National Contact Point - European Innovation Council - opportunities for deeptech in Europe

The European Innovation Council (EIC) aims to support breakthrough innovations from laboratories to market implementation through three mechanisms offering funding and support solutions to awardees. It is one of the components of the Horizon Europe program, promoting European RDI. Numerous opportunities exist for deep tech start-ups, researchers, or R&D service companies. Funding options include grants (low TRL) and/or equity investments (high TRL).

2 Food-oriented challenges for 2025:

• Low TRL collaborative projects between labs and companies (EIC Pathfinder): Biotechnology for climate-resilient crops aims to develop plants capable of adapting to climate changes and improving their nutritional profile.

• High TRL deep tech start-ups (EIC Accelerator): Biotechnology for low-emission food and feed production systems aims to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the environmental footprint of the food production system.

And, of course, any R&D topic is open under the so-called "OPEN" instruments.