Enhanced European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot

ANNEX 12

“Annex 20”

Horizon 2020 Work-Programme 2018-2020

Towards the next Framework Programme

for Research and Innovation:

Enhanced European

Innovation

Council (EIC)

pilot

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON THIS WORK PROGRAMME

This Work Programme covers 2018, 2019 and 2020. The parts of the Work Programme that relate to 2020

(topics, dates, budget) have, with this revised version, been updated. The changes relating to this revised

part are explained on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

(European Commission Decision C(2020)6320 of 17 September 2020)

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About this document

This is the Work Programme part for the three-year European Innovation Council

(EIC) pilot under Horizon 2020, the EU's Framework Programme for Research and

Innovation.

To prepare for applying to an EIC pilot call, please go to the 'EIC pilot Web Page',

which will direct you to the most appropriate funding scheme for your needs.

http://ec.europa.eu/research/eic/index.cfm

The 'EIC pilot Web Page' will channel you through to the Horizon 2020 Funding

& Tenders Portal, which contains all the practical information you need to

participate as well as details of your National Contact Point, who can give you

support in your own language.

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Summary

The European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot supports researchers and innovators developing

breakthrough innovations with the potential to create new markets and boost jobs, growth

and prosperity in Europe. It will pilot two new schemes:

(i) the EIC Pathfinder pilot (grant only)

FET-Open Early-stage, science and technology research by interdisciplinary

consortia exploring visionary ideas for radically new future

technologies that challenge current paradigms and venture into the

unknown. Open to research into any area of technology, it aims to

attract new, high-potential research and innovation players.

FET-Proactive Cutting edge-high-risk/ high reward research and innovation projects

that aim to firmly establish the future potential of a new and

promising demonstrate a new technological paradigm within a pre-

defined scope.

(ii) the EIC Accelerator pilot (grant only and blended finance

)

SME Instrument Close-to-market and projects with a potential to scale up of a single

SME established in EU Member States or Horizon 2020 associated

countries.

Other Calls:

Fast Track to Close-to-market projects of consortia with three to five

Innovation (FTI) entities from at least three different EU Member States or Horizon

2020 associated countries. Industry must participate. Interdisciplinary

approaches encouraged.

Other actions:

Horizon Prizes Horizon Prizes boost breakthrough innovation by fostering solutions to

challenges which bring major benefits to society.

Support Actions help to optimise the impact of EU investment in EIC innovators and

innovations; they contribute to building an EIC community and a vision

underpinning a possible future EIC.

Blended finance means a financial support to an action, consisting in a combination of a grant with an investment in equity. Applicants may

apply for the blended finance option after the cut-off date of 5 June 2019.

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Table of Contents 
Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 6 
EIC Pathfinder pilot (FET-Open) ........................................................................................ 10 
Principles and characteristics of FET-Open, and who should apply ................................ 11 
FET-Open Coordination and Support Actions ................................................................... 13 
FET Innovation Launchpad .................................................................................................. 14 
Conditions for the call EIC Pathfinder pilot (FET-Open) ................................................. 16 
EIC Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive) .................................................................................. 23 
FET Proactive: emerging paradigms and communities ..................................................... 24 
EIC Transition to Innovation Activities ............................................................................... 27 
FET Proactive: emerging paradigms and communities ..................................................... 29 
FET Proactive: Environmental Intelligence ........................................................................ 33 
EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) ............................................................................ 42 
EIC Accelerator pilot – SME Instrument – standard ......................................................... 43 
Who should apply to the EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)? ................................ 43 
Principles and funding of the EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) .......................... 45 
Coaching .................................................................................................................................. 47 
Mentoring ................................................................................................................................ 47 
Monitoring ............................................................................................................................... 48 
EIC Accelerator pilot – SME Instrument – Green Deal ..................................................... 49 
Conditions for the call EIC Accelerator pilot ...................................................................... 52 
Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) ............................................................................................. 64 
Principles and funding of FTI ............................................................................................... 66 
EIC Horizon Prizes ................................................................................................................ 72 
EIC Horizon Prizes Who should apply ................................................................................ 73 
Principles of EIC Horizon Prizes .......................................................................................... 73 
1. EIC Horizon Prize for 'Innovative Batteries for eVehicles' ........................................... 75 
3. EIC Horizon Prize for 'Early Warning for Epidemics' .................................................. 79 
4. EIC Horizon Prize for 'Blockchains for Social Good' .................................................... 81 

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5. EIC Horizon Prize for 'Low-Cost Space Launch' ........................................................... 84 
6. EIC Horizon Prize for 'Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid' ........................ 86 
EIC Support Actions .............................................................................................................. 88 
1. EIC Evaluators’ and Ambassadors’ Community ........................................................... 89 
2. EIC Community Platform ................................................................................................. 89 
3. EIC Events .......................................................................................................................... 91 
4. Expert Group to advise on the design of a European Innovation Council ................... 91 
5. Commission Expert Group 'European Innovation Council (EIC) Pilot Advisory Board'
 .................................................................................................................................................. 92 
6. Using crowdfunding, artificial intelligence, blockchain and other novel approaches to 
help evaluate proposals for breakthrough and market-creating innovations .................. 93 
7. Strengthening the organisation and management of the Enhanced EIC pilot ............. 94 
8. Capacity-building and transnational cooperation for National Contact Points (NCPs) 
for the EIC and Access to Risk Finance ............................................................................... 95 
9. Ensuring greater synergies by testing new collaboration mechanisms between the EIT 
Innovation Communities and the Enhanced EIC Pilot in support of the Green Deal and 
other Union policy priorities ................................................................................................. 97 
10. EIC Scaling Up Pilot ........................................................................................................ 99 
11. Creating and nurturing early-stage investment ecosystems in the EU ..................... 101 
12. Procure the pilot of an AI based fully automated system to provide better guidance 
and support to proposers, and enhance the evaluation, selection and project management 
processes of the EIC ............................................................................................................. 103 
13.  Mutual  learning  and  common  tools  and  resources  for  national/regional  schemes 
supporting innovation projects of start-ups and SMEs .................................................... 104 
Budget for European Innovation Council pilot ................................................................. 107 
 

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Introduction

The last decade saw the emergence of

major new markets and a global platform

economy. Today's successful, high-growth

innovative enterprises often rely on new

business models and technologies

emerging at the intersection between

different sectors and disciplines.

Despite early technology leads, the EU has

supported the creation of few companies

that shape and capture these new markets.

While Europe compares relatively well

internationally in terms of numbers of

start-ups, too few of these succeed in

scaling up and generating the new, high-

skilled jobs on which Europe's future

depends and which would strengthen

Europe’s position in the platform economy.

The EU needs to help improve the

conditions enabling the emergence

and rapid scale-up of highly

innovative enterprises.

The interim evaluation of Horizon 2020

found that while the programme

demonstrates potential in terms of

fostering breakthrough, market-creating

innovation, support for doing so needs to

be substantially strengthened. Moreover,

in its 28 June 2018 conclusions, the

'European Council invites the Commission

to launch a new pilot initiative on

breakthrough innovation within the

remaining period of Horizon 2020' in view

of setting-up a fully-fledged European

Innovation Council under the next

Multiannual Financial Framework.

This part of the Horizon 2020 work-

programme aims to do just that. It contains

three main novelties: reformed and

simplified funding instruments; a more

flexible and pro-active approach to

management (needed for high-risk projects

and fast moving technologies and

markets); and governance, with an EIC pilot

Advisory Board.

These actions represent a new pilot phase

for a European Innovation Council (EIC)

that has been proposed for the next EU

research and innovation programme. They

provide support (including blended finance

under the EIC Accelerator pilot – SME

Instrument) to innovative firms and

entrepreneurs with the potential to scale

up rapidly at European and global levels.

They are exclusively aimed at people and

companies who have ideas that are

radically different from existing products or

services on the market or under

development (not incremental

improvements), are highly risky, and

require significant investments to get to

market. As such they complement the

focus on a broader innovation dimension

(e.g. sector-specific, incremental) in other

parts of the work programme (such as

Innovation in SMEs, Access to Risk Finance,

Leadership in Industrial Technologies).

The objective is to strengthen

breakthrough innovations and boost the

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number of high-growth companies. It is

anticipated that this part of the work

programme will support around 1000

projects to that effect. The overall budget

of €3 billion broadly reflects the

multiannual funding profile of the

constituent elements.

The EIC Pilot tests two funding

schemes: the EIC Pathfinder pilot,

and the EIC Accelerator pilot. These

two schemes build on and deepen

the current Horizon 2020

instruments.

The EIC Pathfinder pilot targets high-risk

cutting edge projects exploring new

territories aiming at developing radical and

innovative technologies. It encompasses

FET-Open and FET-Proactive.

FET-Open uses interdisciplinary

collaboration to tap into Europe's excellent

science base for exploring radically new

technologies, which may become the

game-changers of the future. FET-Proactive

aims to identify the future and emerging

technological paradigms with highest

potential for Europe's economy and

society.

The EIC Accelerator pilot aims at creating

and promoting co-investment by initiating

support where market response is absent

and/ or insufficient. It encompasses the

SME Instrument and an optional blended

finance component (combining grant and

equity)

. The EIC Accelerator pilot (SME

Instrument) addresses SMEs with a

radically new highly risky, and thus, non-

Applicants may apply for the blended finance option following

the cut-off date of 5 June 2019.

bankable idea underpinned by a business

plan for rolling out marketable innovation

solutions and with a potential to scale up.

Bankable, commercially viable projects and

projects that are ready or already in the

scale-up phase will be redirected towards

dedicated financial instruments.

Work is ongoing for the establishment, by

summer 2019, of a EIC Fund which will be

responsible for the management of the

equity component under the EIC

Accelerator pilot. Subject to a Commission

decision, an Investment Strategy will be

published before the EIC Fund starts its

operations.

Market-creating innovations are radically

new, breakthrough products, services,

processes or business models that open up

new markets with the potential for rapid

growth at European and global levels.

Market-creating innovations take shape at

the intersection between different

technologies, industry sectors and

scientific disciplines, linked to domains

such as energy, health, ICT, space,

transport and agriculture.

These schemes have been

developed to support market-

creating innovation more

effectively.

The current programme/ projects

management shall be refined to serve the

purposes of the EIC efficiently. The aim is to

boost current processes by bringing in top-

minds with a sense of urgency and

committed to making an impact. This new

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approach to programme/ projects

management will be run by programme

managers, possibly entailing a portfolio

approach, in particular under the EIC

Pathfinder pilot, and will be introduced

during 2019. The programme managers

will be recruited as temporary Commission

staff.

In addition, an EIC Pilot Advisory Board will

be set up as a Commission expert group, in

line with horizontal rules for establishment

of such groups

. Its role will be to advise the

European Commission on the overall

strategy and implementation of the EIC.

Efforts continue to be made to help firms

receiving grants access other forms and

sources of finance appropriate to their

scale-up and innovation development

needs, such as crowdfunding, business

angel investments, venture capital and

loans via InnovFin

and other EU access to

finance solutions under the Investment

Plan for Europe

or COSME

or the

European Structural and Investment

Funds

Other activities under this new pilot

phase include the Fast Track to

Innovation (FTI) and the Horizon

Prizes.

FTI will continue to target industry-driven

consortia seeking a quick market uptake of

new solutions, and brings together actors

Commission Decision C(2016) 3301

Cf. http://www.eib.org/products/blending/innovfin/index.htm

Cf. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/jobs-growth-and-

investment/investment-plan_en

Cf. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/access-to-finance/cosme-

financial-instruments_en

with complementary backgrounds,

knowledge and skills.

EIC Horizon Prizes will continue to boost

breakthrough innovation by fostering

solutions to challenges which bring major

benefits to society.

The results of projects will be closely

monitored. In terms of results, the

Pathfinder's aim is to build up a wide

portfolio of technological gems with clear

potential to make a big difference in the

future. For the Accelerator, performance

indicators are the number of new products,

services and processes for new markets

being developed, the amount of private

investment attracted during and after the

project, and the turnover and employment

of the companies that take part. These

indicators will be gauged by reporting by

the projects, by links to external databases

on company performance, and by

assessments by outside experts. For the

latter, the EIC pilot will make use of the

Innovation Radar

, a tool to assess the

market potential of innovations and the

market-readiness of innovators. The

Innovation Radar will also help

communicate the results to potential

investors.

Applicants may wish to look at other

European support networks (such as the

Enterprise Europe Network) as well as at

facilities funded by Horizon 2020 aimed at

supporting open innovation, in particular

for testing and demonstrating technologies

Cf. https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/financial-

instruments.

See https://www.innoradar.eu/about

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(e.g. open innovation testbeds, or digital

innovation hubs), or at Thematic Smart

Specialisation Platforms. The use of space

data from the EU's space programmes

also encouraged.

The EIC as an agile tool contributing

to the fight against COVID and to

the Green Deal priority

As concrete follow-up to the support

provided in their informal meeting on 7

April 2020 with Commissioner Gabriel by

the Ministers for R&I to the first actions of

the “ERAvCorona” Action Plan, in addition

to an additional indicative budget of EUR

150 million for the best COVID-related

applications of the EIC Accelerator March

cut-off, access to EIC Phase 3 services

(notably Business Acceleration Services)

will be opened to EIC COVID-19 Seals of

Excellence awardees, as well as to the most

promising ideas identified during the

PanEU Hackaton (24-26-04-2020) via the

EIC Community Platform.

Moreover, in accordance with the Green

Deal EU orientations, and in addition to

various Green Deal related activities in

both its Pathfinder and Accelerator

schemes, any proposal dedicated to

increase the efficiency of fossil fuels

technologies or fossil fuels use submitted

under the Enhanced EIC pilot calls whose

deadlines occur after the 30

of June 2020

will not be funded.

Note

See http://copernicus.eu and https://gsa.europa.eu and

https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/digital-innovation-

hubs

The EIC pilot's actions will also connect with activities undertaken by the Eurostars-2 Programme,

the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT), COSME, Startup Europe, InvestHorizon,

the EU's space programmes (Copernicus and Galileo/EGNOS) and European Structural and

Investment Funds (ESI Funds), including the Seal of Excellence initiative and the Thematic Smart

Specialisation Platforms.

With the exception of the SME Instrument phase 1, grant beneficiaries must share research

data by default, as stipulated in Article 29.3 of the Horizon 2020 Model Grant Agreement

(including the creation of a Data Management Plan). Participants may opt out of these

arrangements, both before and after the signature of the grant agreement. For more

information, see General Annex L of the work programme.

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EIC Pathfinder pilot

(FET-Open)

Novel ideas for

radically new technologies

H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020

This call ' is reflected in this WP section for the reasons outlined in

the Introduction. However, only the text of this call as included in the

work programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

has legal value.

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Principles and characteristics of FET-Open,

and who should apply

FET-Open aims to establish European

leadership in the early exploration of future

technologies. It looks for opportunities of

long-term benefit for citizens, the economy

and society. It aims to mobilise Europe's

most creative and forward thinking

researchers from all disciplines to work

together and explore what may become

the leading technology paradigms of the

future.

FET Open supports early stage science and

technology research exploring new

foundations for radically new future

technologies by challenging current

paradigms and venturing into unknown

areas. A bottom-up selection process

widely open to any research idea builds up

a diverse portfolio of new research

directions. Early detection of promising

new areas, developments and trends,

along with attracting new and high-

potential research and innovation players,

are key factors.

FET Open combines high scientific

ambition with concrete technological

implications. It aims to attract

interdisciplinary consortia that do not shy

away from exploring connections between

remote disciplines in order to open-up new

and potentially game changing

technological directions that FET as a

whole aims to develop into the leading

technology paradigms of the future,

including through FET-Proactive projects

and FET-Flagship initiatives. In spite of the

high initial risk, the long-term impact can

be enormous: these new technologies can

become the core for new high-growth

companies, for new industries or for

radically new ways of tackling societal

challenges.

The FET-Open call is a part of the European

Innovation Council (EIC) pilot. It provides

the EIC with a bold exploratory engine that

shatters the frontiers of current thinking.

All FET-Open projects, even if far from

today's markets, are full of great ideas to

inspire the entrepreneurial minds that the

EIC attracts. While keeping its own identity

of excellence in science and technology

research, the exposure of FET-Open within

the EIC allows new and sometimes

unexpected opportunities to be detected

and picked up early on. For those cases, the

FET Innovation Launchpad is designed to

assist in the first steps to accelerate the

real-world impact of a result from FET

research – a win-win for both research and

for innovation. Other parts of the EIC

provide further tools for achieving high-

impact on society and/or the economy.

Furthermore, by being part of the EIC pilot,

FET-Open participants have access to the

assistance, networking and financing

possibilities offered by the EIC thus further

increasing the leverage and increased

impact from the initial high-risk investment

in FET projects.

Proposals are invited against the following

topics:

FET-Open Challenging Current Thinking

FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020

Specific Challenge

To lay the foundations for radically new

future technologies of any kind from

visionary interdisciplinary collaborations

that dissolve the traditional boundaries

between sciences and disciplines, including

the social sciences and humanities. This

topic also encourages the driving role of

new actors in research and innovation,

including excellent young researchers,

ambitious high-tech SMEs and first-time

participants to FET under Horizon 2020

from across Europe.

Scope

Proposals are sought for cutting-edge high-

risk / high-impact interdisciplinary

research with all of the following essential

characteristics ("FET gatekeepers"):

o Radical vision: the project must

address a clear and radical vision,

enabled by a new technology concept

that challenges current paradigms. In

particular, research to advance on the

roadmap of a well-established

technological paradigm, even if high-

risk, will not be funded.

o Breakthrough technological target: the

project must target a novel and

ambitious science-to-technology

breakthrough as a first proof of concept

for its vision. In particular, blue-sky

exploratory research without a clear

technological objective will not be

funded.

o Ambitious interdisciplinary research

for achieving the technological

breakthrough and that opens up new

areas of investigation. In particular,

projects with only low-risk incremental

research, even if interdisciplinary, will

not be funded.

The inherently high risks of the research

proposed shall be mitigated by a flexible

methodology to deal with the considerable

science-and-technology uncertainties and

for choosing alternative directions and

options.

The Commission considers that proposals

requesting a contribution from the EU of up

to €3 million would allow this specific

challenge to be addressed appropriately.

Nonetheless, this does not preclude

submission and selection of proposals

requesting other amounts.

Expected impact

o Scientific and technological

contributions to the foundation of a

new future technology.

o Potential for future social or economic

impact or market creation.

o Building leading research and

innovation capacity across Europe by

involvement of key actors that can

make a difference in the future, for

example excellent young researchers,

ambitious high-tech SMEs or first-time

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participants to FET under participants

to FET under Horizon 2020

Type of action

The conditions related to this topic are

provided at the end of this call and in the

General Annexes.

FET-Open Coordination and Support Actions

FETOPEN-02-2018

Specific Challenge

To promote excellent collaborative

research and innovation on future and

emerging technologies to secure and

renew the basis for future European

competitiveness and growth, and that will

make a difference for society in the

decades to come.

Scope

Proposals for Coordination and Support

Actions (CSA) should be driven by relevant

actors in the research field and address

only one of the following sub-topics:

a) FET Communication and Outreach

Support communication activities on the

FET programme and its achievements and

outreach actions targeting a wide range of

audiences including the general public, and

going well beyond the world of academia

and research. This shall stimulate the

emergence of a FET community and its

connection to relevant multipliers and

other stakeholder networks. The activities

First time participation here refers to the individuals involved,

not their institution or organisation.

shall use a diversity of channels and

interventions (for example news items,

social media, interviews, workshops,

exhibitions, competitions, code camps and

participatory actions for wider

engagement).

b) FET Innovation

Stimulate the impact on innovation from

FET-funded research and improving the

innovation readiness levels of FET results,

for example by providing a kind of “market

place” for FET technologies, by connecting

the world of research with that of,

potential users, technology leaders,

technology transfer organisations,

entrepreneurs, investors or alternative

financing channels.

c) FET Observatory

Ongoing and systematic identification of

new and emerging technologies from FET

portfolio analysis, trends analysis (using for

instance bibliometric tools, media watch,

consultations and workshops) and broader

horizon scanning (beyond research),

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including also consideration of ethical

implications, gender differences and long-

term impacts on society and humankind.

Specificity to the nature of FET is a must

(e.g., upstream positioning,

interdisciplinarity, high-risk, novelty, long-

term impact…).

The Commission considers that proposals

requesting a contribution from the EU of up

to € 0.5 million (and up to 0.7 million for a.)

would allow this specific challenge to be

addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this

does not preclude submission and

selection of proposals requesting other

amounts.

Expected impact

o Strengthening globally recognised

European leadership in the early

exploration of visionary, new and

emerging technologies and with a

strong engagement of scientists,

citizens, innovators and policy makers.

o Improved long-term innovation

potential in Europe both from the

abundance of novel ideas and the range

of actors ready to take them forward.

o Improved readiness across Europe to

engage in inter-disciplinary research

collaboration and to take up new, open

and responsible research and

innovation practices, with due

attention to aspects such as education,

gender differences and long-term

societal, ethical and legal implications.

Type of action

Coordination and support action

The conditions related to this topic are

provided at the end of this call and in the

General Annexes.

FET Innovation Launchpad

FETOPEN-03-2018-2019-2020

Specific Challenge

This topic aims at turning results from FET-

funded projects into genuine societal or

economic innovations.

