The European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) welcomes the 2025 EIC Work Programme, which enhances Europe’s ambition to foster breakthrough innovations. The increase in funding to over €1.4 billion, alongside the launch of the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP), reflects a positive shift toward empowering deep tech and other critical technologies within Europe. However, it is unfortunate that the EIC’s overall funding has not been more dramatically increased, as many high-quality projects remain unfunded. 

Limited Support for Startups in the EIC Pathfinder programme 

One of the main issues is that the Work Programme falls short in its support for startups, which are underrepresented among beneficiaries. Of the 45 projects selected under the 2024 EIC Pathfinder Open call, only 22% of participants were SMEs, compared to 46% from higher education institutions and over 20% from research organizations. This distribution suggests a structural limitation, as a core EIC objective is to scale market-ready innovations from startups and SMEs with disruptive potential.  

Recommendation: Enhancing Early-Stage Support in FP10 

As the EAIC pointed out in its recent position paper, developing a market-access-oriented deep tech ecosystem is vital to Europe’s ambitions for industrial leadership and its net-zero transition goals. However, Europe’s funding gap for deep tech, compared to global peers, remains a challenge. Future Framework Programmes could play an essential role in addressing this by increasing early-stage funding opportunities, blending grants and equity to support innovations from inception to scale. 

While STEP’s focus on scale-ups is valuable, a more balanced approach that includes robust support for early-stage ventures would further solidify Europe’s innovation base. We encourage the European Commission to consider additional funding for startups, with clearer, sector-specific guidelines on technology readiness levels (TRLs) and expectations. This alignment would enhance the EIC’s appeal as a funding source that accommodates the unique needs of early-stage ventures, fostering growth across the innovation spectrum. 

Commitment to Ethical Standards and the Role of Consultants 

The EAIC is committed to ethical standards and effective support within the European R&I landscape. We have actively contributed to the EIC’s code of conduct and continue to promote high standards within our own. We welcome ongoing dialogue with the EIC to ensure that consultants contribute constructively to the programme’s evolution, in line with both organizations’ codes of conduct. 
​
The EAIC stands ready to work with the EIC to address these challenges and advance an ecosystem where startups and SMEs are positioned to make Europe a leader in competitive, sustainable technology markets.

The EAIC (European Association of Innovation Consultants) welcomes the release of the “Align, Act, Accelerate” report, the European Commission’s Expert Group report on FP10. It offers a forward-thinking and insightful perspective on some of Europe’s key research and innovation challenges while presenting innovative proposals to address them. We are encouraged by its comprehensive approach, and we value the opportunity to contribute to the ongoing discussions on shaping the future of European research and innovation policy. 

Increasing the Budget for FP10 
One of the most significant takeaways from the report is its confirmation of what Europe’s research and innovation community has long supported: that the budget for the next Framework Programme should be dramatically increased and ringfenced to ensure the continuity of critical research initiatives. The EAIC fully supports this recommendation and stresses the need for robust investment in research, development, and innovation (RDI) to ensure that Europe remains competitive on the global stage. 

Simplification of Processes 
The EAIC strongly agrees with the report’s emphasis on simplifying the application process across funding programs. In our recently released position paper on FP10, EAIC members have put forward several concrete proposals to streamline procedures and reduce administrative burdens for applicants.  
​

• Clarification of Participation Rules: We recommend extending the Annotated Grant Agreement to include more country-specific examples, particularly for personnel costs. Moreover, greater clarity is needed for lump-sum projects, where unclear guidelines often create unnecessary complexity for applicants. 

• Improving the Evaluation Process: We propose simplifying the evaluation criteria (excellence, impact, implementation) and ensuring consistent scoring across different calls and instruments to avoid confusion among applicants. Ensuring transparency and fairness in evaluations will contribute to higher confidence in the system. 

• Simplifying Lump-Sum Funding: EAIC members advocate for better training for external reviewers on lump-sum funding specifics and the inclusion of post-reporting work packages to manage cash flow and avoid project delays. 

