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EIC Accelerator: Funding, Eligibility and Deadlines

The EIC Accelerator funds single deep tech companies that have a validated technology and a financing gap private investors will not close on their own. It offers grant funding, direct equity investment, or the two combined as blended finance. The 2026 grant ceiling is €2.5 million; the 2027 draft specifies a grant below €2.5 million. Eligibility starts at Technology Readiness Level 5, and applications run through three stages: a short proposal, a full proposal, and a jury interview.

It is the final instrument in the EIC's three-tier structure, after EIC Pathfinder for early research and EIC Transition for validating a result. The programme is highly selective, and the defining test is not whether the technology is impressive but whether EIC support will crowd in the private capital needed to scale it.

EIC Accelerator deadlines

Deadlines / EIC Accelerator Cut-Off Dates 2026

  • Step 1
    • Open now: Apply as soon as possible to be eligible for the next Step 2 submission deadline
      • Proposals are sent for evaluation on the first Tuesday of every month
  • Step 2 (closing 17:00 Brussels Time)
    • 1st cut-off 2026: January 7th 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: March 4th 2026
    • 3rd cut-off 2026: May 6th 2026
    • 4th cut-off 2026: July 8th 2026
    • 5th cut-off 2026: September 2nd 2026
    • 6th cut-off 2026: November 4th 2026
  • Step 3
    • 1st cut-off 2026: June 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: October 19th to 22nd 2026
    • 3rd cut-off 2026: January 2027 (exact date TBD)

Deadlines / EIC Accelerator Cut-Off Dates 2027

  • Step 1
    • Open now: Apply as soon as possible to be eligible for the next Step 2 submission deadline
      • Proposals are sent for evaluation on the first Tuesday of every month
  • Step 2 (closing 17:00 Brussels Time)
    • 1st cut-off 2027: February 3rd 2027
    • 2nd cut-off 2027: April 1st 2027
    • 3rd cut-off 2027: September 1st 2027
    • 4th cut-off 2027: November 3rd 2027

Short proposals are continuously open and evaluated in monthly batches. Full proposals are submitted against fixed cut-off dates, so the full-proposal schedule is the one to plan around. For the complete schedule see the 2026 cut-off dates and the 2027 cut-off dates.

Funding options

TypeWhat it isAmount
Grant onlyLump sum contribution via a grant agreementUp to €2.5 million in 2026; below €2.5 million under the 2027 draft; once per legal entity across Horizon Europe (2021-27)
Blended financeGrant plus an investment component, usually direct equity or quasi-equity such as a convertible loanGrant up to €2.5m in 2026, or below €2.5m under the 2027 draft, plus investment
Equity onlyDirect equity or quasi-equity via an investment agreement, no grantInvestment component only

Grant-only support can be awarded only once per legal entity during Horizon Europe; it is not a renewable allowance up to the ceiling. A company that has already received it must use another eligible funding route for a later Accelerator application.

A GO recommendation for investment starts EIC Fund due diligence. It is not a signed investment agreement and does not guarantee the requested amount or the terms. Companies that plan their runway on the assumption that a jury GO equals money in the bank consistently underestimate how long the process takes.

Who can apply

  • A single startup or SME established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe Associated Country.
  • A small mid-cap of up to 499 employees, but only for equity-only support, or for blended finance in exceptional cases for rapid scale-up.
  • An entity from a Member State or Associated Country intending to establish an SME or small mid-cap there by the time the grant agreement is signed, or for equity only by the date the investment agreement is signed.

The Accelerator funds companies, not consortia. Pathfinder Open and the 2026 Transition call support collaborative applications, while the 2027 Transition draft changes Transition to a single-beneficiary instrument.

