EIC Accelerator 2026 - Short proposal

EIC Accelerator 2026 HORIZON-EIC provides lump-sum grants and optional equity or blended finance together with Business Acceleration Services to single SMEs, start-ups and exceptional small mid-caps to scale deep tech innovations. The call opened on 6 November 2025, operates on a continuous submission model with monthly batching, and has a final deadline of 17 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Grant support is typically up to approximately €2.5 million for TRL 6 to 8 activities and the EIC Fund can provide investments typically in the €1 million to €10 million range, with technologies required to have reached at least TRL 5. Eligible applicants must be established in EU Member States or Countries Associated to Horizon Europe, comply with specific national and security restrictions, and submit a maximum 12-page short proposal with a mandatory video pitch and pitch deck to advance to the full proposal and jury interview stages.

Scope in one line

Late‑stage deep tech companies (principally SMEs and start‑ups, exceptional small mid‑caps) seeking grant and/or investment to scale up market‑creating innovations. Technology must be validated in lab and relevant environment (at least TRL 5 completed) and EIC support should act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors.

Who can apply

Single companies classified as SMEs established in EU Member States or Associated Countries; single small mid‑caps (up to 499 employees) only in exceptional rapid scale‑up cases; natural persons or entities from third countries may apply if they establish the SME in a Member State/Associated Country by grant signature. UK applicants may apply but can receive grant only. Standard admissibility and eligibility rules apply (see EIC Work Programme Annex 2).

Deadline:17 December 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (call open from 06 November 2025) ¹.

What it funds

Combination of direct grant funding (lump sums) for innovation activities and an investment component managed by the EIC Fund; Business Acceleration Services are provided to awardees. Grants support later‑stage technology development (TRL 6–8) and market readiness; investment supports scale‑up.

1. 1Grant component: lump sum funding for innovation activities and scale‑up preparation (applicants must submit a detailed lump sum budget table).
2. 2Investment component: equity or other investment (managed by the EIC Fund) typically from €1M up to €10M for Accelerator; STEP Scale‑Up provides €10–€30Minvestments for strategic technologies.
3. 3Business Acceleration Services: coaching, investor matchmaking, market and regulatory support included for awardees.

Typical award sizes and models

Key eligibility & selection points

Technology must be deep tech and at least validated to TRL 5 at short proposal stage; proposals are evaluated on excellence, impact and implementation; applicants should demonstrate how EIC support will crowd in further finance and accelerate scale‑up.

Apply through the Funding & Tenders Portal submission system (start submission on the topic page). Short proposals use the dedicated short application template; successful short proposals are invited to submit full proposals. See official topic page for application forms and call documents EIC Accelerator Short Proposal.

Footnotes

1. 1Full eligibility, evaluation, financial and legal conditions are set out in the European Innovation Council Work Programme 2026 available from the EIC website and the Funding & Tenders Portal. See EIC Work Programme 2026 EIC Work Programme 2026.

The EIC Accelerator supports companies, principally SMEs including startups, to scale up high impact, deep tech innovations that can create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It offers blended finance combining an EU grant with equity or other repayable forms of investment via the EIC Fund, complemented by extensive Business Acceleration Services. The 2026 short proposal call is open on a continuous basis from 06 November 2025 with a final deadline on 17 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Submissions are made through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. This stage-1 short proposal is the gateway to the stage-2 full proposal and jury interview for EIC Accelerator support. See the official topic page and 2026 Work Programme for definitive conditions and templates.

• Topic ID: HORIZON-EIC
• Programme: Horizon Europe
• Type of action: HORIZON EIC Accelerator
• Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS]
• Submission model: continuous, with batching further in the process
• Opening date: 06 November 2025
• Deadline: 17 December 2026 17:00 Brussels time
• Submission portal: EU Funding and Tenders Portal topic page
• Work Programme: EIC Work Programme 2026 (PDF) ¹

Scope and Objectives

EIC Accelerator targets deep tech innovations grounded in scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs that require significant, patient capital to reach the market. The scheme finances the later stages of technology development and market scale-up. Technologies must have completed TRL 5 validation in relevant environment before applying. The EIC seeks to catalyse follow-on private and public investments, de-risking and crowding-in additional capital needed for scale-up. Applicants may target the EIC Accelerator Open (no predefined priorities) or EIC Accelerator Challenges (predefined strategic areas); the Open or Challenge selection is confirmed at the full proposal phase.

