EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator sits under the European Innovation Council and serves start-ups and SMEs, including spin-outs, that are pushing deep-tech toward market leadership. It combines non-dilutive grant support with an equity investment route, and it also allows natural persons who intend to establish an SME or mid-cap. The program is open to applicants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries, with a separate grant-only route for UK applicants and a relocation requirement for third-country applicants before Step 2. The grant component reaches up to €2.5 million, while the investment component runs from €1 million to €10 million. The 2026 Open track carries €414 million and the Challenges track €220 million across five thematic topics. Applications move through a four-step process: a short proposal submitted on a rolling basis, a full proposal with six annual cut-offs, an EIC Jury interview, and then due diligence and grant agreement work for successful applicants. The program rewards companies that can already show traction and a credible route through technical and commercial risk. Its strongest fit is a deep-tech team that needs a large capital stack, can handle a staged review process, and wants EIC business acceleration support alongside funding. That combination makes the Accelerator most relevant when the company is ready to scale, not when the technology is still at a laboratory stage.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.