Scope

Short individual or collaborative actions

focused on the non-scientific aspects and

the early stages of turning a result of an

ongoing or recently finished project funded

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through FET under FP7 or Horizon 2020

into a genuine innovation with socio-

economic impacts. The precise link with

the relevant FET project and the specific

result for which a FET Innovation

Launchpad proposal is intended, are to be

explicitly described in the proposal. This

topic does not fund research or activities

that are/were already foreseen in the

original FET project. Activities proposed

should reflect the level of maturity of the

result to be taken up. They can include the

definition of a commercialisation process,

market and competitiveness analysis,

technology assessment, verification of

innovation potential, consolidation of

intellectual property rights, business case

development. Proposals can include

activities with, for instance, partners for

technology transfer, licence-takers,

investors and other sources of financing,

societal organisations or potential end-

users. Limited low-risk technology

development (for instance for

demonstration, testing or minor

adjustment to specific requirements) can

be supported as long as it has a clear and

necessary role in the broader proposed

innovation strategy and plan.

The Commission considers that proposals

for actions no longer than 18 months and

requesting a contribution from the EU of up

to € 0.1 million would allow this specific

challenge to be addressed appropriately.

For grants awarded under this topic as a

result of proposals submitted as of 9

Research and Innovation Actions funded under any call in the

FET work programmes under Horizon 2020 for 2014-2015, for

2016-2017, and for 2018-2019-2020; projects funded under the

FET part of any of the LEIT-ICT work programmes under FP7.

See the Call Conditions for specific eligibility conditions.

October 2019, the costs will be declared

based on the lump sums of a fixed total

amount of EUR 0.1 million for each grant,

as authorised by decision of the authorizing

officer responsible.

Details of the lump

sum funding pilot scheme are published on

the Funding & Tenders Portal together with

the specific Model Grant Agreement for

Lump Sums applicable.

Expected impact

o Increased value creation from FET

projects by picking up innovation

opportunities.

o Improved societal and market

acceptance of concrete high-potential

innovations from FET projects.

o Stimulating, supporting and rewarding

an open and proactive mind-set

towards exploitation beyond the

research world.

o Contributing to the competitiveness of

European industry/economy by

seeding future growth and the

creation of jobs from FET research.

Type of action

Coordination and support action,

Coordination and support action Lump

sum.

The conditions related to this topic are

provided at the end of this call and in the

General Annexes.

'Decsion authorising the use of reimbursement on the basis of

lump sums for the FET Innovation Launchpad actions under the

Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and

Innovation' (17/05/2019). See

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/leg

al/lump_sum/lumpsumdecision-fet-innovation-launchpad_en.pdf

Conditions for the call

EIC Pathfinder pilot (FET-Open)

Novel ideas for radically new technologies

Opening dates, deadlines, indicative budgets

Opening date:

7 November 2017

Deadline of cut-offs

All deadlines are at 17.00 .00 Brussels local time

FETOPEN-01-2018-

2019-2020 (RIA)

16 May 2018

24 January 2019

18 September 2019

13 May 2020

Budget of FETOPEN-01-2018-

2019-2020 (RIA)

€ millions

2018

2019

2020

Overall indicative budget

181.20

163.30

354.20

Opening date:

7 November 2017

Deadline of cut-offs

All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time

FETOPEN-02-2018

(CSA)

11 April 2018

FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020 (CSA)

16 October 2018

08 October 2019

The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or after the envisaged date(s) of opening.

The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two months.

The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the draft budget for 2020 after the

adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

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FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020 (CSA-LS)

14 October 2020

Budget of FETOPEN (CSA)

€ millions

2018

2019

2020

Overall indicative budget FETOPEN-

02-2018 (CSA)

2.00

Overall indicative budget FETOPEN-

03-2018-2019-2020 (CSA)

2.50

2.70

Overall indicative budget FETOPEN-

03-2018-2019-2020 (CSA-LS)

3.00

The call opens at 17.00.00 Brussels local time on the opening date.

The total indicative budget for the FET-Open topic FETOPEN-01-2018-2019-2020 is EUR 641.20

million. The indicative funding budgets available per cut-off date for this topic are as follows:

1. Cut-off date 16/05/2018: €123.70 million

2. Cut-off date 24/01/2019: €160.65 million

3. Cut-off date 18/09/2019: €160.65 million

4. Cut-off date 13/05/2020: €196.20 million

€57.50 million from the 2018 budget will be used to fund in part the last cut-off of the

Horizon 2020 FETOPEN-2016-2017 call under the FET work-programme 2016-2017.

Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature

For single stage procedure:

 Information on the outcome of the evaluation: Maximum 5 months from the final date

for submission; and

 Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: Maximum 8 months from the final

date for submission.

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Eligibility and admissibility conditions

The conditions are described in General Annexes B and C of the work programme. The

following exceptions apply:

FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020

Proposals must build on results from an ongoing or recently

finished project, funded as a result of call in any FET topic under

FP7 or Horizon 2020 and clearly identified in the proposal. For a

project to be considered "recently finished" in the context of this

call topic its actual end date must be at most one year before the

deadline for proposal submission to this topic. For a project to be

considered "ongoing" in the context of this call topic the deadline

for proposal submission to this topic must be within the period

limited by the contractual start date and end date of the project.

Proposals must include a declaration by the coordinator of the

necessary rights and ownership of results to be exploited, as

described in the proposal. Applicants that are not the owner of

the result to be taken up in the proposal must provide a letter

from the relevant beneficiary or beneficiaries of the previous FET

project that own(s) the result that confirms the existence of the

necessary agreements with the coordinator of the current

proposal, including on IPR.

Evaluation criteria, scoring and threshold

The criteria, scoring and threshold are described in General Annex H of the work programme.

The following exceptions apply:

FETOPEN-01-2018-

2019-2020

Excellence

Adherence to the "FET gatekeepers" as described in the call text:

 Clarity of the radical vision of a science-enabled

technology and its differentiation from current paradigms.

 Novelty and ambition of the proposed science-to-

technology breakthrough that addresses this vision.

 Range of and added value from interdisciplinarity for

opening up new areas of research; non-incrementality of

the research proposed.

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 High-risk, plausibility and flexibility of the research

approach.

Threshold: 4/5, Weight: 60%

Impact

 The extent to which the outputs of the project would

contribute to the expected impacts listed in the work

programme under this topic.

 Effectiveness of measures and plans to disseminate and

use the results (including management of IPR) and to

communicate about the project to different target

audiences.

Threshold: 3.5/5, Weight: 20%

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Coherence and effectiveness of the research methodology

and work plan to achieve project objectives and impacts,

including adequate allocation of resources to tasks and

partners.

 Role and complementarity of the participants and extent

to which the consortium as a whole brings together the

necessary expertise.

Threshold: 3/5, Weight: 20%

FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020

Excellence

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Clarity and quality of the innovation idea and its link with

the previous or ongoing FET project indicated in the

proposal.

 Concreteness of objectives and their pertinence for moving

the output of FET research through the initial steps of a

process leading to a commercial or social innovation.

 Suitability and necessity of the proposed activities to reach

the stated objectives, including their complementarity to

actions already foreseen or expected from the previous or

ongoing FET project.

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Threshold: 3/5, Weight: 40%

Impact

Contributions to the impacts listed under this topic in the work

programme:

 Added innovation potential with respect to the FET project

from which this innovation originates.

 Extent of economic and/or societal benefits resulting from

this innovation as identified in the proposal.

 Suitability of measures for taking the innovation beyond the

research world, including through engagement with

prospective exploitation partners, other stakeholders,

users or society.

Threshold: 3.5/5, Weight: 40%

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Quality of work plan and management.

 Relevance of expertise in the consortium.

 Appropriate allocation of resources (person-months).

Threshold: 3/5, Weight: 20%

Evaluation Procedure

The procedure for setting a priority order for proposals with the same score is given in General

Annex H of the work programme. The following exceptions apply:

FETOPEN-01-2018-

2019-2020

The following specific page limits apply. Sections 1 to 3 of the Part

B of the proposal should consist of a maximum of 15 A4 pages.

The limits will be clearly shown in the "proposal templates" in the

Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Sections

that are not subject to limits will be indicated.

A proposal that, according to the evaluator's assessments, does

not convincingly satisfy all FET gatekeepers as described under

this topic will be declared out of scope. The communication to

the applications will include the evaluators' assessments, or

relevant extracts from them.

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At consensus stage, the consensus score for each evaluation

criteria will be the median of the corresponding scores attributed

by the individual evaluators. The consensus report will comprise

a collation of the comments from individual reports, or extracts

from them. The final review panel will decide on the final score

based on its consensus discussions. The panel will also decide on

any additional comments, possibly including advice not to

resubmit the proposal.

FETOPEN-02-2018

Grants will be awarded to proposals according to the ranking list.

However, in order to ensure a balanced portfolio of supported

actions, at least the highest-ranked proposal per sub-topic will be

funded provided that it attains all thresholds.

FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020

The following specific page limits apply. Sections 1 to 3 of the Part

B of the proposal should consist of a maximum of 7 A4 pages. The

limits will be clearly shown in the "proposal templates" in the

Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Sections

that are not subject to limits will be indicated.

At consensus stage, the consensus score for each evaluation

criteria will be the median of the corresponding scores attributed

by the individual evaluators. The consensus report will comprise

a collation of the comments from individual reports, or extracts

from them. The final review panel will decide on the final score

based on its consensus discussions. The panel will also decide on

any additional comments, possibly including advice not to

resubmit the proposal.

For deciding the priority order for proposals with the same score,

the procedure for Innovation actions will apply.

The full evaluation procedure is described in the relevant guide published on the Funding &

Tenders Portal.

Grant Conditions

FETOPEN-03-2018-

2019-2020

For grants awarded under this topic as a result of proposals

submitted as of 9 October 2019, the costs will be declared based

on lump sums of a fixed total amount of EUR 0.1 million per grant,

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as authorised by decision of the authorizing officer responsible.

Details of the lump sum funding pilot scheme are published on the

Funding & Tenders Portal together with the specific Model Grant

Agreement for Lump Sums applicable.

Consortium agreement

FETOPEN-01-2018-

2019-2020

Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium

agreement, in principle prior to the signature of the grant

agreement.

'Decsion authorising the use of reimbursement on the basis of lump sums for the FET Innovation Launchpad actions under the Horizon

2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation' (17/05/2019). See

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/legal/lump_sum/lumpsumdecision-fet-innovation-launchpad_en.pdf

EIC Pathfinder pilot

(FET-Proactive)

Boosting emerging

technologies

H2020-EIC-FETPROACT-2019-2020

FET Proactive aims to identify the future and emerging technological paradigms with highest

potential for Europe's economy and society. For each of them, it looks to establish a broad and

solid European basis in terms of knowledge, key technological building blocks and

interdisciplinary communities. By reaching out well beyond the research world, it ensures that

Europe has the best 'first mover' position to capitalise rapidly and effectively on emerging

societal and industrial opportunities.

The FET –Proactive topics under the call 2019 are detailed under the Enhanced EIC pilot. The FET-Proactive topics of 2020 calls will be

detailed in the FET Work Programme and are included in this work programme section for information. Only the 2020 FET-Proactive topics

as included in the work programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value. However, all topics mentioned

below are part of the Enhanced EIC pilot.

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FET Proactive: emerging paradigms and communities

FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019

Specific Challenge: To explore and consolidate a new technological direction in order to put it

firmly on the map as a viable paradigm for future technology. To foster the interdisciplinary

communities that are able to drive this forward, extending from the participating consortia to

a wider European pool of expertise. To stimulate the emergence of a European innovation

eco-system around a new technological paradigm, well beyond the world of research alone.

Scope: proposals are sought for cutting-edge high-risk / high-reward research and innovation

projects that aim to demonstrate a new technological paradigm within the scope of one of

the following sub-topics:

a. Human-Centric AI. Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining more and more footholds in various

aspects of our life. However, machine learning algorithms are difficult to understand, opaque

and may have implicit biases in their decision making. Explicability has become an essential

element if users are to trust, accept and adopt the next generation of intelligent machines on

a wider scale. This initiative seeks to advance to the next AI frontier with verifiable, evidence-

based features of trustworthiness (i.e., reliable and unbiased alignment of values, goals and

beliefs) and transparency (explainable performance), exploring radically new approaches

(e.g., inspired from neuro-science, cognition or social science). For instance, explanation could

be more tightly intertwined with the decision making process itself so that decisions can be

challenged, interpreted, refined and adjusted through mutual exchange, introspection (e.g.,

self-awareness of biases, reflecting on the internal functioning of the learning system, or on

what caused a wrong or unacceptable decision) and active learning of both system and user,

for example through dialogue or other forms of multi-modal interaction aimed at establishing

mutual trust. New data collection and ownership/governance models that go beyond the

dominant off-line and centralised data processing should be investigated, and new avenues,

such as for incremental, unsupervised, active, one-shot and ‘small data’ machine learning,

should be explored. The projects are expected to contribute to the wider debate on the

sociotechnical, organisational and AI-ethical dimensions of such technologies and systems,

and link to the ’Commission’s broader AI strategy

b. Implantable autonomous devices and materials. Radically new biomedical technologies

that will lead to enhanced life quality for people are urgently needed, particularly for

mitigating the impact of chronic health conditions that are placing a rapidly growing and

ultimately unsustainable burden on healthcare systems. A key goal will be to demonstrate

dramatically extended functional lifetimes of implantable devices, for example, through

This topic is part of the European Innovation Council Enhanced Pilot (2019-2020) and funded from budget line 08.020102. In accordance

with article 6.5 of Horizon 2020 regulation No 1291/2013, credits from budget line 08.020202 will be transferred to budget line 08.020102.

See Artificial Intelligence for Europe (COM(2018) 237 final, 25.4.2018) and Coordinated Plan on Artificial Intelligence (COM(2018) 795

final, 7.12.2018).

25 | P a g e

incorporation of smart sensing, self-awareness, adaptation (form and/or function) and self-

repair capabilities. Included are mobile micro/nano devices based on biological models that

can perform advanced functions e.g. site specific automigration, ability to distinguish tissue

types (diseased, normal) and perform highly localised actions (e.g., delivery of therapeutic

agents). Entities incorporating (bio)materials that provide instances of totally autonomous

biomimetic behaviour and in-situ integration and adaptation are particularly welcome, such

as an ability to blend-in with the native biological environment, to independently generate

power, synthesise active agents or sense and respond to changes in the local molecular

environment. Work on ethical implications should be included.

c. Breakthrough zero-emissions energy generation for full decarbonization. Clean and

sustainable energy is one of the major challenges of our time. This sub-topic aims at the

multidisciplinary exploration of new directions (starting from TRL 1-3) for power generation

that is clean, compact and low-cost, aimed at stand-alone, mobile or portable uses in specific

application contexts, for instance, in the transport sector (road, air, sea and either for motive

or auxiliary needs), for portable uses, in remote places or in emergency situations.

Breakthrough concepts and techniques for energy generation have to be explored for

generating heat and/or electricity efficiently with zero emissions and with a minimal use of

rare or toxic materials. Research areas could include, for example, long duration high heat

sources from hydrogen-metal systems (e.g., using nickel), energy generation in plasma and

cavitation systems. These or any other concepts with similar compact, high energy density and

low-cost energy generation capabilities should be harnessed to make them usable for specific

application contexts. Clear and ambitious performance targets and milestones to achieve

them shall be provided.

FET Proactive projects should establish a solid baseline of knowledge and skills and assemble

the interdisciplinary communities around them. They should further foster the emergence of

a broader innovation ecosystem and create a fertile ground for future take-up of its new

technological paradigm (e.g., public engagement, informal education, policy debate).

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR

4 million and with a duration of up to 4 years would allow this specific challenge to be

addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of

proposals requesting other amounts or duration.

This topic allows for the provision of financial support to third parties established in an EU

member state or country associated with Horizon 2020 in line with the conditions set out in

General Annex K, either to enhance impacts through punctual small scale experimentation

and use of project results by third parties, or to award a prize following a contest organised

by the beneficiaries.

Expected Impact:

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 Scientific and technological contributions to the foundation and consolidation of a

radically new future technology.

 Potential for future returns in terms of societal or economic innovation or market

creation.

 Spreading excellence and building leading innovation capacity across Europe by

involvement of key actors that can make a difference in the future, for example excellent

young, researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs or first-time participants to FET under

Horizon 2020

 Build-up of a goal oriented interdisciplinary community (within and beyond the

consortium).

 Emergence of an innovation ecosystem around a future technology in the theme

addressed from outreach to and partnership with high potential actors in research and

innovation, and from wider stakeholder/public engagement, with due consideration of

aspects such as education, gender differences and long-term societal, ethical and legal

implications.

Type of action: Research and Innovation action

The conditions related to this topic are provided at the end of this call and in the General

Annexes.

First time participation here refers to the individuals involved, not to their institution or organisation.

27 | P a g e

EIC Transition to Innovation Activities

FETPROACT-EIC-06-2019

Specific Challenge: to turn promising results from FET-funded projects into genuine

technological or societal breakthrough and disruptive innovations. Since the typical

researchers' mind-set is to identify further opportunities for research, promising research

results that could be the basis for breakthrough and disruptive innovation risk to remain

unexploited. The challenge is to create a fertile ground for those results to mature, to a level

where exploitation and investment opportunities can start to be discussed, and ultimately

towards future market uptake. While recognising that this may still take further research and

development, it is crucial to complement research excellence with a focus on entrepreneurial

ambition and commitment at an early stage.

Scope: The EIC Transition Activities pilot aims at bringing promising technologies as they are

at the end of a typical FET-Open or FET Proactive project (i.e., TRL 2/3) to a level of

development, validation and demonstration where they become a credible basis for

entrepreneurship, business creation, investment and, ultimately, economic and/or societal

returns. The project shall be driven by a partner with the vision, ambition and commitment to

bring the technology to actual use (possibly through the creation of a start-up or spin-off).

Proposals must build on results from an ongoing or finished project (Research and Innovation

Action), funded as a result of a FET-Open or FET Proactive call under Horizon 2020

. The

targeted technology should be in one of the following areas:

 Micro- and Nano-technologies;

 Artificial Intelligence and advanced robotics;

 Technologies for the life sciences, health and treatment;

 Low-carbon energy and climate change technologies;

 Interaction technologies (including virtual-, augmented- and mixed reality, …).

The precise link(s) with the relevant FET project(s) is to be explicitly described in the proposal.

This topic does not fund research or activities that are/were already foreseen in the original

FET project(s).

Participants must have essential capabilities to increase the maturity of the targeted

technology. Activities proposed should reflect the level of maturity of the result to be taken

This topic is part of the European Innovation Council Enhanced Pilot (2019-2020) and funded from budget line 08.020102. In accordance

with article 6.5 of Horizon 2020 regulation No 1291/2013, credits from budget line 08.020202 will be transferred to budget line 08.020102.

Any Research and Innovation Action funded as a result of Horizon 2020 call H2020-FETOPEN-2014/2015, call H2020-FETPROACT-2014,

call H2020-FETOPEN-2016-2017, call H2020-FETPROACT-2016-2017, call H2020-FETOPEN-2018-2020 or call H2020-FETPROACT-

2018-2020.

28 | P a g e

up. Proposals can include activities with, for instance, partners for technology transfer,

licence-takers, investors and other sources of financing, user/client organisations or potential

end-users.

Proposals should specify the intended outcome(s) of the project and describe its key

performance indicators/success criteria. Proposals must also include an exploitation plan

describing the market or societal potential (potential users/customers and benefits for them;

targeted European/global markets, etc.), measures to enhance the probability of take-up and

a credible development strategy that identifies next steps, possibly using the services and

funding/financing opportunities offered in the context of the EIC Accelerator pilot. Particular

attention should be paid to IP protection and ownership and to the possibility of commercial

exploitation ('freedom to operate').

The Commission considers that proposals for actions up to 24 months and requesting a

contribution from the EU of between EUR 1.00 and 2.00 million would allow this specific

challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and

selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected Impact:

 Increased value creation from FET projects and contributing to the competitiveness of

European industry/economy by developing further promising technologies and

innovation opportunities.

 Fast development, demonstration and economical/societal take-up of promising FET

technologies.

 Increased H2020 first time participation of high tech SMEs (including Spin-offs and Start-

ups) and industry.

 Leveraging more private investment into research and/or innovation.

Type of action: Research and Innovation action

The conditions related to this topic are provided at the end of this call and in the General

Annexes.

29 | P a g e

FET Proactive: emerging paradigms and communities

FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020

Specific Challenge: To explore and consolidate a new technological direction in order to put it

firmly on the map as a viable paradigm for future technology. To foster the interdisciplinary

communities that are able to drive this forward, extending from the participating consortia to

a wider European pool of expertise. To stimulate the emergence of a European innovation

eco-system around a new technological paradigm, well beyond the world of research alone.

