Apply Now: EIC Accelerator 2026 – Grants Up to €2.5M and Equity Up to €10M for Deep-Tech Startups

Applications are now open for the EIC Accelerator 2026, one of Europe’s most competitive funding programmes supporting breakthrough innovations and high-risk deep-tech ventures. Managed under Horizon Europe, the EIC Accelerator provides substantial grant financing, equity investment, and tailored business support to help startups scale their technologies from TRL 6–8 toward full market entry.

This programme is ideal for deep-tech startups, research-driven companies, and innovators developing transformative solutions with the potential to disrupt or create new markets across Europe.

Funding for EIC Accelerator 2026

The EIC Accelerator provides a powerful blend of financial instruments designed for high-risk, high-impact technologies.

1. Grant Funding

• Up to €2.5 million lump-sum grant

• For innovation activities at TRL 6–8

• Must be completed within 24 months

• Grant-only option available once per company under Horizon Europe

2. Equity Investment

• €1–10 million direct equity or quasi-equity

• Higher amounts possible through the STEP ScaleUP mechanism

• Designed to de-risk ventures until they are attractive to private investors

• Available for SMEs, founders forming an SME, and small mid-caps (equity only)

3. Blended Finance

• Combination of grant + equity

• Flexible investment structure to support both innovation and scale-up stages

4. Business Acceleration Services (BAS)

Beneficiaries gain access to:

• Global corporate partners

• Coaches, mentors, and technical experts

• Investor networks

• Peer learning opportunities

• European innovation ecosystem connections

2026 Full Proposal Deadlines

Full proposals must be submitted by 17:00 Brussels time on the following batching dates:

• 7 January 2026

• 4 March 2026

• 6 May 2026

• 8 July 2026

• 2 September 2026

• 4 November 2026

Short proposals may be submitted at any time and are evaluated monthly.

Who Can Apply?

The EIC Accelerator welcomes applications from a broad group of innovators across the EU and Horizon Europe associated countries.

Eligible applicants include:

• Single startups and SMEs, including spin-outs

• Small mid-caps (up to 499 employees) applying for equity only

• Individuals planning to establish an SME or mid-cap

• Applicants from third countries willing to relocate before submitting the full proposal

Additional rules:

• UK applicants: Eligible only for the grant-only scheme

• Applicants may submit one proposal at a time

• EIC strongly encourages applications from founders with diverse backgrounds, including women-led startups

What the EIC Accelerator Supports

The programme funds projects with:

• Highly innovative, game-changing technologies

• Strong commercial potential and scale-up ambitions

• High-risk profiles where private investors alone are unlikely to fund

• Capacity to create or transform markets at European or global scale

Deep-tech domains include:

• Advanced materials

• Artificial intelligence and machine learning

• Robotics

• Biotech and life sciences

• Climate tech and clean technologies

• Industrial technologies and hard-tech innovations

How to Apply

The application process consists of four detailed stages:

Step 1: Short Proposal

Can be submitted at any time.

Includes:

• A 12-page application form

• Pitch deck (up to 10 slides)

• Three-minute video featuring key team members

Applications are evaluated remotely by four EIC experts. Successful proposals receive a “GO” and are invited to submit a full proposal.

Step 2: Full Proposal

Submitted on one of the official batching dates.

Requires:

• A 20-page detailed proposal

• Updated pitch deck

• Implementation and financial plan

• Letters of intent (LOIs)

• Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analysis

• Three-minute video

Proposals undergo both technological and panel evaluations, followed by a remote interview with the technology expert.

Top-ranked proposals (2.5x the available grant budget) proceed to the jury interview.

Step 3: Jury Interview

Finalists present their innovation to an EIC Jury.
Results are issued within two to three weeks.

Step 4: Grant Agreement and Due Diligence

• Grant-only: Grant agreement is signed and pre-financing begins

• Blended finance: Equity due diligence begins through the EIC Fund

• Decisions on the investment component take two to six months

Projects that meet the evaluation threshold but are not funded may receive the Seal of Excellence, enabling access to other funding sources.

EIC Accelerator Challenges and Open Calls

The EIC Accelerator offers two funding strands:

EIC Accelerator Challenges (2026 budget: €220M)

For technologies aligned with predefined strategic topics.

EIC Accelerator Open (2026 budget: €414M)

Open to innovations in any field and technology area.

Fast Track and Plug-In Submissions

Two alternative pathways exist for projects originating from:

• Horizon 2020 / Horizon Europe projects (Fast Track)

• National or regional programmes certified by EIC (Plug-In)

Both enable submission directly at the full proposal stage, subject to review.

To know more about such opportunities, click here.