Update on EIC Accelerator: AI Platform closed and deadline postponed

The unexpected press release from the European Innovation Council (EIC), published on the morning of June 2, 2023, caused great surprise. It unceremoniously announced the end of the EIC AI platform, which had been in operation since spring 2021 and was designed and used exclusively for applications to the EIC Accelerator.

The platform was controversial among applicants and advisors due to its complexity and lack of usability. EISMA, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency, has also faced this criticism on several occasions. Most recently, a statement from the EIC Board was published in March 2023, mentioning measures to simplify the application process for the EIC Accelerator.

No one realised how quickly the change in the EIC Accelerator application process would actually arrive.For applicants, this now means a revision of the application documents and a new deadline of 21 June 2023 at 17:00, CET.

The reasons for such a quick change in the EIC Accelerator application process remain open for the time being. If you have any questions about the application process, we will be happy to assist you in completing your application documents.

But what does this mean for applicants who have been working for months on their full proposal (step 2) for the deadline next Wednesday, 7 June 2023?

We provide an overview:

• Applicants who are currently working on a full proposal (step 2) should promptly receive an email with the current draft proposal attached (from the AI platform) and a link to register a new EIC Accelerator Proposal in the EU Funding & Tender Portal.
• The proposal will then be processed entirely via the Funding & Tender Portal - but this function is not yet available.
• It was also announced that the structure of the full proposal will change. How and to what extent is not yet known. In any case, there will be additional work for the applicants.
• Next Monday, 5 June, the National Contact Points are to be informed, after which this information will also be made available to the applicants.
• In order to have enough time to react to these structural changes, the deadline, which was scheduled for next Wednesday, 7 June 2023, will be postponed by two weeks to 21 June 2023.
• Important: Companies that have already submitted their application via the AI Platform must still submit it again via the Funding & Tender Portal. Submissions via the AI Platform are no longer valid.

And what about companies that are currently working on a short application (step 1)?

• For the time being, it is not possible to submit short applications.
• The application process for step 1 is to be moved to a new platform (EISMEA IT platform).
• It is currently planned that the submission of short applications via this new platform will be possible again from the beginning of July.
• Short applications that have already been submitted will receive their evaluation results by e-mail.

Does the end of the AI platform mean the birth of the EISMEA IT platform?

Will EIC applications return in the classic form?

Will the transition be as smooth as possible by the upcoming deadline?

A lot of excitement, a lot of ambiguity and a lot of surprised faces. But we will hopefully find out in a few days what will really happen.

At least the medium-term outlook is good. As of today, the EIC assumes that neither the deadline on 4 October 2023 nor the deadlines in early 2024 (not yet scheduled) will be affected.

We are watching anxiously and will of course keep you informed.

You have questions, don't know what will happen next or are worried about missing important information? Simply get in touch with us! We will advise and guide you through the application process. 

Take advantage of this unique opportunity and elevate your business to the next level with us.