About the programme
The European Innovation Council Accelerator backs technologies too risky for private investors alone: deep tech with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It's one of the few programmes in the world that funds a single company (no consortium needed) at this scale, non-dilutively on the grant side.
What it funds
- Grant of up to €2.5M for development and demonstration activities
- Optional equity investment (typically €0.5–10M+) through the EIC Fund for scale-up — you choose whether to take it
- Business acceleration services, coaching and investor access
Eligibility highlights
- SME or startup registered in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country
- Breakthrough innovation with high risk and high potential — incremental products don't pass
- Technology validated at least in a relevant environment (around TRL 5/6 and above)
- Ambition and evidence to scale in European and global markets
Note for UK founders: the UK is associated to Horizon Europe, so UK companies can apply to most EIC calls — check the current round's terms. Fortune flags the right variant for your registration country automatically.
How Fortune helps
- Match: we assess whether your technology genuinely clears the "breakthrough" bar before you commit — and route you to better-fitting national schemes if not.
- Tailor: the EIC's short proposal, pitch deck and full application are drafted against the EIC's own evaluation criteria from your Fortune profile.
- Win: interview-stage support built from the questions juries actually ask.
Official programme information: EIC Accelerator — European Commission ↗