As part of the Horizon 2020 funding programme EIT Health and European Innovation Council (EIC) signed a year-long pilot collaboration that seeks to create synergies between the two organisations for the purpose of enhancing Europe’s innovation and breakthrough technologies in healthcare.
One core element of the collaboration is allowing the most promising start-ups to easily move between selected EIT Health and EIC programmes without delay and therefore find the best support depending on their needs and opportunities.
Throughout the first year-long pilot collaboration
Including access to Gold Track, Bridgehead and Bootcamp programmes
Including the business acceleration and advisory services
EIT Health start-ups can apply into Stage 2 of the EIC programme
Gold Track pairs promising companies with top-flight life science advisors who immerse themselves in their ideating, strategising, and operational execution to set the start-up on a path to success. In the first module of the Gold Track programme – the Workshops – start-ups receive 1:1 and group sessions with Expert Council members and the opportunity to present to additional hand-picked investors and industry partners.
The Finance Booster programme offers start-ups seeking investment an intensive training to arm them with the financial literacy they need.
The EIT Health Bootcamps give start-ups the chance to explore their full market potential and connect with a network of fellow entrepreneurs and innovators across Europe.
Bridgehead supports start-ups who have proven the validity of their solution in their home market to expand to new international markets.
EIC supported ventures will initially receive a 360° analysis and evaluation of their situation by hand-picked industry experts. Following the analysis, our Ready for Investment team will tailor a customized service package including mentoring opportunities that are aligned with their demands and needs of the venture. Companies will receive tailored advisory and support services at a market value of €10.000 – free of charge to EIC-supported ventures.
The Fast Track helps EIT Health applicants assess their ideas and teams to assess their potential to create impact. This gives them the opportunity to evolve towards an excellent and competitive ready-to-invest programme: EIC Accelerator.
"Europe needs to work together to compete globally on innovation. Today’s signature shows that we are ready to do this. I am proud that Europe’s new innovation initiative – the European Innovation Council – is joining forces with our existing body – the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Both of them will contribute to accelerating the twin transition to a green and digital economy as well as to create jobs and opportunities for all the talented innovators across Europe."
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth
"We know that we have a multitude of talented people and bold ideas here in Europe, but in today’s landscape it is not enough to simply have the funds, you must have the know-how in order to bring a healthcare product to market. The services of the EIC and EIT Health are highly complementary to this, offering innovators the opportunity to access funding, training and networking at the right time – all of which are crucial ingredients that do not stand up alone. We look forward to working closely with the EIC to offer a cohesive journey for Europe’s talented healthcare entrepreneurs that can help to put innovative and impactful solutions into the hands of those in need."
Jan-Philipp Beck, Former EIT Health CEO
The EIC and EIT are part of a wider ecosystem that the EU is putting in place under Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme, to give Europe’s many entrepreneurs every opportunity to become world-leading companies. Other complementary initiatives include the Industry strategy, SME strategy, Digital Europe strategy, and the European Research Area.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) supports research teams and start-ups/SMEs developing high-risk, high-impact breakthrough innovation, with a particular focus on game-changing solutions that contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal and the Recovery Plan for Europe. The EIC provides direct financial support, investment opportunities and coaching to breakthrough and disruptive innovation projects from deep tech founders to start-ups, from entrepreneurial researchers to investors, and from corporate partners to global markets. The EIC features the EIC Fund, set to be the largest early-stage equity fund in Europe, designed to crowd in investments from venture capital and other impact investors.
Head of Business Creation
EIC Pilot Dealflow Manager
EIC Pilot Programme Manager
EIC Pilot Venture Portfolio Manager
This webpage reflects EIT Health’s view. While this project receives funding of one million euros from the European Commission’s H2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101035792, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) is not responsible for this webpage and any use that may be made of the information it contains. The pilot project start date was 5th July 2021 and the end date is 4th July 2022.