Pillar III of Horizon Europe is called Innovative Europe, and it exists to support and connect innovators across the continent1. It focuses on breakthrough and disruptive innovation, plus getting innovative solutions onto the market1.
If you are asking whether this pillar fits your project, the short answer is: it depends on your stage. Pillar III channels most of its money through the European Innovation Council, built on the earlier Enhanced EIC pilot from Horizon 202013.
What the European Innovation Council covers
The European Innovation Council acts as a one-stop shop for European innovators3. It runs two main instruments.
The Accelerator instrument bridges the financing gap between late-stage innovation work and market take-up, helping breakthrough, market-creating innovation scale up3. The Pathfinder instrument builds on the earlier FET Open scheme and backs future and emerging breakthrough technologies3.
Pillar III also positions Europe as a world leader in transferring science into innovative companies, stimulating both the creation and the spread of breakthrough innovations4. It addresses innovation performance, innovation transfer, and innovation scale-up together4.
How Pillar III connects to other Horizon Europe strands
Pillar III does not work alone. European Innovation Ecosystems acts alongside the European Innovation Council, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, and other innovation activities across Horizon Europe2.
The goal is more connected, efficient innovation ecosystems that help companies scale up and encourage cooperation among national, regional, and local innovation actors2. This work supports all three key strategic orientations of the Horizon Europe strategic plan, and it backs the New European Innovation Agenda, particularly its second and third flagships2.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology also receives support under this pillar7. So does the broader European innovation landscape7.
Where the funding has actually gone
Since 2021, the European Innovation Council has awarded most of Pillar III's innovation funding to start-ups, accounting for €3.72 billion out of €4.80 billion spent5. That is a large share going to a single funding channel.
Germany, France, Spain, and the Netherlands have each secured more EU funding for Horizon Europe innovation projects since 2021 than the 15 Widening countries combined5. Those Widening countries sit mostly in central and eastern Europe and underperform in innovation, with typically lower participation in EU research and innovation projects5.
Overall, the Innovative Europe pillar funded 2,380 projects, involving 6,062 participants5. Germany secured a fifth of the funding, with France and Spain each receiving around 13 percent5.
Comparing Pillar III to picking a funding route
Here is a comparison of the main routes within Pillar III.
| Route | What it funds | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| EIC Accelerator | Bridges late-stage innovation to market take-up3 | Scaling companies with market-creating innovation3 |
| EIC Pathfinder | Future and emerging breakthrough technologies, following the FET Open model3 | Early-stage, high-risk research3 |
| European Innovation Ecosystems | Connects national, regional, and local innovation actors2 | Ecosystem-building and cooperation2 |
| European Institute of Innovation and Technology support | Enhances the overall innovation landscape7 | Institutional innovation capacity7 |
Pros and cons of Pillar III funding
On the plus side, Pillar III fosters all forms of innovation, including breakthrough innovation and market deployment of new solutions7. It also builds on a track record: the Enhanced EIC pilot in Horizon 2020 already proved the model before Pillar III scaled it up1.
On the downside, funding concentration is a real issue. Four countries have out-earned fifteen Widening countries combined since 20215, which points to an uneven funding gap across the EU5.