Up to €2.5 million as a grant
Horizon 2020´s EIC Accelerator is a European Commission programme for the most innovative SMEs.
The aim of the EIC Accelerator is to transform disruptive ideas into concrete, innovative solutions with a European and global impact.
Funding options:
Grant only
For companies that need financial support only to finalize innovation activities and that secured funding for the commercialization stage.
Grant + Equity
For companies that need financial support for both: to finalise the innovation activities and for the commercialization stage.
Equity + Grant
For already funded SMEI projects which need support for the commercialization stage.
Requirements
- Company may employ up to 250 people with a maximum annual turnover of € 50 million.
- A company may apply alone or participate in a consortium with business partners.
- The full definition of SME provided by the European Commission is available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/conferences/state-aid/sme/smedefinitionguide_en.pdf
Disruptive innovation changes the rules of existing markets or creates new ones.
The project should solve a particular problem and there should be a real market demand for the solution.
Technology readiness levels are used to describe the maturity of technological solutions.
TRL 6 means that the technology has been demonstrated in an operational environment. There should be a working prototype that has been successfully tested.
Your should demonstrate that you’ve been unable to leverage sufficient investment from the market due to the high risk of your project.
As long as you’ve been deemed ‘non-bankable’ by the market in view of your project you can apply for funding, whether you are a start-up or a company with 20 years of experience.
2014-2019 SME Instrument Phase 2
2019-2020 EIC Accelerator Pilot
Funding
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Pilot (SME Instrument) offers funding in the form of a grant or blended finance (a mix of grant and equity investment)
GRANT
funding up to
2,5 M€ per project
- 70% funding as a grant
- Demonstration activities: testing, prototyping, design, scaling-up, miniaturization and pilot actions
- Preparation for commercialization
- Communication activities
- TRL 6 – TRL 8 activities
EQUITY
funding up to
15 M€ per project
- No specific timing
- Equity funding
- Preparation for market introduction
- Commercialization
- TRL 9 activities
BUSINESS ACCELERATION
No funding per project
- Time adjusted individually
- No direct funding
- Support is provided through assistance in accessing to venture capital and other EU financial instruments and innovation support
- Free business coaching
- Participation in events
We´re happy to help, just send an email to hello@getzafiro.com, and we will get back to you shortly.
Deadlines 2020
2020
8th of January 2020
18th of March 2020
19th of May 2020
7th of October 2020