Scope: proposals are sought for cutting-edge high-risk / high-reward research and innovation

projects that aim to demonstrate a new technological paradigm within the scope of one of

the following sub-topics:

a. Artificial Intelligence for extended social interaction. This sub-topic explores the

combination of new Artificial Intelligence and immersive interaction technologies to enhance

the social dimension in future virtual social spaces. It aims to lay the basis for a new flavour of

social media in which Europe can mark a difference. In 10-15 years from now, Virtual,

Augmented and Mixed Reality (eXtended Reality, XR) will be as ubiquitous as Smart Phones

are today leading to new kinds of social media in which , on the one hand, interaction with

others will become more natural while, on the other hand, entirely new experiences and ways

of sharing become possible. The sub-topic addresses the redefinition of a person’s social

interaction space in light of increasing virtualisation, unprecedented social scale, information

load and ubiquitous intelligence, leading to currently acute issues of trust, the nature of social

relationships (beyond ‘friends’ and ‘followers’), believe formation, crowd- and organisation

dynamics, the permeation of private and public spheres, or social exclusion and divides,

among others. New human-centric and responsible Artificial Intelligence technologies can

address these by bringing more social intelligence in the interaction environment and greater

user-, contextual- and social awareness, and also through a tighter coupling with

sensori/motor- and cognitive processes using, for instance, multimodal XR setups, or

minimally invasive interfaces like spatial audio, smart skins, haptics, robotic devices and

wearables. Projects will also investigate whether and how the perceptual- and sociocultural

parameters implicit in natural, context-rich social interaction carry over to such virtual or

hybrid settings. Influence on self-perception, well-being (addiction), acceptance, learning and

brain-development/adaptation should also be considered, especially in scenarios of extensive

and always-on use. Ethics, age and gender differences, safety and health should be taken into

account.

b. Breakthrough zero-emissions energy storage and conversion technologies for carbon-

neutrality. Provisioning clean and sustainable energy is one of the major challenges for Europe

This topic is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Enhanced Pilot (Horizon 2020, 2019-2020). This topic and the associated call

conditions are included in this work programme section for information. Only the 2020 FET-Proactive topics as included in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

30 | P a g e

to meet its climate ambition. This sub-topic aims at multidisciplinary research (starting from

TRL 1-3) for breakthroughs in energy storage and conversation that is clean, compact and

ultimately low-cost, aimed at decentralised, mobile or portable uses in specific application

contexts, for instance, in industry as substitutes to fossil fuels or raw materials for chemistry,

in the transport sector (road, air, water and either for motive or auxiliary needs), for portable

uses, in sustainable housing, remote places or in emergency situations. Novel concepts and

breakthrough techniques with zero emissions of greenhouse gasses and a minimal use of rare

or toxic materials have to be explored. Research areas could include storage and conversion

of clean energy (e.g., solar, wind, geothermal), solar fuels and solar chemicals, possibly based

on recycled and atmospheric CO2 or other. Research on electro-chemical batteries is not

addressing this sub-topic. Where relevant, circular design and/or high degree of recyclability

must be addressed. Clear and ambitious performance targets and milestones to achieve them

shall be provided.

c. Digital twins for the life-sciences. The sub-topic aims at the close integration and real-time

interaction of computational models of biological structures and systems (from biochemical

pathways to cells, tissues, organs and individuals), with non-destructive analysis, advanced

imaging and, sensing techniques for such biological systems, mechanisms and processes. It

extends concepts and technologies of digital twins beyond their industrial versions, which are

typically supporting the life-cycle of engineered products, into the domain of the life sciences.

The core challenge is to derive and update the digital twin from longitudinal and individual

data, and using information from the cutting-edge non-destructive analysis, imaging, sensing

and monitoring of its biological counterpart, using advanced Artificial Intelligence techniques

and taking the achievements of systems biology, mechanobiology, metabolomics and systems

medicine into account. This can be done in vivo at whole-body (e.g., using wearable and

implantable sensors) or organ level or in vitro (e.g., for interacting cells and organoids, 3D cell

co-cultures, organ/body-on-chip). A further challenge is to include dynamics at multiple

spatio-temporal scales (e.g. for deriving predictive values or simulating adaptation processes,

or by evolving the twin itself into a better model through evolutionary or adaptive AI

techniques), through new principles of molecular mapping, imaging, sensing and data analysis

or Artificial Intelligence that take the time-dimension into account. Biological dynamics can be

observed in the non-manipulated state (normal, diseased) or under manipulation (altered,

perturbed, diseased) by chemical, biological or physical interventions such as gene-editing,

pharmaceuticals, viruses, acoustic waves, electromagnetic fields, light, forces, or altered

temperature. This will offer unprecedented insights into the molecular, cellular and extra-

cellular dynamics underlying human disorders such as development, metabolic,

cardiovascular, neurological, oncological or rare pathologies, where personalised precision

medicines and advanced diagnostic and therapeutic approaches but also prevention measures

(lifestyle, nutrition, environmental factors) are needed to make healthcare more effective,

more convenient, cheaper and uniquely tailored to each patient. Work on ethical implications

should be included.

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d. Measuring the unmeasurable –– Sub-nanoscale science for Nanometrology. This sub-topic

seeks to find and test new approaches for nano- and sub-nano metrology. Proposals should

target new techniques, for example, physics-, biochemistry- and chemistry-based methods

incorporating nano- and picometre-length scales in the spatial domain with femto- and atto-

seconds in the temporal domain. The proposal must address research from a novel

measurement concept up to a technique and/or method including prototype measuring

devices/setups and procedures, and sound metrological aspects like quantification of

uncertainty or traceability. Proposals should seek to approach theoretical limits in challenging

domains (physical, chemical, biological) while minimising any potential damage or change to

the object being measured. Full three-dimensional characterisation (tomography) or the

application of metrological procedures to transient phenomena on a sub-nanosecond time-

scale could push the limits in metrology. Research on refining existing techniques is excluded.

Proposals will address emerging issues of nano-metrology in spatial and temporal dimensions,

including for example morphology, composition, reactivity, energy, dynamics or relevant

optical, electronic, chemical and biochemical properties. Challenges in measurement that

could be used as test cases are, e.g., understanding and controlling changing morphology

impacting chemical properties in nano-photonic devices or battery electrodes; integrating

metrology with sub-nanoprinting, nano-engineering or self-characterisation techniques; the

measurements of heat transfer across interfaces down to the atomic size level; or the

characterisation of the dynamics of molecular interactions in or with biological systems for

health or smart materials. The use of advanced modelling, statistical methods, big data and

machine learning methods is welcome where appropriate.

Projects should establish a solid baseline of knowledge and skills and assemble the

interdisciplinary communities around them, including from the social sciences and

humanities. They should further foster the emergence of a broader innovation ecosystem and

create a fertile ground for co-design of the new technological paradigm and its future take-up

(e.g., wider stakeholder/public engagement, informal education, policy debate), in line with

the discussion on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in the introduction of the FET

part of the work programme.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of EUR 4 to

4.50 million and with a duration of up to 4 years would allow this specific challenge to be

addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of

proposals requesting other amounts or project duration.

This topic allows for the provision of financial support to third parties established in an EU

member state or country associated with Horizon 2020 in line with the conditions set out in

‘RRI ensures that projects are ethically founded and societally anchored. RRI is based on outreach to and partnership with potential actors

in research and innovation, and from wider stakeholder/public engagement, to maximise the relevance of shared knowledge developed and

viability of cooperation. RRI also includes due consideration of aspects such as education, gender differences and long-term societal, ethical

and legal implications.’ ‘H2020 has invested in an RRI Toolkit (available at: https://www.rri-tools.eu/), Responsibility Navigator (available

at: http://responsibility-navigator.eu/), and RRI Indicator System (available at:

https://ec.europa.eu/research/swafs/pdf/pub_rri/rri_indicators_final_version.pdf; and also with research from the MoRRI project, available at:

http://www.technopolis-group.com/morri/).’

32 | P a g e

General Annex K, either to enhance impacts through punctual small scale experimentation

and use of project results by third parties, or to award a prize following a contest organised

by the beneficiaries.

Expected Impact:

 Scientific and technological contributions to the foundation and consolidation of a

radically new future technology.

 Potential for future returns in terms of societal or economic innovation or market

creation.

 Spreading excellence and building leading innovation capacity across Europe by

involvement of key actors that can make a difference in the future, for example excellent

young, researchers, ambitious high-tech SMEs or first-time participants to FET under

Horizon 2020.

 Build-up of a goal oriented interdisciplinary community (within and beyond the

consortium).

 Emergence of an innovation ecosystem around a future technology in the theme

addressed from outreach to and partnership with high potential actors in research and

innovation, and from wider stakeholder/public engagement, with due consideration of

aspects such as education, gender differences and long-term societal, ethical and legal

implications.

Type of Action: Research and Innovation action

The conditions related to this topic are provided at the end of this call and in the General

Annexes.

First time participation here refers to the individuals involved, not to their institution or organisation.

33 | P a g e

FET Proactive: Environmental Intelligence

FETPROACT-EIC-08-2020

Specific Challenge: new synergies between the distant disciplines of environmental modelling,

advanced sensor research, social sciences, and Artificial Intelligence can lead to radically new

approaches for creating and using dynamic models of the environment, including predictive

modelling, scenario testing and real-time tracking. The ultimate goal is to build a systemic

understanding of the socio-environmental inter-relationships, for instance to regulate or

design policies and incentives for environmental sustainability and to track their effectiveness

over time and to provide intelligible options for adjusting them.

Scope: Proposals are expected to have their main focus in only one of the following sub-topics:

a. new techniques for modelling and predicting social/environmental evolution across

different temporal and spatial scales. These will combine, analyse and interpret data from in-

situ and remote (e.g., satellite) sensing technologies, other public data sources (e.g., historical

data, planning documents, legislation), and data or models/theories from human behaviour

(including gender differences), economics and the social sciences by making recourse to

advanced artificial intelligence techniques, if/as needed. The focus is on modelling and

tracking of the interplay between natural and societal systems, for example on how policies

and economics modelling predict human behaviours’ impact on the environment, how explicit

or implicit incentives and social norms interact with the environment’s evolution and

exploitation, how real-time environmental awareness and intelligence can improve behaviour

towards more sustainability, or how the decisions based on changes in the environment in

turn affect the state of the natural environment.

b. radically novel approaches to resilient, reliable and environmentally responsible in-situ

monitoring. In-situ sensing technologies (physical, chemical, biological, behavioural) for

environmental monitoring, in particular favouring sensors for parameters and environments

that are currently under-sampled but at the same time critical for improving predictive models

for understanding environmental processes. Proposals should look for ground-breaking

concepts of affordable sensor design and deployment, maintenance, retrieval and/or recycling

based on concepts such as self-deployment, self-awareness, adaptation, artificial evolution,

self-repair and controlled decomposition; or using edge computing, distributed Artificial

Intelligence or new concepts from micro-robotics to optimise sensing or monitoring

frequency. Advanced research on the networking aspects is not addressing this sub-topic.

Projects are to focus on one or a few critical resources (e.g., water, air) and to establish

fundamental advances on the most critical challenges that will underpin a step improvement

This topic is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Enhanced Pilot (Horizon 2020, 2019-2020). This topic and the associated call

conditions are included in this work programme section for information only. Only the 2020 FET-Proactive topics as included in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

34 | P a g e

in monitoring, analysis and management of important social/environmental processes for

improving quality of life and environmental sustainability (possibly including aspects of waste,

noise, …). Citizen involvement, for example for prioritizing resource challenges, data

collection, raising awareness towards environmental issues or better understanding of

behavioural change in relation to environmental sustainability, is encouraged, in line with the

discussion on Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in the introduction of the FET part of

the work programme.

The collected and simulated data should adhere to the FAIR data

principle and, where relevant, be compliant with European Standards.

Selected projects under this topic will be expected to collaborate, jointly aiming at delivering

a blueprint for a full-fledged system for environmental intelligence.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR

4 million and with a duration of up to 4 years would allow this specific challenge to be

addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of

proposals requesting other amounts or project duration.

Expected Impact:

 Enabling new approaches to monitoring, analysis and management of critical resources

in Europe;

 Availability of reliable data and models at multiple levels of granularity for environmental

policy making;

 Reduced environmental footprint for environmental ICT;

 Increased local and citizen awareness of environmental impacts.

Type of Action: Research and Innovation action

The conditions related to this topic are provided at the end of this call and in the General

Annexes.

See footnote 22.

35 | P a g e

Conditions for the Call

EIC Pathfinder pilot (FET-Proactive)

Boosting emerging technologies

Opening date(s), deadline(s), indicative budget(s)

Topics under the Enhanced European

Innovation Council pilot (2019-2020) (Type

of action)

Budgets (EUR million)

Deadline

All deadlines are

at 17.00.00

Brussels local time

2018

2019

2020

Opening: 19 Mar 2019

FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019 (RIA)

87.40

8 Oct 2019

FETPROACT-EIC-06-2019 (RIA)

26.00

Opening: 26 Mar 2020

FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020 (RIA)

56.00

2 July 2020

FETPROACT-EIC-08-2020 (RIA)

18.00

113.40

74.00

From the budget for FETPROACT-EIC-05-2019, at least EUR 35.40 million and up to EUR 52.40 million

will be allocated to sub-topic ‘c. Breakthrough zero-emissions energy generation for full

decarbonisation’.

From the budget for FETPROACT-EIC-06-2019, at least EUR 10.00 million and up to EUR 13.00 million

will be allocated to area ‘Low-carbon energy and climate change technologies’.

From the budget for FETPROACT-EIC-07-2020, at least EUR 12 million will be allocated to each of the

sub-topics ‘a. Artificial Intelligence for extended social interaction’, ‘b. Breakthrough zero-emissions

The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or after the envisaged date(s) of opening.

The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two months.

All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time.

The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the draft budget for 2020 after the

adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

36 | P a g e

energy storage and conversion technologies for carbon-neutrality’ and ‘c. Digital twins for the life-

sciences’.

Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature

For single stage procedure:

 Information on the outcome of the evaluation: Maximum 5 months from the final date for

submission; and

 Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: Maximum 8 months from the final date for

submission.

Eligibility and admissibility conditions

The conditions are described in General Annexes B and C of the work programme. The following

exceptions apply:

FETPROACT-EIC-06-

2019

Proposals must build on results from an ongoing or finished

project, funded as a result of call in any FET topic under Horizon

2020 and clearly identified in the proposal.

Proposals must include a declaration by the coordinator of the

necessary rights and ownership of results to be exploited, as

described in the proposal. Applicants that are not the owner of

the result to be further developed in the proposal must provide a

letter from the relevant beneficiary or beneficiaries of the

previous FET project that own(s) the result that confirms the

existence of the necessary agreements with the coordinator of

the current proposal, including on IPR.

Evaluation criteria, scoring and threshold

The criteria, scoring and threshold are described in General Annex H of the work programme.

The following exceptions apply:

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019, FETPROACT-

EIC-07-2020

Excellence

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Clarity of long-term vision of a science-enabled technology.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

37 | P a g e

FETPROACT-EIC-08-

2020

 Concreteness and ambition of the proposed science-to-

technology breakthrough.

 Range and added value from interdisciplinarity, novelty and

non-incrementality of the research proposed.

 High-risk of the research proposed and plausibility and

flexibility of the approach.

Threshold: 4/5, Weight: 60%

Impact

 The extent to which the outputs of the project would

contribute to the expected impacts mentioned in the work

programme under the relevant FET topic.

 Effectiveness of measures and plans to disseminate and use

the results (including management of IPR) and to

communicate the project to different target audiences.

Threshold: 3.5/5, Weight: 20%

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Coherence and effectiveness of the work plan to achieve

project objectives and impacts, including adequate

allocation of resources to tasks and partners.

 Appropriateness of the research and innovation

management structures and procedures.

 Role and complementarity of the participants and extent to

which the consortium as a whole brings together the

necessary expertise.

Threshold: 3/5, Weight: 20%

FETPROACT-EIC-06-

2019

Excellence

The following aspects are taken into account:

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

38 | P a g e

 Clarity, quality and level of ambition of the innovation idea

and its link with the vision and results of the previous or

ongoing FET project, as indicated in the proposal.

 Concreteness of the research and innovation objectives and

intended outcomes, and their pertinence for moving results

of the previous FET research to a level of development,

validation and demonstration where they become a

credible basis for entrepreneurship, business creation,

investment and, ultimately, economic and/or societal

returns.

 Suitability and necessity of the proposed research and

innovation activities to reach the stated objectives,

including their complementarity to actions already

foreseen or expected from the previous or ongoing FET

project.

Threshold: 4/5, Weight: 40%

Impact

Contributions to the impacts listed under this topic in the work

programme:

 Added innovation potential with respect to the FET project

from which this innovation originates.

 Extent of economic and/or societal benefits resulting from

this innovation; clarity, concreteness and credibility of the

proposed exploitation strategy and next steps.

 Suitability of innovation measures to enhance the

probability of success, including through engagement with

prospective exploitation partners, other stakeholders,

users or society.

Threshold: 4/5, Weight: 40%

Quality and efficiency of the implementation

The following aspects are taken into account:

 Quality of work plan and management (including IP

protection, ownership and freedom to operate).

39 | P a g e

 Ambition and commitment from at least one partner

driving the technology to actual use.

 Relevance of expertise in the consortium to reach the

research and innovation objectives.

 Appropriate allocation of resources (person-months).

Threshold: 3/5, Weight: 20%

Evaluation Procedure

The procedure for setting a priority order for proposals with the same score is given in

General Annex H of the work programme. The following exceptions apply:

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019, FETPROACT-

EIC-06-2019;

FETPROACT-EIC-08-

2020

Grants will be awarded to proposals according to the ranking list.

At least each of the two highest-ranked proposals for each sub-

topic or area will be funded provided that it attains all thresholds.

Then, respecting the ranking, the third ranked proposals (if any)

from each sub-topic or area is awarded within available funding

budget. Finally, any remaining funding budget is allocated

according to the ranking list, respecting where applicable the

minimal and maximal budget allocation per sub-topic or area.

FETPROACT-EIC-07-

2020

Grants will be awarded to proposals according to the ranking list

respecting where applicable the minimal budget allocation per

sub-topic. At least each of the two highest-ranked proposals for

each sub-topic will be funded provided that it attains all

thresholds. Then, respecting the ranking, the third ranked

proposal (if any) from each of the sub-topic a, b and c is awarded

within available funding budget. Finally, any remaining funding

budget is allocated according to the ranking list. For sub-topic d at

most two proposals will be funded.

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019, FETPROACT-

The following specific page limits apply. Sections 1 to 3 of the part

B of the proposal should consist of a maximum of 30 A4 pages.

The limits will be clearly shown in the ‘proposal templates’ in the

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

40 | P a g e

EIC-07-2020

FETPROACT-EIC-08-

2020

Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Sections

which are not subject to limits will be indicated.

FETPROACT-EIC-06-

2019

The following specific page limits apply. Sections 1 to 3 of the part

B of the proposal should consist of a maximum of 70 A4 pages.

The limits will be clearly shown in the ‘proposal templates’ in the

Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system. Sections

which are not subject to limits will be indicated.

The full evaluation procedure is described in the relevant guide published on the Funding &

Tenders Portal.

Grant Conditions

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019, FETPROACT-

EIC-07-2020

For grants awarded under this topic, beneficiaries may provide

support to third parties established in an EU member state or

country associated with Horizon 2020 and as described in General

Annex K of the Work Programme either in form of grants or prizes

and within the limitations as described in the call text of this topic.

The respective options of Article 15 of the Model Grant

Agreement will be applied.

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019

For grants awarded under sub-topic a of this topic for Research

and Innovation Actions the Commission or Agency may object to

a transfer of ownership or the exclusive or non-exclusive licensing

of results to a third party established in a third country not

associated to Horizon 2020. The respective option of Article 30.3

of the Model Grant Agreement will be applied.

FETPROACT-EIC-06-

2019

For grants awarded under this topic for Research and Innovation

Actions the Commission or Agency may object to a transfer of

ownership or the exclusive or non-exclusive licensing of results to

a third party established in a third country not associated to

Horizon 2020. The respective option of Article 30.3 of the Model

Grant Agreement will be applied.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

41 | P a g e

FETPROACT-EIC-07-

2020

Grants awarded under each of the sub-topics shall be

implemented through the use of complementary grants and the

respective options of Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 of the

Model Grant Agreement will then be applied. In particular the

projects are required to conclude a collaboration agreement, in

principle prior to the signature of the grant agreement.

FETPROACT-EIC-08-

2020

Grants awarded under this topic shall be implemented through

the use of complementary grants and the respective options of

Article 2, Article 31.6 and Article 41.4 of the Model Grant

Agreement will then be applied. In particular the projects are

required to conclude a collaboration agreement, in principle prior

to the signature of the grant agreement.

Consortium agreement

FETPROACT-EIC-05-

2019, FETPROACT-

EIC-06-2019,

FETPROACT-EIC-07-

2020

, FETPROACT-

EIC-08-2020

Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium

agreement, in principle prior to the signature of the grant

agreement.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

Any call conditions for this topic are included in this work programme section for information. Only the call conditions in the work

programme section on Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) have legal value.

42 | P a g e

EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument)

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

43 | P a g e

EIC Accelerator pilot – SME Instrument – standard

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-03

Who should apply to the EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument)?

Are you an innovative, high-flying

small or medium-sized business with

European and global ambitions?

Have you got an idea for an innovation that

targets new markets and could boost the

growth of your company?

Are you looking for substantial funding to

support you in the last stages of

development?

And could you make use of business

development resources and coaching to

take your company forward? Then the EIC

Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) is for

you.

The EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

supports high-risk, high-potential small and

medium-sized enterprises to develop and

bring to market new products, services and

business models that could drive economic

growth.

The EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

is for innovators with ground-breaking

concepts that could shape new markets or

disrupt existing ones in Europe and

worldwide.

Competition for support under the

EIC Accelerator pilot (SME

Instrument) is tough.

The EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

is very selective.

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019,

only ground-breaking concepts at the last

stage before scale-up can be funded.

The highest risk, most convincing and

excellent proposals can be funded after a

thorough evaluation by multinational

panels of technology, business and finance

experts.

