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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal under HORIZON-EIE-2026-03-CONNECT-01 must position Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) not as gatekeepers or compliance desks, but as dynamic enablers of university spin-offs and market creation. The consortium must present a validated, pragmatic toolbox of standardized yet adaptable IP licensing and equity-sharing models that demonstrably reduce transaction friction, anchored by at least three concrete pilot test cases in critical technology areas. Crucially, the proposal must bridge advanced innovation hubs with widening territories to establish an ERA-wide blueprint aligned directly with the EU Code of Practice on Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation.
adopting startup-friendly intellectual asset management strategies;
accelerating the commercialisation of academic research results under fair and transparent conditions in an attractive way for innovative companies and investors, in particular for critical technology areas related to the EU’s economic security;
reinforcing the adoption of best practices in intellectual asset management [3] including the equitable sharing of value generated in R&I activities;
improving the support to researchers and students in commercialising research results;
enhancing intellectual asset management practices by establishing portfolio approaches to market intellectual assets in package deals;
facilitating the collaboration between researchers, startups and innovative companies.
Identify and share best-practices developed to support knowledge valorisation [4] ;
On this basis, create a common set of tools for start-up friendly licensing/transfer [5] to be adapted to the specific national/regional context with templates, strategies, successful case studies and business models. The toolbox could include standardised rules and processes together with flexible and adaptable clauses to support negotiation, conclusion and implementation of licensing agreements;
Develop a common incentives and benefit-sharing model ensuring incentives for researchers and students to engage in commercialisation with a fair distribution of revenues from intellectual assets;
Test the licensing/transfer tools and benefit-sharing models by implementing at least three pilot cases with researchers or students engaging in commercialization activities.
The outcomes of these activities should enable to inform the further development of a blueprint for licensing, royalty- and revenue-sharing and equity participation for academic institutions and their inventors when commercialising IP and creating spinoffs [6] . The blueprint should further support effective intellectual asset management and IPR negotiation and licensing practices across Europe.
Increased commercialisation of academic research results, by facilitating access for industry, startups and scaleups to the intellectual assets of academic research;
Strengthened collaboration between industry and academia, reflected in an increased number of technology transfer deals and joint R&D projects resulting in market-ready innovations;
Introduced more startup friendly intellectual asset transfer/licensing policies in universities/research and higher education institutions/RTOs;
Increased number of spinoffs by enabling researchers to overcome the barriers to commercialising their intellectual assets;
Reduced transaction costs related to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) negotiations by establishing more standardised asset transfer policies across universities/research and higher education institutions/RTOs;
More competitive and more efficient European innovation ecosystems which provide favourable framework conditions for the development and market uptake of innovative solutions, drawing on the existing strengths of national, regional, and local ecosystems;
Enhanced cross-border network connectivity and inter-regional collaboration to untap Europe’s potential for successful commercialization of innovative products and services, notably through reinforced links between resources, organizations, investors and policymakers;
Improved access to funding by European startups and scaleups, notably in the deep-tech and strategic sectors, through diverse sources, including innovation procurement and philanthropy;
Enhanced knowledge and technology transfer and capacity building within the European innovation ecosystems, providing innovative companies with the necessary conditions to thrive;
Increased participation of less represented R&I stakeholders and less advanced innovation territories in the R&I cycle, capitalising on the experience and vision of an increasingly diverse range of people, companies and territories while promoting social cohesion, inclusion, accessibility and gender balance;
Improved systemic conditions to tackle key EU strategic priorities, including the green and digital transitions, through building innovative capacities;
Increased coordination of innovation policy and networking activities by the Member States and Associated Countries through the EIC Forum.
Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation in the European Research Area
highAdopted as a Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/499, this code provides operational guidance for researchers and research institutions on managing intellectual assets to maximize societal and economic value.
It emphasizes professional technology transfer, intellectual property protection, open science integration, and collaborative research partnerships across the ERA.
Evaluators expect proposals to directly incorporate the Code's principles into their Technology Transfer Office (TTO) support models, IP exploitation protocols, and open access/valorisation strategies.
Lab to Unicorn Initiative
highThe Lab to Unicorn initiative aims to streamline and accelerate the journey of scientific research from academic laboratories to globally competitive, high-growth companies.
It focuses on equipping universities and research organisations with the funding, mentorship, entrepreneurial talent, and robust intellectual asset support required to build sustainable spin-offs.
Evaluators expect concrete methodologies for identifying high-potential research, standardising spin-off creation processes, and improving TTO investor-readiness pipelines to nurture future scale-ups.
EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy
mediumThe future of European competitiveness – A competitiveness strategy for Europe
mediumCommonly known as the Draghi Report (2024), this strategic framework outlines core structural reforms needed to close the EU's innovation and productivity gap with global competitors.
It places heavy emphasis on commercialising research, scaling breakthrough innovations, modernising university tech transfer ecosystems, and removing regulatory barriers for high-growth tech ventures.
