The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs. The EIC Accelerator offers start-ups and SMEs grants of up to less than €2.5 million combined with equity investments through the EIC Fund ranging from €0.5 to €15 million or more. In addition to financial support, all projects benefit from a range of Business Acceleration Services that provide access to leading expertise, corporates, investors and ecosystem actors.
Companies can submit their ideas to the EIC Accelerator at any time, which are then evaluated within approximately 4 weeks. For ideas meeting the EIC criteria for excellence, impact and risk-level, companies are invited to prepare full applications to submit to one of the regular cut-off dates. The next cut-offs for EIC Accelerator full proposals are on 7 June and 19 October 2023 (NEW DATE).
The EIC Accelerator grant and equity financing (formerly SME instrument Phase 2, with blended finance option) provides a springboard for startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) who are developing a disruptive innovation and seek additional financial support to complete their R&D from the prototype stage to a complete, commercial product.
EIC Accelerator Challenges
The Open Call is open to any type of technology and research area. Next to that, 7 EIC Accelerator Challenges are implemented in 2023. Both the Open Call and Challenge Calls share the same eligibility criteria and conditions. The remaining deadline for 2023 Challenges is 19 October 2023. The total budget available is €523.5M.
There are 7 EIC Accelerator Challenges:
- Novel biomarker-based assays to guide personalised cancer treatment
- Aerosol and surface decontamination for pandemic management
- Energy storage
- New European Bauhaus and Architecture, Engineering and Construction digitalisation for decarbonisation
- Emerging semiconductor or quantum technology components
- Novel technologies for resilient agriculture
- Customer-driven, innovative space technologies and services
Who can apply?
Applicants from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme:
- Single start-up or SME (including spin-outs)
- Small mid-caps (fewer than 499 employees) in need of rapid scale up of the TRL 9 activity. Mid-caps can apply for investment only.
- Natural persons or legal entities willing to set up an SMEs or a mid-cap.
Applicants from third countries:
- Applicants from third countries may relocate their company in order to become eligible. This must be done before submitting the full application (Step 2).
- Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply for the “grant only” scheme
Concurrent applications:
- Applicants may submit only one application to the EIC Accelerator. Additional applications can be submitted after receiving the results of the original submission.
The EIC welcomes applications from innovators in all EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme. It particularly welcomes applications from startups and SMEs with female CEOs.
