Frequently Asked Questions

For EU funding, an SME is defined as a company with fewer than 250 employees, an annual turnover of less than €50 million, and a balance sheet total of less than €43 million. Meeting all three of these criteria is essential for qualifying as an SME. This definition is important because many EU funding programs are specifically targeted at supporting SMEs.

EU funding is available across a wide range of industries, but some are more commonly funded than others. To see if your project is eligible for funding in one of the 13 topics, please read What Types of Industries Receive Funding? This resource will provide insights into the sectors that align with EU priorities.

Having three task leaders – one each for the technical, commercial, and financial aspects – demonstrates a well-rounded and capable project team. This structure ensures that all critical areas of the project are adequately managed and addressed. It shows the EU that your project has the necessary expertise to succeed.

Associated countries are non-EU nations that have agreements with the EU to participate in certain programs, including research and innovation funding. These countries, such as Norway, Iceland, and Turkey, can often apply for EU funding opportunities under specific conditions. Check the specific program guidelines to confirm eligibility for your country.

Your project proposal should clearly outline the objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes of your project. It should also demonstrate the project's alignment with EU priorities and its potential impact. Be sure to address the technical, commercial, and financial aspects of the project in detail, highlighting the expertise of your team.

Being registered in an EU-28 country means your company is officially based and operates within one of the member states of the European Union. This includes countries like Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, and many others. Registration typically involves complying with the specific legal and regulatory requirements of that particular country.

The European Commission provides a wealth of information and frequently asked questions on their website. This is a great resource for understanding the nuances of EU funding programs and eligibility requirements. Be sure to check their official website for the most up-to-date details.

The 'Seal of Excellence' signifies that your proposal met a high-quality threshold. While it doesn't guarantee funding from the initial program, it can open doors to alternative funding opportunities. It demonstrates the merit of your project to other funding bodies.

You'll need to research the specific funding agencies in countries that recognize the 'Seal of Excellence.' Look for information on their websites regarding eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and program guidelines. Be sure to check frequently, as these details can change.

Yes, in some countries, a 'Seal of Excellence' can help you secure national funding. Countries like Sweden, Cyprus, and others recognize the seal. Check the specific conditions and deadlines for these national programs, as they may have specific requirements.

The evaluation report uses a scale to rate different aspects of your proposal. Scores range from 'Insufficient' (0-1.49) to 'Very Good to Excellent' (4.5-5). The maximum possible score for a proposal is 15, reflecting high marks across all categories.

A high score, even one above the funding threshold, doesn't guarantee funding. Limited budgets and a high number of applicants mean that only the highest-scoring proposals within the budget can be funded. It indicates your proposal is strong but faced tough competition.

Thoroughly address all feedback from the evaluation report, strengthen your proposal's weaknesses, and ensure it aligns perfectly with the call's objectives. Seek advice from experienced proposal writers or mentors to gain additional insights and improve your application.

Carefully review the evaluation report for specific areas of improvement. Even with a good score, there might be aspects that can be strengthened, such as the clarity of your impact or the robustness of your methodology. Focus on addressing the evaluators' concerns.

Absolutely! You can resubmit your proposal as many times as you like. Each submission provides an opportunity to improve based on the feedback received in the evaluation report. Use the feedback to strengthen your proposal's weaknesses.

Generally, proposals need a score of 13.5 to 14 or higher to be considered for funding. However, this can vary depending on the specific call and the number of applicants. Aim for the highest score possible to increase your chances.

An evaluation report provides feedback on your proposal from multiple evaluators. It assesses aspects like 'Impact,' 'Excellence,' and 'Quality' using a scoring system. You can typically expect to receive this report 1-2 months after the submission deadline.

The written application is evaluated by four reviewers who grade Documents 1-3 according to pre-defined criteria. These criteria are available in the ESR (Evaluation Summary Report). The application should directly address these criteria to maximize its score.

The most important thing is to present an excellent investment opportunity with a great ROI. Your pitch should be so compelling that it stands on its own, even if the written application were not available.

The 'less is more' approach means focusing on the most crucial aspects of your project in the pitch deck due to time constraints. Highlight the key investment opportunity and be prepared to elaborate during the Q&A rather than trying to cram everything in.

The Q&A session allows the jury to clarify any questions they have about your project. This is your opportunity to provide more details on aspects you only hinted at during the pitch and address any concerns they might have.

Your pitch deck should primarily focus on the business model, including innovation, competition, customer journey, go-to-market strategy, user needs, and financial projections. The jury is more interested in the investment potential than specific scoring criteria during the pitch.

The written application needs to be comprehensive and address all evaluation criteria in detail, following a 'more is more' approach. The pitch deck, on the other hand, should focus on the core business model and investment opportunity, using a 'less is more' strategy to highlight key aspects within the limited time.

A well-designed pitch deck is crucial because the jury will likely judge your application largely based on the information presented in it. It needs to clearly and concisely convey the most important aspects of your project to make a strong impression.

Even if the evaluators have read your application, stick to the 'less is more' approach in your pitch. Focus on presenting a compelling investment opportunity, and be ready to answer targeted questions about specific sections of your proposal during the Q&A.

The 'more is more' approach means including as much relevant information as possible in your written application to address all evaluation criteria. Missing even a single criterion can negatively impact your score, so completeness is key.

