What is the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs that:

  • have a innovative, game changing product, service or business model that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and even worldwide,
  • have the ambition and commitment to scale up,
  • are looking for substantial funding, but the risks involved are too high for private investors alone to invest

Who can apply?

Applicants from EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme:

  • Single start-up or SME (including spin-outs)
  • Small mid-caps (up to 499 employees)  in need of rapid scale up of the TRL 9 activity. Mid-caps can apply for investment only.
  • Natural persons or legal entities willing to set up an SMEs or a mid-cap. 

Applicants from third countries:

  • Applicants from third countries may relocate their company in order to become eligible. This must be done before submitting the full application (Step 2).
  • Applicants from the United Kingdom can only apply for the “grant only” scheme

Concurrent applications:

  • Applicants may submit only one application to the EIC Accelerator. Additional applications can be submitted after receiving the results of the original submission.

The EIC welcomes applications from innovators in all EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon Europe programme. It particularly welcomes applications from startups and SMEs with female CEOs.

How to apply for the EIC Accelerator?

The application process consists of 4 steps:

Step 1: Write your short proposal

Short proposals may be submitted at any time and which will be evaluated remotely by EIC expert evaluators on a first come, first served basis;

  • A short form where you must summarise your proposal and respond to a set of questions on your innovation, your potential market and your team;
  • A pitch-deck of up to ten slides in PDF format;
  • A video pitch of up to three minutes where the core members of your team (up to three people) should provide the motivation for your proposal.

You will normally receive feedback within approximately 4-6 weeks. If your application meets the basic criteria for EIC Accelerator funding, you will be invited to prepare a full proposal to submit to one of the periodic cut-off dates for Accelerator Open or Accelerator Challenge funding.

Step 2: Prepare your full proposal

If your short proposal receives a GO, you can submit your full proposal to any of the 2026 – 2027 cut-offs.  

Prepare your full proposal on Funding and Tenders portal. The full proposal consists of a full business plan, pitch deck in PDF & a 3 minutes video pitch.

Proposals will be assessed remotely by three EIC expert evaluators. You will get the result in a 8-9 weeks.

Step 3: Pitch your innovation

If you receive a GO, you will be invited to an interview with an EIC jury. The interview will take place within 4–5 weeks after the announcement of the previous step’s results. The format will be determined later.

You will receive the interview results within 2–3 weeks.

  • 7 January & 4 March 2026 cut-offs: Jury interviews – May/June 2026

  • 6 May & 8 July 2026 cut-offs: Jury interviews – October 2026

  • 2 September & 3 November 2026 cut-offs: Jury interviews – February 2027

Step 4: Negotiate the grant component, start due diligence for investment component

Grant only: you will sign the Grant Agreement and receive first pre-financing payment

Blended finance: you can use the additional flexibility of the investment component and negotiate a raise of maximum € 2 million

Relevant information of the project will be transmitted to the EIC Fund and the investment need will be assessed. BAS will support you in search of other investors. Within 2-6 months the investment component will be decided. 

If the due diligence outcome concludes you are not mature for investment yet, you will start with the grant component. The case will be re-examined within defined milestones.