Launch of the Plug-In scheme to the EIC Accelerator

The EIC Plug-in Pilot is primed to launch in Ireland! It is aimed at applicants in the EIC Accelerator who are funded under national funding instruments that are certified for the plug-in. For these applicants, a shortened application procedure in the EIC Accelerator is now possible.

In Ireland’s case, the certified EIC plug-in programme is Enterprise Ireland’s Innovative High Potential Start-Up (iHPSU) scheme.  The iHPSU team will now work with the designated national EIC Plug-in coordinator James Walsh (EIC NCP) to conduct an independent 'project review' with interested candidate companies to assess the innovation and market potential of the existing project and to decide whether the project is suitable for funding under the EIC Accelerator. In the case of a positive assessment, the first stage of the application process, the 'short proposal', can be skipped and successful applicants can proceed directly to the full proposal stage.

For more details of how the plug-in scheme is being implemented in Ireland, eligible companies can contact James Walsh.

Call for expression of interest for Regional Innovation Valleys - now open

Under the New European Innovation Agenda, the RIVs aim to harness the potential of deep-tech innovation across the different EU territories and addresses the innovation divide.  It has set the ambitious goal to identify up to 100 regions committed to enhance the coordination and direction of their research and innovation investment and policies, at regional level and to collaborate on inter-regional innovation projects, including deep tech innovation, linked to key EU priorities. It is expected that these regions will prioritise three or four inter-regional innovation projects, including deep tech innovation, linked to key EU priorities. 

With funding of EUR 100 million from Horizon Europe and EUR 70 million from the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), support will be provided for inter-regional collaboration activities that feature collaboration between at least one less-innovative region and another more-innovative region. Supported actions could include market uptake of research, support companies in scaling up their ideas, as well as deploying and demonstrating deep technologies in real world environments and with end users, access to cross-border infrastructure and expertise, exchange of staff, training and skills development and developing standards and regulations through sandboxes and test beds.

If you are committed to addressing one of the burning challenges of our time including the improvement of Europe’s industrial competitiveness using deep tech innovation, check out the call for expression of interest which will remain open until 18 September 2023.

Ireland has a strong track record in several EIC Prize competitions so hopefully that will continue to grow across all the existing and indeed new categories below. Please note the dates for info days, opening and closing dates below.  

European Social Innovation Competition: (Deadline for applications 30 May)

The competition supports innovators to develop their ideas into working solutions and facilitates a network of radical innovators shaping our society. This prize acknowledges the social innovation as a potent approach for responding to societal challenges - email here.

The European Capital of Innovation Awards: (Deadline for applications 29 June)

This annual recognition prize is awarded to the European cities that best promote innovation in their communities- email here.

The European Innovation Procurement Awards: (Deadline for applications 17 August)

The Awards recognise the efforts by public and private buyers to promote and implement innovation procurement across Europe. Info session on 31st May is open for registrations - email here.

European Humanitarian Innovation Prize: (Deadline for applications 3 October)

The European Prize for Humanitarian Innovation (InnovAid) rewards the humanitarian organisations, social enterprises, and companies that are developing technology to better assist vulnerable people affected by natural hazards and man-made crises such as conflicts.

Info session on 23rd May is open for registrations- email here.

EU Prize for Women Innovators: (Indicative deadline for applications 28 September)

This prize celebrates the women entrepreneurs behind Europe’s game-changing innovations. Irish Women Innovators have performed very strongly in recent years in 1) The Women Innovators category: three prizes of EUR 100 000 each awarded to the most talented women innovators from across the EU and Associated Countries; and 2) Rising Innovators category: three prizes of EUR 50,000 each awarded to the most promising young innovators under 35- email here.