List of Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries

  • All Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries
  • EU-27 Member States
    1. Austria
    2. Belgium
    3. Bulgaria
    4. Croatia
    5. Republic of Cyprus
    6. Czech Republic
    7. Denmark
    8. Estonia
    9. Finland
    10. France
    11. Germany
    12. Greece
    13. Hungary
    14. Ireland
    15. Italy
    16. Latvia
    17. Lithuania
    18. Luxembourg
    19. Malta
    20. Netherlands
    21. Poland
    22. Portugal
    23. Romania
    24. Slovakia
    25. Slovenia
    26. Spain
    27. Sweden
  • Association Agreements with Legal Effect
    1. Albania
    2. Armenia
    3. Bosnia and Herzegovina
    4. Faroe Islands
    5. Georgia
    6. Iceland
    7. Israel
    8. Kosovo
    9. Moldova
    10. Montenegro
    11. North Macedonia
    12. Norway
    13. Serbia
    14. Tunisia
    15. Turkey
    16. Ukraine
  • Transitional Association Arrangements
    1. Morocco
    2. United Kingdom (grant but no equity)
    3. Switzerland
  • Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Linked to Member States
    1. Aruba (Netherlands)
    2. Bonaire (Netherlands)
    3. Curação (Netherlands)
    4. French Polynesia (France)
    5. French Southern and Antarctic Territories (France)
    6. Greenland (Denmark)
    7. New Caledonia (France)
    8. Saba (Netherlands)
    9. Saint Barthélemy (France)
    10. Sint Eustatius (Netherlands)
    11. Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
    12. St. Pierre and Miquelon (France)
    13. Wallis and Futuna Islands (France)

Technology Readiness Level requirement

The technology component of the innovation must have been tested and validated in a laboratory and in other relevant environments, which means at least TRL 5 completed. This applies to the integrated innovation, not to its strongest component. A system containing one subsystem at TRL 7 while the whole remains at TRL 4 does not meet the condition.

See Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) for the full scale and how the EIC interprets it for software, hardware and industrial innovations.

The three evaluation stages

Step 1: short proposal

Continuously open, evaluated in monthly batches. Under the 2027 draft, the application is a 12-page form, a pitch deck of up to ten slides and a video of up to three minutes featuring no more than three core team members. Four expert evaluators assess it and at least three GO decisions are required to proceed.

That threshold is why writing only to the template structure underperforms. A proposal can satisfy the format while leaving an individual evaluator without the evidence to justify a GO. See how to apply for Step 1.

Step 2: full proposal

A longer narrative plus detailed company and financial data, ownership information, an IP and freedom-to-operate strategy, a pitch deck, a video, and where grant funding is requested an implementation plan and lump-sum budget. The 2027 draft limits the narrative to 20 pages. An external technology expert carries out an in-depth assessment including a clarification meeting with the applicant, after which a thematic panel scores and ranks the proposal.

See how to apply for Step 2.

Step 3: jury interview

The 2026 jury outcomes are GO, NO GO with a Seal of Excellence, and NO GO without a Seal of Excellence. The 2027 draft adds GO Reserve and describes four outcomes: GO, GO Reserve, NO GO with a Seal of Excellence, and NO GO. Relevant Challenge proposals can also receive a STEP Seal under the stated conditions. The 2026 programme has three interview periods; the 2027 draft has two, after every second full-proposal batch.

EIC Accelerator Jury Members

Success rates

The Accelerator is selective at every stage, and the headline figure depends heavily on which stage it refers to. Step 1 pass rates, Step 2 pass rates and interview-stage rates are very different numbers, and quoted "success rates" often conflate them.

For the current figures by stage, country and sector, see EIC Accelerator success rates, and for the results of individual cut-offs see the latest EIC Accelerator results.

Business Acceleration Services

Beyond funding, successful applicants receive access to Business Acceleration Services: coaching, mentoring, expertise and connections to ecosystem partners. These are part of the award rather than an optional extra, and they are one reason the EIC positions itself as more than a grant provider.

What the EIC is trying to achieve

The stated objective is to crowd €30 to 50 billion of investment into European deep tech by bridging the financing gap those companies face and using the EIC Fund to influence how private capital is allocated. That objective shapes the evaluation: the question an evaluator is answering is whether Union support is additional, meaning it unlocks private capital that would not otherwise arrive.

A company that can raise the same round privately is, by design, a weak fit. Demonstrating the financing gap is therefore not a formality but one of the substantive tests.

Recent changes to the process

In 2026, the EIC simplified the Accelerator evaluation process: application forms became shorter and reusable from the short to the full application stage, technical due diligence moved to the full-application stage before the jury phase, and full applications moved to regular batching with three jury weeks per year. The 2027 draft retains regular batching but reduces the interview schedule to two sessions.

