Frequently Asked Questions

The current EIC Accelerator uses a binary grading system (GO/NO GO) in the initial evaluation stages, unlike the previous system that used numerical scores. This change has removed the ability to rank applicants, impacting the selection rates and the interview process.

The EIC's own reports indicate a high degree of randomness in interview outcomes. This is exacerbated by the increasing number of jury members, potentially diluting the quality of the jury and introducing more variability based on interpersonal skills and subjective assessments.

Companies with very small teams, those with excessively large previous funding rounds, or those operating in industries not currently favored by the EIC should reconsider applying. It's crucial to assess your fit with the EIC's strategic priorities and funding criteria before investing time in the application process.

The EIC Jury is a panel of commercially-oriented experts who conduct the interviews in Step 3 of the EIC Accelerator process. They make the final funding decisions based on the applicant's pitch and their assessment of the business's potential for success.

The EIC should consider using numerical criteria such as the number of Full-Time Employees (FTE), current fundraising status, burn rate, customer traction, and revenue to filter companies in Step 1. This would help ensure that only the most promising applicants proceed to later stages.

The EIC should consider reintroducing a ranking system to differentiate between applicants and better manage the number of companies invited to the interview stage. Additionally, they should gather statistics on rejection reasons in Step 3 and use them to filter applicants more effectively in Step 1.

While the 3-step evaluation process (short application, long application, interview) remains the same, the selection rates have shifted. Step 2 (long application) success rates have increased, while Step 3 (interview) success rates have decreased. This indicates a greater reliance on the EIC Jury during the interview stage.

The EIC Accelerator supports startups and SMEs with grant and equity financing. You can receive up to €2.5 million in grant funding and €15 million in equity financing, totaling a potential €17.5 million per project. This funding aims to help innovative companies scale up and bring their ideas to market.

The team section is crucial. Present a comprehensive team with all necessary competencies. Even if it seems tedious, individually add each team member with their relevant experience to showcase the team's strength and capabilities.

You have the opportunity to address unfair or incorrect criticisms in your resubmission. Provide a clear and concise response explaining why you believe the initial assessment was flawed. Remember that new evaluators will review your resubmission with a fresh perspective.

If the ESR claims that the project is “too risky,” either the mitigation strategies were lacking, or the applicant was oversharing potential problems. Strengthen your risk mitigation strategies and present a more balanced perspective on the project's challenges.

Present detailed work package descriptions that align with your team's competencies and project goals. Balance the presentation of risks with well-defined mitigation strategies. Clearly articulate why EIC support is essential for your project's success.

Demonstrate commercial traction with evidence like Letters of Intent, existing customers, and early revenues. Provide a detailed market analysis that supports large-scale customer deployment. Clearly explain your technology adoption lifecycle (TALC) and commercialization strategy.

Don't include every possible risk. Focus on the most significant risks and provide extensive mitigation strategies for each. A balanced approach is key – demonstrate that the project is risky but well-managed.

Address the feedback in the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR) directly. Evaluators will likely focus on your rebuttal and the changes you've made, so clearly explain how you've improved the proposal based on their comments. A well-crafted response can significantly influence the perception of your project.

The effort required for a resubmission depends on your initial score. A high score (e.g., 8/9) requires minimal improvements, while a low score (e.g., 1/9) necessitates substantial changes. Prioritize areas where you received negative feedback.

Focus on clearly explaining the technology's features, use cases, and value chain. Highlight the innovation's uniqueness and how it solves customer pain points. Also, ensure a strong competitor analysis that clearly differentiates your technology from existing solutions.

If the ESR notes that the project is “not risky enough,” it generally means that the financial, commercial, and technological risks were not well-presented. Elaborate on these risks in your resubmission to highlight the high-risk, high-reward nature of your project.

It's best to be conservative when presenting risks. Include essential risks for commercial, financial, and technical aspects, but avoid maximizing the presentation of possible risks. This minimizes the potential for negative criticism during evaluation.

The EIC Accelerator Step 3 jury tends to be risk-averse, favoring traditional investment decisions with lower risk and higher reward. This contrasts with the high-risk focus of Steps 1 and 2, creating a potential conflict in evaluation criteria.

It means presenting sufficient risk to align with the EIC Accelerator's high-risk mandate in Steps 1 and 2, but not so much risk that it deters the more risk-averse Step 3 jury, particularly regarding commercial and financial aspects.

If you fail to present sufficient financial, commercial, or technical risks, your project may be deemed out of scope for the EIC Accelerator. Evaluators might also criticize your application for neglecting obvious risks, leading to a lower score.

Yes, presenting too many risks, even with mitigation strategies, can be detrimental. Evaluators might question your risk management capabilities and the overall viability of your project, potentially leading to rejection.

Due to the unanimous approval process in Step 2, a single critical evaluation can lead to rejection. Given the use of numerous remote evaluators with varying expertise, the risk section can be a point of unwanted scrutiny.