​In this spirit, we commend the report’s focus on stimulating dialogue around simplifying future framework programs and believe these steps are necessary to make the programs more accessible and manageable for applicants of all sizes. However, we stress that simplification must not come at the expense of excellence, efficient use of resources, and appropriate reporting, which are critical for collaborative work and knowledge production. These elements remain key to ensuring the high standards of European research and innovation projects: 

AI Integration in Proposal Writing and Evaluation 
We support the report’s focus on using AI to streamline proposal writing and evaluation, as it has the potential to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency and consistency. However, past attempts to integrate AI, such as in the EIC Accelerator, have shown mixed results, highlighting the need to balance efficiency with avoiding algorithmic bias. AI use must remain transparent and adhere to strict ethical guidelines, as outlined in the EIC Accelerator Code of Conduct for consultants, which the EAIC contributed to. 

Likewise, the EAIC, in its paper on FP10, has welcomed the use of AI, but only with strict adherence to all relevant regulations, including GDPR. Every stakeholder involved in the EU grant and tender process must ensure that AI respects proprietary and confidential information and that no data used by AI tools can directly or indirectly identify applicants. This applies to all aspects of European RDI projects, from project design to communication and dissemination. 

Trust-First, Evaluate-Later Model 
The proposal in Section 9 of the report, which suggests moving toward a "trust-first, evaluate-later" model, has great potential to reduce administrative overhead and make the application process more user-friendly, particularly for smaller organizations. However, we believe it is crucial to implement strong oversight mechanisms to safeguard against potential mismanagement. A trust-based model can only thrive if there are checks and balances to ensure that trust is not misused. With appropriate safeguards, this approach could lead to more agile and inclusive research funding. 

The Role of Innovation Consultants 
The EAIC supports much of the report’s recommendations but believes that the discussion of transaction costs and the role of innovation consultants requires additional nuance. For instance, applicants do not rely on consultants solely due to the complexity of the application process. In reality, innovation consultants offer value for many other reasons. For example, they provide coaching and support that helps clients think through and improve the innovativeness of their projects. Consultants can also play a critical role in project management, helping to align large consortia of researchers from different countries and backgrounds. Furthermore, the external perspective they bring helps research organizations and companies sharpen their project strategies and maximize their chances of success. 

Contrary to increasing transaction costs, consultants often help reduce them. For organizations without the resources to hire full-time funding specialists, external consultants provide targeted expertise on an as-needed basis. The European Commission itself highlighted the value of consultants in its Ex post evaluation of Horizon 2020 which states: 

"The involvement of consultancies in the application process further points to economies of scale in proposal writing. Consultancies invest the hassle cost of finding relevant information and getting to know the structure of the framework programme, the rules and procedures, and may have practical experience on how to apply for it. Using this human capital adds value to the consortium for which they are compensated. Specializing certain tasks to external firms may be the most efficient way for applicants to organize themselves." 
​
Conclusion 
Overall, the “Align, Act, Accelerate” report represents an important step toward addressing the various challenges within the European research and innovation landscape. While the EAIC supports the vast majority of the report's recommendations, we believe that some aspects, such as the role of innovation consultants, would benefit from further nuance. We look forward to continuing the dialogue and contributing to shaping a more innovative and competitive Europe. 
 
 Contact: Paul Walsh EAIC Secretary General 0032486744337, [email protected] 

The European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) views Mario Draghi's recent report on European competitiveness as a crucial step toward bolstering Europe's innovation capacity.

Several of the report's recommendations, particularly those dealing with EU research and innovation programmes, align with our recent paper on the future of FP10, where we offer suggestions on how to implement them, drawing from our members' extensive experience with research and innovation projects across Europe.

Draghi’s report advocates for a streamlined Framework Programme that is more outcome-oriented and efficient. In our position paper on FP10, we provide specific recommendations to achieve these goals, such as simplifying application processes, refining evaluator selection, and enhancing the overall transparency and effectiveness of the programme.

We also fully support Draghi's call for increased funding for disruptive innovation and early-stage startups. EAIC has consistently emphasized the need for transparent and accessible funding mechanisms. We urge the European Commission to reinforce its support for early-stage, market-oriented deep tech by making more funding available through grants and equity-based instruments in the next Framework Programme, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of high-risk, high-reward innovation.
Furthermore, we endorse the proposal to double the budget for the next Framework Programme (FP10) to €200 billion. This increase is vital to support more high-quality proposals and tackle Europe's most pressing challenges.

