The EIC Accelerator funding (grant and equity, with blended financing option) by the European Commission (EC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) awards up to €2.5 million in grant and €10 million in equity financing per project (€12.5 million total). This article provides a perspective on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in grant writing and its impact on startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), as well as professional writers, freelancers, and consultants. Find ChatEIC here.

It is clear that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future of knowledge work through its capabilities of creating content, coding, complex data processing, research, and generating multimedia content. It is, therefore, a natural conclusion that AI will be the future of grant writing and will severely disrupt consultancies specializing in content creation, of which grant writing is an example.

For most EIC Accelerator applicants who apply without the support of consultancies or professional writers, this insight comes as no surprise and will seem gravely outdated. The use of AI is already extremely prevalent due to the lengthy nature of the EIC Accelerator application process and the, frankly, often overwhelming request for specific content that companies are not used to providing. Examples are sections that request statements on diversity, vision, EIC impact, milestones, deliverables, cost justifications, gender considerations, and others.

Many companies that meet with expert consultants already mention their use of AI in grant applications, and it is only the careful or less tech-savvy founders who still stay away from it. The truth is that AI has become so skilled at adapting to particular use cases that it is already able to create high-quality work that fulfills all the criteria outlined by the EIC. It is only a matter of time until AI tools are smart enough to fully replace consultants and, considering the progress seen in recent years, that time will likely come sooner than the industry realizes.

Is The Use of AI Plagiarism?

Using AI to write grant applications is a grey zone regarding plagiarism and deception since AI does not copy or reuse the content of others—it generates it from scratch. However, nothing the AI generates is created entirely from scratch since it has learned the ways of the word through extensive datasets, reinforcement learning, and other techniques that taught it how to write. There are cases where ChatGPT or similar chatbots produce content from copyrighted sources verbatim, which has put especially OpenAI, still synonymous with generative AI today, in grave legal troubles.

AI does not invent words and phrases out of nothing, yet it is not plagiarism. It is something in between. While we cannot clearly define what its copyright standing is today since we cannot differentiate between AI being akin to a child that simply learns or a machine that copies, we can at least acknowledge that generative AI leads to a very steep imbalance between the consumption and creation of content.

Yes, you can generate pages and books with elaborate narratives in minutes, but should we expect that a human will read all of that? Andrej Karpathy has suggested that websites will soon be optimized for AI by just providing a simple LLM-optimized file with condensed content instead of HTML/CSS content designed for human consumption. There is no doubt that this will be the reality of content in the future since browsing the web will seem like an archaic waste of time if AI agents are not only part but are the cornerstone of our daily lives.

AI is already flooding all content-related industries and making its way into any niche use case imaginable to replace humans with AI agents. Whether this development is good or bad is beside the point since it will unmistakably happen in the near future. The question is simply how we can respond to it now to avoid being disrupted.

The EIC and AI: A Sore Thumb

The European Innovation Council (EIC) has a misleading name since it does not innovate itself; it is simply an entity aiming to support innovators with financial means and other support options such as consultancy and coaching. Regardless, it has tried to innovate to the horror of consultants and applicants alike. In 2021, it created the EIC AI platform, which operated for a spectacular two years before its abrupt shutdown just days before a deadline. Applicants were left stranded and confused while staring at the website that was taken down without warning in the most unprofessional manner imaginable.

It turned out that, while the EIC AI platform was not actually AI, it was a real project by a company providing IT services to the EIC as a contractor. Unfortunately, the EIC and this supplier ended up in a contract dispute that seemed to be unreconcilable, leading to the abrupt termination of the service. Sadly, the EIC was aware of the dispute for months but let it explode in every applicant's face just as they were struggling to complete their proposals for the approaching deadline.

That event says a lot about the combination of bureaucracy and innovation, which are like oil and water, whereas the oily part sticks to everything and always tries to stay on top while the water just wants to flow in peace. After having been burnt by the EIC AI platform’s collapse in June 2023, the EIC surely must have new plans to innovate its application process.

Consultancies and applicants alike are already bracing for impact.

Is the EIC Using AI Already?

As many professional grant writers and consultants working on EIC Accelerator applications have already noticed, the Evaluation Summary Reports (ESR) have changed in 2025 when it comes to Step 1 applications. Maybe using the word change is not strong enough to describe it. Here are a few notable differences:

• No more typos: The ESRs were usually littered with typos. Why? Because the evaluators write comments quickly and explain their perspectives regarding the expert evaluation criteria. Since expert evaluators are humans and often not that thorough, they leave typos and make logic-breaking grammatical mistakes. Sometimes it is not even understandable what an evaluator means by a statement since it simply makes no sense. This has changed since all text in Step 1 ESRs is now polished and typo-free.
• Duplicate sentences: The most notable difference in the ESR is the appearance of duplicate sentences that seem standardized. Every criterion is introduced by the evaluators using the exact same sentence structure, with the only difference being the grading of “poor,” “good,” and “very good.” This is noticeable because it must be automated in some way unless the four evaluators are sitting in the same room during the comment phase and complete each other's sentences, which is an unlikely scenario.
• Different focus: The Step 1 evaluation seems less human-based than before since a human would view the complete picture and identify if the application is aligned with the EIC or not, while the current assessment seems even more criteria-based than before. Instead of trying to assess if the company is a DeepTech business worthy of EIC support, it seems preoccupied with making sure every question is answered somewhere. It is graded more like a school essay than on the merit of the proposal and the company behind it.

It is likely that the EIC is already experimenting with AI tools and, while potentially only limited to Step 1, it will become the main evaluation mechanism in the not-so-distant future. Interestingly, the EIC has not decided to increase its level of transparency even after the 2023 AI platform debacle, which is unfortunate considering its position and its repeated publications of guidelines and codes meant for others to comply with.

