EIC Accelerator Open & Challenges

Submission deadline: 01/10/2025

Project Type

The EIC Accelerator supports SMEs and start-ups in scaling up high-impact, high-risk deeptech innovations with the potential to create or disrupt markets in Europe and globally. It focuses on advanced-stage technological development and scaling. Your innovation must be tested and validated in a laboratory or relevant environment (at least Technology Readiness Level 5, ideally TRL 6) before submitting an application.

EIC Accelerator Open: Open to proposals across all technological or application domains, without predefined thematic priorities.

EIC Accelerator Challenges: Focused on emerging and strategic technologies. For health innovations, themes include biotechnologies and artificial intelligence innovations.

ELIGIBLE ENTITIES

• Individual applicants: SMEs and start-ups established in EU Member States or Associated Countries.
• Small mid-cap companies (up to 499 employees): may also apply as individual applicants for investment or blended finance, in exceptional cases, for rapid scaling.

FUNDING

The EIC Accelerator offers financial support in the form of grants, investments, or blended finance. A project can apply for each type of funding mentioned.

• Grant: A grant covering 70% of costs, up to €2.5M.
• EIC Fund Investment: Direct equity or quasi-equity participation, between €0.5M and €10M, requested as a complement to or after the grant during the project's lifespan. The EIC Accelerator aims to catalyze investments by attracting additional investors to support scaling.
  For example: For larger investments, consider the EIC STEP Scale Up call.
• Blended Finance: A combination of grants and investments. In this case, grants may cover more than 70% if justified.

Additional Benefits
In addition to the unique opportunity to secure a grant and investment for your company, you will also benefit from:

• The STEP Seal of Excellence label.
• The attraction of other investors necessary for scaling innovation through EIC support.

Coaching and mentorship, as well as access to professional networks.

Characteristics of Supported Projects

EIC Accelerator grant funding covers innovation activities, including technology demonstration in a relevant environment, prototyping and system-level demonstration, R&D and testing required to meet regulatory and standardization requirements, intellectual property management, and obtaining market authorizations to reach TRL 8, ideally TRL 9.
In the case of digital health innovations and in the healthcare sector, Phase 3 clinical trials must be completed during the project's lifespan.