For what changed in the current work programme see EIC Work Programme 2026 changes, and for the draft next cycle see EIC Accelerator 2027.

Who has been funded

The EIC publishes the funded projects after each cut-off, and reading them is the fastest way to calibrate whether your company fits. The pattern of funded projects shows which sectors, countries and company stages actually get through, as opposed to what the call text says is eligible.

Search the full list of EIC Accelerator beneficiaries by company, country and selection round, or read the latest results round by round.

Getting help with an application

Most applicants use outside support at some point, and the market ranges from full grant writing to a single review before submission. What is worth paying for depends on which stage you are at and which part of the application is weakest.

  • Proposal writing. An EIC Accelerator writer or grant bid writer drafts the narrative and structures the argument against the evaluation criteria.
  • Consultancy. An EIC Accelerator consultant advises on strategy, funding option and positioning as well as the document itself.
  • Interview preparation. The jury stage is a different exercise from the written application, and interview coaching targets the pitch and the question handling specifically.
  • Templates and self-preparation. The official proposal templates cover the structure if you intend to write it in-house.

No consultant, writer or success rate transfers to your company. The quality of the business and the fit to the programme dominate the outcome, and a strong writer improves how well a good case is communicated rather than turning a weak one into a fundable one.

Official sources

This page is a guide for applicants, not an official European Commission publication. The authoritative sources are the European Innovation Council site and the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, where the calls are published and proposals are submitted. Always confirm dates, budgets and eligibility conditions against the official call page before you submit, because call conditions change between work programmes.

Where the Accelerator sits

ProgrammePurposeTypical TRL
EIC PathfinderBuild the scientific basis for a breakthrough technologyTRL 1 to 4
EIC TransitionValidate a proven result and build the business caseTRL 3 or 4 to 5 or 6
EIC AcceleratorFund a company scaling a validated innovationTRL 5 upwards

What a competitive application has to prove

  1. The technology is a genuine deep tech breakthrough with a defensible advantage.
  2. TRL 5 is complete for the integrated innovation and the remaining milestones are measurable.
  3. The target market, obtainable share, customers and commercial pathway are evidenced rather than asserted.
  4. The team can execute the technical programme, the market entry and the financing strategy.
  5. The requested Union support is additional and will crowd in capital rather than replace available private finance.
  6. IP, regulatory, manufacturing and scale-up risks have credible mitigation plans.

For proposal structure and the official forms, see the EIC Accelerator proposal templates.

Funding Disruptive Innovation

What is the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is a funding program by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and part of Horizon Europe. It funds innovative companies that are leveraging technological breakthroughs or scientific discoveries (DeepTech) with €2.5 million in Grant and/or €10 million in Equity financing per project.

Which Technologies are Funded?

Among the 600+ beneficiaries since 2021, companies range over many different industries including capital-intensive hardware or pure software businesses with a focus on DeepTech. There are no general technology restrictions for the EIC Accelerator as long as the technologies are aligned with EU policies (i.e. no military applications, etc.) but there are Technology Challenges that highlight certain technologies every year.

How Mature Must a Technology Be?

The EIC Accelerator funds technologies that have reached at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5, defined as "technology validated in relevant environment". Generally, the EIC expects a prototype or proof-of-concept of the technology to exist. It is also possible to apply for Grants if the technology has already reached TRL6 or 7 and for pure Equity at TRL8.

What Type of Funding is Available?

The EIC Accelerator funds companies through Grants (up to €2.5 million), Equity (up to €10 million) or Blended Finance (a combination of Grant and Equity up to €12.5 million). Grants are non-dilutive and lump sum funding while Equity presents an investment by the EIC Fund or related parties in exchange for company ownership. An applicant can decide the type and amount of funding they wish to apply for. In exceptional cases, larger funding amounts can be requested.

Applicant Profile

Who Receives Funding?

EIC Accelerator applicants are for-profit companies that are registered in an eligible country but it is also possible for individuals or investors to apply to the EIC Accelerator as long as a company is founded before signing the Grant Agreement Contract. The companies must qualify as an independent Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) with a staff headcount <250, turnover ≤€50 million and balance sheet total ≤€43 million.

Which EU Countries Can Apply?