The Ethics of Using AI for EIC Grants: Does Anyone Care?

Clearly, the EIC does not particularly care about the tools applicants use if it, potentially, is already dipping its toes (or more) into the AI ocean. It released a public statement on AI usage in grant applications, particularly for the EIC Accelerator, but there seems to be no verification or mechanism to give gravity to that segment. It is also not part of the evaluation criteria (i.e., “Is the proposal authentic and consistent?”).

This basically sidelines any ethical considerations since applicants do not need to hold back when choosing their tools if the EIC, or their evaluators, are already setting up AI barriers to act as gatekeepers. It is also the natural response to use AI tools if the applications are lengthy, highly subjective, and their evaluation is subject to a high degree of randomness (i.e., luck has grown as a factor in being successful over the years).

Posing ethical questions is also unnecessary if the technology is unstoppable, especially in the EU. The EU is not leading in AI and never will be since regulations, overbearing legal frameworks, and a lack of investments turn many capital-intensive innovations into a fast track to bankruptcy. The public downfalls of green, climate-friendly companies such as Northvolt and Lilium are prime examples of how the EU struggles with hardware technologies at scale and is out of its league when it comes to the expensive business of LLMs which relies heavily on computing power.

The AI Challenge Was A Challenge

Back in 2024, the EIC introduced an EIC Accelerator challenge dedicated to foundation models and LLMs but this was downgraded into a generative AI challenge in 2025, likely due to the realization that expensive LLM developments will not be found in Europe. This is especially true considering the limited budget provided by the EIC Accelerator.

Regulations not only increase costs due to legal fees but also create uncertainties which is the most effective deterrent if one wants to keep investors away.

Mistral and others are still in the race as a European answer to the OpenAI's, Anthropic's, Meta's, and xAI’s of the world, but they are lagging behind in terms of cutting-edge performance. Companies like OnlyFans, Spotify, and Bending Spoons might be what the future of European tech will look like since they can reach profitability quickly and are IT-heavy, which avoids high capital needs.

Ironically, these types of companies are not shown much love from the EU which might be a sign of the EU's misalignment with its own ecosystem. Meta started out as a social network. Google was a search engine. Alibaba was a platform to connect manufacturers. Amazon was an online bookseller. Yes, all of these companies are now in the LLM game because their initial businesses went well.

Maybe the EIC and the EU in general should start looking at scalable and disruptive business models as the only priority (i.e. including IT, marketplaces, B2C consumer apps, military, etc.) and not be distracted by DeepTech since this term mostly means MedTech and BioTech. What Europe needs are startups that can grow into industry giants in the next decades and not small DeepTech companies that are either bought or seduced to relocate by US companies.

In general, the EU will be defined by the AI developed in the US and China, which is why Europeans must learn to respond to the upcoming changes as best as possible. And no, Leading in Regulation does not constitute leadership in anything except for high lawyer and consultant fees. It is the one thing that no government should ever be proud of since regulation means costs for companies due to compliance, legal counsel, and taxes. Regulation is as toxic to startups that need to budget carefully as watering plants with acid.

This is Part 1 of the AI in grant writing series. Next article: Part 2.

These tips are not only useful for European startups, professional writers, consultants and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) but are generally recommended when writing a business plan or investor documents.

Deadlines: Post-Horizon 2020, the EIC Accelerator accepts Step 1 submissions now while the deadlines for the full applications (Step 2) under Horizon Europe are listed below. The Step 1 applications must be submitted weeks in advance of Step 2. The next EIC Accelerator cut-off for Step 2 (full proposal) can be found here. After Brexit, UK companies can still apply to the EIC Accelerator under Horizon Europe albeit with non-dilutive grant applications only - thereby excluding equity-financing. Switzerland has resumed its participation in Horizon Europe and is now eligible for the EIC Accelerator.

Contact: You can reach out to us via this contact form to work with a professional consultant.

AI Grant Writer: ChatEIC is a fully automated EIC Accelerator grant proposal writer: Get it here.

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EIC Transition: EIC Transition delivers up to €2.5 million in funding to overcome the 'valley of death' gap between laboratory research and market deployment, emphasizing technology maturation and validation. The initiative supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Key technology domains include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics. Get Started

EIC STEP Scale-Up: EIC STEP Scale-Up delivers significant equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies prepared for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The initiative targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have obtained pre-commitment from qualified investors. Primary focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero objectives, and Biotechnologies. Get Started

EIC Pre-Accelerator: EIC Pre-Accelerator represents a 2025 pilot initiative delivering €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. This program is exclusively accessible to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to foster regional innovation development. The initiative encompasses deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains. Get Started

EIC Pathfinder: EIC Pathfinder delivers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The initiative requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Primary technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials. Get Started

EIC Accelerator: EIC Accelerator delivers flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The initiative targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Additional technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors. Get Started

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Innovation Fund: The EU Innovation Fund delivers substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The initiative targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Eligible participants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects. Get Started

Innovate UK: Innovate UK delivers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular emphasis on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization. Get Started

Industrial Partnership: Industrial Partnership delivers €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The initiative supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships. Get Started

Eurostars: Eurostars represents a joint EU-Eureka initiative delivering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program adopts a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities. Get Started

LIFE Programme: The LIFE Programme delivers €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The initiative supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Eligible participants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges. Get Started

Neotec: Neotec represents a Spanish initiative delivering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence. Get Started

Thematic Priorities: EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas. Get Started

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