The second edition of the vEIColo call for proposals gets underway

The second edition of the vEIColo call for proposals gets underway

Fondazione CDP, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione Cariplo have renewed their partnership for the second edition of the call for proposals, designed to strengthen the capacity of Italian Research Institutes and Universities to access the funds of the European Innovation Council (EIC).

To fill the gap between research and the market and support the technological growth of the most promising ideas, Fondazione CDP, Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo and Fondazione Cariplo have renewed their partnership for the second edition of the vEIColo call for proposals.

This initiative aims to support participation in the European calls promoted by the European Innovation Council (EIC), in particular through the EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition programmes, strengthening the capacity of public and private Italian Research Institutes and Universities to attract European funds and transform innovation into a tangible resource.

Promoted jointly by the three Foundations, the call for proposals is part of a framework of shared objectives that focus on the central position of scientific research and technological innovationas strategic levers for Italy’s future, consolidating a commitment to support excellence and the ability to innovate, assisting researchers in their journey “from the laboratory to the market”.

Specifically, the vEIColo call for proposals has two main lines, each conceived to meet the specific needs of research in Italy:

  • Line 1 - Consolidation, which will fund research projects given an evaluation above the threshold in previous applications submitted to the EIC Pathfinder or EIC Transition funding programmes, but not funded due to a lack of available budget. Projects submitted to the EIC calls in 2023 and 2024, in which the proposer was Coordinator, may apply.
  • Line 2 - New opportunities: the purpose of this line is to encourage research projects with a high potential for technological transfer to apply to the EIC Pathfinder (Open or Challenges) and EIC Transition calls. Eligible projects must have the Proposer acting as the Coordinator of the partnership.

Applications must be sent for Line 1 – Consolidation, and also for Line 2 – New opportunities, no later than:

  • 13.00 hours on 26 March 2025 for projects that wish to participate in the EIC Pathfinder Challenges and EIC Transition 2025 calls;
  • 13.00 hours on 30 September 2025 for projects that wish to participate in the Pathfinder Open 2026 call.

The vEIColo call for proposals is a valuable opportunity for Italian researchers to compete at European level, increasing the visibility and impact of their discoveries.

The 2024 edition of the call has already supported 32 Italian institutes in their ambitious research projects, helping them to prepare their applications to the European Innovation Council.

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