Key Facts

Who Can Apply

Admissibility and eligibility are governed by Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Eligible applicants for the EIC Accelerator include:

• Single SMEs established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country
• In exceptional cases for rapid scale-up: single small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) established in an EU Member State or an Associated Country
• One or more natural persons or legal entities from Member States or Associated Countries intending to establish an SME or small mid-cap in an EU Member State or Associated Country by grant or investment signature
• Investors intending to invest in an eligible SME or small mid-cap and submitting on its behalf, with a prior agreement; grant and or investment agreements are signed with the beneficiary company
• Applicants from a non-associated third country intending to establish or relocate an SME to an EU Member State or Associated Country; effective establishment in the EU or Associated Country is required by full proposal submission

Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply and may request and receive only grant-only funding. Limits on the number of submissions per applicant apply; see Application submission limits in the EIC Work Programme 2026. Fast Track and Plug-in routes are available through eligible EU, national or regional programmes.

What You Get

• Grant funding as a lump sum for innovation activities typically TRL 6 to 8
• Equity or other repayable investment via the EIC Fund to support scale-up, industrial deployment and market expansion
• Business Acceleration Services including access to coaches, mentors, corporate partners, investors, procurers, and research and technology infrastructures
• Proactive portfolio management by EIC Programme Managers

Evaluation and Process

The Accelerator uses a tailored, multi-step process. For 2026, the evaluation is simplified and batched more frequently, with deeper due diligence at application stage to accelerate investment decisions.

1. 1Stage 1 short proposal: concise application focusing on technology, market, team and need for EIC support, with mandatory annexes
2. 2Stage 2 full proposal: detailed application including work packages, lump sum budget, financial plan, letters of intent and IP freedom to operate analysis
3. 3Jury interview: GO or NO GO decision by a panel including investors and entrepreneurs

General award criteria follow Horizon Europe IA logic with strong emphasis on excellence, impact and implementation. Stage-2 top-ranked applicants are invited to interview for a binary GO or NO GO decision. Indicative timelines for evaluation and agreement follow section IV of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Call Documents and Templates

• Standard application form HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 short proposal: structure covers Technology, Market, Team Financial Needs Implementation; requires a 3 minute video and a pitch deck
• Standard application form HE EIC Accelerator stage 2 full proposal: 20 page Part B covering Technology, Market, Team Financial Needs Implementation, with detailed annexes
• Lump Sum detailed budget table Excel for grant and blended finance proposals
• Implementation plan template with work packages, deliverables, milestones and resources for grant and blended finance proposals
• Financial plan and equity needed template
• Letters of intent template guidance
• IP freedom to operate analysis or explanatory note
• Ownership control declaration for the Critical Raw Materials Challenge or Open proposals in scope requesting grant-only
• Ethics and security self-assessment in Part A
• Guidance: Lump sums what do I need to know, including how to split work packages and fill the detailed budget table Guidance on Lump Sums

Categorisation and Structured Information

Eligible Applicant Types:Primary: SME, startup, small mid-cap (exceptional cases only). Also eligible under conditions: individual founders and teams intending to incorporate in the EU or Associated Countries, investors applying on behalf of an SME or small mid-cap. Universities, research institutes, and nonprofits are not direct beneficiaries in Accelerator but may hold equity or participate via other EIC schemes; non-profits may be eligible when applying as SMEs. Mid-caps up to 499 employees are admissible in exceptional rapid scale-up cases.

Funding Type:Blended finance combining grant and equity. Modalities include grant component for innovation activities and investment component via the EIC Fund. Grant-only and equity-only are possible under specific conditions. Non-monetary Business Acceleration Services are provided alongside.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant. The EIC Accelerator is designed for single companies, principally SMEs including startups. Small mid-caps may apply in exceptional cases for rapid scale up. Individuals and investors may apply on behalf of a company they will create or invest in, subject to conditions.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):EU Member States and Associated Countries as defined in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Applicants from the United Kingdom may participate but can only request and receive grant-only funding. Applicants from non-associated third countries may apply if they commit to establish or relocate an SME in an EU Member State or an Associated Country, with proof of establishment by full proposal submission. Fast Track and Plug-in routes are available to beneficiaries from eligible EU, national, or regional programmes. Specific economic security measures and restrictions may apply for certain technology areas; see the Work Programme.