EAIC remains committed to advocating for these reforms to strengthen Europe’s innovation ecosystem and facilitate a smoother and more efficient application process for researchers and innovators. Our members’ experience uniquely positions us to contribute meaningfully to this ongoing discussion.
​
For more on our FP10 paper, see: EAIC Position Paper on FP10.

Civitta is an international consultancy erasing artificial boundaries between digital, consultancy, public advisory, innovation, and funding services for public and private clients from the Nordics to Central Asia.

Upon joining Age Laine, Managing Partner of Innovation and Funding Advisory said: "We have joined EAIC to collaborate on industry challenges, share best practices, and unite on issues that matter. We value EAIC’s contributions to European Commission consultations and aim to strengthen Europe's consultancy market, enhancing the impact of EU funds in R&I. We are committed to upholding the high standards of professionalism and ethics as upheld by EAIC members."

Welcome to Civitta teams!
 
Find out more about their services on our website: Civitta - EAIC - European Association of Innovation Consultants 

Today the EAIC releases its position paper on the upcoming EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), covering the period 2028-2034. The paper provides recommendations aimed at enhancing the effectiveness, transparency, and impact of the programme, thereby fostering innovation across the European Union

​Drawing on the extensive expertise of its members, who have supported numerous FP-funded projects, the EAIC highlights several key areas for improvement. These recommendations are based on the collective experience and insights gained from working closely with applicants and beneficiaries, coming from industry, universities, research and technology organisations, and public authorities.
 
“EAIC’s position paper offers a roadmap for enhancing the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. By addressing these key areas, we can ensure that researchers, innovators, and organisations across Europe have the support they need to drive meaningful advancements and tackle major societal challenges,” said Virginie Robin, EAIC Executive Board Member in charge of advocacy. 

EAIC recommendations relate to:

Capstone Business Advisors has joined EAIC!
 
Capstone is an Irish professional services firm comprising a team of Business Advisors and Accountants with a focus on delivering professional expertise and personalised service.
 
In the words of Sarita Johnston, Director, Business Planning: ”European research and innovation projects require more joined up thinking. Synergies can most certainly be achieved by Capstone Business Advisors Limited and other high-quality consulting services for R&I, joining forces on goals of common interest that will enhance the impact of actions at European level” She added: ”This is the primary reason why we join EAIC today!.”
 
Welcome to Capstone team! 
 
Find out more about their services on our website : Capstone - EAIC - European Association of Innovation Consultants

Wega Group Oy joins EAIC!

Wega is an independent Finnish energy service and advising company working with renewable energy, energy intensive industry, and transport sectors.
 
Eija Kanto, Wega Senior Vice President and Partner, said “Joining EAIC will help us widen our network and influence the future development regarding co-funding programmes at EU level.”

Find out more about their services on our website : here. 

Today the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) releases a position paper analysing the EIC Accelerator (EICA) programme's performance and providing crucial recommendations for future work programmes. This document evaluates the November 2023 results against cumulative data, highlighting significant trends and making recommendations to enhance the EIC Accelerator's impact on the European deep-tech ecosystem.

Key findings from the report indicate a high level of satisfaction among project coordinators who have utilised professional project management services, acknowledging a significant reduction in their workload. The survey, which gathers 64 responses, reveals that coordinators could save 3-5 days a month, emphasizing the crucial role of professional project management in enhancing project implementation.
​
Furthermore, the report highlights the greater need for professional project management support within the private sector compared to Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) and other public sector entities. Internal communication, good management practices, and a focus on exploitability are also among the essential components for the successful implementation of EU-funded projects.

The EAIC's report also offers valuable recommendations for the European Commission, such as further simplifying the financial and contractual rules and applying a standard reimbursement rate of 100% for management activities, among others. These insights aim to foster a more efficient and effective project management practices across European collaborative projects.

WIP Renewable Energies has joined EAIC!

Rainer Janssen, WIP Renewable Energies CEO said “Joining EAIC will help us further exploits our long-term expertise in maximizing impact and professional communication, dissemination and exploitation activities within international projects.” He added “collaboration with our peers in EAIC promises interesting opportunities for the provision of expert services to European and international clients.”

Find out more about their services on our website : here. 

