Frequently Asked Questions

Acknowledge and address any potential negative impacts transparently. Explain how you plan to mitigate these risks and maximize the positive societal benefits. A balanced and realistic assessment is crucial for demonstrating responsible innovation.

No, simply mentioning EU policies is not sufficient. You need to demonstrate a clear and direct link between your project and the achievement of specific policy objectives. Provide evidence and data to support your claims and show how your innovation contributes to tangible results.

Research the key EU policies relevant to your industry and innovation area. The European Green Deal, the Digital Agenda, and the Sustainable Development Goals are good starting points. Tailor your application to demonstrate alignment with the most relevant policies.

Societal implications are very important. The EU places a strong emphasis on projects that address societal challenges like poverty, human rights, and ethical considerations. Your application should demonstrate a positive societal impact and avoid any potential negative consequences.

Be mindful of potential ethnic implications. The EU is committed to combating discrimination and promoting inclusivity. Ensure your project does not inadvertently disadvantage any ethnic group and consider how it can contribute to a more equitable society.

Explicitly state which EU policies and targets your project supports. Provide concrete examples of how your innovation contributes to these goals. Use data and evidence to demonstrate the positive impact of your project on the EU's agenda.

Yes, strong alignment is crucial. The EIC Accelerator prioritizes projects that support EU policies and targets. Projects that contradict these policies are unlikely to be funded, regardless of their technical merit. Make sure to clearly demonstrate how your project contributes to the EU's agenda.

The European Commission website is the best resource for information on EU policies and targets. Explore the websites of relevant Directorates-General to find specific policy documents and strategies. Stay updated on the latest EU initiatives and priorities.

While not officially mandatory, demonstrating customer interest (traction) is highly recommended. The evaluation checklist specifically assesses willingness-to-pay, making it essential to address. Funding is possible without it, but unlikely unless other criteria significantly excel.

Yes, you can still demonstrate customer interest without paying customers. Focus on gathering letters of intent, pilot program participation, or documented feedback from potential users. Highlight any non-monetary contributions or commitments.

Yes, including testimonials can be a powerful way to demonstrate customer interest. Short, impactful quotes highlighting the benefits of your innovation can add credibility and make your application more compelling.

Letters of support should be specific and quantify the potential benefit of your innovation to the customer. Include details on how they plan to use your product or service and the positive impact it will have on their operations or market position.

Traction isn't limited to revenue. Material contributions, access to facilities, and even strong support letters can demonstrate customer interest. The key is showing your innovation is highly sought after and better than the competition.

Even with a novel innovation, demonstrate customer interest by identifying the problem you're solving and showing how your solution is better than existing alternatives or the status quo. Gather feedback on your proposed solution and its potential impact.

Interest from research institutions or non-profits is valuable, especially if they are key early adopters or validation partners. Highlight their expertise and the credibility they bring to your project, emphasizing the potential for broader commercialization.

Consider these questions: Are you in contact with interested customers? Do you have active users or positive feedback? Can you obtain proof of interest? Do you have a clear value chain? Answering 'yes' to these indicates a strong commercial position.

Acceptable proof includes letters of support or intent from potential customers, existing revenue figures, and user statistics demonstrating engagement with your product or service. Focus on providing concrete evidence of demand.

A well-defined value chain, including suppliers and logistics, is crucial. It demonstrates that your project is well-supported and thoroughly planned, increasing confidence in its commercial viability.

Ensure your innovation is directly linked to market impact, competitor differentiation, user needs, and value-for-money. Clearly demonstrate how the project enables the desired impact and why funding is essential to achieving that goal.

Yes, even if your company is profitable, you can still apply for funding if you have a key innovation at TRL 6 that needs further development. You can declare your current products as a prototype that needs to be transformed into your envisioned solution with the new innovation.

In this case, the TRL focuses on the algorithm itself. You should demonstrate the efficacy of the algorithm through testing, even if the user interface or full application scope is limited. Show how the algorithm solves a problem in a new way.

At TRL 6, a prototype means you've demonstrated the core functionality and feasibility of your innovation. It doesn't necessarily mean a fully functional, market-ready product, but rather a working model that proves your concept is viable.

Testing can be done in various ways, such as laboratory experiments, pilot programs with customers, simulations, or end-user surveys. The key is to provide clear evidence of the benefits of your innovation, like cost savings or improved performance.

Letters of support from existing customers can be valuable in demonstrating market interest and the potential impact of your innovation. They provide evidence that your innovation addresses a real need and has the potential for adoption.

