Frequently Asked Questions

All 27 EU member states are eligible for EIC Accelerator funding. This includes countries like Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. These countries can access both grant and equity financing.

Eligible startups and SMEs can obtain up to €2.5 million in grant funding and up to €15 million in equity financing per project. This brings the total potential funding to €17.5 million, supporting high-impact innovations.

Yes, UK entities can apply for the EIC Accelerator, but with a limitation. Due to the UK's association agreement, they are eligible only for the 'grant-only' portion of the EIC Accelerator funding. This means they cannot access the equity financing component.

OCTs are territories linked to EU member states and are eligible for EIC funding under the same conditions as the member state they are linked to. Examples include Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten (linked to the Netherlands), and French Polynesia and New Caledonia (linked to France).

Due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, entities from non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine are currently not eligible for funding. This restriction is in place to ensure the proper allocation and management of funds during the conflict.

Yes, some non-EU countries might be eligible for Step 1 applications of the EIC Accelerator. However, eligibility for Step 1 does not guarantee access to Step 2 and 3 or the full EIC Accelerator funding. Always verify the specific eligibility criteria for each step.

Yes, Liechtenstein is an example of a country that was previously associated with European funding programs but has decided not to participate in Horizon Europe or the EIC Accelerator. Therefore, entities from Liechtenstein are currently not eligible for funding.

Clearly outline and justify your commercial strategy, even if you're a pre-revenue startup. If you need distributors, show they are committed and quantify their reach. Explain why customers will buy from you, ideally with commitments and Letters of Intent. A strong commercial plan is essential, especially for the Step 3 interviews.

Focus on a 'sexy' topic aligned with current trends, develop an impressive and unique technology, ensure your project is easy to understand, present a clear commercial strategy with traction, and establish a great team and corporate identity. By addressing these key areas, you can significantly improve your chances of a positive evaluation.

Develop a clear and justified commercial strategy, even if you're in the early stages. Focus on identifying your target market, outlining your sales and marketing approach, and demonstrating potential customer interest. Letters of Intent or commitments from potential customers can significantly strengthen your application.

In 2023, the EIC Accelerator Challenges include areas such as novel biomarker-based assays for cancer treatment, aerosol and surface decontamination for pandemic management, energy storage, New European Bauhaus and AEC digitalization, emerging semiconductor or quantum technology, resilient agriculture, and customer-driven space technologies.

A project needs to have impressive and unique technology to be successful. A simple app or easily copied hardware is unlikely to gain funding. The technology should be difficult to replicate and perfectly designed to solve the identified market problem, showcasing a sophisticated technological background.

The EIC Accelerator, funded by the European Commission and European Innovation Council, supports European SMEs and startups. It provides blended financing, potentially reaching €17.5 million per project, consisting of a grant (up to €2.5 million) and equity investment (up to €15 million). This funding aims to help innovative companies scale up their businesses.

If your technology is too complex, it may be difficult for evaluators to grasp the problem and solution, potentially lowering your chances of success. Aim for clarity and simplicity in explaining your project, ensuring that even someone without expertise in your field can understand its value and impact.

While not mandatory, a professional online presence is beneficial. Create a corporate identity with a website, social media accounts, logos, and branded email addresses. This helps build trust and credibility, especially since no due diligence is performed before the final application step.

Your project should be complex enough to be impressive but easy to understand. Evaluators may not be experts in your specific field, so ensure the problem and solution are clear to a layperson. Concisely explain the project's core aspects, especially within the limited character counts in the application.

The EIC favors projects aligned with current political, technological, and social trends. While specific focus areas are updated annually in the Work Programme, evergreen themes like environmental protection, medical technology, AI, energy, and climate mitigation often resonate well. Addressing a clearly understandable problem with high impact is crucial for success.

The core selection criteria are the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your innovation, the specific topic or industry it addresses, the number of other applicants, and your project's financing needs and investor availability. Carefully assess these factors to align your project with the most suitable EIC funding program.

The EIC reserves the right to cancel ongoing grant projects if a lack of additional financing jeopardizes the project's success. It's crucial to have a plan for securing follow-up funding to ensure the project can reach its desired endpoint and avoid potential cancellation.

EIC Accelerator offers up to €2.5 million in grant funding and €15 million in equity funding. EIC Pathfinder provides up to €3 million per project, while EIC Transition offers up to €2.5 million per project. Assess your project's financial needs to determine which program aligns best with your requirements.

'Open' calls are available to all types of technologies and industries, while 'Challenge' calls are specific to certain projects that meet particular criteria outlined in the Work Programme. Applying to 'Challenge' calls, if your project fits the criteria, can increase your chances of success due to potentially lower competition.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) indicates the maturity of your technology, ranging from basic principles observed (TRL 1) to actual system proven in operational environment (TRL 9). The EIC programs target different TRL ranges, so accurately identifying your TRL is essential for choosing the right program.

The three flagship EIC grant funding programs are EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator. These programs offer different levels of funding and support based on the technology readiness level (TRL) of your innovation. Understanding the distinctions between them is crucial for selecting the right fit for your project.

The EIC's Work Programme is renewed annually, which means budgets and thematic topics change. It's crucial to review the current Work Programme to understand the available funding, specific challenges, and eligibility criteria. This will help you tailor your application and increase your chances of success.

EIC Accelerator projects, especially those requesting grant-only, equity-only, or blended financing, generally need to demonstrate the availability of additional financing. For grant-only applications, you should justify how you'll reach TRL 9. For equity components, the EIC expects applicants to secure outside investors for co-financing.

Yes, the EIC Accelerator is designed for single applicants, meaning only one entity receives the funding. This entity must be located in the EU or a country associated with Horizon Europe. In contrast, EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition allow applications from both single entities and consortia.

