This weekly highlight guides you through the latest EU developments in innovation, funding and regulation, including Horizon Europe, the AI Act, EIC success stories, SME support and green industry investments.
🚀 Advanced Materials - New Horizon Europe taxonomy published
HaDEA has published a new Advanced Materials Taxonomy to support the analysis and strategic monitoring of projects funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 4 – Industry.
The framework will help identify technological and industrial trends in advanced materials and manufacturing, supporting portfolio development, policy feedback and future European R&I priorities.
Source: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
🤖 AI Act - New EU transparency rules now apply
From 2 August 2026, the European Commission and national authorities have started enforcing new provisions of the EU AI Act, including transparency requirements for AI-generated and AI-altered content.
Chatbots must clearly disclose AI interaction, while deepfakes and certain AI-generated content must be labelled, creating new compliance requirements for companies developing and deploying AI solutions in Europe.
Source: European Commission – Shaping Europe’s Digital Future
📈 EIC Success - AGRIVI expands internationally after GITEX
Croatian agritech company and EIC Accelerator awardee AGRIVI has secured a six-figure annual deal with an Emirati agrifood company following its participation in GITEX through the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme.
AGRIVI also signed a technology partnership with Moroccan agritech company DeepLeaf, strengthening the AI capabilities of its EIC-funded AI Engage solution, already deployed in 15 countries.
Source: European Innovation Council (EIC)
💡 Ready4EIC - New support programme for innovative SMEs
The European Commission has launched Ready4EIC, a new programme supporting innovative companies from EU enlargement countries seeking investment and European funding opportunities, including Horizon Europe and EIC funding.
Participants receive training, individual consultations, innovation guidance and investor engagement opportunities, with advanced support focused on scaling, investment readiness and access to deep-tech funding. Applications are open until 16 August 2026.
Source: European Commission – Research and Innovation
♻️ Green Steel Funding – €2B public support for Thyssenkrupp project moves forward
The European Commission has approved changes to the funding conditions for Thyssenkrupp’s planned €3 billion green steel plant in Duisburg. Around €2 billion in public funding had originally been linked to the use of renewable hydrogen, but the conditions are being adjusted because affordable green hydrogen is not expected to be available at sufficient scale in the near term. The Commission confirmed that the amended funding framework complies with EU State aid rules.
Source: REUTERS