108 innovation projects will receive a combined total of €210.2m in funding under the latest round of the European Innovation Council pilot programme.
The European Innovation Council is a European Commission funding mechanism designed to direct investment and support to emerging, breakthrough and innovative projects, with the goal of enabling ‘top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and researchers with bright ideas’ to bring their innovations to market. €177m will be distributed to small companies under the EIC Accelerator funding arm, which is aimed at scaling up innovation in its early stages; while the Fast Track to Innovation strand will provide €33m to support projects in reaching the market faster.
Projects receiving funding through this round of the European Innovation Council include:
- A technological innovation which replicates the process of rain, acting as a sustainable source of drinking water;
- A hybrid simulation platform to facilitate neurosurgery operations;
- A recyclable stone material to be used in the manufacture of kitchen countertops;
- A kite which collects wind energy;
- A periscopic stereo depth camera;
- An anti-metastatic vaccine for cancer patients; and
- Technology which maps air quality with high-spatial resolution.
Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Each of the companies receiving funding through the European Innovation Council is offering a solution to a problem that affects the daily lives of Europeans, be it in the area of health, environment, energy and more. I am delighted to see that the European Innovation Council is already delivering on its promise of supporting innovators with the vision and ability of bringing about positive change in the world.”
The European Innovation Council launched its pilot stage in October 2017 as part of Horizon 2020’s work programme for 2018 to 2020. The Council states its funding is focused on ‘funding and opportunities on innovators, startups and companies with ideas and innovations which are radically different from existing products, services or business models; are highly risky; [and] have the potential to scale up internationally’.
