🏛 EU_PORTAL · 📍 EU
€2,000,000
22/4/2026
16/9/2026
Horizon Europe
EIC Transition Open
Objective:
EIC Transition funds innovation activities that go beyond the experimental proof of principle in laboratory (applications must have completed all elements of Technology Readiness Level 3). It supports both the maturation and validation of your novel technology from the lab to the relevant application environments (by making use of prototyping, formulation, models, user testing or other validation tests) as well as explorations and development of a sustainable business plan and business model towards commercialisation into high potential markets.
Your proposed activities must include further technology development on the results achieved in a previous project and follow user-centric methodologies to increase chances of the innovation’s future commercial success in the market. EIC Transition projects should address, in a balanced way, both technology and market/business development, possibly including iterative learning processes based on early customer or user feedback. These activities should include, subject to the level of maturity of the technology, a suitable mix of technology development and validation activities to increase the maturity of the technology beyond proof of concept to viable demonstrators of the technology in the intended field of application (i.e., applications must have completed all elements of Technology Readiness Level 3 up to TRL 5 to 6 at the end of the project). The activities must in all cases address improving market readiness towards commercialisation and deployment (market research, value proposition, refine incipient business plan63 and validate incipient business model, intellectual property protection, etc.) and aspects of regulation, certification and standardisation (if relevant), aimed at getting both the technology and the business idea investment ready.
More information can be found in the European Innovation Council Work Programme 2026.
Proposals must build on results already achieved within an eligible project that are, at least, at experimental proof of concept (applications must have completed all elements of Technology Readiness Level 3) and should not be beyond TRL4, i.e. that all elements of TRL4 have already been completed. Proposals building on project results at other TRLs level are not eligible.
For more information on eligible projects, please consult the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the EIC Transition website.
You can apply for EIC Transition either as:
- A single legal entity established in a Member State or an Associated Country (‘mono-beneficiary’)
- A small consortium of two independent legal entities from two different Member States or Associated Countries or
- A consortium of minimum three and maximum five independent legal entities (‘multi-beneficiary’) following standard rules i.e. must include at least one legal entity established in a Member State and at least two other independent legal entities, each established in different Member States or Associated Countries.
The standard admissibility and eligibility conditions as well as the eligibility of applicants from third countries are detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Sections 1 to 3 and the cover page (that includes the information about the related project on which the current EIC Transition proposal is built on) of the part B of your proposal, corresponding respectively to the evaluation criteria Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, must consist of a maximum of 22 A4 pages.
Excess pages will be automatically made invisible, and will not be taken into consideration by the evaluators. Please also consult Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
The eligibility of applicants from third countries is explained Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
The EIC Transition is restricted to proposals based on results generated by the eligible projects described in the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in section III of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Described in section III of the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the Online Manual.
Described in section III of the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Please refer to the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) used for EIC actions under Horizon Europe.
Described in the EIC Work Programme 2026.
EIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Standard application form (will be made available in the submission workflow).
Do not use previous years' template versions as this may lead to incomplete applications.
Application form templates
Standard application form (will be made available in the submission workflow).
Do not use previous years' template versions as this may lead to incomplete applications.
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION)
Please use the application form that you will find in the Submission System. You can find examples of standard application forms in the Reference Documents page.
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.