Yes, it's actually beneficial. The pitch deck should omit less critical information like gender dimension or job creation details, which were important for the written application. You can address these points if the jury raises questions during the Q&A session.

While the blog post mentions Microsoft Word and Adobe InDesign, the choice depends on your needs. Microsoft Word is suitable for the main text, while Adobe InDesign offers more advanced design capabilities for the overall layout and graphics. Consider using Adobe Photoshop for image editing and enhancement, especially when working with screenshots and device overlays.

Yes, you can use screenshots, especially when showcasing software or UI dashboards. To enhance the look of simple screenshots, consider using device overlays (like laptop or smartphone screens) available on platforms like FreePik. This can be done using Adobe Photoshop and can significantly improve the impact of your visuals.

When using images, look for Creative Commons or Royalty-Free licenses. These licenses allow you to use the images without paying a fee, as long as you adhere to the terms of the license. This ensures that you are using the images legally and ethically in your EIC Accelerator proposal.

Document 4, the pitch deck, needs a well-designed presentation. SlideBean is a great resource dedicated to creating better pitch decks for startups and SMEs. The free version provides useful examples from companies like Uber or Airbnb. Use these examples as templates to craft a suitable pitch for the EIC Accelerator interviews.

Color is crucial for a grant application. Decide on a specific style for the entire proposal before working on images or headers. It's best to use a single main color or a primary and secondary color to avoid overwhelming the reader. Use a color picker tool like the Adobe Color Wheel to experiment with different styles and create color combinations that work well together.

For the main writing in Documents 1 and 2, stick to the template guidelines (e.g., Arial or similar at min. 11 pt). However, for headers, images, and especially the pitch deck, you have more creative freedom. Explore free fonts on websites like Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts to find options that fit your corporate identity or are visually appealing, such as Raleway, Quicksand, or Montserrat.

When you need to use company logos from websites, they are often in WebP or SVG formats that are difficult to use directly. Instead of taking screenshots, use an online converter like CloudConvert. These converters can quickly extract the image as a high-quality PNG or JPG file, which you can then easily implement in your proposal documents.

Websites like PixaBay and Unsplash offer thousands of royalty-free images at no cost under Creative Commons licenses. While Document 1 may not require many images, Document 2 (annexes) and Document 4 (pitch deck) can benefit from well-placed images. Use these images to visually structure your narrative or as backgrounds to create appealing effects.

FreePik and Vecteezy provide large databases of images, vector graphics, and illustrations. These can help make your application more appealing and give it a professional look. Vector designs are useful for headers, page margins, cover pages, and pitch decks. FreePik also offers device overlays for placing software screenshots within laptop or smartphone screens.

The Noun Project offers a vast database of pictograms that can be used under a Creative Commons or Royalty-Free license. You can find various types of pictograms to improve the quality of your images and graphics. If you use Adobe Illustrator, you can directly download and import these images as SVG or PNG files for greater control over colors and shapes.

Applying directly to Phase 2 is harder because the application requires a substantial amount of data and preparation. This includes comprehensive market research, a well-developed business plan, and detailed financial forecasts, which many startups haven't fully developed yet.

Yes, technically you can apply directly for Phase 2. However, it's often challenging for startups. Most lack the extensive data required, such as detailed market analysis, a robust business plan, and solid financial projections, making a successful application difficult.

If you're considering EU funding, start by assessing your current data and business plan. Determine if you have enough information to support a direct Phase 2 application. If not, consider starting with Phase 1 to build a stronger foundation.

The main purpose of Phase 1 funding is to support feasibility studies and business plan development. It allows startups to explore the potential of their innovation and prepare a solid foundation for future growth and funding opportunities.

There is no real downside to applying for Phase 1 first. It provides valuable funding and support for preparing a stronger Phase 2 application. It increases your chances of securing larger funding in the long run.

Your chances of securing Phase 2 funding are significantly higher if you've successfully completed Phase 1. In fact, the likelihood of receiving Phase 2 funding is about twice as high for those who have already gone through Phase 1.

Phase 1 provides financial support that can be used to gather the necessary data and refine your business plan. This preparation significantly strengthens your Phase 2 application. It allows you to build a solid foundation before seeking larger funding.

A strong Phase 2 application requires comprehensive data. This includes thorough market analysis, a detailed business plan, a well-defined strategy, realistic financial projections, and information about your user base or customer acquisition strategy.

Yes, securing funding for Phase 1 is generally easier than for Phase 2. This is because Phase 1 focuses on feasibility studies and business plan development, requiring less extensive data and a smaller funding request.

Phase 1 funding provides the resources to conduct thorough market research, refine your business plan, and develop a robust strategy. This preparation is crucial for creating a compelling and successful Phase 2 application, increasing your chances of securing larger funding.

While technically possible, it's generally recommended to create a new acronym specifically for the project. This allows you to tailor the acronym to perfectly represent the project's unique aspects and avoid potential confusion with existing brands.

You can find examples of successful abstracts, titles, and acronyms in the Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) database. Also, check the EIC Accelerator call page for relevant examples and inspiration.

Avoid acronyms that simply describe the industry. Instead, focus on highlighting the unique innovation or long-term vision of your project. This will make your proposal stand out and capture the reader's attention.