The purpose of the tender
The objective of the call is to encourage micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in international projects by applying to calls under the European Innovation Council (EIC) within the Horizon Europe programme. The voucher enables companies to co-finance the costs of preparing high-quality project proposals with the help of qualified external contractors.
Funds tendered
A total of EUR 0.2 millionfor the period from 2025-2028.
Announcement of tender
The tender was published in Official Gazette no. 56/2025 of 25 July 2025. Link to the call
Amount of funding
- 60% co-financing of eligible costs
- Minimum subsidy: EUR 500.00
- Maximum subsidy per activity package for sub-programmes:
EIC Pathfinder Open & EIC Pathfinder Challenges:
- Consortium partner: EUR 2,000.00
- Lead consortium partner: EUR 3,000.00
EIC Transition Open:
- First stage – consortium partner: EUR 2,000.00
- Second stage – interview invitation – consortium partner: EUR 1,500.00
EIC Accelerator Open & EIC Accelerator Challenges (as individual applicant):
- Short proposal: EUR 2,000.00
- Full proposal: EUR 5,000.00
- Interview invitation: EUR 3,000.00
EIC STEP Scale-up (as individual applicant):
- Interview invitation: EUR 4,000.00
Maximum total per applicant (all sub-programmes/activity packages combined): EUR 9,999.99
Eligible costs
- Costs of the external contractor who assisted the beneficiary in preparing the project proposal for a call under the EIC sub-programmes within Horizon Europe.
- Travel expenses: round-trip flight ticket costs (only in the case of an interview invitation – EIC Accelerator Open & Challenges, EIC STEP Scale-up).
- Accommodation expenses: only the cost of one overnight stay or one night with breakfast is eligible (only in the case of an interview invitation – EIC Accelerator Open & Challenges, EIC STEP Scale-up).
Costs related to training, travel, or material expenses of the external contractor incurred during project proposal preparation are not eligible.
VAT is not an eligible cost.
Eligibility Period From the publication date of the call to 30 September 2028
Activities that will be carried out and paid for within the eligibility period specified in the co-financing agreement will be eligible for co-financing. The beneficiary must carry out all activities until the request for payment is submitted.
Special conditions
- SMEs can receive funding under this public call multiple times during the eligibility period. Each project proposal must be submitted with a separate application.
- The selected external contractor cannot act as an applicant under this call, and the applicant cannot act as an external contractor for other applicants.