Selected companies receive business

coaching to further develop their

innovation idea, and can also receive

mentoring. They are helped in networking

with other EIC Accelerator pilot (SME

Instrument) clients, with other companies

of all sizes, and with potential co-investors

and follow-up investors across Europe. As

an SME Instrument client, you will gain

visibility and boost your chances of success

in European and international markets.

Europe needs more radical, market-

creating innovations to improve

productivity and international

competitiveness and generate new

jobs and higher standards of living.

These innovations must meet user and

customer needs and tackle societal,

technological and business challenges in a

sustainable way.

44 | P a g e

Have you got what it takes? Then

apply now!

45 | P a g e

Principles and funding of the EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument)

Who can apply?

For-profit SMEs, including young

companies and start-ups, from any sector.

You must be established in an EU Member

State or a Horizon 2020 associated country.

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019,

only individual

for-profit SMEs

established in an EU Members State or a

Horizon 2020 associated country.

What topics are covered?

There are no set topics. Negative impacts

on climate and the environment shall be

avoided.

How does it work?

The EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

provides full-cycle business innovation

support. In Phase 2 support is provided in

the form of grant only or, following the cut-

off date of 5 June 2019, blended finance

(combining grant and equity). The EIC

Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) also

includes coaching and mentoring.



Feasibility study: Phase 1

Phase 1 helps you get a grip on the R&D,

technical feasibility and commercial

The EIC Accelerator pilot is a mono-beneficiary scheme. This

approach has been taken so to pave the way towards a fully-

fledged EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe (where it is

proposed to target individual entrepreneurs).

Commission Decision C(2013)8198 authorising the

reimbursement of cost under the form of a lump sum for SME

Instrument Phase 1 actions under Framework Programme

Horizon 2020 states that the total eligible cost for a Phase 1 project

potential of a ground-breaking, innovative

idea and develop it into a credible business

plan.

Activities can include, for example, risk

assessment, market research, user

involvement, analysis of regulatory

constraints or standards regimes,

intellectual property management, partner

search, or feasibility assessment.

Your goal in Phase 1 is to formulate a solid,

high-potential innovation project with a

European or global growth-oriented

strategy

Your proposal must be based on an initial

business plan and outline the specifications

of a more elaborate one, which will be the

outcome of the project.

Phase 1 funding is a lump sum of

€50 000

. Projects should last

around 6 months.

Please note Phase 1 will be discontinued

The final deadline for applications will be 5

September 2019.



From concept to market: Phase 2

Phase 2 helps you develop your business

concept further into a market-ready

is €71 249. Applying the co-financing rate of 70%, the amount of

the grant is established at €50 000.

The phase 1 of the SME Instrument was conceived to allow for

funding and business support under the phase 2 and phase 3 of the

SME Instrument respectively. Phase 1 projects last around six

months. Phase 2 is very competitive (around 5% of success rate)

and normally takes 12 to 24 months for project completion. Phase

1 proposals funded from mid-2019 on, would have limited

opportunities to exploit the next phases of the SME Instrument.

46 | P a g e

product, service or process aligned with

your company's growth strategy. Activities

could, for example, include

product/service development, trials,

prototyping, validation, demonstration and

testing in real-world conditions, and

market replication. If the activity concerns

a primarily technological innovation, a

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5/6 or

above is required for primarily

technological innovation or the equivalent

for non-technological innovation. You can

subcontract work essential for your

innovation project.

Phase 2 offers a grant only support

to SMEs in need of one last push

before the scaling-up phase; and it

will offer blended finance

(combining grant and equity)

SMEs looking to further develop,

grow and scale-up their idea.

Beneficiaries of the EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME instrument) have access to Business

Acceleration Services as described below.

You can apply to Phase 1 as a means of

preparing for Phase 2, or you can apply

directly to Phase 2.

Your proposal must be based on a strategic

business plan that was either developed in

Phase 1 or by another means. Your

proposal must specify the expected

outcome of the project and criteria for

success, as well as the expected impacts on

your company in both qualitative and

quantitative terms (e.g. on turnover,

Applicants may apply for the blended finance option following

the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2.

Please note that UK-based legal entities are eligible to

participate in the grant part only.

employment, market size, IP management,

sales, return on investment, profitability,

and particularly the level of risk/ de-risking

factor associated with support under the

EIC Accelerator pilot).

You must pay particular attention to IP

protection and ownership, and present

convincing evidence or measures to ensure

the possibility of commercial exploitation

(often known as 'freedom to operate'). You

should also address regulatory and

standardisation issues.

Grant only funding is provided (funding

rate 70%) of between €0.5 million and €2.5

million.

Under the blended finance option, the

grant component is limited to €2.5 million

combined with an equity component of up

to €15 million.

You can request a higher

or lower amount, duly justified, when

applying.

Proposals with activities up to TRL 8 will be

funded by grants or a blended finance

option. Close to market activities (i.e. TRL 9

or above) included in a proposal, will only

be financed by equity participation as long

as the proposal remains non-bankable.

The grant dimension of your project should

normally take 12 to 24 months to

complete, but could be longer in

exceptional and well-justified cases.

 Business Acceleration Services

The Business Acceleration Services (SME

Instrument Phase 3) help you take

47 | P a g e

advantage of additional EU support

extended via a range of business support

services offered on the EIC Community

Platform, open to researchers and

innovators benefiting from the different

EIC calls for proposals.

This support can

take the form of coaching, training, links to

investors, public and private procurers of

innovation, partnering and networking

with other EIC beneficiaries. The Business

Acceleration Services provide specific

support to EIC clients that are SMEs, mainly

to help them access new markets through

participation to overseas trade fairs or

customers and link with investors. It does

not provide direct funding. In line with

Commission’s communication for the

‘European Green Deal’

, the Business

Acceleration Services will in particular

support EIC funded SMEs in reducing their

greenhouse gas emissions.

All Business Acceleration Services are

accessible through a single, dedicated

entry point, which serves as an information

portal and networking space. [See 'EIC

Support Actions']

Coaching

If you are benefiting from funding from the

EIC Pathfinder pilot, the EIC Accelerator

pilot or FTI, you will receive business

coaching to help your business scale up and

grow. Up to 12 coaching days are

available.

Coaching covers business

development, organisational

The provision of Business Acceleration Services, under

conditions to be agreed, will also be tested for (a maximum of 4)

EIT Innovation Communities under the EIC Pathfinder pilot and

under the Accelerator. Access to the Business Acceleration

development, cooperation, and

financing.

Up to 3 coaching-days, per funded project,

are available in Phase 1 of the EIC

Accelerator pilot. Under the EIC Pathfinder

pilot, the Accelerator or FTI up to 12

coaching-days, per funded project, are

available.

The impact driven coaching service,

supported by the European Commission, is

facilitated by the Enterprise Europe

Network (EEN). Coaching is delivered by

one or more qualified, experienced

business coaches recruited from a

database managed by the European

Commission. All coaches meet stringent

criteria regarding business experience and

coaching skills. Throughout your project,

the EEN will complement the coaching

support. EEN offers a service package

covering an assessment of your firm's

innovation management capacities and the

identification of a suitable coach or

consulting package to address the gaps,

EEN also provides access to its innovation

and internationalisation services.

Mentoring

If you are benefiting from funding from the

EIC Pathfinder pilot, the EIC Accelerator

pilot or FTI, we will offer mentoring to

individual founders, CEOs and leaders.

Services will also be granted to EIC COVID-19 Seals of

Excellence.

Communication ‘The European Green Deal’ COM(2019) 640.

Coaching services are only available to SMEs, including natural

persons, or for the purpose of setting-up such a company.

48 | P a g e

Mentoring aims to develop

leadership skills such as resilience,

tenacity and strategic insight.

The mentoring scheme will involve one-to-

one meetings with an experienced

entrepreneur, who will share expertise and

provide impartial guidance and support.

Mentors will be CEOs of firms that have

moved beyond the start-up stage. To begin

with, mentors will be drawn from a pool of

SME Instrument Phase 2 current and

former clients willing to act as mentors on

a pro bono basis.

Mentors and mentees will be matched up

via the EIC Community Platform and during

EIC Events and other suitable events.

Monitoring

If appropriate, independent experts will be

used to assist the European Commission

for the monitoring of actions/grants

funded from the EIC Pathfinder pilot, the

EIC Accelerator pilot or FTI.

49 | P a g e

EIC Accelerator pilot – SME Instrument – Green Deal

H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-04

1. Specific challenge

If your company aims to deliver a

meaningful impact towards sustainable

development, the Green Deal topic of the

European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot

Accelerator may support your endeavours.

The Green Deal proposal put forward by

the European Commission set the stage for

an era of increased ambition towards

sustainable development. It aims to make

Europe the world’s first climate-neutral

continent and leader in circular economy

and clean technologies. This goes hand in

hand with a decisive effort to preserve and

restore ecosystems and rural areas.

Research and innovation will be a key

supporting feature of such comprehensive

strategy.

Such ambition is fully justified by the

challenges lying ahead of us. For example,

compared to the current situation in the

EU, achieving the current 2030 climate and

energy targets requires decarbonisation at

a speed at least six times faster and

additional annual investments of around

€260 billion.

This EIC Accelerator topic contributes to

implement the Green Deal goals. It aims to

foster impact investing by supporting the

development and market roll-out of

innovations that can tilt our

The Green Deal topic of the EIC Accelerator is

restricted to phase 2.

socio-economic systems in a more

sustainable path.

2. Scope

2.1 Finance

The EIC Accelerator supports the

development of business concepts into

market--ready

innovations (new or

disruptive technologies, products,

processes, services and business models)

and their roll-out.

This Green Deal topic specifically

concentrates on those innovations

that fuel the societal transition

towards sustainability while

supporting EU’s competitiveness

and leadership in clean

technologies.

The topic targets high-risk, high--potential

small- and medium--sized enterprises

(including startups) -from any sector

provided that they contribute to Green

Deal goals (as explained in ‘expected

impact’).

Projects dedicated to increase the

efficiency of fossil fuels technologies or

fossil fuels use are ineligible.

Support may be provided in the form

of a grant or blended finance

(combining grant and equity).

50 | P a g e

 Grant only funding (funding rate 70%)

ranges from €0.5 million up to €2.5

million.

 Under the blended finance option, the

grant component is limited to €2.5

million combined with an equity

component of up to €15 million.

Duly

justified higher or lower amounts can be

requested too.

Proposals with activities up to Technology

Readiness Level (TRL) 8 may be funded by

grants or blended finance. Close to market

activities (TRL 9 or above) can only be

financed by equity participation (as long as

the proposal remains non-bankable).

Activities could, for example, include

product/service development, trials,

prototyping, validation, demonstration and

testing in real-world conditions, and

market replication. If the activity concerns

a primarily technological innovation, a TRL

5/6 or above is required for primarily

technological innovation or the equivalent

for non-technological innovation. Essential

for the innovation project can be

subcontracted.

Proposals must be based on a strategic

business plan and specify the project’s

success criteria and expected outcomes (as

specified in ‘expected impact’).

Particular attention must be paid to IP

protection and ownership, convincing

evidence or measures to ensure the

possibility of commercial exploitation must

be presented (often known as 'freedom to

Please note that UK-based legal entities are eligible to

participate in the grant part only.

operate'). Regulatory and standardisation

issues must also be addressed.

Projects should normally take 12 to 24

months to complete but could be longer in

exceptional and well-justified cases.

2.2 Business Acceleration Services

Business Acceleration Services on the

‘Green Deal’ will be provided in line with

standard EIC Accelerator pilot (SME

Instrument – phase 2), as described above.

3. Expected impact

Projects must support the Green Deal

implementation by significantly

contributing (and proposals must

quantitatively estimate that contribution)

to at least one of the following

sustainability goals:

 Increasing the EU’s climate

mitigation and/or adaptation

ambition;

 Supplying clean, affordable and

secure energy;

 Transitioning of industry to a clean

and/or circular economy (including

waste prevention and/or recycling);

 Building and renovating in an

energy and resource efficient way;

 Accelerating the shift to sustainable

and smart mobility;

 Transition to a fair, healthy and

environmentally-friendly food

system;

 Preserving and restoring

ecosystems and biodiversity;

 Realising a zero pollution ambition

and a toxic-free environment.

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Simultaneously, projects shall do no

significant harm to any of these objectives

and should enhance European Union’s

competitiveness and leadership in clean

technologies.

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Conditions for the call EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument)

Type of funding: SME instrument Phase 1/ Phase 2

Opening dates, deadlines, indicative budgets

Opening date:

7 November 2017

Deadline of cut-off

All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time

phase

08 February 2018

03 May 2018

05 September 2018

07 November 2018

-------------------------

13 February 2019

07 May 2019

05 September 2019 – Final deadline

EIC Accelerator

pilot (phase 2)

10 January 2018

14 March 2018

23 May 2018

10 October 2018

Grant only:

09 January 2019

03 April 2019

05 June 2019

Grant only and blended finance

09 October 2019

-------------------------

08 January 2020

18 March 2020

07 October 2020

Applicants may apply for the blended finance option following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2. First cut-off date for such

proposals is 9 October 2019.

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EIC Accelerator

“Green Deal”

19 May 2020

The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or after the

envisaged date(s) of opening. The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two months.

Budget of the EIC Accelerator

pilot (SME Instrument)

€ million

2018

2019

2020

Overall indicative budget

**/****/****/*****

479.74

689.26

969.04

Phase 1

divided equally between

cut-off dates in each year

10%

EIC Accelerator (Phase 2) Grants and

Blended Finance (Grant and

Equity)****

divided equally between

cut-off dates in each year*****

87%

91%

66%

EIC Accelerator "Green Deal"****

31%

Phase 3

Coaching, mentoring and

monitoring

52***

Evaluation

** of which at least an aggregated EUR 100 million for equity support under the Accelerator in 2019 and 2020.

*** will be provided under EIC Pathfinder pilot, EIC Accelerator pilot and FTI.

**** The Commission will aim at having in the pool of the best applications invited to face-to-face interviews

in the EIC Accelerator cut-off deadline of 7 October 2020 and in the EIC Accelerator “Green Deal” cut-off

deadline of 19 May 2020 at least 25% of applications submitted by SMEs (including start-ups) led by women

CEOs (or equivalent position).

***** 32% for cut-off deadline of March 2020, including exceptional budget of EUR 150 million for proposals

on Coronavirus.

***** This budget includes an amount for the management costs of the EIC Fund which is approximately 2

percent of the total equity investment managed by the Fund.

"Green Deal" eligibility.

The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the draft budget for 2020 after

the adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional twelfths.

Including access to Business Acceleration Services for EIC COVID-19 Seals of Excellence, as well as support to the most promising ideas

identified during the PanEU Hackaton (24-26-04-2020) via the EIC Community Platform.

Within the 1%, an amount of maximum € 100 000 will be used for the monitoring.

In order to ensure equal opportunities to all applicants to present their proposal during step 2 of the evaluation of the SME instrument phase

2, the applicants invited to interview will receive a contribution to travel, accommodation and subsistence expenses. An amount of € 2 million

financed out of this budget will be used for this purpose.

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Who can benefit from EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) funding?

A proposal will be considered eligible if:

o Its content corresponds, wholly or in part, to the description of the EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument) call

o The single beneficiary, or every beneficiary of a consortium

, is a for-profit SME (including

start-up) located in an EU Member State or a Horizon 2020 associated country.

o There is no concurrent submission or implementation

with another EIC Accelerator pilot

(SME Instrument) Phase 1 or Phase 2 project (before and after the introduction of the EIC

Accelerator pilot).

o If an applicant is involved in two proposals that were formally submitted but not yet

reviewed under phase 1 and/or 2, only the proposal that was submitted first will be

considered eligible.

o Only applicable to the EIC Accelerator "Green Deal": Projects must significantly contribute

to at least one of the sustainability objectives mentioned under ‘expected impact’ of the

topic description. Simultaneously, projects shall do no significant harm to any of those

objectives. Projects dedicated to increase the efficiency of fossil fuels technologies or fossil

fuels use are ineligible.

What are the requirements for an EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

proposal to be admissible?

A proposal will be considered admissible if the following conditions are met:

o it was submitted in the electronic submission system before the final cut-off deadline;

o it is readable, accessible and printable;

o it is complete and includes the requested administrative data, the proposal description

(including detailed information about the TRL level (or equivalent for non-technological

innovation) for Phase 2), and the obligatory supporting documents specified below;

o for a Phase 2 proposal, it includes a mandatory first commercialisation plan.

How long can my EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument) proposal be?

As from the cut-off date of 5 June 2019, activities of a TRL (or its equivalent for non-technological innovation) above 8 can only be financed

by blended finance option. Grant component will only apply to the activities with a TRL (or its equivalent for non-technological innovation)

of 5/6 to 8.

Not applicable after the 5 June 2019 cut-off for Phase 2.

Complementary proposals building on ongoing SME Instrument Phase 2 projects requesting blended finance are not considered concurrent

implementation. These complementary proposals must build on the initial running project and will request equity and additional grant where

justified by new TRL5/6 to 8 and/or TRL9 activities. The initial running project must have started at least 6 months prior to the date of

submission of the complementary proposal.

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In Phase 1, the maximum length of a proposal (proposal description, sections 1 to 3) is 10

pages.

In Phase 2, the maximum length of a proposal (proposal description, sections 1 to 3) is 30

pages.

The page limits, the sections subject to the limits and the formatting applicable are shown in

the ‘proposal templates’ in the Funding & Tender Portal electronic submission system.

If your proposal exceeds the page limits, you will receive an automatic warning and be advised

to resubmit a version that conforms to the limits.

After the cut-off deadline, excess pages will automatically be made invisible, and will not be

taken into consideration by the experts evaluating your proposal.

Evaluation rules for the EIC Accelerator pilot (SME Instrument)

Selection criteria

 Financial capacity: Applicants for mono-beneficiary grants (single SME applicants) are not

subject to an automatic financial viability check.

Coordinators of consortia

of several SMEs will be invited, at proposal stage, to complete

a self-assessment using an online tool.

 Operational capacity: During the evaluation of the award criterion ‘Quality and efficiency

of implementation’, experts will judge whether each individual participant has, or will have

in due time, sufficient operational capacity to successfully carry out their tasks in the

proposed work-plan. This assessment will be based on the competence and experience of

the applicant, including their operational resources (human, technical, other) and, if

applicable and on an exceptional basis, the measures proposed to secure these resources

by the time of the implementation of the tasks.

The operational capacity of each applicant is determined on the basis of the following

supporting documents, which are required when submitting a proposal:

o A CV or description of the profile of the persons who will be primarily responsible for

carrying out the proposed activities.

 A brief description of relevant products, services (including widely used datasets or

software) or other achievements (which may also include previous projects or activities

connected to the subject of the proposal).

 A description of any significant infrastructure and/or any major items of technical

equipment relevant to the proposed work.

 A description of any third parties that are not represented as project partners but who will

nonetheless be contributing towards the work, for example by providing facilities or

computing resources.

Not applicable after 5 June 2019 for Phase 2.

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 Minimum sustainability and expected impact requirements:

o Projects must neither hinder the achievement of EU climate objectives nor have

other significant negative environmental impacts.

Award criteria

Phase 1 and Phase 2 – grant only and blended finance

- proposals are evaluated by experts

on the basis of three award criteria: 'impact', 'excellence', and 'quality and efficiency of

implementation'. The aspects examined under each criterion are described in the table below.

Impact

50% WEIGHTING – following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 1/3 WEIGHTING for Phase 2

Convincing specification of the potential to create new markets or create market disruption

together with a convincing specification of the substantial demand (including willingness to

pay) for the innovation.

Total market size envisaged.

Convincing description of targeted users or customers of the innovation, how their needs

have been addressed, why the users or customers identified will want to use or buy the

product, service or business model, including compared to what is currently available if

anything at all.

Only applicable to the EIC Accelerator "Green Deal": Assessment of the contribution to the

Green Deal implementation in terms of delivery of at least one of the sustainability goals

described under ‘expected impact’ of the topic description. Proposals must quantitatively

estimate this contribution.

Phase 1 (only): Good understanding of need for a realistic and relevant analysis of market

conditions, total potential market size and growth-rate, competitors and competitive

offerings, key stakeholders, clear identification of opportunities for market introduction:

potential for market creation is particularly sought after.

Phase 2 (only): Realistic and relevant analysis of market conditions and growth-rate,

competitors and competitive offerings, key stakeholders, clear identification of opportunities

for market introduction, market creation or disruption (e.g. via new value-chains).

Realistic and relevant description of how the innovation has the potential to scale-up the

applicant company (or companies). This should be underpinned by a convincing business

plan with a clear timeline, and complemented, where possible, by a track-record that includes

financial data (following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019: including financial needs to ensure

the company’s success).

The ‘potential to scale-up’ aspect and associated financial needs are particularly examined

in Step 2.

Applicants may apply for the blended finance option following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2.

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2, during the electronic proposal submission process, activities of a TRL (or its

equivalent for non-technical innovation) above 8 can only be funded by blended finance option.

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Alignment of proposal with overall strategy of applicant SME (or SMEs) and commitment of

the team behind them. Demonstration of need for commercial and management experience,

including understanding of the financial and organisational requirements for commercial

exploitation (Phase 2 only) as well as key third parties needed.

Phase1 (only): Outline of initial commercialisation plan and how this will be developed

further (in-house development, licensing strategy, etc.).

Phase 2 (only): Realistic and relevant strategic plan for commercialisation, including

approximate time-to-market or deployment. Activities to be undertaken after the project.

The 'commercial strategy' aspect is particularly examined in Step 2 of the evaluation of

Phase 2 proposals.