Funding between TRL 6 and TRL 8 generally supports activities related to further development, testing, and validation of your innovation. This could include refining your prototype, conducting pilot studies, or preparing for initial market entry, but not basic research.

Yes, you can still apply if you have a product, especially if you've identified a key innovation within that product that needs further development. The innovation itself should be at TRL 6, even if the rest of the product is more mature.

Your project should generally be at TRL 6, which is the prototype level or proof-of-concept stage. This means you should have demonstrated the core innovation of your product or service, even if it's not fully developed or commercially available yet.

TRL stands for Technology Readiness Level. It's a scale from 1 to 9 that indicates how mature a technology is. The EIC Accelerator typically funds projects between TRL 6 and TRL 8, so understanding TRL is crucial for determining your project's eligibility and readiness for funding.

A broad vision captures the full potential of your technology and its impact. It demonstrates that your project goes beyond just profit and feasibility, showcasing a grander story that resonates with evaluators and highlights the project's significance.

A good company focuses on profit and feasibility, while a good grant application, especially for the EIC Accelerator, combines a great innovation with an even greater vision that demonstrates broad impact and aligns with EU goals.

Acknowledge potential threats from established competitors, such as pricing leverage, product copying, or customer poaching. Outline a commercial strategy that addresses these challenges and demonstrates a realistic path to growth.

The four pillars are: an expanded vision for maximum impact, alignment with EU priorities, future-proof technology with no deal-breakers, and a realistic scaling plan with mitigation measures for potential challenges.

Scalability is crucial. The EU wants to see that your company can grow significantly and gain market share. Demonstrate a realistic plan for scaling your operations and achieving your envisioned economic impact.

The EU and investors look at the longevity of your project. Consider potential disruptions from regulations, alternative technologies, or changing user demands to ensure your project remains relevant and sustainable.

Research EU directives, targets, and policies, as well as key enabling technologies defined by the European Commission. Align your project's narrative with what the EU prioritizes to maximize its perceived impact and relevance.

Future-proof technologies are resilient to upcoming changes. Ensure that your project isn't reliant on outdated practices or technologies that are likely to be phased out in the near future, such as fossil fuels.

Avoid topics that directly violate key EU targets, such as those concerning fossil fuels, embryonic research, dangerous human testing, or sensitive political issues. Focus on areas that align with the EU's positive agenda.

Work with a professional writer or consultant to strip down your project to its core. Re-assess your past accomplishments, customers, prototype, selling points, and future potential to identify the most compelling narrative.

Yes, informative websites by consultancies specializing in the grant, as well as initiatives like Access4SMEs and Access2EIC, can be valuable resources. Also, monitor relevant hashtags on social media like #eicaccelerator on Twitter.

The official EIC Accelerator call page contains a collection of documents. This collection includes a complete list of the companies that have been financed and brief information on their respective projects.

Use the search function in the EU's Newsroom and filter by EASME (Executive Agency for Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises) or EIC (European Innovation Council). You can also use keywords like "Innovation" to find relevant content.

Search for "EIC Accelerator template PDF" on Google. Check the PDF for its current version and the history table at the beginning of the document. The table will list the details of any changes made.

Unfortunately, there isn't one single place. Updates are spread across multiple channels, including Twitter, the official call page, Google, newsletters, and newsrooms. Regularly checking these various sources is crucial to stay informed.

Due to Brexit, UK companies are currently only allowed to apply for grant financing under the EIC Accelerator, not for equity (blended finance). The UK's future participation in Horizon Europe (2021-2027) is also uncertain.

Follow the official EIC Twitter account (@EUeic). Monitor their timeline and replies for updates on interview invitations, delays, and other general changes. This is often the fastest way to receive important news.

No, the EIC Accelerator is currently exclusively a single-applicant program. Consortia were allowed pre-2019, but the program has since changed to focus on individual startups and SMEs.

While the EIC Newsletter exists, its content has been infrequent and often just reposts information from other sources. It's best to rely on other channels like Twitter and the official call page for more timely updates.

Staying updated is vital for preparing a successful application. Proposal templates and EIC strategies can change without announcement. Missing these changes could lead to immediate rejection or a less competitive proposal.

Scaling refers to expanding your company's operations, market reach, and impact on a significant level. The EIC Accelerator supports businesses with the ambition and potential to grow substantially within the EU or globally.

If you declare a relationship with another company, you will also need to provide financial data for that associated business. This information is used to determine the SME classification, ensuring accurate eligibility assessment.