EIC Accelerator

The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs with innovative, game-changing products, services or business models that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and worldwide. It targets companies with the ambition and commitment to scale up that are looking for substantial funding where the risks involved are too high for private investors alone.

The programme is open to single start-ups and SMEs (including spin-outs), small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) in need of rapid scale-up of TRL 9 activities, and natural persons or legal entities willing to set up an SME or mid-cap. Applicants must be from EU Member States or countries associated with the Horizon Europe programme. Applicants from third countries may relocate their company to become eligible before submitting the full application. The EIC particularly welcomes applications from startups and SMEs with female CEOs.

The EIC Accelerator offers multiple funding instruments: a grant component (lump sum contribution below €2.5 million for innovation activities at TRL 6-8, to be completed within 24 months), an investment component (€1-€10 million in equity or quasi-equity such as convertible loans), or blended finance combining both. Additional equity amounts up to €2 million may be available for selected companies. The programme also provides extensive support through Business Acceleration Services including access to global partners, coaches, mentors, expertise, training, and innovation ecosystem networking.

The application process consists of 4 steps: (1) Write a short 12-page proposal with a pitch deck (up to 10 slides) and video pitch (up to 3 minutes), submitted at any time and batched for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month at 5pm Brussels time; (2) If approved, prepare and submit a full 20-page proposal to periodic batching dates (7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September, 4 November 2026); (3) Top-ranked proposals corresponding to 2.5 times the available grant budget are invited to interview with an EIC Jury; (4) Sign the grant agreement and begin due diligence for the investment component. Evaluation feedback is provided within 4-6 weeks for short proposals and 8-9 weeks for full proposals.

Single start-ups and SMEs (including spin-outs), small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) in need of rapid scale-up, and natural persons or legal entities willing to set up an SME or mid-cap from EU Member States and countries associated to Horizon Europe. Applicants from third countries may relocate before submitting the full application. UK applicants can only apply for the grant-only scheme. Applications may only be submitted once; additional applications can be made after receiving results of the original submission.

Applications are submitted through a 4-step process: short proposal (12-page form, pitch deck, video) submitted at any time and batched monthly; full proposal (20-page form, pitch deck, implementation plan, financial info, letters of intent, FTO analysis, video) submitted to periodic batching dates if short proposal is approved; interview with EIC Jury for top-ranked proposals; and final grant agreement signature and investment due diligence. Short proposals receive feedback in 4-6 weeks; full proposals in 8-9 weeks after batching.