In this paper we report an electron beam induced rapid (up to several tens of nm/s) growth of silver nanowhiskers from silver nanowire networks coated with TiO2 by sol-gel method. Different growth conditions are tested and it is demonstrated that growth is optimal for samples with the film thickness in the range 50-200 nm and previously annealed at 400 degrees C for 5-10 min. Growth mechanism is attributed to cooperative effect of several factors including diffusion of Ag into TiO2 matrix during annealing, electromigration of Ag atoms caused by strong electric held, and presence of mechanical stresses at interfaces enhanced by thermal expansions clue to local heating under e-beam illumination. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.