InnoMatch project - Open call 2 for EIC Awardees

InnoMatch Open Call 2 supports Horizon Europe EIC Awardees to pilot demand-driven solutions with committed public or private buyers through a Prepare, Deploy and Assess programme. The call will select 4 pilots in this wave, offering up to €60,000 lump sum per pilot and forming part of an overall InnoMatch envelope of €2.28 million across calls. Eligible applicants are single legal entities that are EIC Awardees (Pathfinder, Transition or Accelerator beneficiaries); buyers cannot apply and applicants must secure a committed buyer and submit via the F6S platform. The submission deadline is 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET and selection follows an eligibility check and external remote evaluation with results expected in May 2026.

What it funds

Pilot testing or proof-of-concept (PoC) demonstrations of EIC-backed innovative solutions to address four predefined Buyers innovation challenges, including support activities to maximise adoption and replication.

Funding available:This call funds up to €60,000 per selected pilot (lump sum, results-driven). The InnoMatch initiative manages a total envelope of €2.28 million across its open calls and activities ¹.

Who can apply

Single legal entities that are Horizon Europe EIC Awardees (beneficiaries of EIC Pathfinder, Transition or companies with an EIC Accelerator contract/investment). Buyers cannot apply.

How many projects selected & timeframe

This Open Call 2 will select four pilots/PoCs. Selected EIC Awardees join a 12-month InnoMatch Programme structured in three phases: Prepare (up to 2 months), Deploy (up to 6 months) and Assess (up to 4 months).

Key deadlines and application

1. 1Call opening date: 16 February 2026
2. 2Submission deadline: 17 April 2026, 17:00 CET (Brussels time)
3. 3Expected notification of results: May 2026
4. 4Applications must be submitted via the F6S portal: f6s.com

Selection follows an internal eligibility check and remote external evaluation by two experts; interviews or consensus meetings may be used to resolve score divergences. Selected applicants enter contracting and then the InnoMatch Programme.

How to prepare:Read the Guidelines for Applicants and provide evidence of technical feasibility, commercialisation plan, team capacity, and a buyer commitment letter (template available in the call documentation) ¹.

Additional non-financial support:technical coaching, training, matchmaking with committed Buyers and access to the EIC Innovation Procurement community and toolkit to boost post-pilot market uptake.

Full call documentation and Guidelines for Applicants are hosted on the InnoMatch website and the call page; personal data handling and submission rules are described in the Guidelines ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1InnoMatch open call documentation and Guidelines for Applicants: innomatchproject.eu.

Open call 2 of the InnoMatch project provides equity-free cascade funding and tailored support to Horizon Europe EIC Awardees to pilot or demonstrate proof-of-concept solutions that address four predefined Innovation Challenges set by committed public and private buyers. Selected applicants receive up to €60,000 lump sum per pilot, plus non-financial services, to deploy their innovation on the buyer’s premises and validate it for potential post-pilot adoption. Submission is single-stage via the F6S platform, with a two-step evaluation (eligibility and external remote review) and potential interviews for tie-breaking. The call is powered by the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme under Horizon Europe GA No. 101165966 and follows a Prepare, Deploy, Assess programme over 12 months. Deadline: 17 April 2026, 17:00 Brussels time InnoMatch Open Call 2 page EU Funding & Tenders listing ¹.

Who can apply and what is funded

Eligibility is restricted to single legal entities that are Horizon Europe EIC Awardees. Buyers cannot apply. Applicants must propose a solution tailored to one of the four predefined Innovation Challenges of the selected Buyers and secure a committed Buyer for the pilot, evidenced by a Letter of Commitment. Funding is provided as a results-driven lump sum of up to €60,000 per pilot or PoC, equity-free, against achievement of agreed milestones and approval of reports. This specific call will fund 4 pilots or PoCs; across the overall InnoMatch action, at least 38 pilots are planned with a total indicative budget of €2.28 million InnoMatch Open Call 2 page EU Funding & Tenders listing ².

