Unlocking EU Opportunities: How Georgian Startups Can Benefit from Horizon Europe and EEN
Since Georgia has been associated with Horizon Europe since January 2021 and Horizon 2020 in 2016, Georgian startups have had unprecedented access to the EU’s innovation ecosystem. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, health, societal research projects, and more saw notable Georgian participation. Now, under Horizon Europe, the opportunities have expanded even further, but navigating this landscape requires careful timing and strategy.
At Startup Georgia, we think that understanding where your startup stands in its development journey is crucial before diving into these opportunities. The application process for Horizon Europe programs can be demanding and time-consuming. It’s essential to ensure your startup is at the right stage to benefit from these resources without losing focus on critical development tasks.
Horizon Europe includes the European Innovation Council (EIC) programs, designed to support startups at various stages of their development. Understanding which program aligns with your startup’s current phase can maximize your chances of success.
EIC Pathfinder: Ideal for early-stage, high-risk projects. If your startup is in the conceptual phase, Pathfinder grants help transform innovative ideas into tangible projects. This program supports breakthrough innovations with the potential for significant impact.
If you’re in the early stages of research, the EIC Pathfinder Programme supports visionary projects aiming for groundbreaking technological advances. This program welcomes consortia from EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. To qualify, your consortium must include at least three independent legal entities, with one from a Member State and the others from different Member States or Associated Countries. Single applicants or smaller consortia (two partners) can also apply for EIC Pathfinder Challenges.
EIC Transition: Once you’ve demonstrated feasibility, EIC Transition supports startups in refining prototypes and preparing for commercialization. This program bridges the gap between research and market-ready innovations, helping to scale promising technologies.
If you’re a startup founder looking to turn research into market-ready technologies, the EIC Transition Programme is for you. This program supports single entities or small consortia from EU Member States and Associated Countries. To apply, you’ll need to present a project with a clear path from lab to market, featuring a viable business model and strong commercialization potential. Detailed proposals, proof of concept, and a comprehensive development plan are essential for a successful application.
EIC Accelerator: The EIC Accelerator offers a combination of grants and equity investments for startups ready to scale. This program helps bring products to market and achieve commercial success, providing the financial and strategic support needed for substantial growth.
If you’re a founder of a startup looking to scale up impactful technology, the EIC Accelerator programme is for you. This program supports single startups, including spin-outs, from EU Member States and Horizon Europe-associated countries. Only one application is allowed at a time, but you can reapply after receiving your initial results. The EIC particularly welcomes applications from startups with female CEOs. Be sure you’re applying with a project that has high-impact technology, strong commercialization potential, and a solid growth strategy.
The interest of Georgian startups to participate and take advantage of opportunities in EU countries is rising, and many amazing projects started to appear to meet this demand. Belgium is considered the best destination for startups to expand to the EU market, offers a very solid ecosystem for R&D projects and has numerous success stories in innovation development. Co-founder of Elven Technologies Vamekh Kherkheulidze is one of 11 Startup founders who were selected for the Entrepreneurial Mobility Link — EMLINK Project.
The EMLINK project is funded by the European Union through the Migration Partnership Facility (MPF) and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD). Vamekh shares:
“Our startup applied in early spring and reapplied recently after getting feedback from the jury regarding our technology. The process involves submitting a short proposal, followed by a full proposal if approved. It’s critical to understand your project’s TRL to choose the right program. EIC opportunities often seem as a great opportunity but often eligibility criteria is misunderstood”
For a deep dive into understanding TRLs check out Carly Anderson's blog published at Prime Movers Lab.
Regarding the EMLINK itself Ketevan Gorgoshidze of ICMPD shares:
“The specific objectives of EMLINK are to increase cooperation and exchange between state institutions, private sector representatives, and startups in both Georgia and Belgium, focusing on temporary entrepreneurial mobility development, and enhancing the capacity of Georgian startups to grow, supporting skills and talent retention.”
Landscape might seem complex for founders but the Georgian office of Horizon Europe provides invaluable support. The National Contact Points (NCPs) offer a range of services to guide startups through the application process:
- Guidance on choosing relevant Horizon Europe topics and types of action
- Advice on administrative procedures and contractual issues.
- Training and assistance in proposal writing
- Distribution of documentation (forms, guidelines, manuals, etc.)
- Assistance in partner search
- Preliminary screening of project proposals, involving foreign experts if necessary
- Advice on financial matters
Engaging with the Horizon Europe office in Georgia can significantly enhance your chances of success. It is operating under the Ministry of Education, Science, and Youth of Georgia (Science Development Department), The office aims to enhance Georgia’s participation in the EU research and innovation framework programme. The office organizes various informational events, builds a national partnership network, and supports international cooperation.
As you prepare your application, define your project’s objectives, innovation potential, and expected impact. You can use the European Enterprise Network (EEN) to find partners and form robust consortia. Craft a detailed and compelling proposal that meets Horizon Europe guidelines and be ready for a rigorous evaluation process.
Since 2017, Georgian companies have had access to the EEN, thanks to a collaboration between the Produce in Georgia Agency, Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency, and the Georgian Chamber of Commerce. EEN provides:
- Partner Search Assistance: Connect with over 600 member organizations across 60 countries to find suitable partners for joint projects.
- Guidance on Horizon Europe Topics: Get advice on choosing relevant funding opportunities and understanding the application process.
- Proposal Writing Support: Receive training and assistance in crafting compelling proposals.
- Administrative and Contractual Advice: Navigate the complexities of administrative procedures and contractual issues with expert help.
While engaging with Horizon Europe and EEN can provide valuable resources and open doors to new markets, startups need to avoid the distraction of pursuing numerous opportunities at the expense of their primary objectives. Overextending resources and attention to complex EU programs might divert focus from critical tasks such as refining business models, achieving market fit, and ensuring long-term sustainability.
Startups should strategically evaluate which programs align best with their current stage and needs. It’s essential to ensure that efforts to secure EU funding and partnerships do not compromise their core business activities or growth trajectory. Careful planning and prioritization will help startups make the most of these opportunities without losing sight of their primary goals.
Explore our latest projects on our website to see how we’re connecting the Georgian startup ecosystem to the world.
