EIC Accelerator 2025 - Short application
Funds deep-tech SMEs and start-ups scaling breakthrough innovations, combining EUR 0.5-12.5 million of funding with business coaching and investor support.
This is the short-application first stage of the EIC Accelerator: applications can be submitted at any time and are batched for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month, with feedback in 4-6 weeks. Successful short applicants get optional coaching before submitting a full proposal at one of the year's cut-off dates, and can apply for a mix of grant funding and equity investment worth EUR 0.5 …
This call wants companies — mainly SMEs and start-ups — with deep-tech innovations built on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs that have already been tested at least at Technology Readiness Level 5. It wants innovations that struggle to attract private finance because of high risk and long timeframes, where EIC support can act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors for scale-up.
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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.
Start hereTRL Levels Explained for Deeptech Founders
Learn what TRL levels mean, how to estimate technology readiness, and how TRL affects grants, EIC Accelerator, SBIR/STTR, funding stage, and application evidence.
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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