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Research and innovation
News article18 October 2018Directorate-General for Research and Innovation1 min read

EIC Pilot to invest €124 million in 38 new high-risk innovative projects

The European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot will support 38 innovative projects to develop new ideas towards radically new future technologies. In total, the projects will receive €124 million under the future and emerging technologies (FET Open) strand of the EIC pilot, run under the EU’s research and innovation programme Horizon 2020. If successful, these projects will create new markets in Europe.

Neuromorphic and quantum computing, de-orbiting of spacecraft, fighting brain viruses, early and non-invasive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease are just a few examples of the challenges that these projects are targeting. FET Open offers grants of typically €3 million to promote collaborative, inter-disciplinary research and innovation on future and emerging technologies. These grants are for consortia of at least three entities.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Science, Research and Innovation, said:

Through the European Innovation Council (EIC), we support future and emerging breakthrough technologies, which are key to unlocking many of the secrets to a better future and society. We are investing in innovative ideas and the individuals behind them to create new markets of the future.

In its first round of funding under the EIC pilot, FET Open received 375 proposals and granted funding to 236 beneficiaries in 23 countries across Europe. As part of the EIC pilot, FET Open projects receive additional support for innovators and entrepreneurs. SMEs participating in FET Open projects can also benefit from networking, coaching and mentoring.

Background

Between 2018 and 2020, the EIC pilot will provide €2.7 billion to breakthrough, market-creating innovations under Horizon 2020. FET Open is now one of the central parts of the EIC pilot, targeting radically new, breakthrough products, services, processes or business models that open up new markets. It supports top-class scientists, researchers, innovators, entrepreneurs and small companies with bright ideas. It continues to mobilise Europe’s most creative and forward thinking researchers and innovators from all disciplines to work together and discover what may become the disruptive technologies of the future. The next deadline for applications is on 24 January 2019.

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Details

Publication date
18 October 2018
Author
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation