EIC Accelerator 2025 - Short application

The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-ups) to scale up high-impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It provides a unique combination of funding from EUR 0.5 to EUR 12.5 million and Business Acceleration Services, focusing on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs ('deep tech').

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Agency	HORIZON (EU)
Region	EU
Country	N/A
Legal form	Company, Private person
Start date	28 Oct 2024
End date	17 Dec 2025
Max funding	EUR 0.5 to EUR 12.5 million
Coverage	Combination of grant funding and equity investment

Grant application conditions

Eligible Applicants	Single company classified as an SME, established within a Member State or an Associated Country. Single company classified as a small mid-cap (up to 499 employees) for exceptional rapid scale-up purposes. Natural persons or legal entities intending to establish an SME or small mid-cap in a Member State or Associated Country by the time of signing the grant agreement. Applicants from non-associated third countries intending to establish or relocate an SME to a Member State or Associated Country.
Technology Readiness Level	At least Technology Readiness Level 5 (tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment).
Submission Limits	Limitations on the number of times a proposal can be submitted, as described in the EIC Work Programme 2025.
Cut-off Dates	March 12, 2025 October 1, 2025
Eligible Countries	Applicants from Member States or Associated Countries. Applicants from the United Kingdom can apply but can only request and receive funding in the form of 'grant only'.
Documentation	https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-EIC-2025-ACCELERATOR-01

Evaluation criteria

Business exclusions

Application process

Short proposals can be submitted at any time starting from October 29, 2024.

Short applications are batched and evaluated the first Tuesday of every month. Applicants are informed within 4-6 weeks of the evaluation result.

Successful short proposals can proceed to full proposal submission, with optional coaching support provided by EIC Business Acceleration Services.

Full proposals are evaluated remotely and, if successful, applicants are invited to an interview with an EIC Jury.

Application requirements