Target Sector:Cross-sectoral deep tech across any field through EIC Accelerator Open. Challenge calls focus on predefined strategic technologies, for 2026 including advanced materials for renewable energy and storage, fusion enabling technologies, biotech for regenerating agricultural soils, critical raw materials value chain, and deep tech for climate adaptation. Typical sectors: health and biotech, energy and cleantech, environment and climate, advanced materials, industrial technologies and manufacturing, AI and software, robotics and space, agriculture and food, security and cybersecurity, transport and mobility.

Mentioned Countries:United Kingdom is explicitly mentioned with grant-only restriction. The call also references EU Member States and Associated Countries in general terms.

Project Stage:Projects must have completed TRL 5 at entry. The grant typically covers TRL 6 to TRL 8 activities such as system or prototype demonstration in relevant or operational environments, piloting, validation, and pre-commercial deployment. The investment component supports market entry, scale-up, industrialisation, and international expansion up to TRL 9 outcomes and commercial scaling.

Funding Amount:Grant component is typically up to €2.5 million in lump sum for innovation activities. Investment component generally ranges from €1 million to €10 million via the EIC Fund. Funding rates for the grant follow Horizon Europe Innovation Action rules, typically 70 percent for for-profit entities and up to 100 percent for non-profits. UK applicants are limited to grant-only. The overall 2026 EIC budget across schemes is over €1.424 billion; topic-level budgets are managed centrally by the EIC and not set per topic page for stage-1.

Application Type:Open call with continuous submission, batched for evaluation cycles. Stage-1 is the short proposal. Applicants progress to stage-2 full proposal and then to a jury interview upon positive evaluation.

Nature of Support:Money and non-monetary services. Financial support includes grants and equity investments. Non-financial support includes Business Acceleration Services, coaching, mentoring, access to infrastructures, and facilitated connections to investors and corporates.

Application Stages:Three stages: 1 short proposal, 2 full proposal, 3 jury interview (GO or NO GO). The EIC may also conduct due diligence for investment component decisions. Fast Track and Plug-in pathways can allow entry directly to full proposal for eligible awardees.

Success Rates:Not specified in the call documentation for 2026. Success rates vary by batch and year; applicants should consult EIC statistics and dashboards when available.

Co-funding Requirement:Yes for the grant component in most cases. Under Horizon Europe Innovation Actions, for-profit beneficiaries typically receive up to 70 percent of eligible grant costs and must co-finance the remainder. Non-profit entities may receive up to 100 percent. The equity component can cover additional needs for deployment and scale-up. UK applicants can only receive grant-only and must ensure resources for commercialisation if seeking grant-only.

Application Forms and Templates: Structure and Guidance

Stage-1 Short Proposal (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 short proposal):Part A is auto-generated administrative data in the Portal. Part B is a concise narrative, maximum 12 pages including cover, structured as follows: 1 Technology novelty and breakthrough nature; TRL evidence; IP strategy and freedom to operate. 2 Market opportunity; go-to-market and commercialisation; customer value proposition and partnerships. 3 Team capability and governance; skills gaps and plans; risk level of the investment and leverage effect; justification for EIC funding and financing plan. Mandatory annexes: 3 minute video pitch featuring up to three team members; pitch deck in PDF (up to 10 pages recommended for stage-1); consent for data sharing with National Contact Points template.

Stage-2 Full Proposal (HE EIC Accelerator full proposal):Part A: administrative forms, ethics, security, fixed keywords, and funding type selection. Part B: 20 pages maximum including cover, structured into 1 Technology (deep tech nature, novelty, disruptive potential, TRL evidence, IP strategy and FTO) 2 Market (market size and share, go-to-market, business and revenue model with financial projections, broader impacts on EU technological leadership and dependencies, Challenge alignment and STEP impact where relevant) 3 Team, Financial Needs, Implementation (team capability and governance with ESOP or incentives, capitalization table, risk level and leverage effect, risk management and regulatory readiness). CV links are provided for key team members.

Stage-2 Annexes and Budgeting:Mandatory annexes include: pitch deck for interview, updated 3 minute video, Lump Sum detailed budget table Excel for grant and blended finance applications, Implementation plan with work packages, deliverables, milestones and resources, Financial plan and equity needed, Letters of intent from customers, partners, or investors, IP freedom to operate analysis or explanatory note, Ownership control declaration for Critical Raw Materials Challenge and relevant Open proposals, ethics and security self-assessments in Part A. The grant uses Lump Sum budgeting; applicants must fill the detailed budget Excel by work package and participant. Work packages can be split across reporting periods to align payment with completion. Payments are made when work packages are completed, not on actual cost reporting.

