EIC grant process is ‘burdensome’ and grants ‘lack flexibility’, independent experts say
The independent advisory board on the European Innovation Council—a fledgling EU funder of R&D-based small business growth and entrepreneurship—has said that “major improvements” are needed to the EIC’s grant application process.
In a report published on 30 June, based on the EIC pilot that has been running since 2017 ahead of a full roll-out in 2021, the board made suggestions for several types of EIC grants, including those from its Accelerator instrument, which is meant to help small and medium-sized enterprises and innovators move high-risk innovations closer to market.