The European Commission has adopted the EIC Work Programme 2027, announced on 5 November 2026, making more than €1.8 billion available to support breakthrough technologies and the growth of innovative companies.
The programme spans the innovation journey: EIC Pathfinder supports early research, EIC Transition helps develop research results into commercial opportunities, and EIC Accelerator and scale-up instruments support companies moving towards markets and growth. Business Acceleration Services complement the financial support.
EIC Transition changes the route from research to market
With an indicative budget of €92 million and grants of up to €2.5 million, EIC Transition remains open to different fields of science and technology. Its 2027 requirements place greater emphasis on a clearly responsible applicant, technological maturity and evidence of demand.
- One beneficiary: applications move to a single eligible legal entity, replacing the previous option of a small consortium. Affiliated entities and subcontractors can still contribute under the applicable rules.
- TRL 4 at entry: the research results underpinning a proposal must have reached Technology Readiness Level 4; the earlier TRL 3 entry route is removed.
- First-year performance milestones: proposals must set measurable technological objectives and KPIs for a review after the first year.
- Business readiness: a Business Readiness Level framework helps teams describe commercial development alongside technical progress. It is guidance, rather than a separate eligibility threshold.
- Evidence of market interest: a Letter of Intent from an interested third party, such as a potential customer or user, becomes mandatory.
- A video pitch: applications must include a three-to-five-minute presentation of the proposed innovation.
Check the research results behind the proposal
Transition continues to require results from an eligible earlier project. The 2027 list includes EIC Pathfinder, Horizon Europe ERC Proof of Concept, specified collaborative Research and Innovation Actions, and Horizon Europe Research Infrastructures projects, subject to the programme’s conditions.
The list has also narrowed: Horizon 2020 ERC Proof of Concept and Research Infrastructures projects, together with the specified FET Innovation Launchpad coordination and support actions, are no longer eligible sources. Teams considering a resubmission should therefore check the originating grant, timing conditions, technology maturity and rights to use the results before preparing a new application.
Implications for proposal development and exploitation
A practical implication of these changes is that preparation needs to connect the scientific result with the organisation capable of taking it forward. For universities, research organisations and spin-offs, this means deciding who should apply and how access to intellectual property, technical expertise and commercial capabilities will be secured.
Exploitation planning also needs early contact with potential users. Market assumptions, the intended application and the proposed route to commercialisation should inform both the work plan and the first-year milestones. The Letter of Intent makes that engagement an application requirement.
Elsewhere in the programme, EIC Pathfinder introduces a two-stage evaluation process with interviews for shortlisted proposals. The wider package also strengthens support for women-led start-ups and for testing EIC-backed technologies with public and private buyers.
EIC Work Programme 2027 adopted. Publication establishes the programme and its planned calls; it does not mean every call is already open. Applicants should check the official Work Programme and Funding & Tenders Portal for the applicable conditions, opening dates and submission deadlines.