Evaluation and Interviews:Stage-2 proposals passing thresholds are invited to a jury interview of approximately 40 minutes including a 10 minute pitch. The jury renders a GO or NO GO. Due diligence supports investment decisions by the EIC Fund for blended finance and equity-only proposals.

Compliance, Legal and Financial Set-up

• Legal and financial set-up follows Horizon Europe General Annexes 2023–2025 and HORIZON Lump Sum MGA
• Open science, IP, and exploitation obligations apply per Work Programme; notify the Agency before transferring IP to non-associated third countries
• Economic security provisions may restrict participation or include investment safeguards in specific technology areas such as advanced semiconductors, AI, quantum, and biotechnologies
• For the Accelerator, technology must be civil in application; dual-use is excluded unless explicitly allowed in amended work programmes
• UK participation is limited to grant-only funding for Accelerator

Practical Submission Tips

• Complete registration and PIC validation steps well before submission
• Respect page limits; excess pages are made invisible after deadline
• For lump sum budgeting, ensure estimates are reasonable, consistent with internal practices, and broken down per work package
• Include letters of intent from customers or partners to evidence market traction
• Ensure TRL 5 proof is explicit, with test data and descriptions of relevant environments
• Provide a clear capitalization table and governance model, including founder and investor holdings and ESOP where applicable
• For UK grant-only cases or grant-only requests generally, demonstrate credible resources and plan for commercialisation

Summary Explanation

The EIC Accelerator 2026 short proposal is the first step for single deep tech companies, mainly SMEs and startups, to access blended finance that combines grants and equity for market-creating and market-disrupting innovations. Applicants must already have validated their technology in a relevant environment at least at TRL 5 and be ready to progress to TRL 6 to 8 with the grant while preparing or executing scale-up with the investment component. The scheme is open across all sectors via EIC Accelerator Open and complements this with strategic EIC Accelerator Challenges. The process comprises a concise short proposal with a video and pitch deck, a detailed full proposal with a lump sum grant budget and implementation plan, and a live jury interview. Funding typically includes a grant up to €2.5 million and an equity investment from €1 million to €10 million via the EIC Fund, combined with extensive Business Acceleration Services. Eligibility covers single SMEs in EU Member States or Associated Countries, with special pathways for founders pre-incorporation and investors applying on behalf of companies. UK applicants are limited to grant-only. The call operates on a continuous basis with a final deadline on 17 December 2026, and submissions are made through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. Prospective applicants should carefully consult the EIC Work Programme 2026 and the call templates, ensure clear TRL evidence, a compelling business and revenue model, a capable team and governance, and a credible rationale for EIC blended finance to catalyse further private investment and achieve scale-up.

Footnotes

1. 1Key sources: Official topic page EIC Accelerator 2026 - Short proposal and EIC Work Programme 2026 PDF Work Programme 2026.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The EIC Accelerator 2026 supports companies, principally SMEs and start-ups, to scale up high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The programme provides a unique combination of grant funding, investment funding, and Business Acceleration Services. The call focuses on innovations based on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs, known as deep tech, requiring significant patient capital with long timeframes before returns are generated. The technology component must have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environments, reaching at least Technology Readiness Level 5.

Call Specifications

Call Identifier:HORIZON-EIC

Opening Date:6 November 2025

Deadline Date:17 December 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. Short proposals are batched for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month at 5 PM Brussels time. Batching dates for 2026 are: 7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September, and 4 November.

Submission Model:Continuous with monthly batches

Type of Action:HORIZON EIC Accelerator with Lump Sum Grant

Who Can Apply

The EIC Accelerator is open to single start-ups and SMEs, including spin-offs and natural persons intending to launch a start-up or SME. In some cases, small mid-caps with fewer than 499 employees may be eligible. Applicants must be established within a Member State or Associated Country, or natural persons from Member States or Associated Countries intending to establish an SME in such countries by the time of signing the grant agreement or investment agreement.

