Michiel Scheffer says mobility, soils, AI and quantum computing hardware are possible topics for 2026 pilot challenges

Michiel Scheffer says overload is “problematic,” as he explains how the European Innovation Council will become more like a US-style ARPA

Germany’s innovation agency gives money rapidly to multiple competing teams to find radical new technologies. The EIC is creating similar contests

Programme managers at the European Innovation Council could be in line for more responsibility as the Commission refines the role

A new €20 million scheme will support civil start-ups helping rebuild the country

Uncertainties include the extent of defence funding, changes to EIC’s investment role and the fate of its scale-up programme

Kat Borlongan of the EIC board helped France launch its start-up strategy. Now she wants more strategic direction from the EU

Under a new proposal, the EIC would fund dual-use technologies and defence would become the fourth priority of the STEP programme

The EU innovation agency wants to be more agile, as it plans to fund dual-use projects and create closer links with other EU funding institutions

The OECD applauds EU support for start-ups, but warns that grant funding can lull innovators into a false sense of security