The EU’s flagship instrument for deep tech companies: a grant of up to €2.5 million and, if needed, equity from the EIC Fund. Short proposals can be submitted at any time and are assessed in batches at cut-off dates. Ukrainian SMEs apply on equal terms with EU companies.
General information
- Programme
- Horizon Europe (HORIZON)2021–2027
- Call
- EIC Accelerator 2026 - Short application HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01
- Programme part
- Pillar III · Innovative EuropeEIC · European Innovation Council
- Destination
- EIC Accelerator Open and Challenges
- Type of action
- HORIZON-EIC-ACC EIC Accelerator
- Type of MGA
- HORIZON-AG-LS HORIZON Lump Sum Grant
- Status
- Open
- Deadline model
- Continuous with cut-off dates
- Opening date
- 06.11.2025
- Deadline date
- 04.11.2026, 17:00 Brussels time 5 days left
Budget overview
| Type of action | Budget 2026 | EU contribution per project | Grants | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HORIZON-EIC-ACCEIC Accelerator | – | unit costs | – | 04.11.2026 |
What is funded
- Development, demonstration, certification and market entry of technology at TRL 5 or higher.
- Grant up to €2.5 million (up to 70% of costs), blended finance (grant + equity) or equity only.
- EIC Business Acceleration Services: coaching, mentoring, access to investors and corporates.
- Tracks: EIC Accelerator Open (any field) and Challenges (predefined strategic technologies).
Expected outcomes
- Scale-up of innovations that create new markets or disrupt existing ones.
- EIC support as a catalyst that crowds in private investors for the full round.
Official topic text
Scope
The EIC Accelerator supports companies (principally SMEs, including start-ups) to scale up high impact innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. The EIC Accelerator provides a unique combination of grant and investment funding and Business Acceleration Services (see Section VII of EIC Work Programme 2026).
The EIC Accelerator focuses in particular on innovations building on scientific discovery or technological breakthroughs (‘deep tech’) and where significant funding is needed over a long timeframe before returns can be generated (‘patient capital’). Such innovations often struggle to attract financing because the risks and time period involved are too high. Funding and support from the EIC Accelerator is designed to enable such innovators to attract the full investment amounts needed for scale up in a shorter timeframe.
The EIC Accelerator supports the later stages of technology development as well as scale up. The technology component of your innovation must therefore have been tested and validated in a laboratory and other relevant environment (e.g., at least Technology Readiness Level 5 completed). The EIC Accelerator looks to support companies where the EIC support will act as a catalyst to crowd in other investors necessary for the scale up of the innovation.
Applicants to EIC Accelerator can submit proposals through:
- EIC Accelerator Open - which has no predefined thematic priorities and is open to proposals in any field of technology or application
- EIC Accelerator Challenges - in predefined areas of emerging and strategic technologies.
For further information please see the EIC Work Programme 2026.
Who can apply
- A single SME (including start-ups) established in an EU Member State or Associated Country – Ukraine qualifies.
- Exceptionally, a company of up to 499 employees (small mid-cap) for rapid scale-up.
- Natural persons intending to set up an SME in a Member State or Associated Country before signing.
- An investor on behalf of a company, if a prior agreement exists.
Conditions
- Two-step selection: short proposal (form, pitch deck up to 10 slides, video up to 3 min) → full proposal → interview with the EIC jury.
- The technology must be validated in a lab or relevant environment (at least TRL 5).
- Resubmission limits apply – see the EIC Work Programme 2026.
How to apply
- Register your company on the Funding & Tenders portal and get a PIC.
- Prepare the application using the template in the submission system on the topic page.
- Submit at any time: applications are evaluated at the next cut-off (now 04.11.2026).
The official topic text, templates and submission are on the Funding & Tenders topic page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline for HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01?
What type of action is it?
Can Ukrainian organisations apply?
Where do I apply?
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