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Programme guides
Flagship EU instruments in plain language: who they are for, typical ticket sizes, consortium reality, and the rules that usually surprise first-time applicants. Matching live calls needs a free trial — these explainers do not.
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- 01EICEuropean Innovation Council (EIC)Read guide
Flagship instruments for breakthrough innovation, from early Pathfinder research to Accelerator scale-up finance.
- Who
- Deeptech startups and SMEs with ambitious, high-risk innovations. Accelerator is single-company; Pathfinder is usually collaborative.
- Ticket
- Pathfinder ~€3–4M projects · Transition ~€0.5–2.5M · Accelerator up to €2.5M grant + optional equity
- 02Horizon EuropeHorizon EuropeRead guide
The EU’s main research and innovation programme: collaborative projects across climate, health, digital, industry, and more.
- Who
- Startups that can join or lead consortia with universities, RTOs, and industry partners from several countries.
- Ticket
- Often €1–10M+ per project (shared across partners)
- 03Digital EuropeDigital EuropeRead guide
Capacity-building programme for AI, cybersecurity, advanced computing, and digital skills, often closer to deployment than pure research.
- Who
- SMEs and startups working on digital adoption, AI tools, cybersecurity, or infrastructure with clear European scale.
- Ticket
- Varies widely by call, often multi-partner with co-funding
- 04EurostarsEurostars-3Read guide
Eureka programme for R&D-performing SMEs collaborating internationally on near-market innovation projects.
- Who
- Innovative SMEs that can partner with at least one organisation in another Eurostars country.
- Ticket
- National co-funding rules apply. Cheque size varies by country
- 05LIFELIFE ProgrammeRead guide
EU funding for environment, climate action, circular economy, and clean energy transition projects.
- Who
- Startups and SMEs with climate, circular, or nature-based solutions that can demonstrate impact.
- Ticket
- Project-scale budgets, often multi-year with co-funding
- 06Cascade / FSTPCascade funding / FSTPRead guide
Smaller, faster open calls run by EU-funded projects that redistribute money to startups and SMEs as third parties.
- Who
- Early startups seeking €50k–€200k-style support with lighter applications than flagship programmes.
- Ticket
- Typically €50k–€200k per beneficiary (call-specific)
- 07Single MarketSingle Market ProgrammeRead guide
Support for SME competitiveness, market access, and the functioning of the EU single market.
- Who
- SMEs looking for advisory support, market uptake, or competitiveness actions rather than deeptech R&D.
- Ticket
- Varies by action, often smaller than Horizon topics