Frequently Asked Questions

The updated Phase 2 application template is available on the official EIC website and application portal. Make sure you download the latest version to ensure your application meets all the current requirements and guidelines.

Blended financing refers to a combination of grant funding and equity investment offered by the EIC Accelerator. This allows companies to receive both non-dilutive grant funding and equity to support their growth and scale-up activities, up to a total of €17.5 million.

Yes, these changes definitely affect your resubmission. You need to carefully review the updated Phase 2 template, prepare a new pitch deck, and address the new requirements like explicitly stating the need for EU support. Don't simply resubmit your old application.

Previously, the application required an executive summary. Now, the updated template requires specific summaries to be included directly within the proposal introduction. These summaries should concisely highlight key aspects of your project, replacing the standalone executive summary.

KPIs, or Key Performance Indicators, are measurable values that demonstrate the progress and success of your project. Including well-defined KPIs in your application is crucial as they allow the EIC to track your project's performance and assess its impact.

The EIC wants to understand why your project specifically requires EU funding and support. Clearly articulate the unique value and impact of EU involvement, highlighting aspects like cross-border collaboration, addressing European challenges, or creating jobs within the EU.

The pitch deck, used for presentations and interviews, must now be uploaded with your EIC Accelerator application. This is a change from previous years. Make sure your pitch deck is finalized and ready before you submit.

Graphics are extremely important in the read deck. They need to be comprehensive enough to convey complex ideas without verbal support. Evaluators can spend time analyzing each slide, so make sure your visuals are both easy to understand and informative.

Because you won't be presenting the read deck verbally, the text needs to be comprehensive and self-explanatory. Include all essential information, such as traction and pilot customer details, in written form to ensure the evaluators understand your project fully.

The read deck must be a PDF file, limited to 10 pages, and the file size must be below 10 MB. Make sure to optimize your images and formatting to meet these requirements.

Unlike traditional pitch decks that rely on bullet points, the read deck should use full sentences. This is crucial to explain concepts thoroughly and leave no room for doubt in the reviewer's mind, as you won't be there to verbally elaborate.

If a product presentation is crucial, condense it into a single slide. Use the pitch video to showcase multiple angles or images of the product in a comprehensive and visual way, rather than taking up valuable space in the read deck.

Currently, the read deck has minimal technical restrictions beyond the page limit. You have creative freedom with font sizes, formatting, margins, and sections. However, this might change in the future to prevent applicants from exploiting the lack of restrictions.

The key is to strike a balance between elegant simplicity and a fully fleshed-out text. Your read deck should be visually appealing and easy to understand, while also providing all the necessary information in a clear and concise manner.

To maximize the use of your 10 pages, it's recommended to omit the title and ending slides. This is because the evaluators already have access to information about the team and don't need a formal introduction or thank you.

Photoshop is optional, but it can significantly improve the look of your images. Use it to remove backgrounds, create device overlays for software screenshots, and generally enhance the visual presentation of your technology.

The blog post mentions tips on where to find templates for visuals. Refer back to the main content for specific resources and suggestions on finding appropriate templates.

Microsoft PowerPoint or similar slide creation software is generally the best choice. If you're already using InDesign for other documents, it can also be a practical option for the pitch deck.

While Illustrator offers some data analysis tools, it's generally better to use spreadsheet software like Excel for creating graphs and charts. You can then import these into Illustrator for further refinement and visual enhancement.

Use spreadsheet software such as Excel, Google Docs, or OpenOffice Calc. These programs allow you to create and save files in the required XLS(X) or ODS formats for submission.

Yes, the final pitch deck (Document 4) is uploaded as a PDF and has distinct file size limitations. Keep this in mind when designing your slides and incorporating images.

Vector graphics software like Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw are ideal. They allow you to create and edit images without losing quality, which is crucial for a professional-looking application. Consider transferring graphs from Excel to these programs for enhanced visual appeal.

Similar to its advantages over Word, InDesign allows for easy copying of vector graphics and images between documents. This can streamline the design process and ensure a consistent visual style.

The financial documents (Document 3) must be uploaded in either XLS(X) or ODS file formats. Using spreadsheet software ensures compatibility with these formats.

Create separate spreadsheets for different aspects of your financials. This includes work packages (project budget, subcontracting, resources, hiring) and financial projections (assumptions, market analysis, break-downs, ROI).

Each project received detailed feedback and a GO/NO GO scoring from 4 to 6 evaluators. This provides applicants with comprehensive information on their submission.

