BOOST Call for Proposals

The BOOST Call for Proposals is a restricted funding opportunity aimed at EIC Awardees, specifically those who have received an invitation from the European Innovation Council (EIC) to submit proposals. The initiative, which will provide financial support through EIC Booster Grants, is focused on helping existing EIC Awardees explore commercialization pathways and engage in portfolio activities linked to their EIC-related projects.

Eligible applicants are limited to those who have participated in EIC-funded initiatives, such as EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive projects. The funding type for this grant is a non-repayable financial grant, with a maximum funding cap set at €50,000 per project. The total funding allocated for this call is €5 million, supporting at least 100 beneficiaries.

This funding opportunity does not require consortium applications; rather, it is open to single applicants only, who must be based in EU member states or countries associated with Horizon Europe. The BOOST grant aims to foster innovation across various sectors, although no specific sectors are predefined in the call. The projects supported should be in the validation, demonstration, or near-commercial stage, ideally at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 5 to 6.

The application process for the BOOST grant is invitation-only, with several cut-off deadlines throughout 2025, specifically on April 8, May 6, June 3, September 9, and November 4. The submission and evaluation are structured into four key stages, including submission, eligibility check, expert evaluation, and final legal validation.

The program anticipates potentially higher success rates, likely above 80%, given its nature of being restricted to pre-identified awardees. It also notes a co-funding requirement, as the grant covers up to 70% of eligible costs, implying that applicants must secure at least 30% in matching funds.

The BOOST initiative thus offers targeted financial assistance designed to maximize the impact of EIC-supported research, facilitating efforts for portfolio coordination and unexpected innovations that emerge from these projects. The official submission process will commence on March 6, 2025, aligning with the goal of nurturing innovation within the European research landscape.

The BOOST Call for Proposals is a restricted call for proposals with multiple cut-off dates, designed to provide financial support to identified EIC Awardees. The project, titled "Bringing financial support to innOvation and pOrtfolio activitieS increasing impacT of eic-supported research," aims to support the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) in implementing EIC Booster Grants for EIC Awardees. This initiative continues the EIC Booster Grant scheme that EISMEA has implemented since 2023.

The booster grant is intended to fund innovation activities that explore potential pathways to commercialization, as well as portfolio activities linked to projects funded under EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive programs. The primary goal is to offer EIC/FET Awardees small financial support for portfolio coordinating activities or to foster innovation that was not initially anticipated in the original grant.

Key Dates and Information:

Opening Date: 06 March 2025

Deadline Model: Multiple cut-off

Deadline Dates:

08 April 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

06 May 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

03 June 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

09 September 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

04 November 2025 17:00 (Brussels time)

Total Funding Available: 5,000,000.00 EUR

Project Acronym: BOOST

Full Project Name: Bringing financial support to innOvation and pOrtfolio activitieS increasing impacT of eic-supported research

Grant Agreement Number: 101192038

Topic: HORIZON-EIC-2024-BOOSTER - Financial Support under the EIC Booster Grant Scheme

Submission and Evaluation Process:

The submission and evaluation process includes the following steps:

Application submission via the official form, which is available under the invitation provided by the EIC.

Admissibility and Eligibility check to ensure that the application meets the basic requirements.

Evaluation by external experts who will assess the quality and potential impact of the proposed activities.

Legal validation and sub-grant agreement signature for successful applicants.

Eligibility and Funding Details:

Eligibility: Only beneficiaries who have received an EIC-endorsed invitation to submit a proposal are eligible to apply.

Maximum Funding: The maximum financial support will not exceed 50,000 EUR per EIC Booster Grant project.

Task Description:

The task description is not provided in the given text.

In summary, the BOOST Call for Proposals offers financial support to EIC Awardees to further explore innovation and commercialization opportunities stemming from their existing EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive projects. This grant aims to provide additional resources for portfolio coordination and to nurture unforeseen innovations. The call operates with multiple deadlines throughout 2025, and only those who have received a direct invitation from the EIC are eligible to apply. The maximum grant amount is 50,000 EUR. The overall goal is to increase the impact of EIC-supported research by providing targeted financial assistance for specific innovation and portfolio-related activities.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are EIC Awardees, specifically those who have received an EIC-endorsed invitation to submit a proposal. This includes beneficiaries of EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive funded projects.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically an EIC Booster Grant. This is cascade funding, meaning funds are distributed through an intermediary (the BOOST project) to the final beneficiaries.

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if single applicants are allowed. However, given the nature of "portfolio activities" and the aim to "nurture innovation," it is possible that both single applicants and consortia are eligible, but this requires further clarification. The focus seems to be on individual EIC Awardees.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is not explicitly stated, but since it is an EIC (European Innovation Council) Booster Grant, it is highly likely that the beneficiaries must be located in EU member states or countries associated with the Horizon Europe program. Further clarification would be needed to confirm specific geographic limitations.

Target Sector: The program targets innovation activities across various sectors, as it supports projects previously funded under EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive. These funding schemes cover a wide range of technology and research areas, including but not limited to: DeepTech, health, energy, environment, ICT, advanced materials, and emerging technologies. The focus is on exploring potential pathways to commercialization and supporting portfolio activities.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned. The opportunity is related to the European Innovation Council (EIC), so it is likely targeted at entities within the EU and associated countries.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is between the research/development and commercialization stages. The grant aims to fund innovation activities to explore potential pathways to commercialisation, suggesting that the projects are in the development, validation, or demonstration phase, moving towards commercial readiness.

Funding Amount: The maximum funding amount is €50,000 per EIC Booster Grant project. The total funding available for the call is €5,000,000.

Application Type: The application type is a restricted call for proposals with multiple cut-offs. This means that only invited EIC Awardees can apply, and there are several deadlines for submission.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant to support their innovation and portfolio activities.

Application Stages: The application process involves several stages: application submission via an official form provided by the EIC, admissibility and eligibility check, evaluation by external experts, and legal validation and sub-grant agreement signature. This suggests at least 4 stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but given that this is a restricted call for proposals only open to EIC Awardees, the success rate is likely to be higher than open calls. However, without specific data, it is difficult to estimate. It could be in the 10 to 39% range or higher, depending on the number of invited awardees and the quality of their proposals.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary:

The BOOST project provides financial support to EIC Awardees through EIC Booster Grants. This is a restricted call, meaning only those who have received an invitation from the EIC can apply. The goal is to fund innovation activities that help these awardees explore commercialization pathways or support portfolio activities related to their existing EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, FET Open, or FET Proactive projects. The maximum grant amount is €50,000 per project, and the total funding available is €5,000,000. The application process involves multiple cut-off dates, with deadlines in April, May, June, September, and November 2025. The evaluation process includes an eligibility check, expert evaluation, and legal validation before a grant agreement is signed. This initiative aims to provide small financial boosts to EIC/FET Awardees to help them coordinate their portfolios or pursue unforeseen innovations that arose from their initial grants, ultimately increasing the impact of EIC-supported research. The opening date for submissions is March 6, 2025.