EIC Work Programme 2026: What’s New?
The European Innovation Council recently published their 2026 Work Programme with some exciting changes for start-ups, scale-ups and research-driven innovators across Europe. So – what’s new? Here’s our summary of the key changes you can expect for the year ahead. 1. A Streamlined EIC Accelerator Application Process A reminder: the EIC Accelerator is Europe’s most […]
AI and Bid Writing: Do LLMs Offer a Competitive Edge?
We’ve noticed the increasing use of AI – particularly large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT – in bid writing and with it, growing questions about whether these tools really do offer a competitive edge. To explain our stance on this matter, our Chief Innovation Officer, Peter Frederick, turns to an unexpected but relevant comparison: the […]
Our Breakdown of the European Commission’s EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, May 2025
The European Commission recently released their new EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, ‘Choose Europe to Start and Scale’, aimed at implementing the steps to making Europe “a startup and scaleup powerhouse” for innovative, technology-driven companies. Arguably, the most striking figure reported by the European Commission is that: “Between 2008 and 2021 … only 8% of […]
How to Deliver a Funded Project Successfully: Q&A with our Compliance Experts
Grant funding is the most powerful form of business capital and is a great way to grow your business. However, funded research and development projects are often incredibly complex, and time consuming to manage, coordinate, and deliver. So – what should you expect, what are some of the common challenges, and how can you ensure […]
Confirmation Bias in Innovation
Confirmation Bias is experienced by everyone and causes us to seek out evidence to support our existing beliefs, as opposed to evidence that contradicts them. Its why people read newspapers matching their politics, how conspiracy theories grow and, in extreme cases, creates groups such as incels and QAnon. Confirmation Bias is the arch-enemy of innovation. […]
Telling your Project Story – Lord of the R&D
© New Line Cinema Frodo Baggins. At first glance, you might not think there’s any relationship between R&D funding and the aforementioned hobbit and his adventures in the mythical realm of Middle Earth. Unless you are developing treatments for particularly hairy feet, of course. However, the way to sell your project to an investor or […]
Awards ceremony risks
Imagine you are at your company’s annual awards dinner. You are sat at the back of the hall, quietly sipping on your after-dinner coffee when, suddenly, you hear your name being announced. You’ve just won a hugely important award, such as ‘Best Slogan on a Coffee Mug’, or ‘Best Zoom Background’. All you have to […]
But is it art innovation?
The two pictures above are both art. I know that, because they were both produced by artists and have been placed in art galleries. However, I’m sure everyone has a very different view about whether they both belong in the same building. I have a simple rule when it comes to art: is it aesthetically […]