EIC Accelerator

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The EIC Accelerator Programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC) is a funding initiative under Horizon Europe, designed to support highly innovative startups and SMEs in developing and scaling up disruptive technologies with high market potential. Its objective is to facilitate the transition of technological innovations to commercialisation, driving the growth of European companies with global impact.

The EIC Accelerator aims to fast-track the market entry of pioneering technologies by providing funding and strategic support to innovative businesses. It is targeted at projects with a high level of innovation and risk but strong potential for growth and international scalability. The programme offers several funding options:

  • Grant-only: Up to €2.5 million, provided as a lump sum for innovation activities at TRL 6-8, with a maximum duration of 24 months.
  • Blended finance: Up to €2.5 million in grants combined with equity investment ranging from €0.5 to €10 million.
  • Investment-only: Available for mid-sized companies in a rapid scale-up phase (TRL 9) or companies that have previously received a grant-only award. Investment ranges from €0.5 to €10 million through the EIC Fund, with the possibility of larger amounts under the STEP ScaleUP programme.

Eligibility Requirements and Proposals

The programme is aimed to:

  • Innovative startups and SMEs established in an EU Member State or Associated Country.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the scale-up phase that require high-risk funding to complete their technological development and commercialisation.
  • Mid-sized companies (up to 499 employees), which are eligible only for equity investment.
  • Individuals or legal entities intending to establish an eligible startup or SME in the EU or an Associated Country before the final application stage.

Proposals must demonstrate that the applicant owns the intellectual property or has the necessary rights to commercialise the innovation.

The evaluation consists of three phases:

  • Submission of a short proposal: Includes a project summary, a pitch deck of up to 10 slides, and a 3-minute pitch video.
  • Remote evaluation: If the short proposal receives a positive assessment, the applicant is invited to submit a full proposal within the established cut-off dates.
  • Interview with the EIC jury: If the full proposal is positively evaluated, the applicant will present and defend the project before a panel of experts.

The EIC Accelerator programme is divided into two categories:

  • EIC Accelerator Open: Open to any technological or sectoral field, with no predefined thematic priorities.
  • EIC Accelerator Challenges: Targeted at projects aligned with the EU’s strategic challenges, such as digital health, clean energy, or advanced artificial intelligence.

EIC Accelerator 2025 Challenges

  • Acceleration in the development and scaling of advanced materials across the value chain: Support for SMEs in the entire value chain of advanced materials, covering one or more of the following key application areas: energy, mobility, electronics, and construction.
  • Biotechnological systems for food and feed production with low emissions: Radical reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental footprint in food production systems, addressing multiple areas for improvement.
  • GenAI4EU: Creating European leaders in Generative AI. Support for startups and SMEs committed to developing transformative AI-based solutions that ensure human autonomy, improve expert experience, and provide high added value in decision-making, services, and industrial workflows.
  • Services, operations, robotics, and innovative technologies for resilient European space infrastructure: Support for companies developing cost-effective, scalable, and resilient solutions for satellite capability maintenance, in-orbit refuelling, space debris reduction, and protection of the EU’s space infrastructure.
  • Disruptive innovations for future mobility: Promoting profitable and scalable deep-tech advancements that help reduce emissions related to mobility.

Key aspects for Securing Support

  • Deep-tech, highly innovative technology with high potential to drive company growth.
  • High-risk innovations that cannot access private investment or sufficient credit to accelerate industrial and commercial expansion at the international level.
  • A solid business plan with a clear timeline, a competent team, and well-structured financial data.
  • Large-scale impact: The commercialisation of the innovation should generate social, economic, and/or environmental benefits in Europe.

Name

Opening date

Next deadline

Deadline model

Link

EIC ACCELERATOR OPEN

1 January 2025

12/03/2025

01/10/2025

Double-stage

Link

EIC ACCELERATOR CHALLENGES

1 January 2025

12/03/2025

01/10/2025

Double-stage

Link

Scope: Europe

Maximum Budget: 12.500.000€

Organism: European comission

Aim of the project: Enterprise Development, R&D

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FIND OUT WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT OUR WORK​

Vaidas Palinauskas
Nature Research Centre
A perfect example of a 3 in 1 company: smooth process, professional and pleasant to work with.
Elena Casiraghi
Università degli Studi di MIlano
Kindness, experience, ability to understanding and integrate different research languages/views
Manuel Menéndez Muñiz
VIAS
Very close team and well managed.
Jose Manuel Rodriguez
ITAINNOVA
Well organized work, with filtered request to what really matters.
David Martín Gómez
- Charles III University of Madrid
I would like to point out that the elaboration of the proposal was steered with a lot of detail and efficiency.
Tania Tisheva
BGRF
It was great meeting you and I am looking forward to working with you in the future. The professionalism of your team is excellent. I am very thankful for the guidance and cooperation during the whole process.
Alberta Aversa
Politecnico di Torino
cooperation rapid and effective.
Samuel Martínez
Circular in Motion B.V.
Excellent team in place which has been instrumental in assisting the creation of a robust application, which otherwise would have been very difficult for us to complete it. Their understanding of the process, deliverables required, and key areas to consider, is essential to increase the application success probability.
Daniel Edenholm
Sysarb AB
We would not have come this far without your help.
Fleming Pedersen Dambo
Staccato Technologies
I couldn't have done the application without the support from Euro-Funding Their expertise and guidance was invaluable.
Klas Ehnemark
Knowing Company
Very positive to have strength in both business development and technology at the same time. Now we have a really good business plan.
Pablo Pérez
AQUACORP
The experience of working with Euro-Funding has been both exciting and demanding because. The level of the consultants has been professional from an emotional intelligence and technical speaking perspective.
Manuel Grases
Flexofibers
I would recommend working with Euro-Funding. The level of professionalism is evident in the company. The process was exactly what we required.
Cristina Ferreras
Venter Pharma
Euro-Funding helped us in a very professional and efficient way in all the steps of the preparation of the proposal. We consider the proposal to be of a very high standard. Without their help, we would not have been able to have the proposal in time and with such high quality.
Mátyás Péter
Medres Kft. / Cardiosight Ltd.
Despite a tight deadline, the team at Euro-Funding managed to accomplish the task and delivered an excellent grant proposal. It was a pleasure working with them.

OUR METHODOLOGY

  • Single-beneficiary format.
  • Exclusively SMEs under the status according to EU criteria recommendation 2003/361.

Financing of up to 17 million euros:

Non-refundable aid, grant, up to €2.5 MILLION (grant)
Financing in Capital Investment concept up to €15 MILLION (equity)

All expenses directly related to activities such as trials, prototyping, validation, demonstration and testing in real conditions (TRL6 to TRL8).

The budget categories include, in addition to personnel expenses, travel, consumables, amortization of equipment, contracting of services, indirect costs are included (calculated as 25% of the rest of the costs, except subcontracting). The intensity of non-reimbursable aid will be 70% of the approved and justified budget.

The costs derived from the market access activities (TRL9) will be covered through Private Investment.

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