The EIC Accelerator is accessible to companies or individuals in all EU-27 countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, including their territories.

Can Other Countries Apply?

Yes, there are association agreements with Horizon Europe in place which allow companies or individuals in the following countries to apply: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, Morocco and the United Kingdom (Grant only).

Is the EIC Accelerator for Me?

What are the Success Rates?

The success rates are not explicitly published for all 3 evaluation steps but it can be assumed that the total success rates from Step 1 to Step 3 are 5% or below. Depending on the annual budget of the EIC Accelerator program and the number of applicants per cut-off as well as the type of Call (i.e. Open vs. Challenges), the success rate can be higher or lower.

Does My Company Fit?

The EIC Accelerator generally prefers highly innovative and disruptive technologies which often have a DeepTech, scientific or otherwise technical base. It generally seeks high-risk and high-reward businesses that plan to bring their technology to the market. In the past, the EIC Accelerator has funded many scientific innovations but also pure software companies, SaaS solutions or even well-funded companies that present lower risk profiles.

Should I Apply?

It is up to each company to decide if they wish to apply to the €12.5 million EIC Accelerator financing. Important considerations are the risk-profile based on the program's success rates, the time to apply and the ability to stay persistent during the process. The EIC Accelerator is ideal for companies that have a sufficient runway of at least 6 months and are not in need of immediate funding while actively engaging investors and other funding sources to diversify their approach.

How To Apply

How Do I Apply?

The EIC Accelerator uses a 3-step evaluation process. All 3 Steps must be cleared in succession and all companies that have passed Step 3 will receive their respective funding. The submission process is performed on the EU's Funding & Tenders Portal where documents must be uploaded to the respective cut-off deadlines. Each submission receives evaluations and comments as part of the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) as well as a GO or NO GO rating.

How Long Does It Take?

There is no standard timeline for EIC Accelerator applications. Some companies can be successful in under 6 months while others can apply over the span of 2 years or more if they receive rejections and/or skip deadlines due to time constraints. Additionally, the EIC Accelerator often has 2-4 deadlines per year which can impact the timeline and planning of the respective submissions.

When Can I apply?

Step 1 of the EIC Accelerator is continuously open and companies can apply at any time. After Step 1 has been passed successfully, applicants can apply to Step 2 which generally has 2-4 cut-offs per year. After Step 2 has been passed, companies are invited to a Step 3 face-to-face interview that is usually conducted through a video call within weeks of the Step 2 cut-off.

What if I Get Rejected?

The EIC Accelerator follows a "3 strikes, you're out" approach to rejections. If a company has accumulated a total of 3 rejections across all the Steps then they will not be eligible to re-apply with that specific project or a very similar one until the end of Horizon Europe. In contrast, this means that every applicant has multiple chances to improve their proposal and be successful over time. It is common for funded projects to receive rejections along the way.

The Application Process

Step 1: The Short Application

The Step 1 short application consists of a short written proposal, a 3-minute video pitch and a 10-page pitch deck in addition to standard online form fields. It generally takes 2-4 weeks for new applicants to prepare all documents. After the submission, 3 out of 4 evaluators must provide a GO rating for the project to move towards Step 2.

Step 2: The Business Plan

The Step 2 business plan consists of a long written proposal of 50 or more pages as well as annexes such as a 3-minute video pitch, a pitch deck, financial documents, a Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis, a Data Management Plan (DMP), Letters of Intent (LOI), Curriculum Vitaes (CV) and others in addition to standard online form fields. It generally takes 6-8 weeks for new applicants to prepare all documents. After the submission, 3 out of 3 evaluators must provide a GO rating for the project to move towards Step 3.

Step 3: The Interview

The Step 3 interview consists of a face-to-face interview via video call or in-person in Brussels, Belgium. It includes a 10-minute pitch by the invited applicant followed by a 35-minute Q&A session with the EIC Jury members. The pitch uses the submitted Step 2 pitch deck while the panel is generally consisting of 5 jury members in addition to EIC and European Investment Bank (EIB) representitives as well as EIC Program Managers. The preparation for the interview takes 2 weeks and all jury members must provide a GO for the applicants to successfully receive the EIC Accelerator funding.

What Happens After I Get Funded?

