In advance of the European Council, the European Commission announced a €2 billion package to accelerate the establishment of the European Innovation Council (EIC), in the context of the future Horizon Europe Framework Programme.
The objective of this Council, which is in a pilot phase, is to accelerate the commercialisation of European scientific discoveries. Some 1,276 projects have been financed, to date for €730 million. The Commission is adding €2 billion for 2019-2020. Objective: to finance “pioneering” projects for advanced technologies and “accelerator” projects to support start-ups.
The institution plans to provide the Council with the appropriate staff, including about 20 innovation leaders on an EIC Advisory Board to oversee the pilot project, and to prepare the future EIC (deadline for applications is May 10) and the establishment of a group of programme managers.
In the meantime, the institution announced the selection of 68 additional start-ups and SMEs that should benefit from €120 million, also under the EIC pilot project.
In June 2018, the European Council gave the green light for the creation of the EIC in the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
The European Parliament and the EU Council are currently in the process of negotiating the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and are expected to reach a partial agreement at what is expected to be the last interinstitutional meeting on this legislative act (see EUROPE 12214/40). (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)