The WIDERA Pre-Accelerator is a key part of the Horizon Europe 2025 Work Programme, specifically designed to support early-stage deep-tech startups and SMEs based in widening countries. These widening countries comprise several EU Member States and Associated Countries with lower research and innovation (R&I) performance. The programme’s objective is to reduce innovation disparities by providing targeted financial and capacity-building support to deep-tech ventures facing barriers in advancing both their technology and market readiness.
The call targets SMEs established in the following widening countries:
EU Member States:
Associated Countries:
The main goal of the WIDERA Pre-Accelerator is to accelerate the growth potential of deep-tech startups and SMEs—those developing highly innovative technologies based on cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs requiring long and complex R&D cycles. These ventures often struggle to secure sufficient financing due to high technological and investment risks, which limits their ability to scale. The programme targets companies with technologies validated at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 and supports their progression to TRL 5 or 6, where technologies are validated in relevant environments closer to industrial and market application.
The programme focuses exclusively on deep-tech innovations defined as those rooted in scientific advances and requiring continuous engagement with new scientific findings. This includes transformative innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
This call is exclusively for deep-tech startups and SMEs established in the widening countries listed above, aiming to increase their participation and success in the European innovation ecosystem.
Grants are provided as lump sums ranging from €300,000 to €500,000 per project, covering 70% of eligible costs. The remaining 30% must be co-funded by the beneficiary. The total indicative budget for this call is approximately €20 million. Projects may run for up to two years.
Funding supports activities critical to preparing deep-tech startups for market and investment readiness, including market research, value proposition and business model development, intellectual property protection, competitor analysis, and regulatory or standardization processes. It also supports advancing the technology from TRL 4 to TRL 6, ensuring validation in relevant industrial environments.
Successful applicants, including those awarded the Seal of Excellence, gain free access to the EIC Business Acceleration Services, which offer coaching, mentoring, and networking tailored to boost investor and market readiness. The programme also facilitates access to the EIC Accelerator Fast Track, enabling easier follow-up funding applications.
This call is open to single-company applications from deep-tech SMEs based in widening countries. Applicants must demonstrate that their technology is validated at TRL 4 and possesses the necessary Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). They should present a clear pathway to market, supported by specific milestones and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Only single legal entities (monobeneficiaries) that are SMEs developing deep-tech innovations and established in one of the widening countries listed above can apply.
Applicants must have developed technology validated at least at TRL 4 and hold or have secured Intellectual Property Rights to ensure freedom to operate and protect their innovations.
Proposals must demonstrate a credible and feasible pathway to market, including well-defined milestones and measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress.
In the event of equal ranking, priority is given to proposals coordinated from widening countries that are underrepresented in the call, maximizing the geographical impact.
Proposals are assessed by three independent experts based on the EIC Transition Open criteria, emphasizing:
The WIDERA Pre-Accelerator aims to increase the innovation capacity of deep-tech startups and SMEs in widening countries by improving their business, investor, and technology readiness, enabling them to:
By advancing technologies beyond proof-of-concept to validated demonstrators (TRL 5 or 6), these startups will be better positioned for market deployment and scaling. The programme equips deep-tech ventures with clear commercial and investment strategies essential for success.
Deep-tech startups and SMEs are pivotal for Europe’s future growth and technological leadership, but those in widening countries face significant challenges due to limited finance access and less mature innovation ecosystems. The WIDERA Pre-Accelerator addresses these challenges by supporting the maturation of technologies, improving business readiness, and fostering investment preparedness. This initiative supports Horizon Europe’s goals of widening participation and fostering balanced innovation ecosystems across all member and associated states.
The WIDERA Pre-Accelerator under Horizon Europe 2025 is a vital programme specifically supporting deep-tech startups and SMEs in widening countries. By providing financial aid and tailored capacity-building services, it helps these ventures overcome early-stage innovation hurdles, mature their technologies, and attract the investments needed to scale. Ultimately, the programme plays a crucial role in building a more inclusive and competitive European innovation landscape.
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