Eligible Entities

• Single SMEs classified as small and medium-sized enterprises with fewer than 250 employees or annual turnover not exceeding €50 million
• Start-ups and spin-offs
• Small mid-caps with up to 499 employees for exceptional cases for rapid scale-up purposes
• Natural persons from Member States or Associated Countries intending to establish an SME
• Investors on behalf of eligible SMEs, provided prior agreement exists with the company
• Natural persons or legal entities from non-associated third countries intending to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or Associated Country

Eligible Countries

Applicants must be established in EU Member States, Overseas Countries and Territories linked to Member States, or Countries Associated with Horizon Europe. Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply but can only request and receive funding in the form of grant only. Entities from non-associated third countries are not eligible as beneficiaries, except in specific circumstances where they meet stated conditions.

Special Eligibility Restrictions

Legal entities established in China are not eligible to participate in Horizon Europe Innovation Actions. Entities assessed as high-risk suppliers of mobile network communication equipment are not eligible to participate. For the Critical Raw Materials Challenge specifically, legal entities directly or indirectly controlled by non-eligible third countries cannot participate in grant-only actions.

Funding Amounts and Conditions

Grant Component:The maximum grant amount for grant-only funding is €2,499,999. For blended finance applications only in exceptional cases, €2,500,000 or more may be requested as grant support. The grant is provided as a lump sum contribution to cover innovation activities at Technology Readiness Levels 6 to 8, to be completed within 24 months.

Investment Component:The EIC Fund can provide investment ranging from €1 million up to €10 million for scaling up and other activities. Investment safeguards may be included in investment agreements for projects in priority technology areas including advanced semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and biotechnologies.

Funding Types:Applicants can request grant only, equity only, or blended finance (combining grant and investment components).

Budget Overview:The indicative total budget for EIC Accelerator Open is €414 million. The indicative budget for EIC Accelerator Challenges is €220 million across five challenge topics.

EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026

In addition to the open call with no predefined thematic priorities, the EIC Accelerator offers five challenge-based funding tracks targeting specific technology areas of strategic importance to Europe.

• Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Systems
• Alternative Concepts and Key Enabling Technologies for Fusion Power Plants
• Biotech for Regenerating Agricultural Soils
• Boosting the European Critical Raw Materials value chain
• Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation

Application Process and Requirements

Short Proposal Stage (Stage 1)

The short proposal is the first and decisive step in the EIC Accelerator application process. Applicants must submit a maximum 12-page proposal addressing company description, innovation technology, market opportunity, team capability, and risk level. The short proposal includes three mandatory annexes: a video pitch of up to 3 minutes with up to 3 core team members, a pitch deck of up to 10 slides in PDF format, and a consent form for data sharing with National Contact Points.

Short Proposal Structure

• Company description including current team, governance, and decision-making processes
• Technology description addressing novelty, breakthrough nature, Technology Readiness Level achievement, and intellectual property protection strategy
• Market opportunity including total addressable market, go-to-market strategy, customer value proposition, partnerships, and customer identification
• Team capability detailing key team members, competencies, skills gaps, plans to fill gaps, and achievement of gender balance
• Risk level and leverage effect explaining investor traction, timing and size of future financing rounds, and rationale for EIC funding need
• Pitch deck and video materials demonstrating compelling narrative and team credibility

Full Proposal Stage (Stage 2)

Successful short proposals with GO recommendation advance to the full proposal stage. The full proposal expands on the short proposal in a maximum 20-page document and includes additional mandatory annexes: an updated pitch deck, video pitch, detailed lump sum budget breakdown, implementation plan, financial information, freedom to operate analysis, letters of intent, and links to key personnel CVs.

Key Technology Requirements

• Innovation must be deep tech in nature, stemming from cutting-edge scientific or technological advances
• Technology component must represent significant improvement in cost or performance compared to existing solutions
• Must have achieved Technology Readiness Level 5 (validated in relevant environment) at minimum
• Must demonstrate empirical data supporting novelty and market disruption potential
• Intellectual property protection must be adequate with clear strategy for market entry

Evaluation Process

Short Proposal Evaluation

Short proposals are evaluated remotely by four independent EIC expert evaluators with expertise in technology and market application. Each evaluator provides a GO or NO GO assessment. A proposal receives GO status if at least three evaluators vote GO. If two or more evaluators vote NO GO, the proposal is unsuccessful. Evaluation results are provided within approximately 4 to 6 weeks from the batching date. Successful applicants receive an evaluation summary report and are invited to submit a full proposal.

