EIC Accelerator 2026 - Short proposal

The EIC Accelerator 2026 Short Proposal is an initiative under the Horizon Europe program designed to support high-impact innovations primarily from SMEs and start-ups in scaling up technologies that have the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. Applicants must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being a single SME or small mid-cap company established in an EU Member State or Associated Country, with special provisions for entrepreneurs and entities intending to establish or invest in such companies. Companies from non-associated third countries can apply if they prove effective establishment in an eligible area by the time of full proposal submission.

This funding opportunity primarily utilizes lump sum grant funding, offering a fixed amount upon successful implementation of the project, along with potential investment funding and Business Acceleration Services that facilitate market development. The program focuses on deep tech innovations that have already achieved a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 5, indicating they have been tested and validated in laboratory settings.

A distinctive feature of the EIC Accelerator is its continuous submission model, allowing applicants to submit their proposals at any time until a deadline of December 17, 2026. The application process consists of two stages: an initial short proposal followed by a full proposal for shortlisted candidates. This flexibility enables applicants to refine their requests between stages.

The geographic scope includes EU Member States and Associated Countries, explicitly mentioning the UK, although UK entities can only seek grant funding without equity investment. The call does not provide specific funding amounts; however, historical context suggests significant funding typical for high-potential projects.

The EIC Accelerator aims to bridge financing gaps for ventures requiring substantial investments over extended periods, thus catalyzing further investment through its support mechanisms. The continuous call and two-stage process is structured to ensure careful selection and resource allocation for transformative technologies, making it a significant program for deep-tech entrepreneurs aiming to scale their innovations.

The EIC Accelerator 2026 Short Proposal, under the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) program, aims to support companies, primarily SMEs and start-ups, in scaling up high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. This initiative provides a combination of grant and investment funding along with Business Acceleration Services, as detailed in Section VII of the EIC Work Programme 2026. The focus is particularly on innovations rooted in scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs, often referred to as deep tech, requiring significant funding over extended periods before generating returns, known as patient capital. These innovations often face challenges in attracting financing due to inherent risks and lengthy timelines. The EIC Accelerator seeks to address this by offering funding and support to enable innovators to secure necessary investments for scaling up within a shorter timeframe.

The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development and scale-up. The technology component of the innovation must have undergone testing and validation in a laboratory and relevant environments, achieving at least Technology Readiness Level 5. The EIC aims to catalyze further investment by attracting additional investors for the innovation's scale-up.

Applicants can submit proposals through two avenues: EIC Accelerator Open, which has no predefined thematic priorities and welcomes proposals from any technology or application field, and EIC Accelerator Challenges, which focuses on predefined areas of emerging and strategic technologies. Further details can be found in the EIC Work Programme 2026.

The submission session for HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01 became available on November 7, 2025.

To be eligible, applicants must be one of the following: 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 (in exceptional cases for rapid scale-up), or one or more natural persons 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. Alternatively, entities intending to invest in an SME or small mid-cap in a Member State or Associated Country may apply on behalf of that company, provided a prior agreement exists. Companies from non-associated third countries intending to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or Associated Country must prove effective establishment at the time of full proposal submission.

Standard admissibility and eligibility conditions are detailed in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. There are limitations on the number of submissions, as described in the Application submission limits section of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Participants in eligible Horizon Europe or Horizon 2020 projects may apply through the Fast Track scheme (Annex 3 of the EIC Work Programme 2026), managed by the funding body responsible for the existing project. Applicants with projects financed by eligible programs managed by a Member State or Associated Country may apply under the pilot Plug-in scheme, detailed in Annex 4 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Annex 2(B. Eligibility) of the EIC Work Programme 2026 describes 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 2026 provide further details on eligibility and financial capacity.

Evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, and the indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreements are described in Section IV of the EIC Work Programme 2026. The legal and financial setup of the grants is described in Annex G of the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes. Specific conditions are detailed in Section IV.1, Section IV.2.3, and Section IV.2.4 of the EIC Work Programme 2026.

Call documents include the EIC Work Programme 2026, application form templates (available in the Submission System), the standard application form (HE EIC Accelerator stage 1 - short proposal), the HE Programme Guide, Model Grant Agreements (MGA) including the Lump Sum MGA, call-specific instructions, a detailed budget table (HE LS), information on clinical studies (HE), and guidance on Lump sums. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes, the EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046, Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment, the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The budget for the HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01 topic in 2026 is not specified, but the opening date is November 6, 2025, and the deadline is December 17, 2026.

