EIC Accelerator 2025: What will change for start-ups and SMEs?

With the EIC Accelerator, the EU has launched a funding program through the European Innovation Council (EIC) that is aimed at the top companies of tomorrow. In particular, it supports start-ups and SMEs that have developed high-risk but market-changing cutting-edge technologies and now want to establish them on the international market. Successful applicants receive a non-repayable grant of up to €2.5 million and up to €10 million in equity capital to take their company to the next level.

Attractive funding and equity capital for disruptive startups

The focus is on start-ups and young, highly innovative SMEs that already have a functional demonstrator or a beta version of a disruptive innovation. A favorable time to apply is when the Technology Readiness Level is 6. The aim of the funding is to further develop, optimize, scale and launch the groundbreaking innovation within the project period, which is usually two years. It doesn't matter what industry the innovation comes from or what technology it can be assigned to. The program is open to all topics and seeks the most ambitious, fastest-growing and sustainable European solutions for the future.

The attractive funding program will be back again in 2025, this time with a funding budget of €634 million. This blog post provides you with all the information you need on possible topics, deadlines, and application requirements. With the new EIC Work Program 2025, the European Innovation Council has also made adjustments to its EIC Accelerator. We have compiled the most important changes for applicants for you.

Topics and application deadlines

There are no limits to your project plans: the EIC Accelerator calls are open to all topics, so that all market-changing deep-tech projects can apply for funding. Next year there will again be two application deadlines, one in spring on March 12, 2025 and one in fall on October 1, 2025.

In addition, the EIC Accelerator issues thematic challenges every year. The aim is for the funded projects to help advance the EU in strategic thematic areas. The application deadlines for participation in the EIC Accelerator Challenges are also March 12, 2025, and October 1, 2025.

Who can apply to the EIC Accelerator?

What makes the EIC Accelerator particularly attractive as a European funding program is the fact that it only supports individual projects. The focus is on your innovative project, your business concept and your marketing strategy. It does not matter whether you have recently founded your company or are an innovative SME. All companies with up to 499 employees are eligible. Collaborating with other companies, universities or research institutions is also possible under the funding program via subcontracting.

What project costs are eligible for funding under the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is not only unique in terms of its framework conditions. The funding also speaks for itself. Almost all project costs incurred are eligible, such as personnel costs, costs for materials, travel, marketing or even approvals. Funding of up to 2.5 million euros is possible at a funding rate of 70%.

An attractive additional feature of the EIC Accelerator is the equity capital of up to 10 million euros for accelerating market access and business growth. The funding and the equity capital thus enable support of up to 12.5 million euros.

How do you apply for the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is very popular, which is why the competition is fierce. Only companies with the best management teams and business concepts manage to win over and inspire the evaluators. To filter out the best of the best from the pool of applicants, the European Commission uses a three-stage application process. Applicants must therefore prove themselves in a short application, a full application and an interview.

What are the innovations in the EIC Accelerator 2025?

• The EIC Accelerator's funding budget has been reduced to €634 million, with €384 million allocated to the Open Calls and €250 million to the Challenges. Last year, a total of €675 million was available for project proposals.
• In the future, the short applications to be submitted in the first stage of the application process will be collected and forwarded to the evaluators for review on the first Tuesday of each month. Feedback can still be expected within 4 to 6 weeks.
• Positively evaluated short applications from 2023 and 2024 entitle the submission of a full application on the respective deadlines in 2025.
• The equity capital was reduced from 15 million euros to 10 million euros per applicant.
• The technology readiness level for the EIC Accelerator was raised to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6. At the time of application, all development activities of TRL 5 (test setup and verification in relevant operational environment) must be completed.
• Next year, the EIC Fund will have more leeway and will be able to invest up to €2 million more in the project than requested by the applicant at the time of application.
• Another new development is the STEP Scale Up Call for strategic technologies, which enables investments of between €10 and 30 million for larger financing rounds. Digital technologies, clean and resource-efficient technologies, and biotechnologies have been defined as strategic topics.
  
  

Summary

With the EIC Accelerator, the EU offers start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises a particularly attractive and lucrative form of support. Successful applicants receive funding of up to €2.5 million and equity capital of up to €10 million. The approach of the European funding program is particularly interesting because it focuses on the market-oriented further development, demonstration and market preparation of a technological product or service.

Just get in touch with us!

Do you have an idea and wonder if it is suitable for the EIC Accelerator? Or do you already have a specific project and want to start the application process right away? Then contact us. EurA has been involved in the program since its launch in 2014 and, with over 200 applications, is the market leader in the EIC Accelerator and one of the largest consulting firms in Germany. Do a no-obligation funding check now!

Text: Christina Tanosova