EIC Accelerator
Open-call snapshot checked 2026-04-18
The EIC Accelerator is the European Innovation Council's flagship scheme for single startups and small companies. It offers blended finance: a grant of up to €2.5 million plus optional equity investment, for high-risk, high-impact innovations.
What the EIC Accelerator funds
The EIC Accelerator sits inside Horizon Europe's Innovative Europe pillar. Unlike most Horizon Europe calls, it funds a single company rather than a consortium. It targets startups and SMEs with a breakthrough product or technology that is too risky for private investors alone but has clear potential to create or reshape a market.
Funding is blended: a grant covers innovation activities up to market readiness, and an optional equity investment through the EIC Fund supports scale-up and deployment.
Who is eligible
Applicants must be a for-profit SME — including startups — or, in some cases, a small mid-cap, established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country. The company should own or control the innovation and be able to scale it.
Reviewers look for a technology that has moved beyond the lab — a demonstrated prototype or pilot — together with a credible commercialisation plan and a team able to execute it.
How competitive it is
The EIC Accelerator is one of the most competitive instruments in EU funding. Applications move through a short written proposal, a full application, and a live interview with a jury. Success rates at the final stage are low, and most funded companies have a sharp, well-evidenced case rather than a broad one.
Because the bar is high and the format is specific, most successful applicants work with an advisor who has been through the process and knows how the jury reads a pitch.
Open EIC Accelerator calls
These EIC Accelerator calls are open in the current index snapshot, soonest deadline first. fundingme.eu tracks the EU Funding & Tenders Portal continuously — run a free match to see everything open today and how your company fits.
Frequently asked questions
How much money does the EIC Accelerator give?
The grant component is typically up to around €2.5 million for innovation activities. The optional equity investment is a separate, usually larger ticket made through the EIC Fund to support scaling. The exact split is negotiated per company.
Do I have to take the equity investment?
No. A company can apply for grant-only support, equity-only support, or blended finance. Many applicants take the grant and treat the equity as optional follow-on capital.
Can a company outside the EU apply?
The company must be established in an EU member state or a country associated to Horizon Europe. A non-EU founder can still apply if the operating company is set up in an eligible country.