There are five partner search announcements available. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.

To start the submission process, applicants must access the Electronic Submission Service and select the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement. The choice must be confirmed, as it cannot be changed later in the submission system.

Applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. The Online Manual provides guidance on procedures from proposal submission to grant management. The Horizon Europe Programme Guide offers detailed guidance on the structure, budget, and political priorities of Horizon Europe. The Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ answers frequently asked questions on submission, evaluation, and grant management. The Research Enquiry Service can answer questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes. National Contact Points (NCPs) provide guidance and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. The Enterprise Europe Network offers advice to businesses, especially SMEs, on EU research funding. The IT Helpdesk addresses technical questions related to the Funding & Tenders Portal. The European IPR Helpdesk assists with intellectual property issues. CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks advise on standardization in project proposals. The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment outline the roles, responsibilities, and entitlements of researchers. Partner Search helps find partner organizations for proposals.

In summary, the EIC Accelerator 2026 is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program designed to help SMEs and start-ups scale up their high-impact, deep-tech innovations. It offers a blend of grant funding, investment, and business acceleration services. To be eligible, companies must be based in a Member State or Associated Country, or demonstrate a plan to establish themselves there. The program supports innovations that have already reached a Technology Readiness Level of 5 or higher, and it aims to attract additional investors to facilitate the scaling-up process. The application process involves submitting a short proposal, and successful applicants can receive funding through either the EIC Accelerator Open or EIC Accelerator Challenges tracks. The program provides extensive support and guidance through various resources, including online manuals, helpdesks, and national contact points.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are primarily SMEs, including start-ups, and exceptionally small mid-caps (up to 499 employees). Natural persons (including individual entrepreneurs) or legal entities from a Member State or an Associated Country intending to establish an SME or small mid-cap are also eligible. Additionally, entities intending to invest in an SME or small mid-cap established in a Member State or an Associated Country can apply, provided a prior agreement exists with the company. Companies from non-associated third countries intending to establish or relocate an existing SME to a Member State or an Associated Country are also eligible, but they must prove effective establishment at the time of full proposal submission.

Funding Type: The EIC Accelerator provides a combination of grant and investment funding, along with Business Acceleration Services. The funding is provided through HORIZON Lump Sum Grants.

Consortium Requirement: The opportunity is primarily aimed at single applicants, specifically SMEs or small mid-caps. However, one or more natural persons or legal entities can apply with the intention of establishing an SME or small mid-cap.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes Member States and Associated Countries as defined in Annex 2 of the EIC Work Programme 2026. Applicants from non-associated third countries are also eligible if they intend to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or an Associated Country. The United Kingdom is mentioned as eligible, but can only receive grant funding.

Target Sector: The program targets high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones, particularly focusing on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’). It is open to proposals in any field of technology or application, as well as predefined areas of emerging and strategic technologies (EIC Accelerator Challenges).

Mentioned Countries: United Kingdom, Member States of the EU, Associated 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, with a Technology Readiness Level of at least 5 completed.

Funding Amount: The specific funding range is not explicitly stated in the provided text.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a continuous deadline model. Applicants can submit proposals through EIC Accelerator Open or EIC Accelerator Challenges.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants and potentially investment funding. They will also receive non-monetary services through Business Acceleration Services.

Application Stages: The number of application stages is not explicitly detailed in the provided text, but it mentions a "short proposal" (stage 1), implying at least two stages.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The provided text does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: The EIC Accelerator 2026 is a funding opportunity under the Horizon Europe program designed to support SMEs and start-ups with high-impact, deep-tech innovations that have the potential to scale up and disrupt existing markets or create new ones. It offers a unique combination of grant funding, investment opportunities, and business acceleration services. Eligible applicants include SMEs, small mid-caps, and entities intending to establish or invest in such companies within Member States or Associated Countries. The program is open to various technology fields, with specific challenges also addressed. The application process involves submitting a short proposal, and the funding is provided as a lump sum grant. This initiative aims to bridge the funding gap for innovations requiring long-term investment and to catalyze further investment for scaling up. The opening date for submissions is November 6, 2025, and the deadline is December 17, 2026.