Evaluators look for proposals that clearly align TTO capacity-building with closing the European innovation gap, specifically demonstrating how the project accelerates research translation into market-ready deep tech solutions.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
This action requires the participation, as beneficiaries, of at least three (3) legal entities from at least three (3) different Member States or Associated Countries that are universities, research and higher education institutions or research technology organisations (RTOs).
In addition, at least one (1) legal entity shall be established in a “widening country”. [[“Widening countries” are listed under Article 2 of the Horizon Europe regulation (Regulation (EU) 2021/695).]]
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1)
Standard application form (HE RIA IA Stage 1 BLIND)
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1)
Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1 BLIND)
Standard application form (HE RI)
Standard application form (HE PCP)
Standard application form (HE PPI)
Standard application form (HE COFUND)
Standard application form (HE FPA)
Standard application form (HE MSCA PF)
Standard application form (HE MSCA DN)
Standard application form (HE MSCA SE)
Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND)
Standard application form (HE MSCA COFUND CE)
Standard application form (HE ERC STG)
Standard application form (HE ERC COG)
Standard application form (HE ERC ADG)
Standard application form (HE ERC POC)
Standard application form (HE ERC SYG)
Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES)
Standard application form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN)
Standard application form (HE EIC TRANSITION)
Standard application form (HE EIC STEP)
Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal)
Standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA)
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1)
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1 BLIND)
Standard evaluation form (HE PCP PPI)
Standard evaluation form (HE COFUND)
Standard evaluation form (HE FPA)
Standard evaluation form (HE MSCA)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER CHALLENGES)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC PATHFINDER OPEN)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC TRANSITION)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal)
Standard evaluation form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 - full proposal)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 2. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 3. Research Infrastructures
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 4. Health
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 5. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 6. Civil Security for Society
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 7. Digital, Industry and Space
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 8. Climate, Energy and Mobility
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 10. European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 13. New European Bauhaus Facility (NEB)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 14. Horizontal Activities
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will immediately scrutinize three critical elements: (1) Eligibility compliance—ensuring at least three legal entities are universities/RTOs from three different countries, explicitly including at least one entity from a Widening country; (2) Practicality of the Pilots—proposals that only offer abstract guidelines will be penalized, meaning evaluators expect clear, hands-on validation across at least three real-world academic spin-off/licensing cases (@SC10); and (3) Balance of Incentives—a robust, actionable blueprint balancing fair return for public institutions with attractive deal terms for private risk capital and deep-tech founders.
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1adopting startup-friendly intellectual asset management strategies; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2accelerating the commercialisation of academic research results under fair and transparent conditions in an attractive way for innovative companies and investors, in particular for critical technology areas related to the EU’s economic security; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3reinforcing the adoption of best practices in intellectual asset management [3] including the equitable sharing of value generated in R&I activities; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4improving the support to researchers and students in commercialising research results; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5enhancing intellectual asset management practices by establishing portfolio approaches to market intellectual assets in package deals; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC6facilitating the collaboration between researchers, startups and innovative companies. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC7Identify and share best-practices developed to support knowledge valorisation [4] ; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC8On this basis, create a common set of tools for start-up friendly licensing/transfer [5] to be adapted to the specific national/regional context with templates, strategies, successful case studies and business models. The toolbox could include standardised rules and processes together with flexible and adaptable clauses to support negotiation, conclusion and implementation of licensing agreements; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC9Develop a common incentives and benefit-sharing model ensuring incentives for researchers and students to engage in commercialisation with a fair distribution of revenues from intellectual assets; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC10Test the licensing/transfer tools and benefit-sharing models by implementing at least three pilot cases with researchers or students engaging in commercialization activities. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC11The outcomes of these activities should enable to inform the further development of a blueprint for licensing, royalty- and revenue-sharing and equity participation for academic institutions and their inventors when commercialising IP and creating spinoffs [6] . The blueprint should further support effective intellectual asset management and IPR negotiation and licensing practices across Europe. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Increased commercialisation of academic research results, by facilitating access for industry, startups and scaleups to the intellectual assets of academic research; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Strengthened collaboration between industry and academia, reflected in an increased number of technology transfer deals and joint R&D projects resulting in market-ready innovations; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Introduced more startup friendly intellectual asset transfer/licensing policies in universities/research and higher education institutions/RTOs; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Increased number of spinoffs by enabling researchers to overcome the barriers to commercialising their intellectual assets; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO5Reduced transaction costs related to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) negotiations by establishing more standardised asset transfer policies across universities/research and higher education institutions/RTOs; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Involvement of innovation agencies and national/regional authoritiesThe participation of innovation agencies and/or national and regional authorities that can help universities, research and higher education institutions, or RTOs in adapting their intellectual asset management policy and implementation is encouraged. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Consultation with startups and SMEsBeneficiaries should ensure to consult relevant stakeholders, in particular startups and SMEs, to carry out the action. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Synergies with EIT Higher Education InitiativeBeneficiaries are encouraged to leverage relevant complementary programmes such as the EIT Higher Education Initiative. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Synergies and collaboration with other EU-funded knowledge valorisation projectsThe project is encouraged to collaborate and build further wherever possible on results from other EU funded projects in the knowledge valorisation domain. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ5Knowledge sharing via the Knowledge Valorisation Platform repositoryParticipants are encouraged to share their best practices in the repository of best practices of the Knowledge Valorisation Platform, amongst others. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ6Synergies with Cohesion Policy funds and Recovery and Resilience FundApplicants should consider and actively seek synergies with possibilities for further funding from other relevant EU, national, and/or regional innovation programmes, including Cohesion Policy funds, the Recovery and Resilience Fund, and other public and private funds. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| EI1More competitive and more efficient European innovation ecosystems which provide favourable framework conditions for the development and market uptake of innovative solutions, drawing on the existing strengths of national, regional, and local ecosystems; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI2Enhanced cross-border network connectivity and inter-regional collaboration to untap Europe’s potential for successful commercialization of innovative products and services, notably through reinforced links between resources, organizations, investors and policymakers; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI3Improved access to funding by European startups and scaleups, notably in the deep-tech and strategic sectors, through diverse sources, including innovation procurement and philanthropy; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI4Enhanced knowledge and technology transfer and capacity building within the European innovation ecosystems, providing innovative companies with the necessary conditions to thrive; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI5Increased participation of less represented R&I stakeholders and less advanced innovation territories in the R&I cycle, capitalising on the experience and vision of an increasingly diverse range of people, companies and territories while promoting social cohesion, inclusion, accessibility and gender balance; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI6Improved systemic conditions to tackle key EU strategic priorities, including the green and digital transitions, through building innovative capacities; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EI7Increased coordination of innovation policy and networking activities by the Member States and Associated Countries through the EIC Forum. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1code of practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation in the european research areaAdopted as a Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/499, this code provides operational guidance for researchers and research institutions on managing intellectual assets to maximize societal and economic value. It emphasizes professional technology transfer, intellectual property protection, open science integration, and collaborative research partnerships across the ERA. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| POL2lab to unicorn initiativeThe Lab to Unicorn initiative aims to streamline and accelerate the journey of scientific research from academic laboratories to globally competitive, high-growth companies. It focuses on equipping universities and research organisations with the funding, mentorship, entrepreneurial talent, and robust intellectual asset support required to build sustainable spin-offs. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
Topic-specific consortium
Many CSA topics require a broader consortium than the general-annex minimum. The call-specific Eligibility and admissibility conditions override the general annex.
Restricted beneficiary type
Many CSA calls are reserved for specific beneficiary types (national funding agencies, research infrastructures, standards bodies). Check the call.
Coordination/support activities only
CSA funds coordination, networking, policy support, dissemination, training. Not research activities per se.
Gender Equality Plan
GEP eligibility criterion applies to public bodies, research organisations, higher education institutions from MS/AC.
5 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
Your consortium will fail the eligibility check before any scoring occurs if it does not include at least three universities, higher education institutions, or RTOs from three different countries. Crucially, at least one of these legal entities must be established in a Widening country.
Source: Eligibility rules
Evaluators are explicitly instructed to penalize proposals that only offer theoretical guidelines. You must design and execute at least three real-world pilot cases involving academic spin-offs or licensing deals to practically validate your proposed benefit-sharing and transfer tools.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Your final blueprint for licensing and equity participation cannot solely protect university interests. Evaluators will scrutinize the model for a balance of incentives—ensuring fair returns for public institutions while simultaneously offering attractive, low-friction deal terms for private risk capital and deep-tech founders.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Do not treat the EU Code of Practice on the management of intellectual assets as mere background reading. Evaluators expect your proposed TTO support models and IP exploitation protocols to directly incorporate the Code's principles, while also addressing the commercialisation gaps highlighted in the Draghi report.
Source: Underlying policies
Because this is a lump sum grant, your financial cash flow depends entirely on deliverable approval. Structure your work packages so that the completion and validation of the three mandatory pilot cases trigger your major payment milestones, avoiding backloading all financial risk to the end of the project.
Source: Eligibility rules
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.
Professionals within universities and RTOs responsible for IP protection, valorisation, contract negotiations, and spin-off facilitation.
Scientific and academic inventors seeking to translate research results into commercially viable spin-offs or licensed market applications.
Business angels, VC funds, and corporate venture arms requiring clean cap tables, transparent royalty expectations, and accelerated IP negotiations.
Governmental and regional bodies responsible for research valorisation policies, economic security agendas, and EIC Forum governance.
The long-term impacts your project should drive, and the policies they serve.
Streamlined licensing processes and fair equity models will lower market-entry friction, catalyzing the formal creation of deep-tech spin-offs across participating European university ecosystems.
Establishment of shared valorisation frameworks and standardized licensing blueprints will enhance institutional capacity and cross-border innovation connectivity, specifically empowering widening regions.