The European Innovation Council (EIC) is a key initiative of the European Commission that supports breakthrough innovation with scale-up potential at the global level. The EIC focuses on strategic technologies and innovation challenges, particularly in areas such as the European Green Deal, REPowerEU, the Chips Act, future AI Act, Net Zero Industry, and other EU policies. The EIC has a budget of over €10 billion to support innovations throughout their lifecycle, from early-stage research to commercialization. The available financial resources are divided into three main schemes: - **EIC Pathfinder**: Supports advanced research with grants up to €4 million. - **EIC Transition**: Funds innovation activities with grants up to €2.5 million. - **EIC Accelerator**: Provides a combination of grants up to €2.5 million and investments up to €15 million for market deployment and scale-up. To receive funding, projects must demonstrate high-risk, high-impact potential, and align with EU policy priorities. Recent projects and organisations financed by the EIC include those in generative artificial intelligence, space, critical raw materials, semiconductors, and quantum technologies. The EIC also supports strategic partnerships and collaborations across the EU to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) could support the development of the European Housing Cooperative (EHC) through various financial and non-financial means. The EIC's primary focus is on driving innovation and entrepreneurship in Europe, which aligns with the EHC's goals of creating sustainable and community-led housing projects. Specifically, the EIC's funding schemes, such as the EIC Accelerator and EIC Pathfinder, could be suitable for supporting the co-creation of the EHC. These programs provide grants and investments to innovative startups and SMEs, which could be leveraged by the EHC to develop its technology-powered platform and community-driven approach. In the past, the EIC has funded projects related to sustainable housing and urban development, such as the "Smart Cities and Communities" initiative. Similar projects that have received funding include the "Urban Innovation Actions" program, which supports innovative urban projects and the "European Urban and Regional Research" program, which focuses on sustainable urban development. Additionally, the EIC's Corporate Partnership Programme could be beneficial for the EHC, as it facilitates partnerships between innovative startups and large corporations. This could help the EHC secure partnerships with real estate asset owners, impact investors, and tech startups to accelerate its mission. Overall, the EIC's funding and support mechanisms align with the EHC's goals, making it a potential source of financial and non-financial support for the development of the European Housing Cooperative.