Status History
2026-07-09
OPEN → INELIGIBLE
· All EIC Work Programme 2026 funding tracks (Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator) require applicants or lead entities to be established in an EU Member State or a country associated to Horizon Europe. Nigeria is neither; it is an international cooperation partner country with no associated-country status. The EIC Pathfinder requires a consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from eligible countries (single applicants only for Challenges, still requiring EU/associated-country establishment). The EIC Accelerator applies to startups/SMEs and natural persons willing to set up an SME, but explicitly states that third-country applicants must relocate their company to become eligible before submitting a full proposal — Eniola has no EU legal entity and is resident in Lagos with no current EU affiliation. The 'fellowship' framing does not correspond to any distinct EIC 2026 track open to non-EU-affiliated independent researchers.