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Segler Consulting

The Financing Timeline For EIC Accelerator Applicants (SME Instrument Phase 2)

July 31, 2020 • By Stephan Segler, PhD

The EIC Accelerator (formerly SME Instrument Phase 2) is a highly competitive grant (as well as equity) financing program by the European Commission (EC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC). Many startups and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME), in their journey of seeking financing sources, discover this opportunity since it allows single, for-profit companies to directly apply through an online submission process (i.e. the Funding & Tenders Portal).

While the EIC Accelerator is a highly lucrative opportunity for any innovation startup (see a country list here), it should be stressed that its two-step evaluation process (i.e. the written application and the in-person interview) makes it one of the most competitive initiatives available today.

Even though the proposal template allows for a remarkable degree of creativity as to how critical sections like the current stage and the planned developments are justified, it should be noted that the jury pitch will be significantly more strict.

As such, it is beneficial to assure that the current stage of the innovation project, and especially its financing status, is aligned with the EIC Accelerator's vision. Every applicant, consultant and professional writer should confirm that a company fits the following criteria since the current rules under Horizon 2020 will likely become more strict under the Horizon Europe (2021-2027) funding programme.

1. Beyond the Idea Stage (Seed Financing Received)

The starting point for the EIC Accelerator application is Technology Readiness Level 5 or 6 (TRL - see How the EIC Accelerator Funds Technology Readiness Levels) which means that the respective innovation should have already seen some major developments and testing.

These past developments usually go hand-in-hand with existing seed funding, past grants, angel investments or similar support which have helped in bringing the concept (i.e. idea stage) to an operational prototype.

The EIC Accelerator is not interested in financing ideas or concepts that have no real-life applications which means that every applicant should already be reasonably close-to-market (i.e. 1 to 2 years away from the market introduction) and exhibit some degree of commercial traction. If a company manages to enter the interview stage of the EIC Accelerator but does not have a functioning prototype or proof-of-concept yet while also not being able to justify a proven market need, the pitch will likely be unsuccessful.

2. Non-Bankability (No Significant Funding Available)

Non-bankability, as asked for in the official proposal template, is a very difficult criterion to address since it does not mean non-investability of the company but that a certain technology cannot be funded through conventional means (i.e. banks, venture capitalists, profits, etc.).

Going further, being non-bankable also does not mean that a certain company has never had any investments at all and is unable to raise any type of funding. This is reflected by the EC's rule to only provide 70% of the project costs (i.e. for the grant) which makes external financing or profits a must (read more here: The EIC Accelerator: Grant vs. Blended Financing (Equity)).

This, of course, seems contradictory to some degree since any great startup with past investments could theoretically find a way to finance a project if the business plan is promising enough (i.e. convincing investors, customers, etc.).

What the EU is looking for is a financially capable company (i.e. having raised seed investments) but is still in financial need for the proposed project. Following this definition, non-bankability can be explained by justifying how a project is currently too high-risk for VC's (or comparable financing sources) since it lacks technological maturity. Potential investors prefer further de-risking until they would be willing to invest.

Every applicant or writer should find ways to solidify such a statement on a case-by-case basis since non-bankability will be a significant factor in the evaluation process up to the interview (i.e. "Why do you need EU support?").

3. No Major Financing Rounds Raised

Non-bankability specifically addresses the project which the applicant seeks funding for. This becomes increasingly difficult to justify if an SME generates €1m+ in profits per year or has recently raised €10m+ in a VC financing round. Any company that is able to raise funds comparable to, or in excess of, the EIC Accelerator grant (or blended financing with equity) will face significant scrutiny from the evaluators.

The simple rule should be to not perform major financing rounds while also applying to EU financing unless a rejection does not impede the overall company strategy.

This can, of course, be difficult since there are only 4 EIC deadlines  (i.e. cut-offs) per year and multiple resubmissions can easily span over the course of 15 months. If major financing rounds are planned prior to beginning the submission process then it should be decided in advance if the EIC Accelerator grant is a must-have or nice-to-have so that a potential rejection will not impact the companies financial health.

Summary

In summary, these three points should be considered when assessing a companies financing status:

  1. Past financing achieved (i.e. seed rounds)
  2. Non-bankable (i.e. unable to leverage funds from other sources)
  3. No major financing rounds (i.e. pre-VC)

 


 

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 2025

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EIC Accelerator Step 2 deadlines for 2025: March 12th and October 1st
EIC Accelerator Step 3 deadlines for 2025: June 2nd, 2025 and January 2026 (date TBD)
EIC Accelerator Step 2 deadlines for 2026: January 7th, March 4th, May 6th, July 8th, September 2nd, and November 3rd
EIC Accelerator Step 3 deadlines for 2026: April, August, and December (exact dates TBD)
EIC STEP Scale-Up deadlines for 2026: February 11th, May 6th, September 9th, and November 25th
EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges deadline for 2026: April (exact date TBD)
EIC Pathfinder deadlines for 2025: May 21st (Open call) and October 29th (Challenge call)
EIC Pathfinder deadlines for 2026: May 6th (Open call) and October 28th (Challenge call)
EIC Transition deadline for 2025: September 17th
EIC Transition deadline for 2026: September 16th
EIC Pre-Accelerator deadline for 2025: November 18th (Widening via WIDERA)

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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