What the EIC Is Funding

The challenge targets deep tech innovations (including nature-based solutions reinforced by AI and Key Enabling Technologies) that address the four key climate risks identified by the IPCC for Europe:

Extreme Urban Heat
Temperature-responsive and reflective materials, biomimetic metamaterials, novel green-roof and green-façade systems, urban cooling technologies.

Climate-Smart Agriculture
Climate-resilient crops, microbial solutions, biostimulants, deep tech for indoor food production, agroecology and integrated pest management.

Water Scarcity
Wastewater reuse, filtration for emerging pollutants, biotech solutions (bacterial, mycelial, plant-based), nature-based approaches for urban and rural areas.

Flood & Coastal Protection
Green infrastructure, retrofits for storm resilience, predictive and early warning systems, coastal and river flood protection.

The EIC will also connect funded companies with the 400+ regional and local authorities engaged in the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, facilitating real-world deployment of selected solutions.

A Direct Continuation of ARSINOE’s Work

This EIC challenge is closely aligned with the mission of the ARSINOE project and the Climate Innovation Window. Over four years, ARSINOE built and validated systemic climate adaptation solutions across nine European demonstrator regions, addressing urban heat in Athens, water scarcity in the Canary Islands, drought stress on crops in Sardinia, coastal resilience in Mediterranean ports, and flood forecasting in the Black Sea, among others.

The Climate Innovation Window now catalogues over 180 validated climate adaptation technologies developed across these regions, many at the TRL 5-8 maturity stage that the EIC Accelerator specifically targets. Both the EIC challenge and ARSINOE are anchored in the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change, making this one of the most strategically relevant funding opportunities for CIW-listed innovators.

Who Can Apply

• Single SMEs, startups, and small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe-associated country.
• Technology at TRL 5 or above, with demonstrated potential for climate adaptation impact.
• Solutions addressing one of the four priority areas: extreme heat, climate-smart agriculture, water scarcity, or flood and coastal protection.

How to Apply

The application process has three steps:

1. A short proposal (12 pages, pitch deck, and 3-minute video) submitted on a rolling basis and evaluated monthly;
2. A full proposal (20 pages) submitted to one of six cut-off dates in 2026;
3. And a jury interview in Brussels.

2026 deadlines

Funding Options

Explore & apply

• Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation — EIC Challenge Page
• EIC Accelerator — How to Apply
• Guide for Applicants — Work Programme 2026 (PDF)
• EIC Work Programme 2026 — Climate Adaptation Challenge Section