Scope and predefined Innovation Challenges

• Challenge 1: Ai4PP – Digital Transformation and AI.
• Challenge 2: CHEF – Energy, Environment, Sustainability; Health and Life Sciences.
• Challenge 3: SoilPulse – Agriculture, Food and Beverages.
• Challenge 4: PrediHeart – Health and Life Sciences; Security, safety and dual industries.

Solutions must be demand-driven and directly address the selected Buyer’s challenge. Applicants must demonstrate technical soundness, feasibility, scalability, expected impact including societal benefits, and a clear plan for commercialization and adoption post-pilot. Complementarity with wider EIC Innovation Procurement Programme activities and EIC Business Acceleration Services is considered an advantage.

Programme structure and support services

Non-financial support includes expert support, trainings, group coaching, access to buyers’ technology and premises where necessary, and integration into the EIC Innovation Procurement Community and toolkit to maximize impact and growth EIC Innovation Procurement Programme overview ³.

Key dates, budget and instruments

Submission and evaluation

Submission portal:Applications must be submitted via F6S within the call window: f6s.com. Only documents requested in the online form are considered. Privacy is managed per the Guidelines for Applicants on the InnoMatch website InnoMatch Open Call 2 page ⁴.

Evaluation stages:1) Eligibility check by InnoMatch partners. 2) Remote external evaluation by two independent experts per proposal, under confidentiality and non-conflict-of-interest declarations. Proposals above threshold with diverging scores go to a consensus meeting; interviews may be conducted in case of doubts, need for clarifications, or ties. Final ranking is based on revised consensus scores. Selected applicants are notified by email; the final list of funded third parties is published on the InnoMatch website EU Funding & Tenders listing.

Indicative timeline:Open 16 February 2026; deadline 17 April 2026; eligibility and external evaluations follow; results targeted for May 2026; contracting and start of the InnoMatch Programme thereafter InnoMatch Open Call 2 page.

Application content and templates

• Alignment with objectives: Describe how the solution addresses the targeted Buyer challenge and expected societal and market impact.
• Technical soundness and feasibility: Evidence of maturity, scalability, risk management, KPIs, and measurement model; indicate TRL of the proposed solution.
• Commercial strategy: Explain fit with company strategy, route to commercialization and adoption after pilot, and potential replication.
• Team and resources: Demonstrate skills, infrastructure, and management capacity to deliver within the timeframe and budget, and to support future exploitation.
• Synergies: Document complementarity and participation in EIC Innovation Procurement Programme activities or other EIC BAS supports, where relevant.
• Buyer engagement: Provide a Letter of Commitment from the committed Buyer; sign the Memorandum of Understanding template if requested.
• If selected: Conclude a Sub-Grant Agreement; co-develop an Action Plan with the Buyer; deliver a Validation Report at the end of the Assess phase.

Documentation kits, evaluation criteria and templates, including the Guidelines for Applicants, Letter of Commitment and Memorandum of Understanding templates, are available on the InnoMatch call page. Only the documents explicitly requested in the F6S application form are evaluated InnoMatch Open Call 2 page ⁵.

Categorization and structured information

Eligible Applicant Types:Startups, SMEs, and scale-ups that are Horizon Europe EIC Awardees, including beneficiaries of EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator with an active contract or investment agreement under Horizon Europe. Universities, research institutes, large enterprises, nonprofits, governments, individuals, investors, and buyers are not eligible as applicants for this call. Buyers cannot submit applications; they participate as committed pilot hosts through Letters of Commitment.

Funding Type:Grant in the form of a lump sum cascade funding (financial support to third parties). Equity-free and results-driven against milestones and reports.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant. A formal consortium is not required. However, the single EIC Awardee must secure a committed Buyer aligned with one of the four predefined Innovation Challenges and provide a Letter of Commitment.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EIC Awardees under Horizon Europe are typically established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. Participation aligns with geographic eligibility for Horizon Europe EIC beneficiaries.

Target Sector:Digital transformation and artificial intelligence; energy, environment and sustainability; health and life sciences; agriculture, food and beverages; security, safety and dual-use industries. Broader innovation procurement and demand-driven pilots across these domains.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are named. The opportunity is EU-level under Horizon Europe; eligibility corresponds to EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Project Stage:Validation and demonstration through pilot testing or proof-of-concept in operational environments at buyer premises, with emphasis on adoption readiness and replication.

