EIC Fund Investment Decision Process
After the due diligence process and subsequent decision by the EIC Fund Investment Committee, an investment agreement will be established. If you have expressed interest and given your consent, relevant information from your proposal will be shared with the appropriate InvestEU implementing partners for their consideration of Venture Debt support.
Selection Criteria for EIC Fund Investment
The EIC evaluates proposals based on their merits, with assessments conducted by leading experts. The European Commission ensures that there is open and fair competition for all eligible proposals submitted.
Proposal Evaluation Process
The EIC STEP Scale Up call follows a “first come, first served” principle for evaluating proposals. However, the juries will consider the overall budget availability for the entire year and will be restricted to recommending proposals that do not exceed 70% of the available budget for the calendar year during the first six months. Juries will also be informed about budget availability, including any additional funds from previous awards that were not fully utilized.
Award Criteria
Proposals will be assessed according to specific award criteria. The EIC Jury may focus their interview on any element of your proposal based on their assessment.
Possible Outcomes from the EIC Jury
Based on the interview and overall assessment, the EIC Jury will recommend one of three potential outcomes for your proposal:
- GO and Sovereignty (STEP) Seal: Your proposal meets all evaluation criteria and is recommended for a potential equity investment. The Jury may offer observations for the EIC Fund regarding the investment amount or other considerations related to the investment decision or management. It is crucial to note that the investment amounts approved in the Commission Award Decision are subject to the successful completion of due diligence and negotiation by the EIC Fund, following the Investment Guidelines. Thus, investment amounts may be adjusted or rejected by the EIC Fund for justified reasons.
Upon approval, your project will also be awarded the Sovereignty (STEP) Seal and will gain access to Business Acceleration Services.