Startups: 3 EU funding programs that might interest you

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has created an innovation programme, entitled Horizon Europe, so as to enhance innovations made in the European Union. It presents three specific funding programs so as to support and finance bold and promising startups scale-up and SMEs.

Thanks to an ambitious programme and a budget going up to €10 billion, the EIC deployed three funding mechanisms which support different types of startups, ideas or activities. Here are the three funding mechanisms:

  • Pathfinder: this program refers to the support of bold ideas relating to new technologies. It rewards visionary and avant-gardist projects. Grants can go up to €3 or 4 million in the early development of future technologies; projects can also receive additional funding to test the potential of their innovation and research.

  • Transition: this program funds innovation activities which go above the experimental proof of principle in the laboratory. These funds are established to support the innovation’s maturation and validation as well as the development of a business case or model for the potential commercialization. Grants go up to €2.5 million.

  • Accelerator: this program intends to support individual Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs), especially startups and spin-out companies, developing game-changing innovations. Grants funding can go up to €2.5 million.

If you are not sure whether your company or startup fulfills the requirements for obtaining one of these funds, you can get in touch with EU funding experts. This is the service that UpSpark offers, as a specialized consulting firm. It provides pieces of advice to adjust to the requirements relating to a specific EIC program – among other international similar funding mechanisms.

You have until August 10 to register for the free EU funding potential check, powered by UpSpark: click here.