At Winnovart, we are currently researching the impact of blended funding programmes on the European innovation & investment ecosystem. We believe that blended funding (mixing grants & equity investments) is the most interesting development in the European grants-funding ecosystem for many years, promising to reshape its future.The EIC Fund is one of the largest blended-funding programmes in...

The European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund is the investment vehicle of the EIC Accelerator programme - the European Commission's flagship innovation funding programme. With a budget of €3 billion from 2021-2027, the EIC Fund is positioned to be one of Europe's largest deep-tech venture capitalists (VCs) during this period. Through the structure of the fund, a minimum of €3 billion of private...

€1.35 billion in the form of grants, equity investments or blended finance were awarded to firms in the health sector between 2014-2022. 800+ health projects were funded by Europe's flagship EIC Accelerator programme (formerly known as SME instrument under Horizon 2020). The EIC Accelerator programme helps high-risk, innovative SMEs and start-ups willing to develop and commercialise new products,...

The results for the EIC Accelerator’s October 2022 cut-off:

• 78 companies have been selected for funding.
• 58% of applicants have been selected to receive €394 million in the form of either blended finance or equity-only investment.
• The total requested budget by the 78 companies is €470 million.
• The success rate for full applications was 7.1%.

The overall success rate is slightly lower than...

The results for the EIC Accelerator’s January 2023 cut-off:

• 32 companies have been selected for funding.
• 53% of applicants have been selected to receive €159 million in the form of blended finance.
• The total requested budget by the 32 companies is €196 million.
• The success rate for full applications was 6.7%.
• This first cut-off in 2023 did not include the EIC Accelerator Challenges.

The...

Following the suggestions from an independent report written by the EIC pilot Advisory Board, the EIC has implemented a series of goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). Specifically, the EIC now recommends six strategic goals with accompanying KPIs.Key recommendations from the independent report:“fast[er] feedback based on a short, simple application which [applicants] can easily complete...

The EIC Fund is Europe's flagship blended funding programme, combining EC innovation grants with equity investments from private investors (typically VCs). The biggest programme of this kind in Europe with a substantial multi-annual investment budget. There is, however, a significant gap between its promise and current delivery.This is our series of Explainers, aiming to clarify key aspects of...

The EIC Fund is Europe's flagship blended funding programme, combining EC innovation grants with equity investments from private investors (typically VCs). The biggest programme of this kind in Europe with a substantial multi-annual investment budget. There is, however, a significant gap between its promise and current delivery.This is our series of Explainers, aiming to clarify key aspects of...

The EIC Fund is Europe's flagship blended funding programme, combining EC innovation grants with equity investments from private investors (typically VCs). The biggest programme of this kind in Europe with a substantial multi-annual investment budget. There is, however, a significant gap between its promise and current delivery.This is our series of Explainers, aiming to clarify key aspects of...

The EIC Fund was incorporated in June 2020 and operational in September 2020 during the EIC pilot phase (2018-20). Since the creation of the EIC Fund under the Horizon 2020 programme, 341 companies have been selected for equity investment in the form of blended funding or equity-only funding. However, only 89 of these companies have managed to sign a deal with the EIC Fund. Why do companies have...