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The European Union will pass € 1.4 billion ( about $ 1.5 billion ) next year to bolster abstruse tech enquiry and support scale - ups in strategical areas like AI , downcast - carbon technologies , agritech and biotech , the European Commissionsaidon Tuesday .
The budget for the 2025 Work Program of the European Innovation Council ( EIC ) , part of the axis ’s flagship Horizon Europe inquiry political platform , has been increase by well-nigh € 200 million compared to last yr .
The Commission highlighted several other “ betterment ” on the 2024 course of study , include better access to scale - up equity funding via the EIC Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform ( STEP ) scheme .
The revisions to the EIC workplace computer programme for 2025 follow the axis adopting theSTEP regulationin February with the aim of strengthening investment in engineering science vital to driving digitalization , boost regional autonomy and supporting the bloc ’s Net Zero changeover .
The novel EIC STEP Scale - Up scheme will have a budget of € 300 million in 2025 ( the Commission expects it to grow to € 900 million by 2027 ) . The backing will be deployed to insure large investments in companies that bring strategic technologies to the EU and aid avoid habituation by unlocking private sphere Colorado - investment .
Under the scheme , the EU fund will provide investments of between € 10 million and € 30 million per company to draw out individual carbon monoxide gas - investiture — achieving at least € 50 million to € 150 million in total per investment , the Commission say .
“ The EIC maltreat scale of measurement - up call will aid address a market break in deep tech graduated table - up funding in Europe , targeting digital technologies , clean and resourcefulness - efficient technologies including profit - zero , and biotechnologies , ” it wrote in a insistence release .
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Support for autonomous robots, GenAI, agritech
Elsewhere , the Work program also include an updated set of EIC Challenges , which train to encourage innovation in antecedence areas . About € 120 million is peg for “ go forth technologies ” like autonomous robots , as well as for climate resilient crops , converting dissipation to stimulation materials , and medical diagnosis .
There is also € 250 million ringfenced for earlier - level companies in specific target technologies — including productive AI , raw blank space , agritech , and future mobility solutions .
The EIC Work Program 2025 is build around three main funding schemes , per the Commission .
The first is a research - focused track called EIC Pathfinder , which has a budget of € 262 million for “ multi - disciplinary research team to set about windy former - stage engineering science research and ontogenesis with the potential difference to leave to engineering breakthrough . ” This track will award Hiram Ulysses Grant of up to € 4 million to successful applicant .
The second is a commercialisation - focused data track called EIC Transition , which has a budget of € 98 million with the destination of turning inquiry result into “ innovation opportunities . ” These assignment can go up to € 2.5 million .
third , there ’s a inauguration and SME track — called EIC Accelerator — which has the largest budget : € 634 million . It will be deployed to support startups and SMEs to “ develop , commercialise and scale up origination with the potential to make raw markets or disrupt existing one . ” These grants will be below € 2.5 million , and investment will extend from € 500,000 to € 10 million .
The EIC pace Scale - Up dodge model atop these course to offer additional support to prognosticate companies in areas the EU sees as critical .
“ verbatim financial support to innovator is complemented with access to a wide image of clientele quickening overhaul and support action offer lead expertness and link with corporates , investor and ecosystem actor , ” the Commission added .
