About EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator is part of Horizon Europe - EU's framework programme for innovation and research. The EIC Accelerator offers opportunities for start-ups and SMEs with breakthrough, market-creating innovations including radically new products, services, processes or business models. The EIC Accelerator helps you develop your deep-tech business concept into a market-ready product, service or process in line with your company’s growth strategy.
The Open call
This call is open for projects in all industries. Only requirement is that the project is centred around a breakthrough technology and is supported by a sound and strategic business plan aimed at commercialisation.
The Challenge calls
Alongside the open call the EIC Accelerator sets aside €495 mil. for so called challenges within areas of strategic relevance. For 2021 two specific challenges have been announced:
Strategic digital and health technologies. This challenge is specifically aimed at strategic technologies that aid Europe in maintaining its autonomy and avoid being dependent on other regions for these strategic technologies. This can be:
- High performance computing
- Edge computing
- Quantum technologies
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial intelligence
- Block-chain
- Cloud infrastructure technologies
- Technologies for the Internet of Things
As well as:
- Digitally based health technologies
Green deal innovations for the economic recovery. This challenge is specifically aimed at breakthrough innovations that have a meaningful impact towards sustainable development and economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis. This can be (but is not limited to):
- Renewable energy
- Deep renovation of buildings
- Low carbon industries
- Energy storage systems
Possibilities with the EIC Accelerator
Eligible applications can receive funding between €0.5 mil. and €17.5 mil. The funding can be granted as
- Blended finance, consisting of an equity investment or convertible loan as well as a grant. The grant is 0.5-2.5 mil and the investment is up to €15 mil. for max. 25% equity.
- Investment only
- Grant only. €0.5-2.5 mil.
- Grant first
Furthermore, the grant includes business acceleration services such as access to mentors and coaches, access to partnerships with leading global corporations, investors, distributors and clients and access to EICs peer community.
Requirements for applications
Applications are judged by three main criteria: Excellence, Impact and Implementation. Each criterion is specifically judged by the following indicators:
Excellence:
- Scale up potential
- Broader impact
- Market fit and competitor analysis
- Commercialisation strategy
- Key partners
Impact:
- Scale up potential
- Broader impact
- Market fit and competitor analysis
- Commercialisation strategy
- Key partners
Implementation
- Team
- Milestones
- Risk level of the investment
- Risk mitigation
The application process
The application process consists of three stages: a short application, a full application and a face-to-face interview with the EIC jury.
The stage 1 short application consists of a 5-page proposal form, a pitch deck of up to 10 slides and a 3-minute video pitch presenting the core team members and their motivation for applying.
If stage 1 is successful you are invited to submit a stage 2 full application. Here you will have the possibility of using a mentor or coach from EIC Accelerator services.
If your full application is approved, you will be invited to a face-to-face interview with a panel of six members of the EIC jury.
Finally, if your project is approved by the jury panel, you will be invited to negotiate the grant
Upcoming deadlines
Below are the upcoming deadlines for EIC Accelerator. Expect 1-2 months for the proposal writing process.
EIC Accelerator Stage 2
The EIC Accelerator targets high-impact innovative products, services or business models that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and worldwide.
Are you a start-up or an SME with the ambition and commitment to scale up? And are you looking for substantial funding, but the risks involved are too high for private investors alone to invest? If your answers to the above questions are ‘yes’, then the EIC Accelerator may be the right programme for you.
The stage 2 applications are open for applicants who have successfully completed the stage 1 application and have been invited to submit a full application. Grant size is €0.5-2.5 mil. with an option for equity investment of up to €15 mil. for a max. of 25% equity.
Applications can be aimed at the Open call for all industries, or for one of the Challenge calls for “Strategic digital and health technologies” or “Green deal innovations for the economic recovery”.
EIC Accelerator Stage 1
The EIC Accelerator targets high-impact innovative products, services or business models that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and worldwide.
Are you a start-up or an SME with the ambition and commitment to scale up? And are you looking for substantial funding, but the risks involved are too high for private investors alone to invest? If your answers to the above questions are ‘yes’, then the EIC Accelerator may be the right programme for you.
The stage 1 application consists of a 5-page proposal form, a pitch deck of up to 10 slides and a 3-minute video pitch presenting the core team members and their motivation for applying. If the application is approved, you will be invited to submit a full application.
You can apply under the Open call for all industries, or under one of the Challenge calls for “Strategic digital and health technologies” or “Green deal innovations for the economic recovery”.
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