First Phase 1 cut-off under the EIC pilot: 2009 proposals ask for SME Instrument funding

The European Commission received 2009 proposals for SME Instrument Phase 1 before the latest cut-off date on 8 February 2018. This is the first cut-off date for Phase 1 under the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot.

Under the first Phase of SME Instrument, small and medium-sized businesses that seek funding can receive a lump-sum funding of €50,000 to carry out a concept and feasibility study.

A novelty under the EIC pilot is that applications are fully bottom-up. Therefore as there are no longer set topics, proposals are classified according to the keywords introduced by applicants. The top keywords introduces were, ICT, engineering and technology and health.

SMEs from 44 countries submitted proposals. The biggest number of proposals were submitted by Italian applicants (319), followed closely by Spanish (298) and British applicants (118).

The next cut-off for EIC SME Instrument Phase 1 is on 3 May 2018.

EIC Fast Track to Innovation: 138 proposals seek funding under the first cut-off of the year

The European Commission received 138 proposals for Fast Track to Innovation (FTI) before the latest cut-off date on 21 February 2018. This is the first cut-off date for FTI under the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot.

FTI promotes close-to-the market innovation activities open to all types of participants. The programme offers € 3 million to consortia composed of 3 to 5 partners including mainly industrial participants.

FTI is fully bottom-up. As there are no set topics, proposals are classified according to the keywords introduced by applicants. The top keywords introduced were engineering, health and ICT.

The proposals include participants from 38 countries, the biggest number of proposals being submitted by Spanish, Italian and German applicants. The results will be announced at the latest end of May 2018.

Next cut-off for FTI is on 31 May 2018.