META Group has joined EAIC in February 2024!

Upon joining, Alessia Melasecche, META Group CEO, said “Our commitment to maximizing the impact of R&I finds a synergistic match with EAIC's dedication to enhancing professional skills and expertise in European R&I projects.” She added: “our participation in EAIC will allow us to contribute to and influence innovation policies, which is a core aspect of META’s mission."

Welcome to META Group and its team! 

Find out more about their services here.  

Upon joining EAIC, John Crockett, joint Managing Partner Inveniam Group, emphasised “the vital role Innovation Consultants have in the European Innovation Ecosystem”. He stressed “they help to generate excellent ideas, make connections and collaborations happen, develop realistic projects and bring innovation to the users, where it has an impact”.

In a former capacity, John Crockett, was part of the informal group of innovationconsultants who initiated a foundational step for EAIC, i.e. the development of its Code of Conduct.

Welcome to Inveniam Group and its team!
​
Find out more about their services on our website here. 

EAIC advocates for the inclusion of tax incentives for Research and Development (R&D) within the BEFIT - Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation. EAIC Members are uniquely positioned to offer invaluable insights and expertise on how tax incentives can effectively catalyse R&D activities.
 
EAIC welcomes the opportunity to provide comments on the Proposal for a Council Directive on Business in Europe: Framework for Income Taxation (BEFIT) (COM(2023)532 final). EAIC recognises the relevance to introduce a common corporate tax system within the EU and the opportunity that arises with the BEFIT framework. It is time to position innovation within the new framework for taxation at the European level.
 
To do so, EAIC calls on the European Union decision makers to build on the formerly proposed CCCTB (Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base) to ensure that the European Union takes a leap in innovation. Due to the magnitude of the challenges Europe faces, and the geopolitical keys at play, the European Union must take advantage of this opportunity.
 
The BEFIT is designed to create a more stable and predictable business environment in the EU. By reducing fiscal uncertainty, companies can plan long-term investment decisions and their R&D activities with more confidence.
 
Therefore, it is important that the BEFIT proposal includes incentives for R&D, recovering part of the proposal for the CCCTB. This inclusion would allow BEFIT to offer an opportunity to improve the investment environment in Europe.
 
EAIC recommends to:

1. Introduce in BEFIT the same tax incentive scheme for investment in innovation incorporated in the CCCTB proposal – i.e an optional tax deduction which allow companies to deduct up to 50% of their R&D expenses incurred in the EU from their tax base.
2. Introduce in BEFIT specific incentives for investment in start-ups, as included in the CCCTB proposal, such as an additional incentive to deduct all their R&D costs (100%).
3. Invite EU Member States to promote and facilitate legal certainty in the application of fiscal incentive schemes for innovation, as well as stable and predictable budgets.
4. Establish the exclusion of tax benefits for R&D from the calculation of the prior taxable base on which the effective minimum tax rate is calculated, regarding the so called Pillar Two EU Directive (2022/2523) on ensuring a global minimum level of taxation for multinational enterprise groups and large-scale domestic groups in the Union.

With a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the innovation landscape, EAIC stands as a relevant partner, ready to collaborate with policymakers to shape a tax framework that encourages and rewards investment in R&D. 

Download EAIC response to the European Commission consultation here.

​Upon joining EAIC, Alexis Guillard, D&Consultants General Director and Pauline Gay, Senior Consultant emphasised: “We want to work collectively to ensure that our profession, our values and our assets are recognised throughout Europe, and always for the benefits of our customers, in support to European competitiveness, sovereignty and innovation.” 
 
Welcome to D&Consultants and its team! 
 
Check their services on our website here. 

New-I is the first EAIC member headquartered in Bulgaria.

Upon joining EAIC, Anton Todorov, CEO of New I, stressed “how thrilled New I team was to become part of the EAIC community and to get to exchange ideas, know-how and capacity in order to provide better practical solutions for both our clients and other Association members.”

Welcome to New-I and its team!

Find out more about New-I services here.

Sensum is EAIC first Member headquartered in Croatia.
 
Upon joining Danijel Bertovic, CEO of Sensum, indicated “Joining EAIC is a great opportunity to expand our network and to share our expertise and experience with consulting sector in southeast Europe.”
 
