European funding · EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges
€300,000, then up to €2.5m, to solve a defined deep-tech challenge.
A competition-style EIC pilot that funds breakthrough solutions to specific problems and tests them with real users.
Overview
What the Advanced Innovation Challenges are
Advanced Innovation Challenges are demand-driven. EIC Programme Managers define a problem together with users and ecosystem partners, then fund competing teams in stages. Stage 1 gives €300,000 for up to nine months to benchmark solutions and test feasibility; the most promising teams move to Stage 2, with up to €2.5 million over two and a half years to test their solutions in real-world settings with users. The first call drew 709 proposals and 20 projects were selected.
2026 challenge 1
Physical AI
Embodied intelligence for the next generation of AI-powered robotics, from integration to deployment and commercialisation.
2026 challenge 2
New Approach Methodologies
Bringing to market methods that replace, reduce or refine the use of animals in testing medicinal products.
A good fit if…
- Your technology matches a published challenge topic
- You can benchmark your approach against alternatives and accept stage gates
- You want to involve real users and buyers early
- You are a start-up, SME or research organisation (larger companies cannot apply alone)
Not the right fit yet if…
- Your technology does not fit a published challenge: look at EIC Pathfinder or the Accelerator
- You did not take part in Stage 1: only Stage 1 winners can enter Stage 2
MBA view
Watch for the next challenges
This is a pilot, so new challenge topics may follow in the 2027 Work Programme. Register for the EIC online information day on 19 November 2026 and watch the challenge introduction videos: these topics reward teams that already talk to end users and can show results quickly.
DueDiligence.Management
A professional opinion before you apply
Challenge fit, benchmarking and user-validation plan reviewed, with written findings and next steps.
Members’ guide
The full Advanced Innovation Challenges guide is for Founder Members
- Stage 1 and Stage 2 checklists
- Step-by-step process and key dates
- What evaluators focus on and why proposals fail
- A readiness self-check
- Challenge topics, videos and official links
Keep exploring
Other European funding programmes
Source: European Innovation Council – Advanced Innovation Challenges. Summarised in our own words; information checked on 28 October 2026. Always confirm rules and dates on the official call page before applying. Monaco Business Angels and DueDiligence.Management are independent and are not affiliated with the European Commission.