By building on the recommendations of the working group between EIC and EIT boards, the LoI between the 1st wave EIT KICs and EIC and the MoU between EIT and EIC, this proposed initiative aims at piloting mechanisms by which the most innovative businesses stemming from EIT Digital can be channeled to the Enhanced EIC Pilot, creating a pipeline of impactful innovations. In addition, the action will allow EIC-funded innovators to benefit from the support of the EIT Digital Accelerator and Innovation Factory. The collaboration will be along the following lines: 1. EIT Digital Accelerator: (i) EIC Accelerator scaleup systematic access to the EIT Digital Accelerator: base fee (50k) will be 100% discounted for selected EIC Accelerator-funded scaleups signing up during the pilot. This will guarantee scaleups having received EIC Accelerator funding, carefully selected by EIC based on excellence and growth potential (Seal of Excellence), to further grow with the support of EIT Digital and its network of corporates and investors. (ii) EIC investment in scaleups selected and coached by EIT Digital Accelerator would guarantee an intake of DeepTech scaleups with high-growth potential to the EIC and link them to a strong ecosystem of complementary investors. 2. EIT Digital Innovation Factory: (i) EIC grants and investments in ventures and activities of the EIT Digital Innovation Factory would further support innovative startups, maximize the outcome of EIT Digital and its strong partner ecosystem and ultimately build a strong portfolio of European centaurs and unicorns; (ii) Channel EIC Pathfinder innovators to EIT Digital Innovation Factory to create and validate strong business plans and build ventures to bring their solutions to the market. This will allow to build and grow European DeepTech ventures and help them succeed in the market. The ultimate goal of the collaboration will be to enhance European support to innovators in alignment with EC's priorities.

EIT Digital is about building a strong Digital Europe through creating world players in areas strategic for Europe and thus contributing to European Digital Sovereignty fully aligned with the priorities of the European Commission; its activities are focused on areas essential for European digital sovereignty identified in the EIT Digital SIA: digital tech, wellbeing, cities, industry, and finance. EIT Digital works with a stand-up, start-up, scale-up innovation funnel that identifies innovation opportunities, builds and scales ventures and breeds and up-skills talents to equip them with both the entrepreneurial and deep tech skills needed. The core of this funnel is the Innovation Factory that creates ventures from open innovation activities carried out by EIT Digital Partners. This is complemented by the RIS Venture Program and by Entrepreneurial education programmes. The Accelerator is focused on scaling these ventures by supporting their growth with access to finance and access to market services. A strong digital economy depends on people and organisations equipped with deep technical competence, strong entrepreneurial skills and agility to act. To this end, EIT Digital develops and engages talents in its schools, offering master and professional education on the latest digital technologies and on the business opportunities they enable. To further support the execution of its strategy, reinforce its leadership in the digital transformation of Europe and increase its impact at both European and national level, EIT Digital is increasingly engaging with EU-wide and national initiatives, such as the Digital Europe Program, the EDIHs, HE, InvestEU, NGEU and the structural funds in the Member States. As part of its financial sustainability strategy, EIT Digital is generating income from a diverse set of sources and reinvesting it in impactful activities, thus keeping a stable level of investment over the years, despite the decreasing EIT financial support.

EIT Digital is about building a strong Digital Europe through creating world players in areas strategic for Europe and thus contributing to European Digital Sovereignty fully aligned with the priorities of the European Commission; its activities are focused on areas essential for European digital sovereignty identified in the EIT Digital SIA: digital tech, wellbeing, cities, industry, and finance. A strong digital economy depends on people and organisations equipped with deep technical competence, strong entrepreneurial skills and agility to act. To this end, EIT Digital works with a student to unicorn innovation funnel aimed at skilling-up and mentoring talents wannabe in their journey to become entrepreneurs and through the growth phases of their startup. EIT Digital fosters an inclusive and connected pan-european ecosystem, which creates venus to bridge innovation gaps by connecting strong Innovator countries with low-moderate innovation countries (EIT RIS Regions) To further support the execution of its strategy, reinforce its leadership in the digital transformation of Europe and increase its impact at both European and national level, EIT Digital is increasingly engaging with EU-wide and national initiatives, such as the Digital Europe Program, the EDIHs, HE, InvestEU, NGEU and the structural funds in the Member States. As part of its financial sustainability strategy, EIT Digital is generating income from a diverse set of sources and reinvesting it in impactful activities.