European/global dimension of innovation with respect to both commercialisation and

assessment of competitors and competitive offerings.

Phase 1 (only): Realistic and relevant description of knowledge protection status and

strategy, need for 'freedom to operate' (i.e., possibility of commercial exploitation), and

current IPR situation or a plan for obtaining this information. Where relevant, description of

potential regulatory requirements.

Phase 2 (only): Evidence of or realistic measures to ensure 'freedom to operate' (i.e.,

possibility of commercial exploitation), convincing knowledge-protection strategy, including

current IPR filing status, IPR ownership and licensing issues. Regulatory and/or standards

requirements addressed.

Taken as whole, to what extent the above elements are coherent and plausible.

Excellence

25% WEIGHTING – following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 1/3 WEIGHTING for Phase 2

High-risk/high-potential innovation idea that has something that nobody else has. It should

be better and/or significantly different to any alternative. Game-changing ideas or

breakthrough innovations are particularly sought after.

Its high degree of novelty comes with a high chance of either success or failure.

Realistic description of current stage of development (Phase 2 only: at least TRL 5/6, or

something analogous for non-technological innovations

), and clear outline of steps planned

to take this innovation to market.

Highly innovative solution that goes beyond the state of the art in comparison with existing

or competing solutions, including on the basis of costs, ease of use and other relevant

features as well as issues related to climate change or the environment, the gender

dimension, any other benefits for society, or (Phase 1 only) includes plans for obtaining this

information.

Very good understanding of both risks and opportunities related to successful market

introduction of the innovation from both technical and commercial points of view or (Phase

1 only) includes convincing plans for obtaining this information.

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2, proposals with a TRL (or its equivalent for non-technological innovation) above 8

will only be funded by blended finance option. Grant component will only apply to the activities with a TRL (or its equivalent for non-

technological innovation) of 5/6 to 8.

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Phase 2 only: Documentation on the technological, practical and economic feasibility of the

innovation.

The 'feasibility' aspect is particularly examined in Step 2 of the evaluation of Phase 2

proposals.

Phase 1 (only): Objectives for the feasibility study and the approach and activities to be

developed are consistent with the expected impact of the project.

Phase 2 (only): Objectives for the innovation proposal as well as the approach and activities

to be developed are consistent with the expected impact (i.e. commercialisation or

deployment resulting in company growth). Appropriate definition provided of specifications

for outcome of project and criteria for success.

Taken as whole, to what extent the above elements are coherent and plausible.

Quality and efficiency of implementation

25% WEIGHTING - following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 1/3 WEIGHTING for Phase 2

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 and for Phase 2 only: Evidence that the applicant

company cannot leverage sufficient investments from the market and/ or, particularly for

applicant companies requesting blended finance support, evidence that the applicant

company is deemed 'non- bankable' by the market, in view of the activities to be developed.

The 'leveraging of investments' and 'bankability' aspects are particularly examined in Step

2 of the evaluation of Phase 2 proposals.

Technical/business experience of the team, including management capacity to lead a

growing team

Only Phase 1: If relevant, the proposal includes a plan to acquire missing competences.

Only Phase 2: If relevant, the proposal includes a plan to acquire missing competences,

namely through partnerships and/or subcontracting*, and explains why and how they are

selected (subcontractors must be selected using 'best value-for-money' principles).

The 'team' aspect is particularly examined in Step 2 of the evaluation of Phase 2 proposals.

Availability of resources required (personnel, facilities, networks, etc.) to develop project

activities in the most suitable conditions.

Where relevant, complementarity of partners in a consortium

Only Phase 2:

Where relevant, realistic description of how key stakeholders / partners / subcontractors

could be involved* (subcontractors must be selected using 'best value-for-money' principles).

Current financial support by accelerator services and/or business angels will be taken into

account. Evidence must be provided as regards the length and type of support received.

Where relevant, the estimated budget and the procedure planned for selecting the

subcontractors are appropriate*.

Not applicable after the 5 June 2019 cut-off for Phase 2.

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Realistic timeframe and comprehensive description of implementation (work-packages,

major deliverables and milestones, risk management) taking the company's or applicant's

innovation ambitions and objectives into account.

*Subcontracting is acceptable to the extent required for the implementation of the proposed activities.

Subcontracting may be an essential part of the implementation of the project, but should not be a

disproportionate part of the total estimated eligible costs. Subcontractors must be selected using 'best

value-for-money' principles.

Taken as whole, to what extent the above elements are coherent and plausible.

Evaluation procedure

After each Phase 1 cut-off

o Proposals are evaluated in one step.

o A proposal is evaluated remotely by a number of evaluators with a mixture of technology,

industry sector, business and finance expertise.

o Each evaluator scores each of the three award criteria from 0 to 5. Scores with a resolution

of one decimal place may be given.

o The quality threshold of each criterion is 4 out of 5. The overall quality threshold, applying

to the weighted sum of the three individual scores, is 13 out of 15.

o The consensus score at the level of the three evaluation criteria is the median of the

scores given by each evaluator. The overall consensus score is the weighted sum of these

separate scores. Proposals that have passed all thresholds are ranked in the order of their

final score.

o If necessary, a panel review is organised remotely.

After each Phase 2 cut-off for both, grant only or blended finance applications

o Applicants are required to provide detailed information about the TRL level (or its

equivalent for non-technological innovations). In that context, applicants should be

aware that activities above TRL 8 can only be funded as equity through blended finance

option

o The process of evaluation can recommend three outcomes: 'Go' decision, 'No Go'

decision or ‘change into blended finance' decision. Applicants that apply for grant only

option will have the opportunity at the time of submission to give the European

Commission consent to provide the requested amount of funding in the form of blended

finance, should the evaluation conclude there are activities above TRL 8.

o Only the proposals with activities above TRL 8 will be subject to such possibility. The

blended finance could replace the initial grant requested at the time of submission.

Following the cut-off date of 5 June 2019 for Phase 2, during the electronic proposal submission process, applicants will choose to apply for

grant only or for blended finance (combined grant and equity). .

As from 5 June 2019 (for Phase 2) the grant component will only apply to the activities with a TRL (or its equivalent for non-technological

innovation) of 5/6 to 8.

The criteria for providing funding as blended finance for activities above TRL8 will be specified in the guide for applicants.

60 | P a g e

Applicants that do not express such consent will not be considered for a blended finance

and will be rejected.

o For blended finance proposals, the evaluation for the grant component will follow the

same steps described below as evaluation of proposals for grant only

o In the case of proposals with ‘Go’ decision for grant only, Commission will initiate the

grant agreement preparation process with SMEs.

o In the case of proposals for blended finance (with ‘Go’ decision or ‘change into blended

finance' decision) Commission will initiate the grant agreement preparation process with

SMEs for the grant component. The grant agreement will be then signed between the

Commission and the company. These companies will be referred to the EIC Fund team

for a due diligence process for the equity component. The EIC Fund will check whether

the company is fit for receiving this equity component.

o If the result of the due diligence is negative, equity component will not be funded and

the grant agreement may be terminated. If the due diligence is positive, the equity

contract will be signed between the EIC Fund and the company.

o In the case of applicants to whom the Commission proposed funding as blended finance,

the grant amount initially requested for the activities of TRL 9 or above will be directly

transferred to equity amount. In the case of negative outcome of the due diligence, it

will not be funded (neither as grant nor as equity).

o Proposals with ‘No Go’ decision will be rejected. However proposal rejected on the basis

of the bankability assessment but assessed as viable for other types of EU financing will

be invited to consider other European Union financial instruments.

Applications are evaluated in two steps.

Step 1: remote evaluation

o A proposal is evaluated remotely by a number of evaluators with a mixture of technology,

industry sector, business and finance expertise.

o Each evaluator scores each of the three award criteria from 0 to 5. Scores with a resolution

of one decimal place may be given.

o The quality threshold of each criterion is 4 out of 5. The overall quality threshold, applying

to the weighted sum of the three individual scores, is 13 out of 15.

o The consensus score of a proposal at the level of the three evaluation criteria is the

median of the scores given by each evaluator. The overall consensus score is the weighted

sum of these scores.

o Proposals that pass all quality thresholds will be considered for step 2.

o For proposals submitted to the March 2020 cut-off, the evaluators, based on the priorities

defined in collaboration with Health Security Committee, will also assess whether they

are directly relevant to the Coronavirus crises. Coronavirus relevance includes

innovations addressing: diagnostics and treatments for Coronavirus; protection and

solutions for healthcare systems; monitoring and information systems for infectious

After the diligence process European investors will be approached for their possible interest to invest into the company. If an investor is to

be found on the market, the equity component of the blended finance will not be implemented as foreseen.

61 | P a g e

diseases; prevention and preparedness for Coronavirus and/or pathogens with the

potential for Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) epidemics; and

wider socio-economic impacts caused by Coronavirus including business continuity and

social wellbeing.

Step 2: face-to-face interview

o Starting with the highest-scoring proposal and in descending, sequential order, proposals

are passed to Step 2 until, as a batch, either the total amount of EU funding requested is

as close as possible to at least twice the budget available, or all proposals eligible for

funding have been accounted for. The actual threshold to pass to Step 2 will therefore be

dynamic and depend on the volume of proposals received that pass all quality thresholds.

o As an exceptional measure, for proposals submitted to the March 2020 cut-off the above

procedure will be applied separately depending on whether proposals are assessed as

directly relevant to the Coronavirus crises. For those proposals assessed as not directly

relevant to the Coronavirus crises, the above procedure will be applied for an indicative

budget amount of €164 million. For proposals assessed as directly relevant to the

Coronavirus crises, the above procedure will be applied for an additional indicative

budget amount of €150 million.

If as a result of the face-to-face interviews step:

- the entire indicative budget initially dedicated to funding the best Coronavirus

related proposals is not allocated, the remaining balance will supplement the

budget to be allocated to funding the best non-Coronavirus related proposals;

- the entire indicative budget initially dedicated to funding the best non-

Coronavirus related proposals is not allocated the remaining balance will

supplement the budget to be allocated to funding the best Coronavirus related

proposals;

- both the entire indicative budgets initially dedicated to funding the best

Coronavirus and non-Coronavirus related proposals are not allocated, the

remaining balance will be allocated to indicative budgets of subsequent cut-off

dates.

o To contribute towards a more gender balanced European innovation ecosystem, for the

cut-off deadlines of 7 October 2020 and for the EIC accelerator Green Deal of 19 May

2020, when inviting the best applicants who passed all the quality thresholds to face-to-

face interviews, the Commission will aim at having in the pool of the best applicants

invited to interviews at least 25% of applications submitted by SMEs (including start-ups)

led by women CEO (or equivalent position). To this end, the pool of the best applicants

invited to face-to-face interviews will be constituted as follows:

 Like for the first and second cut-off dates, a pool of the best ranked applications after

step 1 (highest scoring) requesting an aggregated financial support equal to at least

the double of the budget available will be constituted.

 If in that pool:

 at least 25% of the applications are submitted by SMEs (including start-ups) led

by women CEOs (or equivalent position), only the applications of that pool will

be invited to face-to-face interviews.

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 less than 25% of the applications are submitted by SMEs (including start-ups) led

by women CEOs (or equivalent position), the pool will be expanded to

subsequent best ranked applications (starting with the highest scoring in

descending, sequential order) submitted by SMEs (including start-ups) led by

women CEOs (or equivalent position) until reaching, if possible, a composition of

the pool of at least 25% of applications submitted by SMEs (including start-ups)

led by women CEOs (or equivalent position). All such applicants invited to

interview must have passed the quality thresholds from Step 1.

o SMEs (including start-ups) led by women CEO means that the Chief Executive Officer

(CEO) of the company, or the equivalent position, is held by a woman at the time of

application, interview and award of the EU Financial support. This will be subject to

verification by the Commission.

o Each applicant whose proposal has passed to Step 2 is invited to a face-to-face interview

in Brussels. In exceptional cases, interviews may be organised via video-conference.

o Only staff of applicants can represent them. Representation by third parties is forbidden.

o The interview is conducted by evaluators with a mixture of technology, industry sector,

business and finance expertise.

o During the interview, the applicant will be asked questions designed to clarify aspects of

the proposal evaluated in Step 1, in particular those indicated above under 'award criteria'.

o In Step 2, proposals will receive, in addition to the score in Step 1, an 'A' mark or a 'B' mark

from the final panel review.

o Only proposals that have passed all quality thresholds and receive an 'A' mark are

proposed for funding, including blended finance when applicable, in order to ensure that

only the best proposals will be retained for funding.

For both Phase 1 and Phase 2

o During the electronic proposal submission process, you can provide up to three names of

persons that should not act as an evaluator of your proposal, for commercial or other

reasons. The persons identified may be excluded from the evaluation of the proposal, as

long as it remains possible to have the proposal evaluated.

o To set a priority order for proposals given the same consensus score in Phase 1, the

following method is used:

 Proposals are first prioritised according to scores given for the award criterion 'impact'.

 Where those scores are equal, priority is then determined using scores for the award

criterion 'excellence'.

 If necessary, a further prioritisation is based on the degree of gender balance among

the personnel named in the proposal as primarily responsible for carrying out the

project.

Communication to applicants after evaluation procedure

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Phase 1

For each proposal, applicants receive an evaluation summary report with the scores obtained

and a qualitative assessment with respect to each of the aspects considered under each of the

three award criteria.

Phase 2

Each applicant invited to an interview in Step 2 receives an invitation at the end of Step 1.

For each proposal, applicants receive an evaluation summary report with the scores obtained

and a qualitative assessment with respect to each of the aspects considered under each of the

three award criteria (Step 1 of the evaluation). For proposals that have passed to Step 2, the

report will contain an A or B mark and an additional qualitative assessment including a possible

recommendation on resubmission. Successful applicants will be informed.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 applicants meeting all quality thresholds but not receiving funding will

receive a Seal of Excellence.

Consortium agreement

Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium agreement, in principle prior

to the signature of the grant agreement.

Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature

o Information about the outcome of the evaluation: Maximum 2 months after the

corresponding cut-off date set out above for phase 1 and maximum 4 months after the

corresponding cut-off date set out above for phase 2.

o Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: Maximum 3 months from the final

date for submission in phase 1 and maximum 6 months from the final date for submission

in phase 2.

Not applicable after the 5 June 2019 cut-off for Phase 2.

Due to the launch of the new enhanced EIC pilot the first applications under the EIC Accelerator pilot may experience processing delays.

For these cases, Horizon 2020 TTI and TTG timeframes shall be observed.

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OTHER CALLS

Fast Track to

Innovation (FTI)

H2020-EIC-FTI-2018-2020

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Who should apply to FTI, the Fast Track to Innovation?

Are you looking for partners that

can help you with a fast go-to-

market of an industry-driven,

innovative concept that has strong

potential to make your company

grow and scale-up?

Do you see co-creation or open innovation

as ways to advance your innovation cycle

and enter the market within three years?

Are you looking for substantial funding to

test, demonstrate and validate your

innovation with users before full

commercial roll-out, potentially via a spin-

off company or a joint venture?

Then FTI is the scheme for you.

Innovation is fostered when new ideas can

emerge and easily translate into socio-

economic value, shaping new markets and

laying the foundations of a stronger, high-

tech industrial base for Europe.

Working together, partners with

complementary backgrounds, knowledge

and skills, in both new and established

value-chains, can turn ideas into world-

beating products, processes and services

that tackle societal challenges.

FTI accelerates the market uptake of

ground-breaking innovations by

providing funding in an open,

accessible scheme that nurtures

ideas from consortia of innovators

of all types and sizes from across

Europe.

Participation by industry — defined as

private-for-profit organisations — is

mandatory; industry is best-placed to

ensure the due commercial exploitation of

the innovation developed; in addition,

company growth and development in

order to strengthen Europe's industrial

leadership are explicitly pursued with FTI

support.

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Principles and funding of FTI

FTI supports actions undertaking

innovation from the demonstration stage

through to market uptake, including

activities such as piloting, test-beds,

systems validation in real-world working

conditions, validation of business models,

pre-normative research, and standard-

setting.

The maximum EU contribution per action is

€3 million (funding rate: 70% for for-profit

entities; 100% for not-for-profit entities).

FTI targets relatively mature,

ground-breaking new technologies,

concepts, processes and business

models that need final development

to be able to shape a new market

and achieve wider deployment.

If your proposal involves technological

innovation, your consortium should

declare that the technology or the

technologies concerned are at least at

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. The

intention will be to bring the TRL up to 8 for

technological innovations and to an

analogous level of maturity for non-

technological innovations during the

lifetime of the FTI action. TRLs are

described in General Annex G of the work

programme.

FTI actions are encouraged to be

interdisciplinary, cutting across different

sectors and technologies. Actions

supporting innovative concepts that have

the potential to disrupt or to create new

markets are particularly welcome.

In your proposal, you should:

 Specify the intended outcome and

describe key performance indicators

and success criteria.

 Make reference to and incorporate a

business plan clearly describing the

market potential, business

opportunities for participants,

measures to enhance the probability of

eventual commercial take-up, and a

credible commercialisation strategy

that identifies next steps and specifies

other actors to be involved.

 Pay particular attention to IP protection

and ownership and to the possibility of

commercial exploitation (often known

as 'freedom to operate').

 Specify the expected impact in terms of

competitiveness and growth of the

business partners in the consortium,

measured in terms of turnover and job

creation.

 Clearly describe the expected impact in

both qualitative and quantitative

terms, with factors such as time

sensitivity and international

competitiveness considered in the light

of the technology field, innovation area

and industry sectors concerned.

The time to initial market take-up

should be no more than 3 years from

the start of your FTI action.

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In very well-justified cases linked to the

specific characteristics of a particular

innovation field or industry sector, the time

to initial market take-up could be longer.

Possible impacts on sustainability or

climate change, in particular, or on other

cross-cutting objectives of Horizon 2020,

must be highlighted.

Participation from industry in your

consortium is mandatory. Universities and

research and technology organisations can

also participate. Actors with an important

role in commercialisation are encouraged

to take part, such as cluster organisations,

end-users, industry associations,

incubators, investors, and the public

sector. Including start-ups with ground-

breaking ideas that could create new

markets is encouraged.

Conditions for the Call FTI

Type of funding: Innovation Action

Opening date, deadlines, indicative budgets

Opening date:

07 November 2017

Deadline of cut-offs

All deadlines are at 17.00.00 Brussels local time

FTI

21 February 2018

31 May 2018

23 October 2018

-------------------------

21 February 2019

23 May 2019

22 October 2019

-------------------------

19 February 2020

09 June 2020

27 October 2020

The Director-General responsible for the call may decide to open the call up to one month prior to or after

the envisaged date(s) of opening. The Director-General responsible may delay the deadline(s) by up to two

months.

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Budget of the FTI

€ millions

2018

2019

2020

Overall indicative budget

100.00

divided equally between cut-off dates in each year

Who can benefit from FTI funding?

The eligibility conditions described in General Annex C of the work programme apply, with

the following exceptions:

o Participation of three to no more than five different legal entities, independent of each

other, in a consortium.

o Allocation of at least 60% of the overall budget to consortium partner(s) from industry; or

a minimum of 2 industry partners out of a consortium of 3 or 4; or a minimum of 3 industry

partners out of a consortium of 5.

o Requested EU contribution not more than €3 million.

o All consortium members established in EU Member States or in countries associated to

Horizon 2020.

What are the requirements for an FTI proposal to be admissible?

The admissibility conditions described in General Annex B of the work programme apply.

How long should an FTI proposal be?

The maximum length of a proposal is 30 pages (proposal description, sections 1 to 3).

Evaluation rules for the FTI

Award criteria, scoring and threshold

The criteria, scoring and threshold described in General Annex H of the work programme

apply, with the following exceptions:

o Evaluation scores are awarded for each criterion. Each criterion is scored from 0 to 5.

Scores with a resolution of one decimal place may be awarded.

The budget amounts for the 2020 budget are subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the draft budget for 2020

after the adoption of the budget 2020 by the budgetary authority or, if the budget is not adopted, as provided for in the system of provisional

twelfths.

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o The threshold for the criteria 'Impact' and 'Excellence' is 4. The threshold for the criterion

'Quality and efficiency of the implementation' is 3. The overall threshold, meaning the sum

of the three individual scores, is 13.

o The consensus score of a proposal at the level of the three evaluation criteria is the mean

(average) of the separate scores given by each evaluator. The overall consensus score is

the weighted sum of these separate scores.

o The consensus report comprises the individual reports or key extracts from them, and will

provide a summary of the main weaknesses of your proposal.

 The aspects to be considered for each evaluation criterion are set out below.

Impact

50% WEIGHTING

The objectives of the proposed action are in line with the expected impacts of the FTI, notably

fast development, commercial take-up and/or wide deployment of innovative solutions,

time to initial market take-up, leveraging of private investment in research and/or

innovation. In addition, in line with the objectives of the European Innovation Council Pilot,

proposals that can create a new market are particularly sought after.

The proposed innovation will lead to enhanced innovation capacity of the consortium

partners, and in particular of the industry partners.

The proposed innovation/solution has a clear European or global dimension, in the sense that

it is set to create substantial demand from European and global markets and/or can create

a new market or disrupt an existing one at European or global level, which is well

documented and supported with evidence on customer/user/market needs that can be

translated into sales. The proposal provides a realistic and convincing analysis of the targeted

market(s) and client/user base and how the innovation will meet their needs.

The way the project will strengthen the growth/ scale-up and competitiveness of the

industry partners involved is well documented.