Yes, if certain risks presented in Step 1 led to overly critical feedback without substantial justification, it can be advisable to remove them when preparing your Step 2 documents. These changes often go unnoticed by evaluators.

The EIC Accelerator offers up to €2.5 million in grant funding and up to €15 million in equity financing, totaling a potential €17.5 million per project. This blended finance approach is designed to support high-risk, high-impact innovations.

This can happen to better align the project documents with the EIC Accelerator program's intended focus on high-risk innovation, even though the funding decision has already been made. It highlights a potential mismatch between funding rules and application incentives.

The EIC Accelerator specifically targets high-risk projects. Your proposal must identify and address key risks (technical, market, financial, regulatory) and outline mitigation strategies. Evaluators assess this section to determine if your project aligns with the program's high-risk mandate.

The EIC Accelerator Challenges have largely remained the same since the draft work program. The main change is the inclusion of semiconductor technologies within the quantum computing technologies Challenge.

The 'Novel biomarker-based assays to guide personalised cancer treatment' EIC Accelerator Challenge has a budget of €65 million. This funding aims to support advancements in personalized cancer treatment approaches.

The EIC Accelerator Challenges for 2023 include areas like biomarker-based cancer treatments, pandemic decontamination, energy storage, the New European Bauhaus, quantum and semiconductor technologies, resilient agriculture, and innovative space technologies.

The inclusion of semiconductor technologies in the quantum computing challenge likely stems from the EU's need to strengthen its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. This addresses the impact on technology development and climate goals.

The EIC renews its Work Programme annually. These updates often include changes to the Challenges, available budgets, and application cut-off dates, so it's important to stay informed.

The EIC Accelerator has the largest budget in 2023, with €611.75 million allocated for open calls and €523.49 million for specific Challenges. This highlights its importance in the EIC's overall strategy.

The three main funding programs are EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator. Each program targets different stages of innovation, from early-stage research to scaling up businesses.

The budget allocated for the 'Energy Storage' EIC Accelerator Challenge is €100 million. This signifies the importance of energy storage solutions in the EU's innovation priorities.

Detailed information about the specific technology areas and restrictions for each EIC Accelerator Challenge can be found in the official EIC Work Programme. Be sure to consult this document for complete details.

The EIC Accelerator, funded by the European Commission and EIC, supports startups and SMEs. It offers up to €2.5 million in grant funding and €15 million in equity financing, totaling €17.5 million per project. It's the EIC's most well-funded instrument.

Challenge 1 focuses on supporting SMEs and small midcaps in developing novel biomarker-based assays for personalized cancer treatment. The goal is to develop assays that can predict treatment benefits, identify precancerous lesions, predict recurrence, and monitor the clinical course of the disease.

Challenge 6 focuses on improving the resilience and security of the European food supply chain through environmentally friendly technologies. It supports solutions for regenerative agriculture, soil health, precision fermentation, and carbon management, aiming to reduce dependency on critical supply chains and promote EU technological autonomy.

The EIC Accelerator Strategic Challenges are thematic areas with dedicated budgets, outlined in the EIC's Work Programme. These challenges are updated annually and aim to address specific technological and societal needs. Applying to a challenge may increase your chances of success due to fewer applicants.

Challenge 3 targets innovations in energy storage technologies, focusing on low cost, high density, high charging/discharging efficiency, and enhanced durability. It encourages solutions for electric and/or thermal energy storage at various scales and durations, minimizing carbon footprint and critical raw material usage.

Challenge 5 aims to support the development of next-generation fault-tolerant quantum computers and quantum sensors that can function in real-world environments. The goal is to advance Europe's quantum capabilities and promote its digital sovereignty in areas like medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and materials science.

The EIC Accelerator provides funding to DeepTech startups and small mid-caps. It offers up to €2.5 million in grant funding and up to €15 million in equity financing per project, for a potential total of €17.5 million.

Challenge 4 aims to support deep tech ventures that provide digitally enabled solutions for the construction sector. The focus is on computational design, alternative materials, and digital fabrication to achieve climate neutrality, reduce embodied carbon emissions, and improve the quality of the built environment.

If a Strategic Challenge doesn't have enough applications selected for funding, the remaining budget will be transferred to other Challenges. If all Challenges lack sufficient applications, the remaining budget will be allocated to the EIC Accelerator Open call.

ScienceBusiness has published a draft of the 2023 EIC Work Programme. You can find the entire library of Horizon Europe documents by the European Commission (EC) on their website, though these are mostly in draft form.

Challenge 2 seeks technological solutions for aerosol capture, pathogen deactivation, and air circulation management. This includes advanced air-filtering systems, next-generation face masks, and rapid surface decontamination devices, aiming to reduce the need for social distancing during pandemics.

The EIC uses an AI-based platform to analyze financial metrics. Jury members may also consult with specialized experts in science or technology to assess your project's financial viability and potential for return on investment.

TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level. TRL 5/6 means the technology has been adequately assessed in a laboratory environment and relevant environments to characterize its potential and assess the level of risk. The EIC Accelerator requires this level of technological maturity for Step 2 applications.