Depending on the requested funding, the due diligence for the Grant and Equity funding begins. For the Grant, the preparation of the Grant Agreement Contract (GAC) is initiated which requires the applicant to upload different company documents including financials, Ultimate Beneficiary Owner (UBO) and other registration documents. For the Eqity, the due diligence is conducted through the EIB which will be in direct contact with applicants and the applicant's co-investors. The Equity financing is generally provided as a direct equity injection, convertible note or similar modes but, ideally, the EIC Fund prefers to invest with the applicant's own investors in a larger funding round.

Successful Clients

Need Financing?

Contact Stephan Segler, PhD, to discuss the EIC Accelerator and the application process.

Deadlines / EIC Accelerator Cut-Off Dates 2025, 2026 and 2027

  • Step 1
    • Open now: Apply as soon as possible to be eligible for the next Step 2 submission deadline
      • Proposals are sent for evaluation on the first Tuesday of every month
  • Step 2 (closing 17:00 Brussels Time)
    • 1st cut-off 2025: March 12th 2025
    • 2nd cut-off 2025: October 1st 2025
    • 1st cut-off 2026: January 7th 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: March 4th 2026
    • 3rd cut-off 2026: May 6th 2026
    • 4th cut-off 2026: July 8th 2026
    • 5th cut-off 2026: September 2nd 2026
    • 6th cut-off 2026: November 4th 2026
    • 1st cut-off 2027: February 3rd 2027
    • 2nd cut-off 2027: April 1st 2027
    • 3rd cut-off 2027: September 1st 2027
    • 4th cut-off 2027: November 3rd 2027
  • Step 3
    • 1st cut-off 2025: June 2nd 2025
    • 2nd cut-off 2025: January 19th to 23rd 2026
    • 1st cut-off 2026: June 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: October 19th to 22nd 2026
    • 3rd cut-off 2026: January 2027 (exact date TBD)

Deadlines / EIC Accelerator Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Scale Up Cut-Off Dates 2026 and 2027

  • EIC STEP Scale-up Call
    • 1st cut-off 2026: February 11th 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: May 6th 2026
    • 3rd cut-off 2026: September 9th 2026
    • 4th cut-off 2026: November 25th 2026
    • 1st cut-off 2027: January 28th 2027
    • 2nd cut-off 2027: April 29th 2027
    • 3rd cut-off 2027: September 6th 2027
    • 4th cut-off 2027: November 22nd 2027
  • EIC STEP Scale Up Defence
    • 1st cut-off 2027: June 1st 2027

Deadlines / EIC Pre-Accelerator 2027

  • EIC Pre-Accelerator Widening via WIDERA
    • 1st cut-off 2027: November 18th 2027

Deadlines / EIC Transition Cut-Off Dates 2025, 2026 and 2027

  • EIC Transition Open
    • 1st cut-off 2025: September 17th 2025
    • 1st cut-off 2026: September 16th 2026
    • 1st cut-off 2027: September 16th 2027

Deadlines / EIC Pathfinder Cut-Off Dates 2025, 2026 and 2027

  • EIC Pathfinder Open
    • 1st cut-off 2025: May 21st 2025
    • 1st cut-off 2026: May 12th 2026
  • EIC Pathfinder Open
    • Stage 1 cut-off 2027: February 25th 2027
    • Stage 2 cut-off 2027: September 16th 2027
  • EIC Pathfinder Challenges
    • 2nd cut-off 2025: October 29th 2025
    • 2nd cut-off 2026: October 28th 2026
    • 2nd cut-off 2027: September 29th 2027

Deadlines / EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges 2026

  • EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges
    • Stage 1 cut-off 2026: February 26th 2026
    • Stage 2 cut-off 2027: June 18th 2027

EIC Work Programme

EIC Accelerator Challenges

  • EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026
    • Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage System
    • Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants
    • Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils
    • Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain
    • Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation
  • EIC Accelerator Challenges 2027 (draft)
    • Advanced in-situ Ocean Observation Technologies for Scalable, High-Resolution Marine Monitoring
    • Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
    • Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants
    • Carbon removal and circularity for climate change mitigation and EU industrial resilience

