg's National Contact Point (NCP) for Horizon Europe, Luxinnovation provides dedicated support for the EIC and the European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE).
We can advise you on:
- identifying the most relevant EIC instrument for your technology and development stage
- assessing your eligibility for EIC Pathfinder, Transition or Accelerator calls
- preparing a competitive application, including the pitch deck and business plan required for the EIC Accelerator
- identifying synergies between Pillar III funding and national instruments such as the RDI Law and Fit4Start
Applications are submitted directly via the EU Funding and Tenders portal.
For EIT-related queries, please contact the relevant EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) directly.
This programme is managed by the European Commission implemented via EISMEA (EIC/EIE) and the EIT. The implementing agency of ERC is the European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) and of MSCA is the European Research Executive Agency (REA).
Optimise your Horizon Europe participation
Feel free to contact us for further information and support. We are also available to discuss how this funding measure and others would best fit into your long-term strategy.