Funding Amount:Up to €60,000 lump sum per pilot or PoC in this call; 4 pilots funded in this wave. Overall InnoMatch programme budget is €2.28 million supporting at least 38 pilots across waves.

Application Type:Open call, single-stage submission via F6S within the call window.

Nature of Support:Money and non-monetary services. Financial support as a lump sum grant; non-financial support includes expert support, trainings, group coaching, access to buyer premises and technology, community and toolkit resources.

Application Stages:1 submission stage; 2 evaluation stages: eligibility check and remote external evaluation by two experts, with consensus and potential interviews for ties or clarifications.

Success Rates:Not specified. The call will fund 4 pilots, but the expected number of applications is not provided, so overall success probability cannot be derived from the available information.

Co-funding Requirement:No explicit co-funding requirement. Funding is provided as a fixed lump sum up to €60,000. Applicants must complete activities within this budget or cover any excess costs from other sources.

Templates:Available templates and structure referenced in the call materials include: 1) Guidelines for Applicants outlining objectives, eligibility, evaluation criteria, ethics and privacy. 2) Letter of Commitment from the Buyer confirming participation, premises access and support team availability. 3) Memorandum of Understanding template governing Awardee–Buyer collaboration ahead of contracting. 4) Sub-Grant Agreement to be signed upon selection, specifying lump sum, milestones and reporting. 5) Action Plan template to co-define scope, KPIs, timeline, risks, and acceptance criteria during the Prepare phase. 6) Validation Report template to assess KPI fulfillment, outcomes, lessons learned, and adoption pathway during the Assess phase. The F6S form typically collects legal entity data, EIC award status confirmation, challenge selection, solution description and TRL, use case fit, feasibility and scalability evidence, impact and commercialization plan, team capacity, workplan and timeline, risk and mitigation, budget breakdown aligned to milestones, buyer details and Letter of Commitment attachment, and consent statements.

How to apply

1. 1Consult the full documentation kit and Guidelines for Applicants to verify eligibility and requirements InnoMatch Open Call 2 page.
2. 2Engage with the relevant Buyer for the chosen challenge and secure a Letter of Commitment.
3. 3Prepare the application on F6S with all required attachments and submit before 17 April 2026, 17:00 Brussels time F6S application link.
4. 4Monitor communications for potential interview requests and for the final decision; if selected, finalize the Sub-Grant Agreement and Action Plan and enter the 12-month programme.

Summary

This opportunity funds and supports real-world pilots by Horizon Europe EIC Awardees to validate high-potential innovations with committed public and private buyers. The InnoMatch Open call 2 focuses on four predefined Innovation Challenges spanning digital transformation and AI, energy and sustainability, health and life sciences, agriculture and food, and security/dual-use applications. Each pilot receives up to €60,000 as a lump sum grant and benefits from a structured 12-month Prepare, Deploy, Assess programme delivering hands-on support, coaching, buyer access and adoption planning. The approach is demand-driven: applicants must align their solution to one of the buyer challenges, demonstrate technical and commercial readiness for pilot deployment, and aim for post-pilot adoption and replication. Submission is single-stage via F6S, with a two-step evaluation by internal eligibility checks and external experts. This specific call will fund 4 pilots; across the overall InnoMatch action at least 38 pilots are foreseen with a total budget of €2.28 million. The call is a practical route for EIC-backed startups and SMEs to secure first buyers, de-risk market entry, and build a pathway to procurement-driven growth within the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme ecosystem ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary sources: EU Funding & Tenders listing for InnoMatch Open Call 2 and the InnoMatch call page.
2. 2Funding details: InnoMatch overall envelope €2.28 million and per-pilot cap of €60,000; this call awards 4 pilots.
3. 3Non-financial support context: EIC Innovation Procurement Programme and community services.
4. 4Submission is only via F6S during the call window; privacy managed per Guidelines for Applicants on the InnoMatch site.
5. 5Templates and documentation, including Guidelines for Applicants, Letter of Commitment and MoU, are provided on the InnoMatch call page.

