The European Commission has issued an urgent call to start-ups and other small businesses with technologies that could help combat the coronavirus outbreak to apply for funding to turn their ideas into practical solutions. Applications for the next round of funding for the European Innovation Council’s (EIC) € 164 million accelerator programme fund closes at 4pm Irish time on Wednesday. The commission said it is willing to fast track the awarding of EIC grants and other financing options to innovations that can help with treating, testing and monitoring aspects of the coronavirus outbreak. Last week, it was announced that two Irish companies- ProVerum and Rockfield - had received €4 million in funding under the latest round of the EIC’s programme. In addition, six researchers, based in Trinity College Dublin (TCD), University College Dublin (UCD )and University College Cork (UCC), are to receive funds amounting to over €3 million for five pan-European research projects for which they are either the coordinator or a partner.

Source: The Irish Times March 16, 2020 13:07 UTC