European Innovation Council
EIC Accelerator
Up to €2.5M grant + €15M equity for deep-tech startups and SMEs scaling market-creating innovations.
About the EIC Accelerator
The EIC Accelerator supports high-risk, high-impact deep-tech startups and SMEs developing market-creating innovations. It offers a unique blended finance model: grants up to €2.5 million for innovation activities plus equity investments up to €15 million through the EIC Fund. Applicants must be based in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country. The evaluation process is multi-stage: a short application (the "Short Application"), followed by a full proposal, remote evaluation, and finally an interview with a jury of entrepreneurs, investors, and technical experts. Success rates are low (typically under 5%). The scheme is specifically for technologies with significant time-to-market risk, high capital needs, and breakthrough potential — not for incremental innovation or consumer SaaS. Priority is given to deep-tech and strategic technologies (AI, biotech, clean energy, quantum, etc.).
Key facts
- Instrument
- Grant + equity (blended)
- Max grant
- €2.5M
- Max equity
- €15M
- TRL required
- 5 or above
- Stages
- Short app → full proposal → jury interview
- Success rate
- Under 5%
Who is eligible?
- •SME or startup registered in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe associated country
- •Developing a market-creating innovation with significant EU and global impact
- •Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or above at the start of the project
- •Able to commercialise within 3-5 years of grant
Frequently asked questions
+Is the EIC Accelerator only for startups?
No. SMEs (up to 250 employees, up to €50M turnover) and startups are both eligible. In practice, successful applicants are typically early-stage deep-tech startups with clear commercialisation plans.
+Do I have to take the equity component?
No. Applicants can request grant-only funding. However, the equity-plus-grant option is strongly encouraged for capital-intensive projects, and some strategic technology calls prioritise blended applications.
+How strict is the "market-creating" requirement?
Very strict. Evaluators specifically look for innovations that create new markets or significantly disrupt existing ones — not incremental improvements. Consumer apps, me-too products, and incremental optimisations are typically rejected quickly.
+How long is the full process?
From Short Application submission to contract signing typically takes 6–9 months if successful through all stages. Failed applicants can reapply, though repeated rejections limit future tries.
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