EIC Accelerator 2025 - Short application

The EIC Accelerator 2025 is a Horizon Europe program focused on supporting SMEs and start-ups that are developing innovative technologies with significant scalability potential. The program offers a combination of grant funding and equity investments ranging from €0.5 million to €12.5 million, with additional provisions for specific challenges that may offer larger funding amounts. Eligible applicants include established SMEs, small mid-cap companies, individual entrepreneurs, and entities intending to create or invest in eligible SMEs. Applicants from non-associated third countries may also participate under certain conditions.

The EIC Accelerator primarily targets later-stage technology developments, necessitating that projects have reached at least Technology Readiness Level 5, implying validation in a relevant environment. The program seeks to address financing gaps for high-impact innovations categorized as "deep tech," covering a broad array of fields such as biotechnology, digital technologies, advanced materials, and future mobility.

The application process is two-fold: it begins with the submission of a short proposal, followed by a full proposal for those who pass preliminary evaluations. The program provides Business Acceleration Services, which includes mentorship and coaching, to enhance applicants' strategies and business plans.

Key milestones include monthly evaluation cycles with specific cut-off dates for submissions, such as March 12 and October 1 for 2025. The application process is competitive, involving remote assessments and interviews with an EIC jury. The program's funding aims to catalyze further investments, with some challenges requiring private co-investment to maximize support for scaling up innovations.

The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, with provisions for UK applicants who can only apply for grants. The program emphasizes the transition of high-potential technologies into the market, positioning itself as a catalyst for innovation and investment in Europe.

The EIC Accelerator 2025, under the Horizon Europe program, supports SMEs and start-ups in scaling up high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It offers a combination of funding, ranging from EUR 0.5 to EUR 12.5 million, and Business Acceleration Services, as detailed in Section VI of the EIC Work Programme 2025. The focus is on innovations rooted in scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs, often termed "deep tech," requiring significant long-term funding, or "patient capital." These innovations often face financing challenges due to inherent risks and extended timeframes. The EIC Accelerator aims to bridge this gap, enabling innovators to attract necessary investments more rapidly.

The program targets later stages of technology development and scale-up, requiring the technology component to have been tested and validated in a laboratory or relevant environment, reaching at least Technology Readiness Level 5. The EIC support is intended to catalyze further investment for scaling up the innovation.

Eligible applicants include:

A single SME established in a Member State or Associated Country.

A single small mid-cap company (up to 499 employees) established in a Member State or Associated Country, applicable only in exceptional cases for rapid scale-up.

One or more natural persons (including individual entrepreneurs) or legal entities from a Member State or Associated Country intending to establish an SME or small mid-cap in a Member State or Associated Country by the time of grant agreement signature or investment component agreement.

Entities intending to invest in an SME or small mid-cap established in a Member State or Associated Country, submitting a proposal on behalf of that SME or small mid-cap, with a prior agreement in place.

Entities from non-associated third countries intending to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or Associated Country, providing proof of effective establishment at the time of full proposal submission.

The standard admissibility and eligibility conditions are detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2025. The number of submissions is limited as described in the Application submission limits section of the EIC Work Programme 2025. Fast Track schemes are available for participants in eligible Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020 projects (Annex 3 of the EIC Work Programme 2025). The Plug-in scheme allows applicants with projects financed by eligible programmes managed by a Member State or Associated Country to apply (Annex 4 of the EIC Work Programme 2025).

The application process involves:

Submission of short proposals: Applications can be submitted anytime via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal, with monthly batching and evaluation. Applicants receive feedback within 4-6 weeks, indicating whether they can proceed to a full proposal.

Submission of full proposals: Successful short proposal applicants receive coaching support from EIC Business Acceleration Services to improve their value proposition, business plan, and investor pitch. Full proposals can be submitted to cut-offs in 2025 and 2026.

The cut-off dates for 2025 are March 12 and October 1. The cut-off dates for 2026 will be announced in the 2026 Work Programme.

Eligible applicants can submit full proposals for:

EIC Accelerator Open: No predefined thematic priorities, open to any field of technology or application.

EIC Accelerator Challenges: Grant funding is subject to specific conditions for applications within the scope of:

GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI (Section IV.2.3 of the EIC Work Programme 2025).

Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics, and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure (Section IV.2.4 of the EIC Work Programme 2025).

EIC Accelerator Challenges in predefined areas of emerging and strategic technologies:

Challenge 01: Acceleration of advanced materials development and upscaling along the value chain.

Challenge 02: Biotechnology-driven low emission food production systems.

Challenge 03: GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI.

Challenge 04: Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics, and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure.

Challenge 05: Breakthrough innovations for future mobility.

Full proposals are assessed remotely by three EIC expert evaluators, with results communicated within 8-9 weeks. Successful applicants are invited to an interview with an EIC Jury in Brussels. Interviews are held 3-4 weeks after notification of remote evaluation results. A panel of up to six jury members assesses applicants, with results communicated within 2-3 weeks. Expenses for in-person interviews are not reimbursed.