Yes, in-person coaching support is offered on a first-come-first-serve basis in June 2021. Coaching will be available for all applicants submitting to the October 2021 deadline.

Yes, the Step 3 interviews are delayed. Instead of being 6 weeks after the Step 2 deadline, they are pushed back to approximately 3 months after the June cut-off date.

When requesting blended finance, a separate work package should be dedicated to pure equity for TRL9 activities. This clearly outlines how the equity portion will be used to advance the technology to market readiness.

The Work Programme states the minimum TRL is 5, but the Evaluation Criteria suggest TRL 6. It's likely this will be unified to TRL 5 in future updates. For now, aim to demonstrate your technology is at least at TRL 5.

For further details on how EIC Accelerator funding is distributed (grant, equity, blended, co-financing), refer to the article mentioned in the blog post titled "Grant vs. Blended Finance." This will provide a comprehensive overview of the funding options.

Inconsistencies regarding TRLs can negatively impact your proposal evaluation. Ensure your TRL descriptions are accurate and coherent across all sections of your application to maintain credibility and demonstrate a thorough understanding of your project's development stage.

If you're not requesting equity but your project includes TRL9 activities, you must clearly and separately explain how these activities will be financed. Provide a detailed plan for securing the necessary funding to reach full commercialization.

No, as of 2020, the EIC Accelerator doesn't offer pure equity funding. If you're seeking equity, it must be part of a blended finance package that includes a grant component. Pure grant funding is still an option for eligible TRL levels.

While innovation and traction are the initial focus, other factors like team expertise, financial projections, and a well-defined business plan are also crucial. However, a strong showing in innovation and traction is a prerequisite for further consideration.

Yes, you can still apply without revenue, but you need to demonstrate strong market interest through other means. Focus on showcasing customer engagement, pilot studies, and documented expressions of interest to compensate for the lack of sales data.

If your project is weak in either innovation or traction, your chances of securing EIC Accelerator funding are significantly reduced. Consider strengthening these areas before applying, perhaps by refining your product or conducting more market research.

Compare your product to your closest competitor and identify at least one or two key differentiators. These unique features should provide a significant advantage and be difficult for competitors to easily copy or replicate.

Your innovation should be significant enough to disrupt or create a new market. It should also overcome barriers that other companies have struggled with. Consider how easily a competitor could replicate your product; a high barrier to entry is a good sign.

The two most critical aspects are innovation and traction. Innovation refers to the market-disrupting or market-creating nature of your project, while traction demonstrates clear market need and customer interest in your product or service. Strong evidence in both areas significantly increases your chances of success.

While innovation is key, the EU also wants to fund projects with real-world potential. Market traction demonstrates that there's a demand for your innovation and that it's not just a theoretical concept. It shows your project has a higher likelihood of success.

Ideally, you should have written proof of intent from potential customers. At a minimum, demonstrate active contact with potential customers. Even better is evidence of ongoing pilot studies or existing revenue from your product.

The European Innovation Council website often features success stories and project summaries. Reviewing these examples can give you a better understanding of the types of projects that are typically funded and the level of innovation and traction expected.

If a large company could easily replicate your product, it might not be considered innovative enough for the EIC Accelerator. Focus on highlighting any proprietary technology, unique processes, or strong intellectual property protection that would make replication difficult.

Yes, the initial draft of the Work Programme included a requirement for geographic diversity, meaning invitations to Step 3 interviews would be proportional to the number of applications received from each country. Fortunately, this rule was removed from the final version.

Yes, the TRL descriptions were changed after the call opened on April 9th. Specifically, the requirements for TRL6 were altered, potentially affecting applicants who based their submissions on the initial descriptions. Review the current TRL definitions carefully.

You should report any glitches or errors you encounter to support@accelerator.eismea.eu. Providing detailed information about the issue, including screenshots if possible, will help the support team address the problem effectively.

The EIC currently treats the 'Unspecified' gender option as male. This means that applicants selecting this option will not receive the benefits associated with choosing 'female' in relation to the EU's gender equity funding goals.

Initially, the platform included a non-binary gender option. However, the EIC has reverted to a single 'Unspecified' option, which is treated as male. This change addresses the complexities of balancing gender identification with the EU's gender equality agenda.

One notable change is the automatic coverage of the 30% co-financing of the grant by the equity financing if blended financing is selected. Also, applicants need to estimate the co-financing of their Series A round and identify outside contributors.