BEGIN:VCALENDAR
VERSION:2.0
PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN
NAME:Advance Innovation Challenge information session, IXA-GO
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART:20251208T000000
DTEND:20251208T235900
DTSTAMP:20251208T000000
UID:advance-innovation-challenge-i@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573
CREATED:20260825T005949
LOCATION:
SUMMARY:Advance Innovation Challenge information session, IXA-GO
X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html: The European Innovat
ion Council (EIC) has launched a pilot initiative under the 2026 Work
Programme: Advanced Innovation Challenges (AIC). This ARPA-inspired
scheme aims to accelerate high-risk, deep-tech innovation in areas wh
ere Europe has strong research but limited commercial uptake.
What is AIC?
AIC supports bold, challenge-dri
ven projects through a two-stage funding model:
<
ul> Stage 1 (2026): Lump-sum grants of
€300,000 for exploratory studies and feasibility assessmen
t (up to 9 months). Deadline: 26th February 2026 Stage 2 (2027): Follow-up grants up to €2.5 million for prototyping and user testing of the mos
t promising ideas. Deadline: 18th June 20272026 Challenges:
- Accelerati
ng Physical AI: Embodied intelligence for next-generation AI
-powered robotics.
- Translating Disruptive New Appro
ach Methodologies into Practice: Innovative solutions for li
fe sciences and health technologies.
Who can appl
y?
- Stage 1: Mono-beneficiaries
or small consortia (universities, research organisations, SMEs, star
t-ups, spin-offs).
- Stage 2: Selected proje
cts from Stage 1, with potential for small consortia.
What to Expect
Gain insights into:
- AIC
Challenges
- Support provided by IXA-GO
- Writing the
business plan and impact section
- Q&A with IXA-GO grant
advisors
Session
- M
onday, December 08 – HG 1E-53, Hoofdgebouw, VU campus (11:
00–12:00 hr) & online
- Register her
e
DESCRIPTION: The European Innovation Council (EIC) has launched a pilo
t initiative under the 2026 Work Programme: Advanced Innovation Chall
enges (AIC). This ARPA-inspired scheme aims to accelerate high-risk,
deep-tech innovation in areas where Europe has strong research but li
mited commercial uptake. What is AIC?
AIC support
s bold, challenge-driven projects through a two-stage funding
model: - Stage 1 (2026): Lump-sum g
rants of €300,000 for exploratory studies and feas
ibility assessment (up to 9 months). Deadline: 26th February
2026
- Stage 2 (2027): Follow-up gr
ants up to €2.5 million for prototyping and user t
esting of the most promising ideas. Deadline: 18th June 2027<
/strong>
2026 Challenges: -
Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied intelligence for next-gen
eration AI-powered robotics.
- Translating Disruptive
New Approach Methodologies into Practice: Innovative soluti
ons for life sciences and health technologies.
Who c
an apply? - Stage 1: Mono-beneficiar
ies or small consortia (universities, research organisations, SMEs, s
tart-ups, spin-offs).
- Stage 2: Selected pr
ojects from Stage 1, with potential for small consortia.
What to Expect
Gain insights into: - AIC Chal
lenges
- Support provided by IXA-GO
- Writing the bus
iness plan and impact section
- Q&A with IXA-GO grant adv
isors
Session - Monday, Dece
mber 08 – HG 1E-53, Hoofdgebouw, VU campus (11:00–12:00
hr) & online
- Register here
<
/ul>
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