Framework conditions such as regulation and standards, market size, prospects for growth,

competitive edge and intended positioning of the solution towards possible others

(competitor analysis) are documented, and the outlook can be described as positive for

market launch within 3 years' of time.

The commercialisation plan is realistic and convincing – containing a clear description of the

new business opportunity and the way to capitalise on it. The plan includes effective

measures to exploit and disseminate the action's results (including with respect to IPR

management and standards). There is a broader strategy for knowledge management and

protection with regards to the proposed innovation/solution, ensuring "freedom to

operate". Key stakeholders that can help with market introduction are identified, and a

convincing strategy to get them on board exists. Communication, marketing and sales efforts

are planned in a coordinated way, on the basis of a realistic timetable, and fit into a solid

commercial strategy.

Based on the provided market analysis and the projected commercialisation strategy, the

likely return on investment of the proposed innovation (for instance in the form of projected

70 | P a g e

rapid scale-up leading to job creation and/or company growth) is sufficiently attractive to

justify EU funding under FTI.

The proposed innovation is expected to generate a positive impact at the European level

other than economic (societal, environmental, scientific, etc.). Wherever appropriate, the

minimisation of impacts on climate and the environment is pursued.

The proposed financing plan for further roll-out of the innovation is realistic and convincing

and offers a sufficient guarantee and coverage to allow for further scale-up of the action and

companies involved.

Excellence

25% WEIGHTING

The objectives of the proposal are defined in a clear and pertinent way, support Horizon

2020 objectives, and are directed towards fast, wide market uptake.

The proposed activities to be executed will contribute to a credible, realistic and optimal

development of the innovation to the level of market uptake.

The underlying, jointly developed business innovation concept of the proposed innovation is

sound, and has already been tested in an operational/production environment. It has a

potential to bring important progress to or revolutionise an existing industrial sector,

business practice and/or societal challenge.

The proposed innovation is ambitious and is set to add substantial value to Europe (e.g.

considerably contribute to Europe's industrial leadership or the solution of Horizon 2020

societal challenges), and this is well identified and elaborated in the proposal. Game-

changing ideas or breakthrough innovations are particularly sought after.

A high degree of novelty comes with a high chance of either success or failure.

The proposed innovation has successfully been tested in an operational or production

environment (stage of development at TRL 6 or similar for non-technological innovations)

and can move to market take-up (B2B or B2C) within maximum 36 months.

The proposal demonstrates that the intrinsic quality of the innovation will be significantly

higher than current state-of-the-art solutions, in terms of value for money, problems solved,

new applications, sustainability, etc.

Quality and efficiency of implementation

25% WEIGHTING

The work plan is coherent and effective. It takes into account the project's ambition and

objectives, includes a realistic and relevant time-frame, and refers to a sound and

comprehensive implementation plan, in particular in relation to major deliverables. Tasks and

resources are allocated in an appropriate and cost-effective way.

The proposal demonstrates that the partners of the consortium are complementary, and

together have what it takes (personnel, facilities, skills, networks, access to markets…) to

deliver on ground-breaking innovation and fast, wide market uptake. Implementation risks

and threats are well identified; the proposal contains a risk mitigation plan, with detailed

actions.

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Both the organisational framework/governance structure underpinning the action and the

decision-making processes are established in a clear and efficient way.

Evaluation procedure

The procedure for setting a priority order for proposals with the same score is given in General

Annex H of the work programme. The full evaluation procedure is described in the relevant

guide published on the Funding & Tender Portal.

Consortium agreement

Members of consortium are required to conclude a consortium agreement, in principle prior

to the signature of the grant agreement.

Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement signature

o Information about the outcome of the evaluation: maximum 3 months after the

corresponding cut-off date set out above.

o Indicative date for the signing of grant agreements: maximum 6 months from the final

date for submission.

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EIC Horizon Prizes

73 | P a g e

EIC Horizon Prizes

Who should apply

EIC Horizon Prizes aim to boost

breakthrough innovation across

sectors by fostering cutting-edge

solutions which bring major benefits

to citizens and society.

Are you an innovator, an academic, a start-

up, an entrepreneur or a business willing to

think out of the box, across sectors and

disciplines?

Do you want to use your creativity and

expertise to bring breakthrough solutions

to the market faster or to develop cutting-

edge solutions to address the problem?

Are you ready to engage with other

innovators to develop close-to-market

solutions which will answer major societal

problems?

Have a go!

Principles of EIC Horizon Prizes

EIC Horizon Prizes set an ambitious

goal, without saying how that goal

should be achieved or who should

achieve it. The prize is awarded to

whoever can most effectively meet

a defined challenge.

EIC Horizon Prizes are particularly

ambitious with regards to the societal

problems to be addressed.

EIC Horizon Prizes call for breakthrough

solutions from innovators, aiming to

demonstrate the feasibility or potential of

particular technologies and promote

uptake.

The objectives of the prize contests are to

solve a problem, without prescribing a

specific solution to be implemented. The

contests are built on simple, clear,

comprehensive and objective targets that

must be reached to win the contest. They

address challenges to be solved by 2021 at

the latest (see specific conditions for each

contest).

Specific characteristics for each Prize are

defined in the individual rules of contest,

which lay down conditions for submission

and participation, detailed award criteria

(scoring and the weighting methodology),

and the evaluation process.

Prizes are awarded to whoever can most

effectively meet the defined challenge as

set out in the rules of contest. The amount

of the prize is not linked to the costs of the

activities incurred by the winner; the

principles of eligible costs, co-financing,

non-retroactive award and no-profit do not

apply.

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For more information, please see the

Horizon 2020 Model Rules of Contest for

Prizes.

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1. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Innovative Batteries for eVehicles'

Challenge

The challenge is to develop a safe and

sustainable battery for electric-vehicles

through the development of new materials

and chemistries making use of abundant,

sustainable low cost materials, which are

easily available in Europe. Solutions are

required to provide the same or better

performance than vehicles with internal

combustion engines and to be capable of

recharging the electric vehicle within a

time equivalent to fill a conventional

gasoline/diesel fuel tank.

This prize will contribute significantly to the

decarbonisation of Europe for the benefit

of the EU's economy and its citizens.

This prize will:

o Foster knowledge, innovation and

competitiveness in e-vehicle battery/

energy storage technologies.

o Enhance the European manufacturing

base for e-vehicle batteries.

o Strengthen the European Industrial

value chain (e.g. through exploitation

or synergies with existing European

industrial infrastructures).

o Strengthen European value added in

the supply and knowledge of advanced

materials and chemistries for batteries.

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

For reasons of fostering Europe's competitiveness in the

innovative battery sector, participation to this prize contest will be

o Encourage electro-mobility, opening up

new markets and incentivising

technological innovations.

o Enhance employment prospects along

the entire electro-mobility value chain.

o Contribute to a significant drop in CO2

and NOx emissions in line with global

environmental policies.

The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

Expected results

A prototype battery with fast repowering

and long-distance range, high recyclability,

and long life cycle.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to any legal entity

(including natural persons) or group of

legal entities established in an EU Member

State or in a country associated to Horizon

2020.

Essential award criteria

limited to EU Member States and Countries Associated to

Horizon 2020.

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The prize will be awarded, after closure of

the contest, to the contestant(s) who in the

opinion of the jury demonstrates a solution

that best meets the following cumulative

criteria for a prototype battery

(demonstrated and tested in adequate

environment):

o Provides high standards for safety,

sustainability and recyclability;

o Provides the same experience and user

convenience, in terms of range and

time required to recharge, as a

conventional gasoline/diesel car;

o Has whole-life costs (in terms of battery

materials and its functionality)

equivalent or better than

gasoline/diesel car;

o Demonstrates reliable power delivery

without significant loss of performance

for an economically acceptable life time

(power delivery to be demonstrated for

a life time higher than batteries

currently available);

o Ensures that other performance criteria

(car acceleration, safety, etc.) are

maintained in comparison to a

combustion engine powered vehicle,

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance'

WP part, EUR 5.00 million from the 'Nanotechnologies,

o Demonstrates a significant advance in

new material technologies while

avoiding dependence on import

materials (e.g. expensive, rare, and

unsustainable materials);

Type of action

Inducement prize

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

Fourth quarter

of 2020

Award of prize

Fourth quarter

of 2021

Indicative budget

€10 million from the 2020 budget

Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and Advanced

Manufacturing and Processing' WP part.

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2. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Fuel from the Sun: Artificial Photosynthesis'

Challenge

The challenge is to build a fully functional,

bench-scale prototype of an artificial

photosynthesis based system which is able

to produce a useable synthetic fuel.

Artificial photosynthesis is widely

considered to be among the most

promising new technologies to deliver

sustainable alternatives to current fuel

supplies. Due to its ability to use a

combination of sunlight, water and carbon

from the air to produce energy, artificial

photosynthesis is regarded as a potential

breakthrough energy technology. It can be

used to produce hydrogen or carbon-based

fuels – collectively referred to as “solar

fuels” – which offer an efficient and

transportable means of storage of solar

energy. Solar energy, in turn, can be used

as an alternative to fossil fuels and as a

feedstock for a wide range of industrial

processes.

The device to be built needs to integrate

the whole process from light capture to

fuel production and be capable of

powering a small engine. The production of

fuel in the form of hydrogen and the use of

conventional photovoltaic cells for the light

harvesting process or to collect light and

electrolysers are not permitted.

For the purpose of this prize, artificial

photosynthesis (AP) is understood to be a

process that aims at mimicking the physical

chemistry of natural photosynthesis by

absorbing solar energy in the form of

photons. The solution is required to use

this energy to generate fuel molecules

through a synthetic system to be delivered

as a single integrated device that utilises

either biomimetic, nanotechnology,

synthetic biology or a combination of these

systems.

Meeting the challenge will stimulate

innovation and focus research and

development towards energy applications

in a new energy technology through

increased public and commercial interest.

Moreover, it will accelerate the

development of new innovative energy

conversion systems using solar light and

natural elements to produce renewable

fuels to be used in industry, housing and

transport.

The challenge will also create a stimulus for

industrial participation and creation of

start-ups, pushing the artificial

photosynthesis technology for fuel

production to the next level of

development.

Considering the innovative approach and

the novelty of using artificial

photosynthesis for fuel production, the

prize will generate interest in the subject

and foster interdisciplinary collaboration

among potential applicants, such as

students, young researchers and

engineers. The competition is expected to

highlight the diversity of potential

solutions.

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The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

Expected results

A number of innovative devices and

systems demonstrating the use of sunlight

to produce a fuel ready to be used.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to all legal entities (i.e.

natural or legal persons, including

international organisations) or groups of

legal entities.

Essential award criteria

The prize will be awarded to the

contestant(s) who will, in the opinion of the

jury, demonstrate a solution that best

meets the following cumulative criteria:

o Degree of system integration from light

capture to fuel production;

o Device/system performance;

o Production of fuel that will be used in

an engine.

o Widest market potential.

o Commercial potential of the device

Type of action

Inducement prize

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

Second quarter

of 2021

Award of prize

Fourth quarter

of 2021

Indicative budget

€5 million from the 2020 budget

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance'

WP part.

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3. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Early Warning for Epidemics'

Challenge

The challenge is to develop a scalable,

reliable, and cost-effective early-warning

system prototype to forecast and monitor

vector-borne diseases in order to

contribute to the prevention of outbreaks,

mitigating their impact on local, regional

and global scales, and providing support to

existing elimination efforts.

According to the World Health

Organisation (WHO), vector-borne

diseases such as malaria, Zika, dengue or

yellow fever cause more than 1 million

deaths globally each year. Vectors are living

organisms that can transmit infectious

diseases between humans or from animals

to humans. Vector-borne diseases are a

global threat to public health and can have

far-reaching economic and social impacts.

Climate and environmental phenomena

contribute to creating the necessary

conditions for these kinds of diseases to

thrive. Variables such as rainfall,

temperature and humidity affect the

number and survival rate of mosquitoes

and other vectors of diseases.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable

Development, in the context of its

Sustainable Development Goal 3 "Ensure

healthy lives and promote well-being for all

at all ages", aims to end the epidemics of

malaria and neglected tropical diseases

(amongst others) by 2030. It calls for

strengthening the capacity of all countries,

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

in particular developing countries, for early

warning, risk reduction and management

of national and global health risks.

The Earth Observation domain is changing

with increasing amounts of data being

generated from space-borne, air-borne, in-

situ and citizen observatories. Effective

management of big data in this domain

shall be an essential element in improving

the 'early warning' capabilities of any

system which aims to mitigate epidemics

related to vector-borne diseases. The full

potential of combining all the available

data is not yet harnessed and innovative

solutions are needed to enable the

system's wider use and exploitation in this

context. Such solutions would not only help

to improve the 'preparedness' and

response related to vector-borne disease

outbreaks, but also foster the creation of a

digital solution marketplace in the domain

of environmental and climate health risks.

The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

Expected results

o A reliable, cost-effective and scalable

early warning system prototype to

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forecast and monitor vector-borne

diseases, which should encompass

innovative technological solutions

integrating big data derived from

different sources (e.g. space-borne,

airborne, in-situ and citizen

observations) in Earth observation

domain, including climate data, vector-

related modelling, meteorology, and

geo-located information related to

vector-borne disease outbreaks and

behaviour. These should be

interoperable with public health data

and other socio-economic data.

o Demonstration of the prototype at

local level, taking into account any

relevant societal factors in the chosen

geographical area. It should be

compatible for use with data coming

from existing multi-disciplinary

networks comprising health,

humanitarian aid and emergency

management actors, in order to

leverage data and information from

these networks, as well as to showcase

the operational potential and added

value of the solution.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to all legal entities (i.e.

natural or legal persons, including

international organisations) or groups of

legal entities.

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance'

WP part.

Essential award criteria

The prize will be awarded, after closure of

the contest, to the contestant(s) who, in

the opinion of the jury, demonstrates a

solution that best meets the following

cumulative criteria:

o Operational capability and data

integration.

o Demonstrated Implementation within

an affected community.

o Scalability and sustainability of the

Early-Warning Concept.

o Focus on European technology

demonstration.

Type of action

Inducement prize

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

First quarter of

2021

Award of prize

Third quarter of

2021

Indicative budget

€5 million from the 2020 budget

4. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Blockchains for Social Good'

Challenge

The challenge is to develop scalable,

efficient and high-impact decentralized

solutions to social innovation challenges

leveraging Distributed Ledger Technology

(DLTs), such as the one used in blockchains.

DLT in its public, open and permissionless

forms is widely considered as a ground-

breaking digital technology supporting

decentralized methods for consensus

reaching as well as sharing, storing and

securing transactions and other data with

fewer to no central intermediaries.

In the wake of the widespread public

attention for Bitcoin, several financial

applications based on blockchains are

already under development. However

, the potential of DLTs to generate positive

social change by decentralising and

disintermediating processes related to

local or global sustainability challenges is

still largely untapped.

Social application areas in which

decentralized solutions based on DLTs have

shown clear benefits over conventional

centralised platform solutions include, but

are not limited to:

o demonstrating the origin of raw

materials or products and supporting

fair trade and the fair monetization of

labour;

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

o allowing for a greater visibility of public

spending and a greater transparency of

administrative and production

processes;

o participation in democratic decision-

making by enabling accountability,

rewarding of participation and/or

anonymity;

o enabling the development of

decentralized social networks or

clouds, or of decentralized platforms

for the collaborative economy;

o managing property, land registry or

other public records; and

o contributing to financial inclusion.

This challenge is targeted at a wide range

of actors: individuals, social entrepreneurs,

civil society organisations, research centres

from technological and social disciplines,

creative industries, students, hackers,

start-ups and SMEs. Tackling this challenge

requires a multidisciplinary expertise.

The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

. The

indicative budget for this prize is €5

million. This is expected to be

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allocated in five awards of €1

million each, corresponding to

different social application areas.

Expected results

o Pioneering decentralized solutions to

global and/or local sustainability

challenges.

o Generating positive social change by

making available novel solutions for

decentralizing and disintermediating

processes.

o Demonstrating the viability of solutions

enabling a more even distribution and

sharing of information and resources

which respects privacy while providing

levels of transparency.

o Stimulating the emerging community

of developers and practitioners of

"blockchains for social good"

applications.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to all legal entities (i.e.

natural or legal persons, including

international organisations) or groups of

legal entities.

While entrants are free to commercially

exploit applications and services based on

the developed solutions, their source code

is required to be released under an Open

Source Licence.

Essential award criteria

The prize will be awarded, after closure of

the contest, to the contestants who in the

opinion of the jury demonstrate a solution

that best meets the following criteria:

o Social impact: both potential and

already achieved by the

implementation of the solution (e.g.

size of the community of users engaged

by the actual implementation).

o Decentralisation and governance:

improvements in transparency and

accountability (while respecting privacy

and/or anonymity).

o Usability and inclusiveness;

o Viability at large scale: cost-efficiency

(including energy consumption),

scalability, security, and sustainability;

o Clear added value of the demonstrated

implementation for European citizens,

in societal, economic or environmental

terms.

These criteria, scoring and the weighting

methodology, as well as the detailed

timetable and conditions for participation,

will be further defined in the Rules of

Contest.

Type of action

Inducement prize

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

Second quarter

of 2019

Award of prize

First quarter of

2020

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Indicative budget

€5 million from the 2020 budget

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance'

WP part.

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5. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Low-Cost Space Launch'

Challenge

The challenge is to develop a European

technologically non-dependent solution for

launching light satellites

into Low-Earth

Orbit (LEO), which will enable dedicated

low-cost launches with committed

schedule and orbit.

The solution needs to be innovative,

implementable, affordable in development

and exploitation phases, and commercially

viable. Applicants are required to take a

holistic approach and produce results that

move beyond (but are complementary to)

existing solutions. Moreover, the solution

will enhance on European access to space

and associated technological non-

dependence and thereby will provide

strategic and competitive advantages for

European companies, SMEs, universities

and research organisations.

Space technologies, data and services have

become indispensable to the daily lives of

European citizens. Moreover, development

of space technology boosts jobs, growth

and investments in Europe and strengthens

its role in the world. Space solutions can

help Europe to respond better to new

global and societal challenges: climate

change, disaster management, security

threats, migration, farming, transport,

energy and many more.

Class 1 (mini sats): 200.1Kg – 400Kg, Class 2 (micro sats):

60.1Kg – 200Kg, Class 3 (nano sats, including 12U+): 25.1Kg –

60Kg, Class 4 (cubesats, including 1U, 3U, 6U): 1Kg – 25Kg.

While Europe has a world-class space

sector, innovation in space and changing

demands are leading to an increased

appearance of light and agile satellites.

Consequently, space solutions will

increasingly consider this trend. Small

satellites are well-suited for most kinds of

institutional and commercial use: wireless

communications networks, Internet

services, broader connectivity, scientific

observation, data gathering, Earth imaging

and positioning. In terms of size, light

satellites rely on a lower mass in

comparison with conventional satellites.

Their production is more cost-effective due

to series manufacturing, agility and

flexibility in operations. However, light

satellites will also lead to an exponential

increase in launch needs by 2020-2025.

Launch opportunities in Europe for this

type of satellites are currently being

standardised through auxiliary payload or

rideshare solutions on the European

launcher fleet. However, according to

market studies, light satellites are expected

to lead to a significant increase in launch

needs by 2020-2025.

An established service for regular launches

dedicated to light satellites will contribute

to achieve the following goals:

o internal market growth in the

manufacturing sector of small

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launchers and satellites and the

downstream services sector;

o European leading position in export

markets globally in the field of light

satellites and small launchers;

o space-enabled seamless solutions for

European citizens thanks to operational

light satellites and small launchers.

The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

Expected results

o European low-cost access to space

infrastructure and services solution

dedicated to light satellites.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to all legal entities (i.e.

natural or legal persons, including

international organisations) or groups of

legal entities established in an EU Member

State or in a country associated to Horizon

2020

Essential award criteria

The prize will be awarded, after closure of

the contest, to the contestant(s) who in the

opinion of the jury demonstrates a solution

that best meets the following cumulative

criteria:

o Excellence;

o Technical implementation;

o Service sustainability.

Type of action

Inducement prize.

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

Fourth quarter

of 2020

Award of prize

Fourth quarter

of 2021

Indicative budget

€10 million from the 2020 budget

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

The prize relates to the development of European critical space

infrastructure, which is of strategic importance and security-

critical for the Union and its Member States. Therefore: (1)

participation in this prize contest will be limited to legal entities

established in EU Member States and Countries Associated to

Horizon 2020; (2) the rules of contest will:

(a) stipulate that a proposal may be rejected for security reasons;

(b) provide further details on the obligation to develop and deploy

the solution in an EU Member State.

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Leadership in Enabling

and Industrial Technologies - Space' WP part, EUR 5.00 million

from the 'Access to Risk Finance' WP part.

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6. EIC Horizon Prize for

'Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid'

Challenge

The challenge consists of developing

innovative solutions for the delivery of

humanitarian aid based on frugal

application of advanced technologies.

The European Union and its Member States

are major humanitarian donors.

Humanitarian crises and disasters have

increased in number, complexity and

severity over the last 25 years. Given the

scale of today’s crises and disasters,

funding to cover humanitarian needs

cannot keep up. The humanitarian system

is being challenged to do more, for more

people, and at greater cost. Cooperation

between international organisations and

NGOs responding to crises, end-users and

local actors, research and scientific

communities and the private sector is

crucial in this respect. Introducing

innovative solutions for the delivery of

humanitarian aid could help enhance the

humanitarian response, which is

particularly important for those in a most

vulnerable situation.

