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The European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) welcomes the European Commission’s proposed Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the next iteration of Horizon Europe as a clear reaffirmation of Europe’s strategic ambition in research, development, and innovation. With a proposed €175 billion for the successor to Horizon Europe (FP10), the Commission has sent a strong signal that innovation will remain a cornerstone of Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability, and technological sovereignty. We are especially encouraged by the continued emphasis on:
These developments show that the Commission has listened to many of the sector’s calls — including those highlighted in the « Align, act accelerate » report from Manuel Heitor — by advancing proposals for efficiency, user orientation, shorter time-to-grant, and a more integrated funding environment. However, important questions remain, and EAIC looks forward to working with the institutions to address the following points: Governance and steer: The relationship between the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and FP10 still lacks clarity. The proposed “integrated work programmes” and the creation of a “Competitiveness Coordination Tool” and consultative board require more detail, especially regarding the autonomy of FP10 decision-making, particularly for Pillar 2 and the EIC. Budget safeguards: While collaborative projects have been kept in Pillar 2, how will the budget distribution be made with Moonshots as well as Missions and with the priority windows of the Competitiveness Fund? Instrument design: EAIC acknowledges the intent to include lump sum fundings by default, but the operational specifics — including rules on technical audits — must be carefully developed to maintain trust in the system. EIC evolution: Clarity is still needed on the continuation of grant-only options for the EIC Accelerator, the functioning of blended-finance, the Transition projects without calls for proposals and the implementation of new tools for deep tech scale-up. The EIC Accelerator has committed €3.45 billion in equity over its first 4½ years, yet only €1.76 billion in term sheets have been signed and just €758 million actually disbursed—meaning only 22 % of committed funding (and 43 % of signed term‑sheet amounts) has reached laureate startups. This shortfall stems from the EIC Fund’s current practice of “drip‑feeding” capital: it won’t deploy its equity until a private lead investor is in place, often scales back original commitments to preserve dry powder, and cannot recycle unspent allocations or exit proceeds into new investments once the current Framework Programme ends. To address these issues, we strongly support the EIC Board recommendations for the next Framework Programme. First, transform the EIC Fund into an evergreen vehicle so that returns and unused allocations from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe can be reinvested continuously, avoiding a hard budgetary cutoff. Second, empower the Fund to act as a lead investor—especially in strategic technology areas with sparse private markets—enabling it to set terms, close rounds more swiftly, and anchor syndicates that attract additional private capital. These changes would boost deployment rates, strengthen follow‑on financing, and sustain Europe’s deep‑tech start-ups and scale‑ups. Finally, we note that EIC Transition grants may be awarded to companies outside the usual call for proposals; greater transparency in this mechanism is therefore essential to prevent any politicisation of grant decisions. MSCA and directionality: It remains to be seen how directionality will be applied without compromising the excellence-based model. Valorisation mechanisms: EAIC supports the intention to accelerate research uptake and welcomes the proposed “dedicated support instruments,” but further detail is needed on their design and operation. In sum, EAIC strongly supports the Commission’s proposals, particularly the efforts to simplify access, enhance coherence, and double down on Europe’s innovation capacity. But the work ahead must focus on securing transparency, clarity and predictability — not only for public authorities but for the thousands of research organisations, SMEs, and innovators who rely on Europe’s RD&I ecosystem to deliver impact. EAIC will continue to advocate for a meaningful role for innovation consultants in the co-design and implementation of these programmes. Our members stand ready to help organisations navigate the new framework, unlock funding, and accelerate breakthrough innovation across Europe. #EAIC #HorizonEurope #FP10 #EUbudget #RDandI #InnovationConsulting #DeepTech #EIC #StrategicAutonomy #SimplifiedAccess #InnovationForEurope EAIC Webinar: Dual-Use Technologies: Balancing Innovation, Ethics, and Strategy 12:00 PM CETThere has been growing support for dual-use technologies in Europe. This raises concerns about ethical commitments, strategic priorities, and investment policies. While some argue that such a shift could conflict with EU ESG goals, others see an opportunity to expand innovation in sectors like quantum computing, AI, and advanced materials. Speakers:
The Key Takeaways:
 EAIC Webinar: Why Collaborative Projects Matter - Apr 28, 2025 03:00 PM22/4/2025 Collaborative projects are at the core of Europe’s strategy to drive innovation, tackle global challenges, and enhance industrial leadership. But what makes them so critical for researchers, innovators, and businesses? The panel will explore how collaborative projects support groundbreaking research, enable cross-sector collaboration, and strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness. Speakers:
The Key Takeaways:
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