EIC launches new call on 'EIC Scaling Club 2.0'

On 22 May 2026, the European Innovation Council (EIC) launched a new Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA) entitled “EIC Scaling Club 2.0” under the procedure identifier HORIZON-EIC-2026-BAS-02-SCLATEUP. The EC expects to fund one project with a budget of € 4 million.

The objective of this action is to enable EIC Awardees and other eligible entities to access high-quality, specialised services from the EIC Scaling Club across Europe, to increase success and support the growth of the top deep tech companies in Europe, by strengthen the skills, knowledge and network of peers, investors and customers needed for growth.

This initiative must leverage the existing networks and build on the success and methodologies of its predecessor action ongoing EIC Scaling Club with a view to deepen it. 

EIC Scaling Club 2.0 should support a minimum of 70 deep tech companies with the potential to scale up as global leaders or potential unicorns. A minimum of 35 of these companies should come from the EIC portfolio (primarily EIC Fund portfolio), and the remaining deep tech companies should come from similar programmes at Member State and Associated Country level. 

The identified companies, ready for series B+ funding rounds, should demonstrate credible high-growth potential and should develop cutting-edge solutions in key technological areas, contributing to Europe’s technological autonomy and supporting EU’s strategic priorities, e.g. AI, advanced materials, quantum, biotech, robotics and space technologies, energy and decarbonisation, as specified in the Competitive Compass for the EU.

The cohort of supported companies, active in diverse sectors, should be geographically and gender diverse, engaging companies from across the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries and a balanced portfolio of women-led companies. 

The initiative should provide a package of growth-focused capability building support through bespoke networking and learning among peers and partners, as well as facilitating outreach. The initiative should also enhance visibility of the selected companies and the European scaleup scene.

The package of growth-focused support to the identified companies, should focus on:

• strengthening investment readiness
• strengthening operational excellence
• facilitate outreach to new customers, business partners and the market (e.g. within the EU as well as expansion to foreign markets)
• facilitate access to (late-stage) financing
• facilitate access to talents.

More information available on the call can be found in the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026. The deadline for applications is 25 June 2026, 17:00 CET (Brussels time).

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