EIC Accelerator STEP Scale-Up Topics

  • EIC Accelerator STEP Scale-Up Topics
    • Digital technologies, and deep tech innovations
    • Clean and resource-efficient technologies, including net-zero technologies
    • Biotechnologies, including medicinal products on the Union's list of critical medicines and their components.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges 2026

  • Accelerating Physical AI: Embodied Intelligence for the Next Frontier of AI-Powered Robotics
  • Translating Disruptive New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) into Practice

EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2026

  • Advanced Materials for Miniaturised Energy Harvesting Systems
  • Biotechnology for Healthy Ageing
  • DeepRAP: Deep Reasoning, Abstraction & Planning towards trustworthy Cognitive AI Systems

EIC Pathfinder Challenges 2027 (draft)

  • Breakthroughs in Advanced Materials for Electricity Generation, Storage and Transmission
  • Safe and Controlled Continual Learning in Open World for Reliable AI Agents (CLOWAI)
  • Quantum Energetics

EIC Fund Guidelines (Equity)

EIC Accelerator and EIC STEP Scale-Up Call Page, Proposal Templates and Submission Links

EIC Accelerator Jury Members

List of Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries

  • All Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries
  • EU-27 Member States
    1. Austria
    2. Belgium
    3. Bulgaria
    4. Croatia
    5. Republic of Cyprus
    6. Czech Republic
    7. Denmark
    8. Estonia
    9. Finland
    10. France
    11. Germany
    12. Greece
    13. Hungary
    14. Ireland
    15. Italy
    16. Latvia
    17. Lithuania
    18. Luxembourg
    19. Malta
    20. Netherlands
    21. Poland
    22. Portugal
    23. Romania
    24. Slovakia
    25. Slovenia
    26. Spain
    27. Sweden
  • Association Agreements with Legal Effect
    1. Albania
    2. Armenia
    3. Bosnia and Herzegovina
    4. Faroe Islands
    5. Georgia
    6. Iceland
    7. Israel
    8. Kosovo
    9. Moldova
    10. Montenegro
    11. North Macedonia
    12. Norway
    13. Serbia
    14. Tunisia
    15. Turkey
    16. Ukraine
  • Transitional Association Arrangements
    1. Morocco
    2. United Kingdom (grant but no equity)
    3. Switzerland
  • Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Linked to Member States
    1. Aruba (Netherlands)
    2. Bonaire (Netherlands)
    3. Curação (Netherlands)
    4. French Polynesia (France)
    5. French Southern and Antarctic Territories (France)
    6. Greenland (Denmark)
    7. New Caledonia (France)
    8. Saba (Netherlands)
    9. Saint Barthélemy (France)
    10. Sint Eustatius (Netherlands)
    11. Sint Maarten (Netherlands)
    12. St. Pierre and Miquelon (France)
    13. Wallis and Futuna Islands (France)

Widening Countries (EIC Pre-Accelerator Eligibility)

The less advanced countries in terms of R&I performance eligible under the Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) programme:

  • EU Member States
    1. Bulgaria
    2. Croatia
    3. Cyprus
    4. Czechia
    5. Estonia
    6. Greece
    7. Hungary
    8. Latvia
    9. Lithuania
    10. Malta
    11. Poland
    12. Portugal
    13. Romania
    14. Slovakia
    15. Slovenia
  • Associated Countries with equivalent characteristics in terms of R&I performance
    1. Albania
    2. Armenia
    3. Bosnia & Herzegovina
    4. Faroe Islands
    5. Georgia
    6. Kosovo
    7. Moldova
    8. Montenegro
    9. North Macedonia
    10. Serbia
    11. Tunisia
    12. Türkiye
    13. Ukraine
    14. Morocco (once associated)
  • Outermost Regions (defined in Art. 349 TFEU)

Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Status

  • SME definition
    • Staff headcount < 250
    • Turnover ≤ €50 million
    • Balance sheet total ≤ €43 million

This page contains all the relevant and up-to-date information about the EIC Accelerator. You can find the latest EIC Accelerator cut-off dates for the submission deadlines, the current EIC Accelerator submission links, information on EIC Accelerator templates, the EIC Accelerator Challenges, the EIC Accelerator Budget, the Eligible EIC Accelerator Countries and other general requirements here.

Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
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