Grant only
A grant below €2.5M for innovation work at technology readiness levels 6 to 8. Grant funding does not take shares in the company.
2026 programme
From first assessment to funding decision.
The EIC Accelerator is Europe’s largest deep-tech fund. It offers grants below €2.5M and equity investment of up to €10M to help companies move from proven technology to global scale.
- < €2.5M
- Grant
- €0.5M–€10M
- Equity investment
- TRL 6–8
- Innovation work
Technology readiness level, or TRL, is a 1 to 9 scale for how close a technology is to real-world use.
Five decisions. One coherent case.
Each stage earns the right to move to the next. We keep the evidence, proposal, deck, and interview aligned from the start.
Test the case
We test eligibility, evidence, technology readiness, IP, and the commercial case before the application consumes your team. If the case is not ready, we say so.
Submit the short proposal
The short proposal establishes the breakthrough, the market, and why EIC funding is needed. Short proposals can be submitted at any time and are grouped into monthly evaluation batches.
Build the full proposal
A successful short proposal opens the full application. We shape the technical evidence, market case, implementation plan, financial information, and supporting documents into one precise argument.
Prepare for the jury
Top-ranked full proposals are invited to pitch to an EIC jury. We prepare the team for the questions that test the technology, market, risk, financing need, and ability to execute.
Move into funding
Selected companies sign the grant agreement and, where relevant, begin investment checks with the EIC Fund. We keep the grant, equity, and European market plan connected.
Remaining 2026 batches
Two full-proposal dates remain.
Three ways the funding can land.
The right structure depends on the work, the company, and how much private capital can support the next stage.
Blended finance
The grant combined with an EIC equity investment. The investment can range from €0.5M to €10M in exchange for shares.
Equity only
An EIC investment of up to €10M for companies that need patient capital to scale, without the grant component.
Know whether the case is ready.
Start with a candid assessment. If the evidence is weak, we will tell you before you spend months applying.