EIC Accelerator

What EIC Accelerator does

The EIC Accelerator is a public funding programme under the EU's Horizon Europe framework (2021-2027), managed by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). It provides non-dilutive grant funding of up to €2.5 million and equity/quasi-equity investments of €1-10 million (via the EIC Fund) to single start-ups, SMEs, and small mid-caps developing and scaling innovative, game-changing products at Technology Readiness Levels 6-8. Blended finance combining grants and equity is the predominant form, received by 84-85% of selected beneficiaries. The programme operates through two parallel tracks: EIC Accelerator Open (€414 million 2026 budget, open to any field of technology) and EIC Accelerator Challenges (€220 million 2026 budget, focused on predefined themes including critical raw materials, fusion energy, regenerative agriculture, and climate adaptation).

The EIC's broader architecture extends beyond the Accelerator to include EIC Pathfinder (early-stage research, TRL 1-4), EIC Transition (technology maturation, TRL 4-6), EIC STEP Scale Up (€10-30 million equity for larger rounds), EIC Pre-Accelerator (widening countries), and Business Acceleration Services including the Tech to Market Programme and Trade Fair Pavilions. The entity is backed by a €6.5 billion Horizon Europe budget commitment, has completed 150+ investment rounds since 2021, and operates a Trusted Investor Network of 111 members managing over €336 billion in co-investment assets.

The Accelerator distributes funding through a centralised EU Funding & Tenders Portal with six batched evaluation dates in 2026, supported by National Contact Points, Enterprise Europe Network, Plug-In schemes from 50 certified national/regional programmes, and Fast Track pathways from existing Horizon projects. Beyond capital, beneficiaries receive Seal of Excellence and STEP Seal quality labels, access to coaching and mentoring through Business Acceleration Services, and global market access through EIC Pavilions at BIO, GITEX, and Liftoff. Cumulative impact includes €15.5 billion raised by EIC-backed companies, €3.5 leveraged per €1 of EIC Fund investment, three new deep tech unicorns in the past year, and 45% market share in EU quantum funding among EIC-backed companies.

Name

EIC Accelerator

Legal name

European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)

Website

https://eic.ec.europa.eu

Company type

Public

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

The EIC Accelerator is a public EU funding programme under Horizon Europe, managed by EISMEA, that provides non-dilutive grants (up to €2.5 million) and equity investments (€1-10 million) to European start-ups and SMEs to scale innovative deep tech products at TRL 6-8.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Innovation Funding

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)

SIC

Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

Keywords

• Public innovation funding
• Deep tech investment
• Non-dilutive grants
• Blended finance
• SME scale-up financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant funding (lump sum): Non-dilutive grant component of up to €2.5 million provided to start-ups and SMEs for innovation activities (TRL 6-8), to be completed within 24 months. To be provided only once during the Horizon Europe implementation period (2021-2027).
2. Equity / quasi-equity investments: Direct equity or quasi-equity (such as convertible loans) investments from the EIC Fund ranging from €1 million to €10 million per company under the standard EIC Accelerator scheme, with higher amounts (€10-€30 million) available under the STEP Scale Up scheme. Investment-only option is also available for scale-up companies that do not need a grant.
3. Blended finance: Combined grant and equity/quasi-equity investment, the predominant funding form — 84-85% of selected beneficiaries receive blended finance. Provides flexibility for high-risk innovation to reach a stage where it can be fully financed by other private investments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The EIC Accelerator is a Horizon Europe funding programme that supports single start-ups, SMEs, and small mid-caps to develop and scale up innovative, game-changing products, services, or business models that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones. It provides non-dilutive grant funding of up to €2.5 million (lump sum for TRL 6-8 innovation activities within 24 months) and equity/quasi-equity investments of €1-10 million from the EIC Fund, with the option of blended finance combining both. The 2026 budget totals €634 million, split between the EIC Accelerator Open (€414M) and EIC Accelerator Challenges (€220M).