Selected applicants are invited to negotiate a grant agreement and begin due diligence for the investment component.

Annex 2(B. Eligibility) of the EIC Work Programme 2025 provides details on eligible countries. Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply but can only receive grant-only funding. Annex 2 (General conditions for proposals) and Annex 2(C. Financial and Operational Capacity) of the EIC Work Programme 2025 outline other eligibility conditions and financial/operational capacity requirements. Section IV of the EIC Work Programme 2025 details evaluation and award criteria, submission/evaluation processes, and indicative timelines. Annex G of the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes covers the legal and financial setup of grants. Section IV.1, Section IV.2.3, and Section IV.2.4 of the EIC Work Programme 2025 outline specific conditions.

Key documents include: EIC Work Programme 2025, application form templates (available in the Submission System), HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (Lump Sum MGA), call-specific instructions, detailed budget table, information on clinical studies, guidance on lump sums, HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes, EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The EIC Accelerator 2025 is a funding opportunity designed to propel innovative SMEs and start-ups towards scaling up their high-impact technologies. It provides not only substantial financial support through grants and potential equity investments but also offers valuable business acceleration services. The program is particularly geared towards "deep tech" innovations that address significant challenges and require long-term investment. The application process is structured, involving a short proposal followed by a full proposal for those who pass the initial evaluation. The EIC Accelerator aims to bridge the funding gap for innovative companies, enabling them to attract further investment and achieve rapid growth and market disruption. The program is highly competitive, with a multi-stage evaluation process including remote assessment and in-person interviews with an EIC Jury.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are primarily SMEs, including start-ups, and exceptionally small mid-caps (up to 499 employees). The opportunity also allows applications from natural persons (including individual entrepreneurs) or legal entities intending to establish or invest in an SME or small mid-cap in a Member State or Associated Country. Companies from non-associated third countries can apply if they intend to establish or relocate an existing SME to a Member State or an Associated Country.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a combination of grant funding (from EUR 0.5 to EUR 12.5 million) and Business Acceleration Services. Equity investment may also be available. The funding is provided as a Lump Sum Grant.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is primarily targeted at single applicants. However, entities intending to invest in an SME or small mid-cap can submit a proposal on behalf of that SME or small mid-cap, provided a prior agreement exists with the company.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Member States and Associated Countries of the Horizon Europe programme. Applicants from non-associated third countries are eligible if they intend to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or an Associated Country. Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply, but can only request and receive funding in the form of a grant.

Target Sector: The program targets a wide range of sectors, particularly focusing on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’). Specific challenge areas include: Acceleration of advanced materials development and upscaling along the value chain, Biotechnology driven low emission food production systems, GenAI4EU: Creating European Champions in Generative AI, Innovative in-space servicing, operations, space-based robotics and technologies for resilient EU space infrastructure, Breakthrough innovations for future mobility. The EIC Accelerator Open topic is open to proposals in any field of technology or application.

Mentioned Countries: United Kingdom, Member States, Associated Countries, Non-associated third countries.

Project Stage: The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of the innovation must have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment, reaching at least Technology Readiness Level 5.

Funding Amount: The funding ranges from EUR 0.5 million to EUR 12.5 million, combining grant funding and Business Acceleration Services.

Application Type: The application process involves a two-step submission: a short proposal followed by a full proposal for successful applicants. Applications may be submitted at any time via the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries receive both money (grant and potential equity) and non-monetary services through Business Acceleration Services, including coaching.

Application Stages: The application process consists of multiple stages: submission of a short proposal, evaluation of the short proposal, potential coaching support, submission of a full proposal, remote evaluation of the full proposal, interview with an EIC Jury, and negotiation of grant and investment components.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the competitive nature of the EIC Accelerator suggests that the success rate is likely to be relatively low.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding from the applicant or other parties is not explicitly required, but the EIC Accelerator aims to act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors necessary for the scale up of the innovation.

The EIC Accelerator 2025 is a Horizon Europe program designed to support SMEs, including start-ups, and exceptionally small mid-caps, in scaling up high-impact, deep tech innovations. It offers a unique combination of grant funding, potential equity investment, and Business Acceleration Services to help companies bring their innovations to market and disrupt existing industries. The program is open to a wide range of technology and application fields, with specific challenges focusing on areas like advanced materials, biotechnology, AI, space technologies, and future mobility. The application process involves a two-step submission, starting with a short proposal that is evaluated for admissibility, eligibility, and award criteria. Successful applicants receive coaching support to develop a full proposal, which undergoes remote evaluation and a potential interview with an EIC Jury. The program aims to support innovations that have already reached Technology Readiness Level 5 and require significant funding and time to achieve scale up, acting as a catalyst to attract additional investors. The geographic scope includes Member States and Associated Countries, with specific provisions for applicants from the United Kingdom and non-associated third countries. The EIC Accelerator is a competitive program that provides substantial financial and business support to help innovative companies achieve their growth potential.