Funding Opportunity Overview

InnoMatch Open Call 2 for EIC Awardees is a European Union-funded opportunity designed to support innovative SMEs and startups backed by the European Innovation Council in developing and pilot-testing their solutions with committed public and private buyers. The call aims to address one of the major barriers faced by European innovators: finding first customers and references for market entry, particularly when targeting large public administrations or private corporations. ¹

Funding Amount and Structure:The total available funding is €2.28 million distributed across 4 pilots or proof-of-concept demonstrations. Each selected applicant will receive up to €60,000 provided as a lump sum grant in equity-free format. The funding is results-driven, disbursed against the demonstration of delivered milestones and approval of reports. ²

Call Timeline and Deadlines

The call operates under a single-stage submission model. Applications must be submitted through the official F6S platform, with only proposals received within the specified timeframe and through the designated submission tool being accepted for evaluation. ³

Eligibility Criteria

Only single legal entities who are Horizon Europe EIC Awardees can apply to this open call. Eligible applicants include beneficiaries of the EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator programmes. Buyers are explicitly prohibited from submitting applications under this call. ⁴

Selected entities must demonstrate the ability to facilitate the commercial exploitation of their solution following the pilot phase and to bring the innovation to the market. Applicants are required to have the necessary skills, infrastructure, and management experience to implement the pilot within the defined timescale and budget constraints.

Key Eligibility Requirements:

• Status as a Horizon Europe EIC Awardee (Pathfinder, Transition, or Accelerator beneficiary)
• Single legal entity status
• Demonstrated capacity for commercial exploitation
• Ability to bring innovation to market post-pilot
• Required skills, infrastructure, and management experience
• No consortium structure permitted

Innovation Challenges and Buyer Partners

InnoMatch Open Call 2 is structured around four predefined Innovation Challenges identified by selected public and private buyers. These challenges represent specific unmet innovation needs that have been developed through a structured consultation process. EIC Awardees are invited to propose solutions tailored to these identified challenges. ⁵

Each challenge has been carefully crafted by the committed buyers with support from the InnoMatch consortium to ensure they are clearly structured, attractive to innovative European companies, and capable of driving meaningful innovation procurement outcomes.

Application and Evaluation Process

The submission and evaluation process consists of multiple stages designed to ensure fair, transparent, and rigorous assessment of applications. All applications must be submitted exclusively through the F6S online platform using the official documentation kit provided on the InnoMatch website. ⁶

Evaluation Stages:

1. 1Eligibility Check: Performed internally by InnoMatch partners to verify applicant status and compliance with basic requirements
2. 2Shortlisting: Eligible applications are selected to proceed to external evaluation
3. 3Remote External Evaluation: Each proposal is assessed by two independent external expert evaluators with relevant expertise and experience, both bound by confidentiality and non-conflict of interest agreements
4. 4Consensus Meetings: Applications scoring above the threshold with significant divergence between evaluator scores undergo consensus discussions
5. 5Interviews: Applicants may be interviewed if there are doubts, requests for clarification, or tied evaluations
6. 6Final Ranking: Proposals are ranked based on revised scores from the consensus process
7. 7Notification: Selected applicants are informed via dedicated email, with final list published on the InnoMatch website

Number of Awards:Open Call 2 for EIC Awardees will select and fund exactly 4 pilots or proof-of-concept demonstrations from the received applications. ⁷

Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed against four primary evaluation criteria, each designed to identify solutions with the highest potential for successful deployment, buyer adoption, and commercial viability. ⁸

1. Alignment and Impact:Applications must demonstrate clear alignment with the Open Call objectives. Solutions must be specifically focused on solving the targeted innovation challenge of the assigned buyer. Applicants must explain how well their proposed solution addresses the identified innovation challenge in a tailored and effective manner, with detailed assessment of expected impact including economic, environmental, and social benefits.

2. Excellence:Applications must demonstrate technical soundness of the proposed solution. Applicants must elaborate on feasibility, scalability, and present a comprehensive measurement model for assessing the solution's performance and impact during and after the pilot phase.

