EIC Accelerator Challenges
Funds strategic deep-tech challenge projects in materials, energy, biotechnology, and climate innovation.
EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026 provides the same blended grant and equity package as EIC Accelerator Open — up to €2.5 million non-dilutive grant plus €1–10 million equity investment per company — but restricts applications to five strategic challenge topics defined in the 2026 EIC Work Programme. The total 2026 budget for the Challenges track is €220 million, with individual challenge budgets ra…
Five strategic challenge topics: Advanced Materials for Renewable Energy, Fusion Power Plant technologies, Biotech for Agricultural Soils, Critical Raw Materials supply chains, and Deep Tech for Climate Adaptation.
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Guides for this application
All guides →EIC Accelerator for Deeptech Startups
A founder guide to EIC Accelerator for deeptech startups, including fit, TRL, grant and investment logic, interview readiness, and EU commercialization.
Where to applyHorizon Europe Grants for Startups: A Founder Guide
A practical guide to Horizon Europe grants for startups, including EIC, consortia, eligibility, Funding & Tenders, TRL, budgets, and EU strategy.
Where to applyGrants for Biotech Startups: NIH, NSF, SBIR/STTR, and Non-Dilutive Funding
A practical guide to grants for biotech startups, including NIH SBIR/STTR, NSF, translational funding, evidence, regulatory readiness, and budgets.
DocumentsGrant Work Plan Template: Work Packages, Gantt, Milestones, and Risks
Use this grant work plan template to structure work packages, tasks, owners, deliverables, Gantt timing, dependencies, and risk registers.
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Supports scaling advanced materials for EU strategic autonomy in energy generation and storage.
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