Advanced Innovation Challenges – Pilot
Pays deep-tech start-ups, SMEs and research organisations a €300,000 lump sum in Stage 1, then up to €2.5 million in Stage 2, to push high-risk breakthrough innovations that lack commercial uptake toward real-world, demand-tested deployment.
Advanced Innovation Challenges – Pilot is a European Innovation Council (EIC) and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) programme that pays deep-tech start-ups, SMEs and research organisations a €300,000 lump sum in Stage 1, then up to €2.5 million in Stage 2, to push high-risk breakthrough innovations that lack commercial uptake toward real-world, demand-tested deployment. Stage 1 pays a EUR300,000 lump…
The pilot backs high-risk, demand-driven deep-tech innovation in areas where research is extensive but commercial uptake has lagged, testing whether bringing in real-world demand-side users early speeds up market adoption. Each round sets specific challenge topics rather than being open to any subject -- the first, 2026 round covered Physical AI for robotics and non-animal testing methods (NAMs) for biomedicine.
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