3. Commitment:Applicants must explain how the challenge aligns with their business strategy and demonstrate genuine interest in pursuing commercialization after the pilot ends. Specification of the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of the proposed solution should be provided. Participation in complementary EIC Innovation Procurement Programme activities is considered an advantage.

4. Team and Implementation:Applicants must provide evidence that their team possesses the necessary skills, infrastructure, and management experience to implement the pilot within the defined timescale and budget. The team must also demonstrate capability to facilitate commercial exploitation of the solution and bring the innovation to market following successful pilot completion.

The InnoMatch Programme Support

Selected EIC Awardees and their committed buyer partners will participate in the tailored InnoMatch Prepare, Deploy, and Assess Programme, which provides structured support to maximize the success rate of pilots and increase the likelihood of post-pilot adoption by buyers. The programme spans 12 months total. ⁹

Growth Services and Additional Support:

• Access to technology infrastructure and testing premises
• Expert support and technical guidance throughout implementation
• Training sessions tailored to pilot needs
• Group coaching and mentoring activities
• Access to EIC Innovation Procurement Community
• Connection to network of public and private buyers
• Access to EIC Innovation Procurement Toolkit
• Dedicated social media community for peer learning

Required Documentation and Submission

Applicants must prepare and submit all required documentation through the official F6S platform. The complete documentation kit is available on the InnoMatch website. Only documentation specified as required in the online application form will be considered during evaluation. ¹⁰

Documentation at Application Stage:

• Completed application form via F6S platform
• Letter of commitment from the committed buyer demonstrating commitment to pilot participation
• Memorandum of Understanding template completed and signed
• Technical proposal describing the innovative solution
• Alignment documentation showing how the solution addresses the specific innovation challenge
• Team capability documentation
• Implementation timeline and budget justification

Personal data privacy during submission is managed according to the InnoMatch Open Call 2 Guidelines for Applicants, available on the official InnoMatch website. Personal information collected during the application process is processed in compliance with applicable data protection regulations.

Key Features and Advantages

• Access to pre-committed, verified buyer partners interested in testing innovative solutions
• Risk-sharing model where buyer receives free access to cutting-edge solutions
• Structured support programme specifically designed for pilot success
• Mentoring and coaching from experienced innovation procurement specialists
• Potential for early customer references and market validation
• Connection to broader EIC Innovation Procurement ecosystem
• No equity dilution or ownership requirements
• Clear commercialization pathway post-pilot
• Access to wider community of innovative companies and buyers
• Potential for pilot replication with additional buyers

Strategic Context and Funding Source

InnoMatch is powered by the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme, a strategic initiative of the European Innovation Council (EIC) that aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and globally. The programme is designed to ensure increased market opportunities for innovative European SMEs and startups while contributing to their scaling and growth. ¹¹

InnoMatch itself is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) funded under the Horizon Europe Programme with Grant Agreement Number 101165966. The project was launched on 1 September 2024 and will be implemented over a total period of 36 months, concluding in August 2027. The funding comes directly from the European Innovation Council and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

Project Consortium and Implementation

InnoMatch is implemented by a consortium of four experienced partners with substantial expertise in innovation procurement and ecosystem building: F6S (Ireland), ICLEI (Germany), TBM - TICBioMed (Spain), and Civitta (Estonia). The consortium brings together wide networks of buyers, experience working with EIC communities and corporations, and prior experience managing large-scale funding programmes including over €80 millioneuros in innovation procurement pilot programmes with more than 7,000 awardees. The consortium has implemented more than 10 EU projects focused on innovation procurement.

Important Considerations for Applicants

• Applicants must be the single contracting entity with the InnoMatch initiative; consortia are not permitted
• The committed buyer partner must be pre-identified and provide a letter of commitment before application submission
• Proposed solutions must be aligned with one of the four predefined innovation challenges; applications addressing other challenges will not be eligible
• Commercial viability and post-pilot adoption potential are central evaluation criteria
• Applicants should clearly articulate how the pilot supports their broader business strategy and market entry goals
• Technology Readiness Level should be specified; solutions should be sufficiently mature for pilot testing but not fully commercialized
• Budget must be justified and realistic for the 12-month pilot implementation period
• Team composition should demonstrate necessary expertise for both technical implementation and commercial exploitation
• Buyers contribute evaluation expertise and site access; they do not provide additional funding
• Successful pilots may serve as foundation for broader market adoption and replication with additional buyers

Contact and Support Resources

For detailed information about the open call, applicants should consult the Guidelines for Applicants available on the official InnoMatch website at InnoMatch Official Website. The complete application kit, including templates and detailed requirements, is available through this website.

