EIC Accelerator
Up to €2.5 million as a grant
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:
Requirements
- A small or medium company, may employ up to 250 people with a maximum annual turnover of € 50 million.
- A small mid-cap company, may employ up to 500 people – eligible for equity only.
- 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.
2021-2027 EIC Accelerator
Funding
The European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator offers funding in the form of a grant or blended finance (a mix of grant and equity investment)
GRANT funding up to
2,5M€per project
- Up to 24 months
- 70% funding as a grant
- Demonstration activities: testing, prototyping, design, scaling-up, miniaturization and pilot actions.
- Preparation for commercialisation.
- Communication activities.
- TRL 6 - TRL 8 activities
EQUITY funding up to
15M€per project
- No specific timing
- Equity funding
- Preparation for market introduction.
- Commercialisation.
- TRL 9 activities
BUSINESS ACCELERATION
no fundingper 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