Frequently Asked Questions

The Step 2 AI Tool's Ideation and Development modules became available on May 17th, 2021. The Go2Market module followed shortly after, becoming available on May 21st, 2021.

The EIC Accelerator Step 1 results were released on May 12th, 2021, for those who applied by mid-April 2021. Applicants can find detailed feedback and scoring on the EIC's AI Platform. An email notification with an official letter was sent out a couple of days later.

Applicants received detailed feedback and a GO/NO GO scoring from 4 to 6 evaluators for each project. This feedback provides elaborate information on the strengths and weaknesses of their submission, helping them understand the evaluation process.

The EIC aimed to reject around 70% of applicants in Step 1, similar to the 2020 Seal of Excellence threshold. However, it appears the rejection rate was closer to less than 50%, making it slightly easier to pass than initially anticipated.

The Step 3 interviews are delayed to approximately 3 months after the Step 2 deadline. This is a longer timeframe than initially expected, providing more time for the EIC to review applications thoroughly.

The Step 3 interviews for proposals submitted to the October 2021 deadline are planned for either December 2021 or January 2022. This allows ample time for evaluation after the submission deadline.

Yes, the official template for Step 2 is already available. However, the AI Platform for submitting Step 2 applications was not immediately ready at the time of the Step 1 results release.

While the Work Programme states a minimum TRL of 5, the Evaluation Criteria currently suggest a minimum of TRL 6. It's generally assumed that TRL 5 will be the accepted minimum in future iterations of the EIC Accelerator program.

Clearly defining your project's TRLs is crucial because they must be detailed in your application's technology description. They also need to be referenced in sections about work packages, investment needs, and the project roadmap to demonstrate the project's maturity and feasibility.

Startups that have already reached TRL 9 are generally ineligible for grant or blended finance through the EIC Accelerator. The program focuses on supporting innovations from TRL 5 to TRL 8, helping them reach market readiness.

The EIC Accelerator primarily funds projects between TRL 5 and TRL 8 through grants or blended finance (grant and equity). TRL 9 activities can only be financed through equity. Pure equity funding is not available; it must be blended finance if you seek equity.

No, the EIC Accelerator does not offer pure equity funding. If you require equity, you must apply for blended finance, which combines a grant with equity investment. Pure grants are also an option for projects not seeking equity.

Inaccuracies or omissions regarding TRLs can negatively impact your proposal evaluation. It can make your application appear less professional and raise doubts about the accuracy and coherence of other sections, such as the financials and financing needs.

Further details on the funding distribution (grant, equity, blended, co-financing) can be found in the linked article about Grant vs. Blended Finance. This resource provides a more in-depth explanation of each funding type and its suitability for different projects.

Refer to TRLs when discussing your project's development stages, especially when describing market introduction conditions, past financing rounds, post-project financing, and work package deliverables. This helps demonstrate a clear understanding of your project's progress and maturity.

Blended finance refers to a combination of a grant and equity financing offered by the EIC Accelerator. This allows companies to receive both non-dilutive funding (the grant) and investment (the equity) to support their innovation and growth.

If you need equity financing for TRL 9 activities, you must request blended finance. A separate work package specifically for pure equity should be included when requesting blended finance. If no equity is requested, the financing of TRL 9 activities must be explained separately.

Innovation and traction are strong indicators of a project's potential for success. They quickly reveal whether the project has a unique value proposition and a viable market opportunity, which are key for grant approval.

A great idea is a good starting point, but you also need to demonstrate traction. This means showing that there's a real market need and that customers are interested in your solution.

While revenue is ideal, it's not always mandatory. Focus on demonstrating strong customer interest through pilot studies, letters of intent, or documented customer interactions to prove market traction.

Ideally, you should have written proof of customer intent, ongoing pilot studies, or existing revenue. Demonstrating active engagement with potential customers is crucial to showcase market demand.

The two most critical factors are innovation and traction. Innovation refers to the market-disrupting or market-creating nature of your project. Traction demonstrates clear market need and customer interest in your product or service.

Compare your product to your closest competitors. You should be able to clearly identify at least one or two unique features that set your product apart and provide a competitive advantage.

While innovation is important, a lack of traction can significantly weaken your application. Focus on actively engaging with potential customers and gathering evidence of market demand to strengthen your case.

Your innovation should be significant enough that it overcomes barriers other companies haven't. Consider if your product is easily replicable by larger companies; a strong innovation is difficult to copy quickly.

Market-disrupting innovation means your product or service fundamentally changes how a market operates. It often introduces new business models or technologies that render existing solutions obsolete.

If a large company could easily replicate your product within a year, it suggests your innovation might not be substantial enough. The EIC Accelerator seeks projects with significant barriers to entry.

No, the geographic diversity requirement, which would have ensured interview invitations proportional to applications received from each country, was ultimately removed from the final EIC Accelerator Work Programme.

If you encounter any glitches or errors on the EIC Accelerator AI platform, you should immediately contact support@accelerator.eismea.eu to report the issue and seek assistance.

Applicants need to estimate the co-financing for their Series A or similar funding round and identify potential outside contributors. This is an important aspect of the budgeting and evaluation process.

The AI tool's scoring for technical breakthrough and scientific breakthrough changed after the call opened. The difficulty in achieving high scores in these areas was reversed, potentially impacting the perceived strength of proposals submitted early.

Carefully review your submitted application to ensure all sections are correct, especially the Abstract. If you find any errors, immediately contact support@accelerator.eismea.eu to report the issue and request a correction before the evaluation process begins.

The changes to the budgeting and evaluation process were minor and are not expected to significantly impact the success chances of applicants. Focus on the core elements of your proposal and ensure it meets the EIC's criteria.

Yes, if you select blended financing, the EIC Accelerator will automatically cover the 30% co-financing of the grant with equity financing. Any equity you request from the EIC Fund will be in addition to this 30%.

Yes, the TRL descriptions were adjusted after the call opened on April 9th. Specifically, the requirements for TRL6 changed regarding the number of customers needed, potentially affecting applicants who applied based on the initial description.

The EIC Accelerator initially considered non-binary gender options but reverted to a single 'Unspecified' option, which is treated as male. The program aims to fund 35% female CEOs, so this change impacts how gender is considered in the evaluation process.

Several glitches were reported, including long loading times, errors during proposal saving, and in some cases, the Abstract section of the proposal being replaced by the Solution section. It's crucial to review your submitted application for these errors.

Expect to wait between 4 to 8 weeks to receive the results of your Phase 1 application after submitting it. Keep this timeframe in mind when planning your project timeline.

The specific dates for each deadline are announced by the EU. Check the official SME Instrument website or related EU funding portals for the most up-to-date information.

While you can't shorten the review times, you can ensure your application is complete and well-prepared. This minimizes the chances of rejection and the need for resubmission, ultimately saving time.

Yes, each resubmission adds approximately three months to the overall time needed to receive the grant. This is because you must wait for the next available deadline.

Yes, the Phase 2 application process mirrors Phase 1. It has similar deadlines throughout the year and comparable waiting periods for results and grant agreement signing.

After your Phase 1 application is approved, it can take 6 to 12 weeks to finalize the grant agreement contract. Only after this is signed will you receive the initial grant funds.

There are typically four deadlines per year for submitting applications. These usually fall in February, May, September, and November, so plan accordingly.

If your application is rejected, you'll need to wait until the next available deadline to resubmit. This is typically three months later, so factor this delay into your overall timeline.

Once Phase 1 is funded, allocate approximately 3 to 5 months to complete the feasibility study and prepare for a potential Phase 2 application. This includes research, analysis, and documentation.

You should dedicate about one month to preparing your Phase 1 application. This allows sufficient time to gather all necessary supporting documents and craft a compelling proposal.

When comparing your technology to competitors, explicitly state why yours is superior. Focus on quantifiable benefits and unique features. Back up your claims with evidence and data whenever possible to strengthen your argument.

Avoid oversimplification. List all significant milestones that led to your current stage. This demonstrates the evolution of your project and the progress you've made. Showing the journey builds credibility and highlights your team's dedication.

If there are no direct competitors, compare your technology to existing solutions that address similar problems. Highlight how your approach is more effective, efficient, or innovative compared to these alternatives. Focus on the advantages of your unique solution.