Welcome to Sensum and its teams! 
 
Find out more about Sensum here. 

EY joined EAIC before summer and was off to a busy start with:

• the election of Irene Larroy, EY Partner for Global Incentives and Innovation & European Innovation Programme, as EAIC Vice-President , 
• Irene’s appointment as co-leader of EAIC Working Group in Innovation Fund, and
• engagement of EY collaborators from throughout Europe (Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Norway, Slovakia, Spain)  in EAIC Working Groups.

 
In Irene’s word “as EY is re-launching its services in European Innovation Programmes in many European countries, EAIC is being an instrumental in this endeavour!”.
 
Great to have EY in the EAIC community!
 
Check EY services on our website here.

ARISTOS Innovation Funding has joined EAIC in 2023!

Marcos Gonzalez, Executive Director, got to introduce the company and its services at the 2023 End of the Year Members Meeting on 11 December.

Marcos gives a compelling description of why it matters for Aristos to join EAIC:

• "Staying on the cutting edge: We keep customers in the know about the latest trends and strategies in European funding for innovation
  
• Building networks: The EAIC connects top innovation experts and firms across the continent
  
• Sharing best practices: The EAIC ensures that members exchange and implement best practices in innovation consulting to provide quality services
  
• Code of conduct: The EAIC enforces a strong code of conduct, guaranteeing high standards in innovation consulting."

Upon joining EAIC in summer 2023, Etkin EU team shared its enthusiasm to become part of a unique European network of R&I consultants and contribute to the growth and prosperity of R&I consultancy ecosystem in Europe.

​Welcome to Etkin Project and its team!

BI-Consulting has joined EAIC in October 2023

Veronica Larroy, Head of International Projects, got to introduce the company and its services at the 2023 End of the Year Members Meeting. In her own words, “joining EAIC, we aim to enhance our client services, stay abreast of the latest sector developments, and actively engage in shaping the future of innovation consultancy in Europe.”
Welcome to BI Consulting!

NETO Innovation is a consulting company for innovation management and funding. Thanks to the expertise of its team, it offers various types of services to support companies in the financing of their RDI projects (Research, Development, and Innovation).

In the own words of Rita Faddoul, Founder and President of NETO Innovation: “Working with like-minded organisations within EAIC is for NETO Innovation another tangible step towards demonstrating its unwavering commitment to ethical practices in innovation management and funding consultancy.”

Welcome NETO Innovation!

The European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) expresses its appreciation for EIC Board's introduction of the Code of Conduct for Consultants. This initiative reflects a commendable dedication to transparency, fairness, and ethical practices in European Innovation Council.
 
In its public statement released today in response to the dedicated public consultation,  EAIC highlights the facts that: 

• It supports the EIC Code of Conduct and recognises as a crucial step in ensuring a level playing field for all participants in EIC programmes.
• It already operates under a robust Code of Conduct that emphasizes professionalism and ethical standards in its members interactions with clients; the EAIC Code naturally aligns with the principles outlined in EIC Code.
• It is pleased to have been actively involved in the development phase of the code (prior to the public release of the July 2023 draft) and that many of its  suggestions were taken on board.

EAIC offers additional written comments on the EIC Code text and recommends to:

• Prominently position the provision prohibiting consultancy company staff to support an application development, whilst also acting as an evaluator for those funding calls.
• Add provisions regarding the use of generative AI tools to support parts of the grant writing process.

Moving forward, EAIC is eager to contribute to the discussions about the enforcement and likely future revise the Code. Its goal is to ensure that eh EIC Code remains an effective tool for upholding the highest ethical standards within EIC programmes.

EAIC strengthens its leadership team and elects three dynamic Vice-Presidents. These outstanding individuals will work hand-in-hand with EAIC President, Luc Ragon, and Executive Board to drive innovation and growth in innovation consulting industry. 

Join us in welcoming our new Vice-Presidents:

• Xavier Aubry (Zaz Ventures), Vice President [Framework Programme European Innovation Council]
• Alicja  Grzegorzek Carrascosa (Polite), Vice President [Membership]
• Irene Larroy (EY), Vice President [Innovation Fund]

Their expertise and passion will play a pivotal role in shaping our association's future and advocating for our members' interests.