Full Proposal Evaluation

Full proposals are evaluated on a scoring system of 0 to 5 per criterion with minimum thresholds of 4 per criterion and 12 overall. Top-ranked proposals are invited to face-to-face interviews with the EIC Jury. The jury conducts interviews of 45 minutes maximum duration and makes final decisions by consensus, documented in an Evaluation Summary Report.

Evaluation Criteria

Excellence:Assessment of deep tech nature, novelty, disruptiveness, empirical evidence of innovation, and Technology Readiness Level achievement.

Impact:Evaluation of market opportunity, total addressable market size, realistic market share expectations, go-to-market strategy, customer value proposition, and contribution to European technological leadership or reduction of dependencies on other regions.

Level of Risk, Implementation and Need for Union Support:Assessment of team capability, skills and competencies, team governance, gender balance, investor traction, financing requirements, risk management plans, and justification for EIC funding necessity.

Post-Award Support and Services

Beyond financial support, the EIC Accelerator provides access to comprehensive Business Acceleration Services including coaching from EIC business coaches with entrepreneurial and investment backgrounds, access to a global network of partners including leading corporates and investors, expertise and training, and access to the EIC innovation ecosystem and peer networks. These services are tailored to support innovation development, commercialisation, and company scaling.

Additional Support Mechanisms

Fast Track Scheme

The Fast Track scheme allows proposals resulting from eligible Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020 projects to submit directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator, bypassing the short proposal stage. This scheme is managed by the funding body responsible for the existing project and applies to funding bodies listed in the work programme.

Plug-In Scheme

The Plug-In scheme applies to proposals resulting from existing national or regional programmes. Applicants from certified national and regional programmes may submit applications directly to the full application stage. Fifty programmes have been certified for the scheme.

Timeline and Indicative Dates

Short Proposal Evaluation Timeline:Results provided approximately 4 to 6 weeks from monthly batching date.

Grant Agreement Signature:Indicatively 8 months from submission deadline.

Monthly Batching Dates 2026:7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September, 4 November at 17:00 Brussels time.

Important Applicant Information

Registration Requirements

Before submitting an application, the main applicant must register on the Funding and Tenders Portal and obtain a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC). Pre-existing validated PICs can be reused. Natural persons must also obtain a PIC to start submission.

Submission Limitations

Applicants can submit only one proposal for evaluation to the Accelerator or STEP Scale Up call at any given time. No new proposal can be submitted until evaluation results for the first submission have been received. Concurrent submissions are identified and only the last submitted proposal before the deadline is deemed admissible. Entities currently participating in ongoing EIC Accelerator, EIC Accelerator Pilot, or SME Instrument projects cannot submit new proposals, except in specific circumstances outlined in the work programme.

Resubmission Policy

Applicants whose proposals are not selected may resubmit proposals. Limitations on the number of times proposals can be submitted are detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Documentation and Guidance

The EIC Work Programme 2026 provides detailed guidance on eligibility, evaluation criteria, and application requirements. An annotated template for the EIC Accelerator short proposal has been published by Access2EIC to support high-quality applications. The EIC Guide for Applicants provides comprehensive information on all aspects of the application and award process. National Contact Points provide country-specific guidance, and the Enterprise Europe Network offers SME-focused support.

Key Success Factors for Applicants

• Demonstrate deep tech innovation with clear cutting-edge scientific or technological foundation
• Provide empirical evidence of Technology Readiness Level 5 achievement with validation in relevant environment
• Present compelling market opportunity with realistic market share projections and clear customer identification
• Develop comprehensive go-to-market strategy with partnership strategy and customer value proposition
• Build strong team with complementary skills, including addressing gender balance and filling critical gaps
• Justify need for EIC funding by demonstrating investor traction and explaining why market actors cannot finance full requirement
• Develop risk management plan addressing technological, market, financial, and regulatory risks
• Secure adequate intellectual property protection with clear freedom to operate assessment
• Create engaging video and pitch deck that effectively communicates company vision and innovation potential

Contact and Support Resources

Applicants can access support through multiple channels including National Contact Points in each Member State and Associated Country providing guidance on participation, the Enterprise Europe Network offering SME-specific advice, the Funding and Tenders Portal Help Desk for technical questions, the European IPR Helpdesk for intellectual property issues, and the EIC website at [[https://eic.ec.europa.eu]] providing background information and practical guidance. Applications are submitted through the Funding and Tenders Portal at [[ec.europa.eu.