The EIC Accelerator supports individual Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), in particular Startups and spinout companies to develop and scaleup game-changing innovations. In some cases small mid-caps (up to 500 employees) are supported.
The EIC Accelerator provides substantial financial support with:
- grant funding (non-dilutive) of up to €2.5 million for innovation development costs,
- investments (direct equity investments) of up to €15 million managed by the EIC FundSearch for available translations of the preceding for scale up and other relevant costs.
In addition, EIC selected companies receive coaching, mentoring, access to investors and corporates, and many other opportunities as part of the EIC community.
The EIC welcomes applications from innovators in all EU Member States and countries associated to the Horizon EuropeSearch for available translations of the preceding programme. It particularly welcomes applications from startups and SMEs with female CEOs.
Funding opportunities
You can apply for EIC Accelerator funding at any time through the EIC platform. You will need a video pitch, a slide deck and respond to a short set of questions about your innovation and your team.
You will normally receive feedback within 4 weeks. If your application meets the basic criteria for EIC Accelerator funding, you will be invited to prepare a full application to submit to one of the periodic cut-off dates for Accelerator Open or Accelerator Challenge funding.
EIC Accelerator challenge funding targets breakthrough innovations with major impacts on:
- Strategic Digital and Health technologies
- Green Deal innovations for the economic recovery
The cut-off dates for 2021 (for both Accelerator Open and Accelerator challenges) are:
- Wednesday 16 June, 2021
- Wednesday 6 October, 2021
