Horizon Europe: Decoding the 2024 European Innovation Council programme

In mid-December the European Commission adopted its official 2024 work programme for the European Innovation Council, opening new funding opportunities worth more than €1.2 billion. Notably, a significant percentage of the 2024 investments will go to SMEs and start-ups which are seeking to develop novel technologies and scale up “deep tech” innovations in critical fields such as generative artificial intelligence, space, critical raw materials, semiconductors and quantum technologies. Ultimately, the work programme is intended to fuel disruptive innovation that supports the European Green Deal, REPowerEU, the Chips Act,  future AI Act, Net Zero Industry Act and other EU policies.

So what does this mean in practice for potential beneficiaries – not least given the Commission’s strategy on economic security, which can affect eligibility and access in critical technology areas?  What are the novelties and simplifications being brought in by the Commission for next year’s work programme, and how will these affect EIC funding across the Pathfinder, Transition and Accelerator instruments?  On January 18, Science|Business will discuss these topics and more with relevant EU officials in this members-only webinar.