How to Interpret the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) of an EIC Accelerator Application (SME Instrument) - Part 1

The Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) provides the EIC Accelerator blended financing applicant (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2, grant and equity financing) with feedback regarding the proposal quality. While separating and grading the central sections of Impact, Excellence and Implementation, it gives additional scores on selected subcriteria (read: Using the ESR).

A professional writer or consultant is used to interpreting such documents but, for many startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME) who are looking to resubmit a previously rejected application, it can be a difficult task.

The greatest drawback of the ESR is its lack of comments as part of the report. These are only provided for the pitch interview  (i.e. step 2 of the evaluation process) but not for rejections in step 1 of the process (i.e. the written application). This will likely be changed under Horizon Europe (2021-2027) by the European Commission (EC) and European Innovation Council (EIC) but, without any useful comments, the EIC Accelerator applicants are in the dark with respect to the cause for the rejection.

Interpreting the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR)

The ESR's structure does not match the official proposal template and the overlap of the individual sub-criteria can make reading the information rather difficult (i.e. a single criterion is used to score commercialisation, financials and scaling). As a result, interpreting the ESR is not as clear or informative as some would expect but it is still possible to gain some useful information from the overall document.

1. Overall EIC Accelerator Score

A successful EIC Accelerator grant proposal has a very high score but, for companies who have re-submitted unsuccessfully multiple times, reaching a great score can be elusive. With the maximum score being 15, the official threshold lying above 13 and the unofficial threshold being above 13.6, many applicants are in need of advice as to how to interpret the ESR and improve their score.

Assessing such a score just based on a single number is very difficult because the problem could lie in a variety of different areas. From experience, there are some areas that can be adjusted based on the general score but only in the broadest way.

Any score below 12 needs extensive work and it is likely that the project is either not innovative enough for the grant if the proposal is high in quality or the proposal needs serious reworking in order to improve its quality (i.e. improved and clearer writing, design, quantifications and explanations).

An application with a score between 12.5 and 13.5 is usually sufficiently high in quality from a writing perspective but it lacks certain details to break the unofficial evaluation threshold and to receive the pitch interview invitation. These detailed changes to be made are very specific and must be customized to each individual project but below is a shortlist of common flaws found in proposals of certain score margins.

2. Scores for Sections

The second scores to investigate are the scores for the three main EIC Accelerator sections, namely Impact, Excellence and Implementation. The graphic above shows the general average score per section which can provide insight into the balance of the proposal.

If the Impact section is below the other scores then the proposal has not properly addressed the commercial and peripheral factors of the annotated proposal template such as customer needs, market, commercialisation strategy, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Freedom to Operate (FTO) and regulations. In addition, the European dimension could have been neglected which dampens the impact of the narrative (read: Visual Guide for an EIC Accelerator Application).

With a low Excellence section, it is very likely that the product or service presented is not viewed as sufficiently innovative or the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL), the current stage of development or competing offers have not been presented in a clear manner. If the innovation is lacking then there is not much that can be done and it should be assured from the start that the innovation is suitable (read: Preparing an Application Internally and TRL for the EIC Accelerator).

If the Implementation section is far below the other two then the work packages, further stages, tasks, team, partners, timing, budget or any other of the concrete development steps are insufficient. This might be due to a lack of clarification what the grant financing is used for, a lack of detail in the given tasks or major inconsistencies between different parts of the application (i.e non-bankability - read: EIC Accelerator Buzzwords).

Continuation

Part 2 of this article continues under the provided link.

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.

Eureka Network: The Eureka Network delivers various international collaborative R&D initiatives such as Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, providing funding from €50K to €6.75M per project based on the specific initiative. This network emphasizes market-driven innovation and deep-tech advancement across multiple technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Eligible participants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars particularly focused on R&D-performing SMEs. Get Started

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

Innovation Partnership: Innovation Partnership enables collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The initiative supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects concentrate on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches. Get Started

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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