What is the EIC Accelerator?
The EIC Accelerator is a funding programme under Horizon Europe that offers support to start-ups and SMEs that:
- Develop high risk/high impact innovation
- Aim to create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
- Developed deep-tech- built on scientific discovery, radical thinking or technological breakthroughs.
- Reached TRL 6: Technology already validated in lab, ready to be demonstrated in a relevant/real/customer environment.
- Face challenges in attracting funding from private investors and requires de-risking.
Who can apply?
You can apply if you meet one of the following eligibility conditions:
- You are legally registered Israeli company that meets the EU definition of a Small-Medium Enterprise (SME) or a small mid-cap of up to 499 employees (mid-caps can only apply for commercialization and market deployment activities and are not eligible for grant only funding), legally registered in Israel or Europe.- You are an entrepreneur(s) who plans to incorporate an SME in Israel or EU member state or associated country.
- You are intending to invest in an eligible SME or a small mid-cap (if selected for funding, the contract will be signed with the eligible company).
Funding
The funding offered is divided into two components:
- Grant: Non-dilutive, up to €2.5 million, for innovation activities (TRL 6-8)
- Direct equity investment: Dilutive, up to €10 million, mainly for market deployment and scale-up (may also be used for R&D activities)
- Blended finance: A mix of a non-dilutive grant for innovation activities (TRL 6-8) and dilutive equity for market deployment (TRL 9).
- Grant only: If you can prove sufficient financial means (e.g., revenue, investors, shareholders) to fund and scale your innovation.
How to apply for the EIC Accelerator?
- Step 1 Short proposal
Open for submission year-round and contains the following submittal items:
- 12-page proposal in a structured template form of 7 questions about your innovation, potential market and team
- 10-slide pitch-deck in a PDF format
- 3-minute video pitch featuring up to 3 core team members, presenting the company and its technology
Evaluation: GO/NO GO feedback will be provided within approximately 6 weeks by 4 independent remote evaluators. If you receive at least 3 GOs out of 4, you will be invited to submit a full proposal.
- Step 2 Full proposal
Six cut offs a year: 7/01/2026; 04/03/2026; 06/05/2026; 08/07/2026; 02/09/2026; 04/11/2026, only for applicants who received a go in step 1.
- 20-page proposal and annexes in a structured template form
- 10-minute long pitch-deck in a PDF format (can be more than 10 slides)
- An up to 3-minute-long video pitch featuring up to 3 core team members, presenting the motivation for your proposal (you can use the same one as in Step 1 or upgrade it).
Evaluation: Proposals are evaluated in two parallel steps: a technology expert reviews the proposal and holds a one-hour online interview, while a panel of independent experts scores it (up to 15 points). A final score is then issued, and applicants usually receive the result within 8–9 weeks of the submission deadline.
- Step 3 Pitch and interview: Applicants who successfully passed Step 2 will be invited to face-to-face interviews in Brussels with an EIC jury as the final step in the selection process.