Submissions must be made exclusively through the F6S application platform at F6S InnoMatch Portal. Applicants are advised to register early and review all documentation requirements before beginning their application. An informative webinar session is scheduled to provide detailed explanation of the open call and to address participant questions.

Programme Integration and Ecosystem

InnoMatch operates in close collaboration with complementary EIC Innovation Procurement Programme initiatives including SPIN4EIC (Strategic Innovation Procurement Programme) and InnoBuyer. Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting European innovative companies in accessing and succeeding in procurement markets. EIC beneficiaries selected for InnoMatch can leverage additional support services available through SPIN4EIC, including the Innovation Procurement Toolkit, training academies, and access to buyer communities. Synergies between these programmes are intentionally designed to maximize impact and growth opportunities for participating innovators.

Footnotes

1. 1According to InnoMatch project documentation and the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme framework, finding first customers is identified as one of the main barriers hampering market access and commercialization of innovative solutions developed by innovative SMEs and EIC beneficiaries.
2. 2Total funding of €2.28 million supports at least 38 pilots across multiple open calls. Open Call 2 for EIC Awardees funds 4 pilots, each receiving up to €60,000 as lump sum grant (equity-free) disbursed against demonstrated milestones and approved reports.
3. 3The call operates with a single submission deadline of 17 April 2026 at 17:00 CET. Applications must be submitted through the official F6S online platform; only submissions received through this designated tool within the call duration are accepted for evaluation.
4. 4Eligible applicants are single legal entities who are Horizon Europe EIC Awardees, including beneficiaries of EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator programmes. Buyers cannot submit applications under this open call; they participate as pre-committed partners identified during the application stage.
5. 5The four Innovation Challenges (Ai4PP, CHEF, SoilPulse, PrediHeart) were identified through the InnoMatch Open Call for Public and Private Buyers (now closed), where buyer organizations submitted their unmet innovation needs which were then refined into structured challenges attractive to EIC beneficiaries.
6. 6The full documentation kit for the call is available on the InnoMatch website at innomatchproject.eu/open-call-2-for-eic-awardees/. All submissions must use the F6S platform at www.f6s.com/innomatch-oc2-for-eic-awardees/apply. Only required documentation as specified in the online application form will be evaluated.
7. 7Open Call 2 for EIC Awardees will select 4 pilots or proof-of-concept demonstrations from all received applications. Selected applicants will be notified via dedicated email, and the final list of funded third parties will be published on the InnoMatch website, with results expected in May 2026.
8. 8The four evaluation criteria - Alignment and Impact, Excellence, Commitment, and Team and Implementation - are described in detail in the official Guidelines for Applicants available on the InnoMatch website. Each criterion is weighted to assess different aspects of proposal quality and implementation feasibility.
9. 9The InnoMatch Prepare, Deploy, and Assess Programme spans 12 months total: Prepare phase (up to 2 months) for planning and SGA negotiation, Deploy phase (up to 6 months) for pilot implementation, and Assess phase (up to 4 months) for validation and evaluation, with support services including coaching, training, and expert guidance provided throughout.
10. 10Applicants must submit all documentation exclusively through the F6S platform in the format specified in the application guidelines. Documentation must include signed buyer commitment letter, memorandum of understanding, and required application form sections. Personal data privacy is managed in accordance with InnoMatch data protection policies and applicable GDPR regulations.
11. 11InnoMatch is powered by the EIC Innovation Procurement Programme, which aims to facilitate access to procurement markets in Europe and globally, ensuring increased market opportunities for innovative SMEs and startups and contributing to their scaling. The programme is designed to support breakthrough European innovations in reaching market through structured buyer engagement and pilot deployment models.