The European Innovation Council’s (EIC) work programme detailing the calls, their budgets and scope for this year will be out on 9 February following delays.
The new work programme is expected to set the first cut-off date for EIC Accelerator call for start-ups and SMEs on 23 March. Meanwhile, the first deadline for the EIC Pathfinder call for early-stage research on breakthrough technologies is to be set sometime in early May. The details will be confirmed once the work programme is out and clarified during the applicants’ day on 22 February.
The release of the 2022 work programme was delayed after the future of the European Commission-run EIC Equity Fund got caught in political infighting over its management. The dispute also blocked off equity financing for companies selected for funding last year as Commission officials argued over the terms on which the fund should be run. Last week, EU member states broke the policy deadlock after deciding the EIC should stick to the old management rules for this year while the policymakers look for a solution.