Solutions should be developed through a

frugal innovation approach, and should be

novel and based on advanced technologies

and services, demonstrating the added

value and potential of one or more

advanced technologies (no Information

and Communication Technology-only

solutions). Tested and proven in a

humanitarian aid delivery, these solutions

A pre-selection phase may be done by Commission services in

case of numerous applications received.

should be safe, scalable, resource-

sustainable, replicable and usable in other

contexts.

Innovative solutions should be inclusive,

i.e. co-created and developed by different

stakeholders with local actors, and

accessible to a large number of people in a

given context of humanitarian aid delivery

settings.

The specific rules of the contest will

be published in the fourth quarter of

2017 by the European Commission,

which will directly launch and

manage the contest and award the

prize based on the judgement of

independent experts

. The

indicative budget for this prize is €5

million from the 2020 budget. This is

expected to be allocated in five

awards of €1 million, each in a

different area such as shelter, water

and sanitation, energy, heating or

cooling, food, hygiene and medical

care.

Expected results

o More cost-effective, more sustainable

and higher-quality innovative solutions,

leading to an optimised use of

humanitarian funding and an enhanced

response to urgent needs in a

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humanitarian aid setting, notably for

those in a most vulnerable situation in

areas such as shelter, water and

sanitation, energy, heating or cooling,

food, hygiene and medical care.

Eligibility criteria

The contest is open to all legal entities (i.e.

natural or legal persons, including

international organisations) or groups of

legal entities.

Essential award criteria

The prize will be awarded, after closure of

the contest, to the contestants who, in the

opinion of the jury, demonstrate a solution

that best meets the following cumulative

criteria:

o New solution tested successfully in a

real environment, with a demonstrated

potential of adaptability and scalability

under different humanitarian aid

settings and responding to the needs of

those in a most vulnerable situation

(taking age, gender, disability and

minority into consideration).

o Quality and sustainability of the

solution based on frugal application of

advanced technologies, including the

technological components (no ICT-only

solutions).

o Affordability and improved cost-

effectiveness for beneficiaries and

organisations responding to crisis.

o Engagement with end users and

perspective of a business case.

Type of action

Inducement prize

Indicative timetable

Opening of contest

Fourth quarter

of 2017

Deadline to submit

applications

First quarter of

2020

Award of prize

Fourth quarter

of 2020

Indicative budget

€5 million from the 2020 budget

of which EUR 5.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance'

WP part.

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OTHER ACTIONS

EIC Support Actions

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EIC Support Actions

What's on offer, and how you can benefit

EIC Support Actions build on initiatives started under the SME Instrument and will evolve

during the pilot phase in the light of needs and demands.

1. EIC Evaluators’ and Ambassadors’ Community

As the EIC pilot matures, so too does the community of high-level EIC ambassadors, including

former members of the EIC High-Level Group and members of the EIC Pilot Advisory Board as

well as former EIC beneficiaries, expert evaluators and coaches. The Evaluators' and

Ambassadors’ Community will be created through various events and workshops in during

2019 and 2020 focused on explaining, clarifying and further developing the objectives of the

EIC pilot. EIC ambassadors will be invited to participate as high-level speakers at these events

as well as relevant events across the innovation ecosystem. Briefing materials, presentations

and webinars will also be created and delivered.

Subject-matter of the contract(s) envisaged: preparation, execution and follow-up of events;

design, delivery and evolution of media and information dissemination products and services.

Type of action: Public Procurement – using a framework contract - up to 20 specific service

contracts.

Indicative timetable: fourth quarter of 2019 and 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.95 million from the 2018 budget, € 1 million from the 2019 budget and

€ 1 million from the 2020 budget.

2. EIC Community Platform

An interactive platform for SME Instrument beneficiaries was created under the Horizon 2020

work programme 2016-2017. The duration, functionalities and services provided through this

platform will be extended to encompass all SMEs that are EIC grant beneficiaries.

The platform will be linked to platforms and projects offering services provided by

InvestHorizon, such as investment-readiness training and introductions to investors, and by

Start-up Europe, such as the Web Investors Forum, the Accelerator Assembly, and the

Crowdfunding Network and the different services of the Enterprise Europe Network that are

accessible via the Key Account Managers of the EIC beneficiaries. It will be supported till at

least the end of 2020.

 
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The action will support the extended community platform and its underlying activities, i.e.:  
  Promotion through online and live interaction with potential investors, large enterprises, 
and public and private procurers, who will be able to create a profile on the platform for 
information-sharing and matchmaking. 
  Mentoring through the creation of matchmaking profiles for mentors and mentees. 
  Participation in events such as trade-fairs and major innovation or business conferences  
in Europe. 
  Access to existing services offered by the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), the EU Single 
Access  to  Finance  Portal,  the  EU  IPR  Helpdesk,  the  European  Observatory  against 
Infringements of IPR, the Procurement of Innovation Platform, testing and demonstrating 
technologies (e.g. open innovation testbeds, digital innovation hubs) and other offerings at EU, 
national and regional levels such as the Thematic Smart Specialisation Platforms that could 
be of interest to participants in the EIC pilot. 
  Integration of  data  and  insights  from  the  Innovation  Radar  initiative about EU–funded 
innovators and innovations, and acquisition of other financial, investment, patents and 
altmetrics  data  and  analytics.  This  data  will  be  leveraged  to  improve  links  between 
innovators with specific financing (or other 'go to market') needs and investors. 
  Procurement marketplace to help companies, including EIC beneficiaries, to commercialise 
their innovations as first clients of public-sector innovation procurers, take advantage of 
public procurement opportunities, and better understand how the procurement market 
works and  how to bid  for procurements.  Procurement opportunities published  on the 
online marketplace and interaction with public procurers active on the platform will be 
open to all economic operators. There will also be activities to encourage public procurers 
to organise open-market consultations before procuring in order to give SMEs enough 
time to prepare bids and team-up with larger companies when bidding.  
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list. Members of the EIC Evaluators' and Ambassadors' 
will also be invited to join and engage with the Platform and EIC beneficiaries 
Subject-matter  of  the  contracts  envisaged:  design,  evolution  and  maintenance  of  online 
interactive platform; design, implementation and evolution of products and services delivered 
or deployed via the platform. 
Type of action: Public Procurement — up to 30 specific service contracts (using a framework 
contract) and 1 direct contract. 
Indicative timetable: first quarter of 2018 and first quarter of 2019. 
Indicative  budget:  €1.50  million  from  the  2018  budget  and  €1.50  million  from  the  2019 
budget. 
 

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3. EIC Events

EIC Events support international cooperation between highly innovative European SMEs and

other entities both within Europe and in other parts of the world. They are designed to

catalyse breakthrough innovations and speed up commercialisation.

A typical Event features investor pitching and a series of networking sessions and

matchmaking socials to help you find potential collaborators, mentors, lenders and investors,

corporate partners and public procurement opportunities. Members of the EIC Evaluators’

and Ambassadors' Community will be invited to participate as, for example, workshop hosts,

panellists or high-level speakers. Local universities and other public research organisations

looking to commercialise research results are invited.

Each Event addresses innovation in the large, though some sessions may focus on particular

sectors or geographies according to local circumstances and demand. To help SMEs get the

most from participating in a Summit, follow-up support is available to facilitate business

cooperation with other entities based either in or outside Europe.

Subject-matter of the contract envisaged: preparation, execution and follow-up of events.

Type of action: Public Procurement – one direct service contract linked to a framework

contract.

Indicative timetable: third quarter of 2019; third quarter of 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.55 million from the 2019 budget; €0.55 million from the 2020 budget.

4. Expert Group to advise on the design of a European

Innovation Council

The High Level Group (HLG) of Innovators ('expert group') was established in January 2017

with a duration of two years. The mandate of the group ends in 2018, with high-level advice

subsequently provided by the 'European Innovation Council (EIC)' Pilot Advisory.

The work of the expert group will build on early experience gained with the implementation

of EIC pilot measures for the 2017-2018 period under Horizon 2020. Advice provided by the

HLG will ensure future EU-level support for innovation takes advantage of existing best

practices for innovation support in Europe and that it responds to the needs of

entrepreneurs/innovators. The experts will have in-depth knowledge in the field of market-

creating innovation and related financial instruments, national and regional innovation

programmes, and start-up/scaling up of innovative companies.

The activities carried out by the group will be essential to the development and monitoring of

the Union policy on Research, technological development and demonstration.

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A special allowance of €450/day for each full working day spent assisting the Commission in

terms of Article 21 of Decision C(2016)3301 will be paid to the highly qualified specialists

appointed in their personal capacity who act independently and in the public interest. This

amount is considered to be proportionate to the specific tasks to be assigned to the experts,

including the number of meetings to be attended and possible preparatory work.

Type of action: Expert Contracts.

Indicative timetable: 2018.

Indicative budget: €0.45 million from the 2018 budget.

5. Commission Expert Group 'European Innovation

Council (EIC) Pilot Advisory Board'

The Commission will establish an ‘EIC Pilot Advisory Board’. This Board will have a mandate

until the end of 2020, acting as a transition structure until 2021 when the formal EIC Board is

expected to be appointed under next Framework Programme for Research. Its role will be to

advise the European Commission on: the development and follow up of the current and

planned EIC pilot actions in 2019 and 2020, in particular the substantive new initiatives to be

launched in 2019; the overall strategy for the future EIC and the design of the funding and

support, in line with the Horizon Europe legislation, and any matter which may enhance and

foster innovation eco-systems across Europe, the achievements and impact of the

objectives of the EIC component and the capacity of innovative firms to roll out their

solutions.

The Board is expected to consist of 15 to 20 high level experts, from various domains of

Europe's innovation ecosystem, who will be appointed in a personal capacity, acting

independently and in the public interest. The Commission will ensure a good mixture of high-

level individuals including entrepreneurs who have started up and scaled up innovative

enterprises at European/global level; investors, venture capitalists, individuals experienced in

corporate venturing and corporate-start-up relationships , individuals with a strong track

record in developing the wider innovation ecosystem, in particular in knowledge/technology

transfer, in building start-up communities, and in managing innovation agencies/ incubators/

accelerators and researchers and academics with leading expertise in fields relating to future

technologies.

EIC Pilot Advisory Board members will provide high-level advice to the Commission of such a

nature that without their input the implementation of the Enhanced EIC Pilot and the

development of the future definitive iteration of the EIC would not be effective. In light of this,

and as highly qualified, specialised, independent experts selected following a public call for

Of which EUR 0.45 million from the 'Europe in a changing world – Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies' WP part.

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applications, on the basis of objective criteria, it is justified that the members of the EIC Pilot

Advisory Board shall be remunerated for the services they offer pursuant Article 21 of the

above-mentioned horizontal rules on expert group.

They will be paid a special allowance of €450/day for each full working day spent assisting the

Commission in terms of Article 21 of Decision C(2016)3301. This amount is considered to be

proportionate to the specific tasks to be assigned to the experts, including the number of

meetings to be attended and the related preparatory work.

Type of action: Expert Contracts.

Indicative timetable: 2019 – 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.45 million from the 2019 budget and €0.45 million from the 2020

budget.

6. Using crowdfunding, artificial intelligence,

blockchain and other novel approaches to help

evaluate proposals for breakthrough and market-

creating innovations

In fields as diverse as scientific research, entrepreneurship and the arts, crowds of interested

stakeholders are increasingly responsible for deciding which innovations to fund, a task largely

performed at present by business angels and venture capitalists, lenders or experts hired by

grant-making bodies. Little is known about how much the crowd differs from investors,

lenders or experts in judging which proposals to support, how rational the crowd is in making

funding decisions, and what tools might best assist the crowd in this process. Artificial

intelligence (AI) is also being tested in many areas as a complement to human judgment in

making funding and investment decisions. In addition, experiments with using blockchain for

managing and verifying business identities, records and transactions are underway. This study

will examine the potential of using crowdfunding, AI, blockchain and other novel approaches

to help evaluate close-to-market innovation-driven proposals, especially those submitted in

response to the SME Instrument call.

Type of action: Public Procurement – one direct service contract.

Indicative timetable: first quarter of 2018.

Indicative budget: €0.15 million from the 2018 budget.

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7. Strengthening the organisation and management of

the Enhanced EIC pilot

The transition to the enhanced EIC pilot and preparation of the launch of the full-fledged EIC

under Horizon Europe requires the strengthening of the organisation and tools of EIC

operational management, notably through the development of specific IT tools and exchange

of experience with and learning from similar programmes.

Consultation of external stakeholders will be required in order to ensure that the instrument

is best fitted to the needs of the European innovation ecosystem, in particular breakthrough

market-creating innovation.

Technical assistance

Technical assistance will be required in order to develop specific IT tools in support of the

evaluation and project management process (including exchange of data and operational

liaison with the EIC Fund).

Type of action: Public Procurement – use of existing framework contracts.

Indicative timetable: second half of 2019 - 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.5 million from the 2019 budget.

Workshops

Upon recruitment of EIC Programme Managers, a cycle of workshops will be set-up, with the

participation of experienced external professionals managing programme and project in the

area of breakthrough technologies and market creating innovation. This cycle will include

events in organizations implementing activities similar to the EIC, in Europe but also in the

United States.

Type of action: Public Procurement –– one direct contract.

Indicative timetable: second half of 2019 - 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.05 million from the 2019 budget.

Experts

An expert group will be set up to convey the experience of other frameworks that served as

an inspiration for the EIC enhanced pilot set up and will assist the Commission in better

developing the role of Programme Managers and shaping relevant processes.

Up to 10 experts, appointed in a personal capacity, acting independently and in the public

interest, will be paid a special allowance of €450 / day for each full working day spent assisting

the Commission in terms of Article 21 of Decision C(2016)3301. This amount is considered to

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be proportionate to the specific tasks to be assigned to the experts, including the number of

meetings to be attended and the related preparatory work.

Type of action: Expert contracts.

Indicative timetable: second half of 2019 - 2020.

Indicative budget: €0.05 million from the 2019 budget and EUR 0.1 million from the 2020

budget.

8. Capacity-building and transnational cooperation for

National Contact Points (NCPs) for the EIC and Access

to Risk Finance

This grant will facilitate transnational cooperation between NCPs focused on the Horizon 2020

EIC Pilot and the specific objective ‘Access to Risk Finance’. This action aims at identifying and

sharing good practices and raising the general standard of support to programme applicants,

taking into account the diversity of actors that make up the constituency of the EIC.

The action will involve one consortium of formally nominated NCPs in the areas of ‘Future and

Emerging Technologies’, ‘Innovation in SMEs’ or ‘Access to Risk Finance’.

Activities should deliver tangible benefits to potential applicants to calls under the EIC and

Access to Risk Finance. Activities should capitalise on relevant work of previous or ongoing

NCP network projects, and of the 'NCP Academy' (www.ncpacademy.eu). They should also

seek to enhance synergies across different parts of the framework programmes, for instance

with the ERC, the EIT and financial instruments, and complementarity with activities of other

NCP networks and the Enterprise Europe Network in the domain of SMEs support. Various

mechanisms may be included, such as benchmarking, joint workshops, enhanced cross-border

brokerage events, common roadshows in relevant research and innovation events, and

specific training linked to particularities of the EIC Pilot.

Where relevant, activities should make use of commonly available tools (e.g. for brokerage

and partner search, benchmarking tools, guidebooks, promotional tools, etc.). Special

attention should be given to enhance the competence of NCPs across Europe ensuring a

homogenous level of support in all countries.

To help close the innovation divide, a substantial component of the proposed activities must

be devoted to outreach and support activities aimed at helping potential applicants in those

countries that have been participating at low levels in the programme up to now. These

activities should not only help the NCPs rapidly acquire the know-how on NCP operations

accumulated in best practice countries but should include in priority awareness raising actions

aimed at increasing visibility of the EIC Pilot to potential applicant organisations in the above

mentioned countries.

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The legal entities listed below are the host organisations of NCPs from EU Member States and

Associated Countries who have been officially appointed by the relevant national authorities,

and who have expressed a willingness to participate in this proposal. NCPs opting not to be a

beneficiary are nevertheless invited and encouraged to participate in the project activities

(e.g. workshops), and costs for such participation (e.g. travel costs paid by the consortium)

may be included in the estimated budget and be eligible for funding by the Commission.

Organizations participating in the consortium must at least include two NCPs formally

nominated for ‘Future and Emerging Technologies’ and ‘Innovation in SMEs’ or ‘Access to Risk

Finance’. FET NCPs will cover the Pathfinder Pilot.

In line with Articles 2, 31.6 and 41.4 of the Model Grant agreement, the project arising from

this grant will complement other NCP network projects. This means that the beneficiaries and

those of the complementary grants must cooperate and provide access to their results. They

must conclude a written collaboration agreement regarding the coordination of the

complementary grants and the work of the action.

The standard evaluation criteria, thresholds, weighting for award criteria and the maximum

rate of co-financing for this type of action are provided in General Annexes D and H of the

work programme.

Expected impact:

 An improved, more consistent and professionalised NCP service across Europe,

thereby helping simplify access to EIC Pilot calls, and lowering the entry barriers for

newcomers.

 An increase in the quality of proposals submitted, including those from countries

where success rates are currently lower than average.

Legal Entities:

Business Name

Legal Name

APRE

AGENZIA PER LA PROMOZIONE DELLA RICERCA EUROPEA

CDTI

CENTRO PARA EL DESARROLLO TECNOLOGICO INDUSTRIAL.

FFG

OESTERREICHISCHE FORSCHUNGSFOERDERUNGSGESELLSCHAFT

MBH

IPPT PAN

INSTYTUT PODSTAWOWYCH PROBLEMOW TECHNIKI POLSKIEJ

AKADEMII NAUK

IIA - ISRAEL INNOVATION

AUTHORITY

NATIONAL AUTHORITY OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION

DLR

DEUTSCHES ZENTRUM FUER LUFT - UND RAUMFAHRT EV

INNOVASJON NORGE

BPIFRANCE FINANCEMENT

BPIFRANCE FINANCEMENT SA

FORTH

FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS

ENTERPRISE IRELAND

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ANI

AGÊNCIA NACIONAL DE INOVAÇÃO

GIS-TRANSFERCENTER

FOUNDATION

GIS-TRANSFERCENTER FOUNDATION

CVTISR

CENTRUM VEDECKO TECHNICKYCH INFORMACII SLOVENSKEJ

REPUBLIKY

NKFIH

NEMZETI KUTATASI FEJLESZTESI ES INNOVACIOS HIVATAL

TC CZ

TECHNOLOGICKE CENTRUM AKADEMIE VED CESKE -

REPUBLIKY

Type of action: Grant to identified beneficiary - Coordination and support action.

Indicative timetable: Q3 2019.

Indicative budget: €0.75 million from the 2019 budget, €0.25 million from the 2020 budget.

9. Ensuring greater synergies by testing new

collaboration mechanisms between the EIT Innovation

Communities and the Enhanced EIC Pilot in support of

the Green Deal and other Union policy priorities

Driving the new Commission’s priorities is the need to address the changes in climate,

technology and demography that are transforming our societies and way of life aiming at an

economy that works for people. The proposal for a European Green Deal put forward by the

European Commission aims to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by

investing in research and innovation.

The Innovative Europe pillar in the proposal for the next EU research and innovation

programme (Horizon Europe) establishes a series of ambitious measures to stimulate market-

creating breakthroughs and support ecosystems conducive to innovation. These objectives

are to be pursued through the creation of a European Innovation Council (EIC) and through

support to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the wider European

innovation ecosystems.

The proposal sets out a comprehensive and highly integrated strategy to achieve greater

impact. To this end, the European Commission will ensure complementarity and cooperation

between the EIC and the EIT to avoid duplication, in line with the conclusions of the European

Parliament’s legislative resolution of 17 April 2019. The Accelerator is foreseen to allow for

take-up of innovations stemming from other pillars of the EU Framework Programmes,

including start-ups supported by the EIT. In practice, support schemes provided by the EIT

should benefit to EIC beneficiaries, while start-ups emerging from the EIT Innovation

Communities should have access to EIC actions.

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The action proposed under this update to the Horizon 2020 Work Programme will pilot

mechanisms by which the most innovative businesses stemming from the EIT Innovation

Communities may be channelled to the Enhanced EIC Pilot, creating a pipeline of impactful

innovations. This is particularly the case for innovative businesses addressing Green Deal

goals, for example from the EIT InnoEnergy and the EIT Climate-KIC, and the Europe fit for

Digital Age priority, in particular from the EIT Digital. In addition, the actions will explore how

EIC-funded innovators may benefit from the support of the EIT Innovation Communities,

provided they are not already connected to them.

This action may also test how to promote and extend the benefits of the EIT Innovation

Communities business acceleration programmes to projects that have received the ‘Seal of

Excellence’

. Moreover, the action should foresee measures to encourage the EIT’s

innovators to apply to the Enhanced EIC Pilot. It will also explore possibilities and modalities

of co-investment in the context of the EIC Accelerator pilot.

Ultimately, it will help design the future collaboration mechanisms between the fully fledged

EIC and the EIT Innovation Communities, and to promote and exploit all possible synergies

between the two under Horizon Europe, including via pilot actions. This action could further

explore mechanisms that could be used in future for the EIT supported companies to access

the EIC Accelerator.

The EIT Innovation Communities support innovators and entrepreneurs developing world-

class solutions to societal challenges. The EIC Pilot is mainly bottom-up. This action will also

help define the best means to identify eligible companies, according to the societal challenge

addressed by a particular EIT Innovation Community.

