EIC Accelerator Deadline Delays, Interviews and Evaluations
Here are some updates and thoughts regarding EIC grants.
EIC Accelerator Deadline Delayed
Last week, the EC reported numerous errors in the Funding & Tenders Portal UI, which prevented applicants from submitting proposals for the last EIC Accelerator Step 1 deadline. As a result, the deadline was extended by 3 days, so if you submitted late, you are still in the previous batch and can expect your results in about 4 to 5 weeks:
“Please be informed that due to a technical issue with the Funding and Tenders Portal which prevented submission of some proposals in draft on time to the September 1 batch of the EIC Accelerator Short Proposal call HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01, the deadline has been extended to Friday, 04th September 17h Brussels time.”
Step 2 Interviews: Fairness and Bias
I have recently heard complaints that the EIC Accelerator Step 2 interviews are too subjective and random, which can be frustrating for applicants. So I decided to add some thoughts on the current evaluation process and my view on the fairness and subjectivity of the system.
First of all, every human evaluation is biased, and there is no way around it. If I were to evaluate every proposal, it would be biased as well. The question then focuses on the degree, not the existence, of bias. Two key factors can mitigate or aggravate subjectivity:
The number of evaluators (averages, equal weights)
The type of grading (qualitative vs. quantitative)
If a panel of 4 evaluators reviews a proposal, it will be far less subjective than if a single evaluator grades it, simply because averages and equal weights reduce individual bias.
If a result is determined quantitatively through a score, a single evaluator’s extreme opinion can be disregarded by removing extreme scores from the average, which increases fairness.
Changing Evaluation Steps
Since 2021, the EIC has switched to qualitative scoring that gives GO and NO GO ratings rather than a quantitative score. This is important since it means that one evaluator’s extreme opinion, good or bad, will affect the result much more than their individual rating of each criterion.
The EIC Accelerator Step 1 proposal is a great example of this, since an evaluator can rate each aspect highly but still end up giving a NO GO, despite seeing the proposal cover all criteria well.
This can lead to a disconnect where a better-graded proposal is rejected while a more poorly graded one passes. The only saving grace for Step 1 is that 4 evaluators and a 75% threshold allow for a sufficient margin of error, so losing one evaluator is still acceptable.
Meet Your Interviewer
In the EIC Accelerator Step 2 interview, the evaluation has degraded into the worst of both worlds.
According to the official EIC Work Programme 2026, there should be one interviewer and, as before, three remote evaluators in Step 2:
“For each evaluation batch, each proposal is assigned to one technology expert evaluator as well as to an evaluation panel.”
But in reality, this does not seem to be the full story. The current Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) in Step 2 seems to be entirely graded based on the interview.
If a panel of 3 remote evaluators were to be involved and had read the proposal, their individual comments should be provided to the applicant, but instead, the ESR only encompasses a single set of comments with a heavy focus on the interview.
This suggests that the Step 2 evaluation is either conducted solely by one person or that their assessment is viewed as the single source of truth by a panel whose individual comments do not reach the applicant.
Step 2 Interview
Here are some more details regarding the Step 2 interview:
The interview lasts up to 1 hour, with the interviewer and an EIC moderator present.
The moderator will not have an active role in the interview since there aren’t multiple interviewers to moderate, but is likely present simply to assess the quality of the interview and avoid misconduct.
Applicants may now present slides for 3 minutes. This is optional and is likely a new addition to the process.
If offered, I recommend using these 3 minutes to present updates that are not reflected in the proposal.
Prepare Your Application
Need help with the EIC Accelerator or other grants? Here are some options:
- Starter Pack (lowest-risk entry via AI writer ChatEIC and content)
- Advisory (personalized guidance to help you write)
- Co-Writing (full proposal writing with continuous client alignment)
- Writing (complete end-to-end service, including writing and submission)
- Review (personal proposal review by an expert)
Other resources:
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.
EIC Accelerator Step 1 Deadline
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.
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. Technology areas include Biotech, Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors. 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 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 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 Advanced Innovation Challenges: EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges represents a new pilot initiative delivering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech innovations through ARPA-style staged funding mechanisms with integrated demand-side engagement. This initiative targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Primary focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics applications and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, with TRL 4 entry requirements and demonstrated end-user commitment. Get Started
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
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
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
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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