European Commission adopts EIC Work Programme 2026 – over €1.4 billion for groundbreaking innovations

The European Commission has published the 2026 work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). With a total budget of over €1.4 billion, the EIC will continue to support innovative projects and high-growth companies in Europe in the coming year, with a particular focus on deep tech developments, strategic technologies and the scaling of start-ups and SMEs.

Funding instruments at a glance

The EIC's 2026 work programme comprises five key funding lines:

• EIC Pathfinder – €262 million
  For visionary, multidisciplinary research with disruptive potential.
  Funding: up to €4 million
   
• EIC Transition – €100 million
  For the further development of research results into marketable innovations.
  Funding: up to €2.5 million
   
• Advanced Innovation Challenges – €6 million (pilot)
  Test run of a new ARPA-like model to promote high-risk deep tech solutions.
  Funding: €300,000 lump sum
   
• EIC Accelerator – €634 million
  For start-ups and SMEs to scale up and bring disruptive technologies to market.
  Grants of up to €2.5 million, equity investments of €0.5–10 million
   
• EIC STEP Scale-Up – €300 million
  Support for highly innovative companies to secure large private co-investment rounds (> €50 million).
  Investments: £10–30 million

In addition to financial support, companies benefit from comprehensive business acceleration services, e.g. access to investor networks, industry partners and experts.

Important innovations

Pilot: Advanced Innovation Challenges

With this new approach, the EU is testing an agile, mission-oriented funding model based on the US ARPA model in order to translate research results into marketable technologies more quickly.

Simplified EIC Accelerator applications

From 2026, applications to the Accelerator will be processed more quickly, easily and efficiently – among other things, through shorter application documents and more frequent evaluation rounds.

Strengthening European start-ups and scale-ups

The EIC supports the EU's start-up and scale-up strategy, including through new international offerings, corporate networking formats and a gender index to empower female innovators.

Further information can be found here.