The provision by the EIT Innovation Communities of business creation and acceleration

services and co-investment opportunities will be tested with four Innovation Communities

under the EIC Pathfinder Pilot and/or under the Accelerator Pilot. Activities should deliver

tangible benefits to the EIC Pilot.

After completion of this action, innovators supported by the action may be invited to join the

advanced accelerating services programmes offered by the EIT Innovation Communities to

support the projects’ continued growth.

In this context, close links will be established between the EIT Innovation Communities

involved in the action and the EIC Pilot Business Acceleration Services to ensure coordination,

avoid duplication and explore all possible synergies.

In addition, the action will include networking and matchmaking activities to increase the

connectedness among the broad innovation ecosystems players around the EIT Innovation

Communities and the innovators' ecosystem provided by the EIC.

The standard evaluation criteria, thresholds, weighting for award criteria and the maximum

rate of co-financing for this type of action are provided in General Annexes D and H of the

work programme.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/seal-excellence_en.

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The Commission will fund four proposals of up to EUR 1 million each under this action, for an

initial duration of 12 months. The cooperation with EIT InnoEnergy will focus specifically on

low carbon energy solutions, while cooperation with EIT Climate-KIC will be of a broader scope

(i.e. to ensure that actions of the two Innovation Communities are complementary). This

action will also explore the cooperation with EIT Digital and EIT Health in support of the

Commission priorities.

Expected impact:

 A tested mechanism of coordination between the EIC Pilot and the EIT Innovation

Communities exploiting all possible synergies between the two to be further deployed

under Horizon Europe.

 Support a significant number of innovators funded by the EIC Pilot that are not already

connected to one of the identified EIT Innovation Communities.

 Support a significant number of innovators funded by the EIT Innovation Communities

that are not already connected to the EIC Pilot, to test and demonstrate a future

collaboration mechanism under Horizon Europe.

Legal Entities:

KIC InnoEnergy S.E., Kennispoort, John F. Kennedylaan 2, 5612 AB Eindhoven, The Netherlands

Climate-KIC Holding B.V., Kattenburgerstraat 7, 1018 JA Amsterdam, The Netherlands

EIT Digital, Rue Guimard 7, 1040 Brussels, Belgium

EIT Health E.V., Mies-van-der-Rohe-Str 1C, 80807 Munich, Germany

Type of Action: Grants to 4 identified beneficiaries - Coordination and Support Action.

Indicative timetable: Q1 2020 (EIT Climate-KIC and EIT InnoEnergy) and Q2-Q3 2020 (EIT

Digital and EIT Health).

Indicative budget: EUR 4 million from the 2020 budget (1 million each).

10. EIC Scaling Up Pilot

Only 5% of European start-ups scale-up and pursue the position of world tech leaders. As high

growth companies are the ones largely responsible for job creation and economic benefit, this

is a missed opportunity. These growth barriers are even higher for truly high-risk deep tech

innovators, the main target of EIC instruments. Considering the high-tech characteristics of

the EIC beneficiaries, which have a longer time to market than digital start-ups, access to a

broader pan-European enterprise market is a key factor to succeed. Following their initial

funding rounds provided by the Pathfinder and the Accelerator instrument (seed- and series

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A funding rounds), the EIC Scaling Up Pilot will focus on beneficiaries which are ready for

funding rounds above EUR 50 million (series C). The support will be provided by offering

specialised and highly personalised advice and coaching and creating meaningful connections

with other ecosystems players.

This EIC Scaling Up Pilot aims at accelerating investments and partnerships among the most

mature EIC beneficiaries and create European deep-tech success stories (sustainable global

deep-tech leaders) by connecting relevant EIC beneficiaries to corporates (private buyers,

Mergers and Acquisition, Corporate Venture Capital), to investors (including National

Promotional Banks and Institutions (NPBIs) or/and Regional Banks) that provide strong

networks and late stage investment (equity or venture debt), to international markets, and to

stock exchanges. No direct financial support will be provided by the EIC Scaling Up Pilot to the

EIC beneficiaries. If any third party offers financial support to the EIC beneficiaries that are

part of the EIC Scaling Up Pilot, these investment will have to comply with the relevant

national of EU regulation (including state aid whenever relevant).

The EIC Scaling Up Pilot is a pilot for a new kind of support services targeted to scaleups in

series C and above that will be a fundamental part of the future services provided by the

European innovation Council in Horizon Europe and InvestEU. The EIC Scaling Up Pilot will pilot

a new type of individualised services to address the needs of companies which have the

potential to become as much as unicorns and for which the existing BAS services are not

sufficient.

The EIC Scaling Up Pilot will provide support to up to 30 EIC beneficiaries that comply with the

relevant selection criteria, such as: annual growth potential circa 50 - 100%; validated,

repeatable, scalable business model; significant revenue traction; driven by deep-tech

innovation that disrupts existing market(s); having the ambition to expand in new markets

(geographical/sectoral); potential to expand internationally (ratio of foreign customers,

revenue from international markets, number of markets outside domestic market); and

commercially self-sufficient. The EIC Scaling Up Pilot will be linked in the EIC Community

Platform, as well as with the EIC Fund.

Eligibility criteria: The call is open to any legal entity (including natural persons) or group of

legal entities established in an EU Member State or in a country associated to Horizon 2020.

Expected impact:

 A well tested EU model for scaling services to foster substantial growth of deep-tech

innovators that will increase their number and value of commercial deals, investments

deals and IPOs/acquisitions.

 To support EIC beneficiaries in their growth phase to become sustainable global deep-

tech leaders.

Indicative timetable: Second half of 2020. Duration: 18 months.

Type of Action: Coordination and Support Action.

Indicative budget: EUR 1.5 million from the 2020 budget.

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11. Creating and nurturing early-stage investment

ecosystems in the EU

A successful European Innovation Council depends on a high-quality and permanent deal flow.

Business angels, given their involvement in early stages of companies’, play a crucial role in

coaching such emerging companies and supporting their development, and therefore also in

potentially feeding the EIC with high-quality applications.

This action aims to strengthen the innovation and investment ecosystems for start-up and

scale-up companies in the EU in view of their development and growth, chiefly by supporting

groups/syndicates of angel and other early-stage- investing

. This will be achieved by:

 Stimulating the creation and nurturing of business angel groups in countries where

they remain absent or weak (e.g. developing capacity-building programmes such as

trainings and twinning programmes spurring knowledge transfer between well

established and nascent/rudimentary business angel groups; and providing consulting

services to advise national/regional authorities on setting-up early-stage investment

ecosystems);

 Stimulating the creation and nurturing of angel investing groups/syndicates dedicated

to the promotion of Green Deal and sustainable development objectives;

 Connecting angel investors across Europe to support deal-flow generation and cross-

border investments that can decisively help companies to scale-up in the EU (as the

internal market is still fragmented by fiscal and legal obstacles) and then abroad; this

could take the form of a trusted European community for angel-backed operations and

more standardised term sheets;

 Also in relation to the previous point, preparing an impact assessment on the potential

creation by the Commission of a public co-investment- fund with leading business

angels groups/syndicates in the EU, and advising on its legal form, governance,

management, investment guidelines, etc.;

 Strengthening the connection between start-ups/scale-ups and angel investors (e.g.

by organising regular pitching, networking and discussion events);

 Coaching well targeted research projects financed by the EU on how to further develop

innovations in view of their future commercialisation (e.g. through bi-annual events

connecting research projects with business angels);

 Engaging financial organisations such as national promotional banks and institutions

in supporting the creation of an interconnected angel ecosystem as part of a healthy

innovation ecosystem;

 Raising awareness amongst start-ups/scale-ups and other relevant players about the

importance of business angels for a successful innovation ecosystem;

 Reporting annually on the critical elements needed to boost and better integrate

innovation ecosystems across the EU, how to address existing barriers preventing their

thriving, and how European and national financial instruments can better support

these goals;

For simplicity reasons, we will refer only to angel investing from now onwards.

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 Reporting (at least) bi-annually on the maturity and level of the angel investing market

in the EU and Member States, namely by developing appropriate and international

benchmarks, analysing their trends, and assessing national and regional thematic

clusters of angel investors.

The outcome of the ‘Awareness-raising and capacity-building for business angels and other

early-stage investors’ Coordination and Support Action launched under the Horizon 2020

Work Programme 2016-2017 must be taken into account

. Furthermore, proposals shall

coordinate actions with relevant ongoing initiatives and organisations such as those managed

by Business Angels Europe, European Business Angel Network, and Invest Europe.

Expected impact:

 Strengthen the innovation and investment ecosystems for start-up and scale-up

companies in the EU, particularly where they remain weak or undeveloped;

 Give rise to consistent groups/syndicates of business angels in countries/regions

where they are still absent or are too rudimentary;

 Increase the level of support to early-stage companies in view of their development

and scale-up, particularly in a cross-border context;

 Raise awareness on angel investing in Europe with robust indicators and reports, and

advise the Commission on how to improve the innovation and investment ecosystems.

Type of Action: Public Procurement – one direct service contract.

Indicative timetable: Q2 2020. Duration: 30 months.

Indicative budget: EUR 2 million from the 2020 budget.

CBBA-01-2016.

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12. Procure the pilot of an AI based fully automated

system to provide better guidance and support to

proposers, and enhance the evaluation, selection and

project management processes of the EIC

Over the last years, the continuous progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with

enhanced capacities to manage and analyse big data, has developed possibilities for

organizations to make more informed decisions.

With reference to challenges to be tackled by the future EIC under Horizon Europe, AI-based

fully automated systems could enhance its capabilities to better guide and support innovators

among European but also national funding possibilities and reinforce its evaluation processes.

Digging in past and running projects (European and national), scientific publications, IP patents

and market analysis, the in depth assessment of hidden patterns and unknown correlation

between technological leads, market trends and customer preferences could significantly

enhance EIC’s capabilities to detect potential disruptive or market-creative innovation, and

qualitatively enhance technological validation of proposals received, which is key for

innovators and investors.

As a mean to explore the possibility to launch such an ambitious action under Horizon Europe,

the EIC will get the services of a pilot AI-based automated system offering the following

features:

- orient proposers among relevant funding opportunities (European and national) and

provide qualitative feedback on their idea/proposal (pertinence/relevance,

innovativeness, partners search, relevant indicators, etc.) in relation to last EIC pilot

calls (Accelerator and Pathfinder)

- provide in-depth data analysis and assessment to independent experts in support of

the evaluation process, and to Programme Managers for the clustering of projects

(Pathfinders’ portfolios) and project management.

Should the pilot prove successful, the Commission may consider to have access to a more

ambitious tool or service for Horizon Europe, offering additional features (e.g. assisting

proposers in preparing and writing their proposal for whatever European or National public

funding scheme), also to the benefit of National innovation agencies.

Expected impact:

Providing such a common tool would be a contribution of the Union to the European

innovation ecosystems’ activities provided for in Horizon Europe third pillar, as a mean to

harmonize and enhance these and provide a high-quality level playing fields to innovators

across Europe.

Type of action: Public Procurement – one service contract.

Indicative timetable: Q2 2020. Duration: 12 months.

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Indicative budget: EUR 0.6 million from the 2020 budget.

13. Mutual learning and common tools and resources

for national/regional schemes supporting innovation

projects of start-ups and SMEs

Challenges and objectives

Start-ups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are the primary source of

innovation in Europe and globally. However, they very often lack resources (human and

financial) to elaborate the feasibility study of innovative products/services, which would

clearly demonstrate the ways for their further directions and concrete steps to follow.

Moreover, they are at a disadvantage to recruit external experts to help them in their

innovation and business development, including at a transnational level to exploit the

potential of the Single Market and of global trade opportunities. Both are essential for start-

ups and SMEs to ensure product/market fit, successful launch and later scaling of their

innovations.

There is a clear rationale to provide support to European start-ups and SMEs for these

activities. This is best done close to beneficiaries at national and regional levels. A number of

national/regional innovation agencies have schemes that tackle this specific need or consider

setting one. However, in order to select and support effectively the most promising innovators

with strong potential on European and world markets, these agencies would strongly benefit

from transnational mutual learning and common tools and resources, as up to now national

and regional innovation agencies operate rather in isolation across EU in relation to the

implementation of their programmes. The fragmentation of innovation ecosystems and the

lack of connectedness among public national and regional agencies appear to be one of the

main bottlenecks towards ensuring the support of the most promising start-up and scale-up

companies in the EU.

The aim of this action is to create an enhancing, supporting and cooperative environment

across EU that will allow national and regional agencies to provide high-level services and

support high-quality start-ups and SMEs for their innovation projects. The ultimate goal is to

provide the opportunity to these agencies to cooperate, learn from each other and exchange

knowledge by using join tools in order to ensure that the most promising high-potential

innovation proposals of start-ups / SMEs are supported at their critical stage of development.

Scope

This pilot action is to enhance cooperation of innovation agencies in the European innovation

ecosystem. It aims to support the creation and operation of national and/or regional support

schemes regarding feasibility studies and external expertise for innovative projects of start-

ups and SMEs. The pilot action will focus on transnational mutual learning and on the

development of common tools and resources for these schemes.

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The cooperation should focus on:

● Exchange of information and best practices on the design and specific needs of the

programmes on national/regional levels with the view of filling possible gaps in EIC.

● Exchange of information and best practices on the design of the project proposal and

weight of the criteria.

● Internationalisation of evaluation panels. Exchange of information, best practices with

regards to the project evaluators. The cooperation shall also enable accesses to

respective pools of evaluators in order to set international evaluation panels.

● Establishment of minimum set of common assessment criteria.

● Exchange of information, best practices with regards to coaching services and selection

of coaches, including access to existing databases of coaches (EU, national, regional)

and possible creation of pools of coaches. Optionally, design and development of other

common tools and resources.

● Sustainability after the end of the action.

The established schemes could include the following:

● Common tools and resources to support close-to-market activities with the respective

budgets of the national innovation agencies. The national resources deployed by

national innovation agencies, if relevant, will need to comply with State Aid

competition rules

● Common tools and resources to support highly innovative start-ups and SMEs with a

clear commercial ambition and a potential for high growth and internationalisation

● Feasibility study as an outcome of the project (not necessarily the only one)

● International pool of evaluators of the projects

● Short market-oriented project proposal form

● Introduction of other supportive services, including coaching services to the

beneficiaries

● Follow up of the beneficiaries and advice services concerning other possible

instruments on national/regional/EU levels

Expected impact

Enhance the quality of support provided at national and regional levels to the most promising

innovative start-ups and SMEs, by enabling:

- the national/regional agencies to establish or improve schemes from their respective

budgets that will cover the feasibility study stage of innovative products/services from

start-ups and SMEs;

- transnational cooperation in evaluation processes to select the most promising

innovation projects with high growth and international potential;

- cooperation between national/regional/EU levels in ensuring “world-class”

coaching/mentoring services;

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- exchange of information and best practice and closer dialogue between the innovation

agencies involved.

Type of Action: CSA.

Indicative timetable: Q2 2020. Duration: 24 months.

Indicative budget: EUR 0.5 million from the 2020 budget (one proposal will be funded under

this pilot action, which should notably involve the participation of national or regional

innovation agencies or similar organisations).

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Budget

for

European Innovation

Council pilot

Budget in € millions

Budget-line

2018

2019

2020

Calls

2020-SMEInst-2018-

2020

08.020800

and

08.020202

489.74

689.26

969.04

The budget figures given in this table are rounded to two decimal places.

The budget dedicated to the EIC Accelerator pilot / SME Instrument calls is equal to 97% of the yearly budget, as 3% are used to support

evaluation, coaching and mentoring, and Phase 3 activities.

In 2020, the EIC Accelerator pilot will remain mainly bottom-up by dedicating more than 60% of the yearly budget to 3 bottom-up cut-off

dates (8 January, 18 March and 7 October 2020). In addition, it will also contribute to the “Green Deal” initiative by allocating at least €300

million through a dedicated cut-off date (19 May 2019).

The EIC Accelerator pilot / SME Instrument call is financed from the single budget-line 08.020800 for a total, at minimum for the period

2018-2020, of €1,611.52 million, of which at least €160.50 million stems from 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in nanotechnologies,

advanced materials, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing and processing', €305.73 million from 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in

information and communications technology', €57.93 million from 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in space', €248.47 million from 'Societal

Challenge 1 - Improving lifelong health and wellbeing', €129.54 million from 'Societal Challenge 2 - Securing sufficient supplies of safe and

high-quality food and other bio-based products', €233.61 million from 'Societal Challenge 3 - Making the transition to a reliable, sustainable

and competitive energy system', €236.92 million from 'Societal challenge 4 - Achieving a resource-efficient, environmentally-friendly, safe

and seamless European transport system', €108.82 million from 'Societal challenge 5 - Achieving a resource-efficient and climate change

resilient economy and a sustainable supply of raw materials', €51.38 million from 'Societal challenge 6 - Fostering inclusive, innovative and

reflective societies', and €67.65 million from the 'Societal challenge 7 - Fostering secure European societies' WP parts. In 2020, the contribution

from the single budget-line 08.020800 will be increased for a total of €649.04 million, of which €63.65 million stems from 'Industrial leadership

- Leadership in nanotechnologies, advanced materials, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing and processing', €124.39 million from

'Industrial leadership - Leadership in information and communications technology', €23.62 million from 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in

space', €98.99 million from 'Societal Challenge 1 - Improving lifelong health and wellbeing', €55.87 million from 'Societal Challenge 2 -

Securing sufficient supplies of safe and high-quality food and other bio-based products', €94.92 million from 'Societal Challenge 3 - Making

the transition to a reliable, sustainable and competitive energy system', €105.98 million from 'Societal challenge 4 - Achieving a resource-

efficient, environmentally-friendly, safe and seamless European transport system', €44.10 million from 'Societal challenge 5 - Achieving a

resource-efficient and climate change resilient economy and a sustainable supply of raw materials', €20.56 million from 'Societal challenge 6

- Fostering inclusive, innovative and reflective societies', and €27.66 million from the 'Societal challenge 7 - Fostering secure European

societies' WP parts. While these amounts are indicatively dedicated to the respective domain concerned, the EIC Accelerator pilot / SME

Instrument will mainly operate bottom-up and its budget will, as a whole, support firms developing the breakthrough, market-creating

innovations that can occur, in particular, at the intersection between different technologies, industry sectors and scientific disciplines.

For the period 2018-2020, the contribution from the Access to Risk Finance programme (budget-line 08.020202) to the blended-finance

dimension of the EIC Accelerator pilot (i.e. for equity support through the EIC Fund) will be of a minimum of €100 million (i.e. €10 million

in 2018, €37 million in 2019 and €53 million in 2020). In 2020 the contribution from the budget-line 08.020202 will be increased to €170

million (i.e. + €117 million) to reach a total for the period 2018-2020 of €217 million.

108 | P a g e

H2020-FTI-2018-

2020

See footnote

100.00

H2020-FETOpen-2018-

2020

09.040101

185.70

166.00

357.20

H2020-FET PROACT-

2019-2020

09.040101

08.020102

113.40

H2020 - EIC Scaling Up

Pilot

08.020800

1.5

H2020- Mutual

learning and common

tool

08.020800

0.5

Other actions

EIC Horizon Prizes

See footnote

40.00

Public procurements

See footnote

2.60

3.60

4.15

Expert contracts

08.020306

08.020800

0.45

0.5

0.55

Grant to identified

beneficiary

08.020800

09.040101

0.75

4.00

0.25

Estimated total budget

778.49

1073.51

1,551.19

The FTI Pilot call is financed for a total of €300 million (€100 million per year of implementation), of which at least €30.31 million was

originally assigned to 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in nanotechnologies, advanced materials, biotechnology and advanced manufacturing

and processing', €53.45 million to 'Industrial leadership - Leadership in information and communications technology', €10.11 million to

'Industrial leadership - Leadership in space', €52.25 million to 'Societal Challenge 1 - Improving lifelong health and wellbeing', €26.70 million

to 'Societal Challenge 2 - Securing sufficient supplies of safe and high-quality food and other bio-based products', €40.96 million to 'Societal

Challenge 3 - Making the transition to a reliable, sustainable and competitive energy system', €44.28 million to 'Societal challenge 4 - Achieving

a resource-efficient, environmentally-friendly, safe and seamless European transport system', €21.28 million to 'Societal challenge 5 -

Achieving a resource-efficient and climate change resilient economy and a sustainable supply of raw materials', €9.06 million to 'Societal

challenge 6 - Fostering inclusive, innovative and reflective societies' and €11.61 million to 'Societal challenge 7 - Fostering secure European

societies' WP parts.

The FET Open call is financed from the 'Strengthening research in future and emerging technologies' WP part.

The amounts are for those FET Proactive topics that are part of the European Innovation Council enhanced pilot.

The increase by 45.4 million for the 2019 budget is subject to the availability of the appropriations provided for in the ‘Draft Amending

Budget No 2 on the Reinforcement of key programmes for EU competitiveness: Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+’, COM(2019)320 of 15.5.2019,

after the adoption of the Amending Budget by the budgetary authority.

EIC Horizon Prizes are financed for €30.00 million from the 'Access to Risk Finance' WP part, for €5.00 million from the 'Nanotechnologies,

Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing' WP part and for €5.00 million from the 'Leadership in

Enabling and Industrial Technologies - Space' WP part.

Public procurements are financed for €10.20 million from the SME instrument budget line and for €0.15 million from the 'Access to Risk

Finance' WP part.

This action is financed from the 'Europe in a changing world – Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies' WP part.