EIC Accelerator: grant plus equity to scale deep tech.
The EU's flagship deep-tech instrument backs single startups and SMEs with a non-dilutive grant and a direct equity investment, taking a breakthrough from prototype to market.
Europe’s flagship deep-tech accelerator
The EIC Accelerator sits inside Horizon Europe and is run by the European Innovation Council. Unlike most EU calls it funds single companies, startups and SMEs, not consortia.
It uniquely combines a grant for innovation work with a direct equity investment from the EIC Fund, so you can develop and scale on one instrument. See who qualifies further down.
Three funding modalities
You choose the mix that matches where you are, pure grant, pure equity, or the popular blend of both.
Blended finance
Grant up to €2.5m for TRL 6–8 plus equity up to €10m for market deployment.
Grant only
The grant alone, when you can finance commercialisation yourself.
Equity only
Direct EIC Fund investment for companies ready to scale, €15M+ via STEP.
Built for single deep-tech companies
No consortium required, but the bar on novelty, risk and maturity is high.
Established in an EU Member State or a Horizon Europe associated country. Small mid-caps (<500 staff) may apply for the equity component.
Deep tech with strong market-creating potential and a credible strategy to scale.
Validated in a relevant environment, ready for demonstration and final development.
For grant-only you must show the resources to launch and scale the innovation.
| Component | What it covers | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Grant | Innovation activities TRL 6–8, 70% of eligible costs (+25% indirect) | up to €2.5M |
| Equity | Market deployment & scale-up (TRL 9) via the EIC Fund | up to €10M |
| STEP Scale-Up | Strategic European tech, larger equity ticket | up to €30M+ |
2025/2026 EIC Work Programme. The Accelerator is highly competitive, only a small share of applicants are funded, so positioning and proposal quality are decisive.
From prototype to market, and the support around it
The grant covers the work that gets a deep-tech product to market; the equity carries it to scale.
Prototyping, testing and validation, piloting, certification and trials, and preparation for commercialisation.
Scaling and market entry, financed through the equity component from the EIC Fund.
Coaching, investor days and access to the EIC network of corporates and investors, free for beneficiaries.
The EIC backs close-to-market deep tech, early-stage lab work belongs in EIC Pathfinder or Horizon RIAs.
Open, Challenges and a faster three-stage process
The 2026 work programme adds more cut-offs and a shorter, more technical evaluation.
Any field
Breakthrough innovation in any technology or sector.
5 strategic areas
Advanced materials, fusion power, biotech, critical raw materials and climate adaptation.
Short → full → jury
Short proposal any time; full proposal (max 20 pages) at a cut-off, then technical and jury interviews.
2026 full-proposal cut-offs: 7 Jan · 4 Mar · 6 May · 8 Jul · 2 Sep · 4 Nov. Budget ≈ €414M; minimum equity ticket €1M. Open to the EU and Horizon Europe associated countries. Source: EIC Work Programme 2026.
Blended finance: grant plus equity
The EIC Accelerator is the rare instrument that pairs a sizeable non-dilutive grant with growth capital.
up to €2.5M
Covers up to 70% of the eligible innovation activities, non-dilutive.
€0.5M–€15M
A direct investment through the EIC Fund, higher in strategic cases, to scale beyond the grant.
Grant or blended
Take the grant alone, or blend it with equity when the plan needs scale-up capital.
What it takes to win
The EIC funds breakthrough companies, and it judges them on three things across a three-stage route.
A genuine technological breakthrough with high novelty and real, demonstrable risk.
A large addressable market and the potential to scale across Europe and beyond.
A team and a plan credible enough to deliver the technology to market.
A short application, then a full application, then a jury interview, each a real hurdle.
See if the EIC Accelerator fits
Tell us about your project. A funding advisor reviews your case by hand, then either comes back with feedback or a few follow-up questions. No obligation.
- Whether the EIC Accelerator is the right fit
- A first read on the funding amount
- What to prepare before you apply
From first call to funding
Four steps. You stay focused on the work; we handle the funding end to end, on a success-based fee.
Eligibility check
We review your project against the programme's criteria, confirm it qualifies and give you a realistic figure before you commit any time.
Application
You tell us what you are working on; we build the application, write the technical case and manage the entire submission for you.
Submission & review
We file with the responsible authority in your name and handle every query through to the funding decision.
Funding
Once approved, we prepare the required reporting so the funding is released to you, accurately documented and on time.
EIC Accelerator in practice
Real projects we have taken through EIC Accelerator, from first scoping to the funding decision. Anonymised, figures as orders of magnitude.
Industries we fund
We've secured German and EU funding across the innovation economy. If you're doing genuine development, your field almost certainly fits.
the EIC Accelerator guides
Long-form explainers from our knowledge hub, for teams who want the detail before they talk to us.
Grant vs blended vs equity
Which EIC modality fits your stage and cap table.
Read more →GuideHow the EIC jury scores you
What the interview panel rewards, and what sinks applications.
Read more →GuideTRL 6, are you ready?
Reading your technology readiness the way the EIC does.
Read more →GuideWriting a winning short proposal
The pitch, the video and the form that earn a GO.
Read more →GuideGrant vs blended vs equity
Which EIC modality fits your stage and cap table.
Read more →GuideHow the EIC jury scores you
What the interview panel rewards, and what sinks applications.
Read more →GuideTRL 6, are you ready?
Reading your technology readiness the way the EIC does.
Read more →GuideWriting a winning short proposal
The pitch, the video and the form that earn a GO.
Read more →the EIC Accelerator questions, answered
The essentials on who qualifies, what is covered and how much.
Single startups and SMEs (and small mid-caps for the equity part) in the EU or a Horizon Europe associated country, no consortium needed.
Up to €2.5m grant (70% of eligible costs) plus up to €10m equity. Blended finance is the most common route.
Generally TRL 6 and above, your technology validated in a relevant environment.
Very. Only a small share of applicants succeed, so a sharp, well-positioned proposal is essential.
Nothing upfront, our fee is success-based and only due once funding is secured.
Ask us anything
Tell us about your project and we'll assess your case by hand. No prep, no obligation. Prefer to talk?