EIC Pathfinder supports projects from TRL 1 to 4, focusing on early-stage research. EIC Transition targets projects between TRL 4 and 6, aiming to mature technologies and develop prototypes. EIC Accelerator is for projects at TRL 5-6 to 9, supporting scaling and market launch.

To access EIC Pathfinder funding, your project needs a convincing long-term vision for a radically new technology. It should also demonstrate a concrete, novel, and ambitious science-towards-technology breakthrough. Finally, a high-risk/high-gain research approach with concrete and plausible objectives is essential.

Specific budget allocations and cut-off dates for each EIC program (Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator) are typically announced on the EIC's official website. Look for documents like the '2023 EIC Budget' or information on 'Updated Deadlines' to stay informed. These resources provide the most up-to-date details.

The EIC assesses whether your novel technology is ready for maturation and validation in specific applications. They also consider if you've explored potential markets and competitors for your innovation. Finally, they look for a motivated and entrepreneurial team to drive the idea toward commercialization.

Blended financing combines a non-dilutive grant with a dilutive equity injection from the EIC Fund. This approach allows companies to de-risk their technological developments with grant funding. The EIC Fund acts as a co-investor, encouraging external investors to participate and supporting larger financing rounds.

The EIC Accelerator is the largest EIC funding program, aimed at companies at TRL 5-6 and beyond. It offers both non-dilutive grants (up to €2.5 million) and dilutive equity injections (up to €15 million). Funding options include grant-only, grant-first, equity-only, and blended financing, allowing companies to choose the best fit for their needs.

EIC Transition helps companies bridge the gap between validated research and a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), targeting projects at TRL 4 to 5-6. It's designed for projects building on previous funding from programs like EIC Pathfinder or the European Defence Fund. The program provides grants of up to €2.5 million to develop and validate product prototypes.

EIC Pathfinder supports early-stage research and innovation, typically for projects at Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) 1 to 4. It's ideal for university spin-offs, research institutes, or companies with scientific departments working on breakthrough technologies. The program focuses on scientific and technological excellence, offering grants up to €3 million.

The EIC offers three main non-dilutive funding programs: EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition, and EIC Accelerator. These programs are designed to support companies at various stages of development, from early-stage research to scaling up their businesses. The goal is to provide a seamless pathway to financing, regardless of the company's industry or current development stage.

Grant-first funding is a non-dilutive grant option within the EIC Accelerator, designed for companies aiming to reach TRL8 but lacking secure scale-up financing. Successful grant-first projects can later apply for equity financing through a special pathway. This option is particularly useful for early-stage companies needing extensive technology validation or clinical trials.

The TRL scale measures the maturity of a technology, from basic research (TRL 1) to a fully commercialized product (TRL 9). The EIC programs are designed to support projects across this entire spectrum. Pathfinder covers TRL 1-4, Transition covers TRL 4-6, and Accelerator covers TRL 5-9.

Always refer to the official EIC Accelerator documentation and guidelines on the European Commission website. These resources provide the most accurate and current information regarding the application and resubmission process. Consulting with experienced advisors or consultants can also be beneficial.

If you are rejected after the Step 3 interview, you will typically be sent back to Step 2 and asked to reapply. In some cases, you may be invited to proceed directly to Step 3 again. Pay attention to the feedback provided to understand the reasons for the rejection.

In 2024, the EIC Accelerator has moved to a "three strikes, you're out" rule. This means applicants now have three attempts at each step before facing a ban. However, if you receive three rejections in any step, you will be unable to reapply until the end of Horizon Europe in 2027.

Even if you were initially successful in Step 2 but rejected after the Step 3 interview, it only counts as one rejection for Step 2. You can resubmit to Step 2 again, as long as you haven't reached the three-rejection limit.

The 'three strikes, you're out' rule means you have three attempts at each step of the EIC Accelerator process. If you are rejected three times at any particular step, you will not be able to reapply to the EIC Accelerator until the end of the Horizon Europe program in 2027.

If your application is rejected in Step 1, you can resubmit to Step 1 again. However, if you are rejected a second time in Step 1, you will be subject to a freezing period. This prevents you from reapplying for a certain duration.

Before 2021, the EIC Accelerator allowed applicants to resubmit proposals an unlimited number of times. This meant companies could repeatedly apply and even attend multiple interviews. While this offered persistence, it also increased the workload for evaluators.

A rejection in Step 3 means that a company has to reapply to Step 2 (or directly to Step 3 if invited to do so). The specific rules for Step 3 rejections can vary, so pay close attention to the feedback provided by the EIC.

From 2021 to 2023, the EIC Accelerator introduced freezing periods. Applicants generally had two chances at each step. If rejected twice in Step 1 or Step 2, they faced a 12-month ban from reapplying. Rejection in Step 3 sent applicants back to Step 2.

The EIC Accelerator, funded by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and European Commission (EC), provides grant and equity financing to startups and SMEs. It aims to support innovative projects with high growth potential. The program has evolved over the years, becoming more complex but also offering significant funding opportunities.

While the EIC sometimes uses the term 'idea,' successful projects are far beyond the initial idea stage. Your project should have reached at least Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or 6 and Business Readiness Level (BRL) 5 or 6. This demonstrates significant progress beyond a mere concept.

While the EIC Fund has historically preferred to invest alongside external co-investors, this might be changing. The EIC is becoming more open to investing without a co-investor, especially in the initial stages of high-risk, market-creating innovations. This aims to bridge the funding gap and attract private investors later on.

The EIC Accelerator is designed to take on the risk of breakthrough innovations to attract private investors later on. The lack of investors at the initial stage should not prevent the EIC investment from being agreed upon. The EIC aims to fill the funding gap for high-risk innovations.