Product overview

The EIC Accelerator is a component of a platform-plus-modules funding architecture operated by the European Innovation Council (EIC) and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) under the EU's Horizon Europe framework. At the platform level, the EIC offers a portfolio of complementary funding instruments — the EIC Pathfinder (early-stage breakthrough research), EIC Transition (technology maturation), the EIC Accelerator itself (commercialisation and scale-up), the EIC Pre-Accelerator, the EIC STEP Scale Up, and the new EIC STEP Scale Up Defence — alongside an Advanced Innovation Challenges scheme. Within this platform, the EIC Accelerator specifically delivers two parallel tracks: the EIC Accelerator Open (€414 million in 2026, open to any field of technology) and the EIC Accelerator Challenges (€220 million in 2026, focused on pre-defined themes such as critical raw materials, fusion energy, biotech and climate adaptation). Awarded companies gain access to Business Acceleration Services (BAS), including the EIC Tech to Market Programme with its Entrepreneurial Trainings and Venture Building Services, and may receive a Seal of Excellence or STEP Seal even when not selected for funding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EIC Accelerator Challenges: Component of EIC Accelerator with predefined topics (€220 million budget in 2026)
• EIC Accelerator Open
• STEP Scale Up
• EIC STEP Scale Up Defence

Products and services

• EIC Accelerator A Horizon Europe funding programme supporting single start-ups, SMEs and small mid-caps to develop and scale up innovative, game-changing products, services or business models that could create new markets or disrupt existing ones in Europe and worldwide. Offers grant funding (lump sum contribution below €2.5 million for innovation activities at TRL 6-8 to be completed within 24 months) and equity investments of €1-10 million via the EIC Fund. Delivered through two parallel tracks: the EIC Accelerator Open (€414 million in 2026, open to any field of technology) and the EIC Accelerator Challenges (€220 million in 2026, focused on pre-defined themes such as critical raw materials, fusion energy, biotech, and climate adaptation). Includes access to coaching, mentoring, and Business Acceleration Services.
• STEP Scale Up A major EIC investment scheme providing larger equity investments (€10-30 million) to companies catalysing rounds of €50 million or above with pre-commitments from investors, helping them become global leaders in strategic technology areas. The 2025 work programme allocated €300 million to STEP Scale Up.
• Business Acceleration Services (BAS) Tailor-made support services for EIC beneficiaries (including Accelerator awardees) providing access to global partners, coaches, mentors, expertise and training, and to the innovation ecosystem and peers. Encompasses the EIC Tech to Market Programme, the EIC International Trade Fairs Programme, and Access2EIC.
• EIC Tech to Market Programme An EIC Business Acceleration Service that supports deep-tech researchers and innovators in transforming scientific breakthroughs into market-ready solutions, combining EIC Entrepreneurial Trainings (Entrepreneurship Foundation, Entrepreneurship Immersion, Business Idea Validation, Ecosystem Development) with EIC Venture Building Services (Venture Team Formation and Venture Support Services). Open to EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition beneficiaries, EIC Transition Seal of Excellence holders, all entities eligible for EIC Transition projects, and Women TechEU awardees.

Quantifiable outcome

• €15.5 billion raised by EIC-backed companies (cumulative)
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEISMEA manages the EIC and its funding programmes, including the EIC Accelerator. The agency launched calls for tenders (e.g., EIC Corporate Partnership Programme 4.0, EIC Tech to Market training) on behalf of the EIC. The EIC Board and EIC Fund Board are governance structures of the agency.
• European Investment Bank (EIB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EIB is a co-organiser of the EIC Work Programme Info Days (e.g., WP 2025 and WP 2026) and is involved in delivering the EIC's overall investment strategy. EIB speakers provide an overview of the EIC's three main funding schemes.
• European Commission (DG RTD, DG CNECT, DG GROW, DG DEFIS, DG MOVE, JRC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple DGs of the European Commission co-design the EIC funding calls and Accelerator Challenges. DG RTD (Research and Innovation), DG CNECT (Communications Networks, Content and Technology), DG GROW (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs), DG DEFIS (Defence Industry and Space), DG MOVE (Mobility and Transport), and JRC (Joint Research Centre) all participate in defining and presenting new EIC funding opportunities.
• National Contact Points (NCPs)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of National Contact Points is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. Access2EIC and EEN2EIC programmes further connect EIC applicants with NCP and Enterprise Europe Network support.
• Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEnterprise Europe Network supports EIC applicants through the EEN2EIC programme, providing guidance and internationalisation services.
• 50 certified Plug-In programmes (national/regional)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor50 national and regional programmes have been certified for the EIC Accelerator Plug-In scheme, allowing them to submit projects directly to the full application stage of the EIC Accelerator subject to review.
• EIC Tech to Market Programme Service ProviderscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership of experienced service providers delivers the EIC Tech to Market Programme on behalf of the EIC, including Entrepreneurial Trainings (Entrepreneurship Foundation, Immersion, Business Idea Validation, Ecosystem Development) and Venture Building Services.
• ACCIÓ (Catalonia Trade & Investment)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerACCIÓ is the Catalan government agency for business competitiveness and internationalisation that supports regional start-ups in their EIC Accelerator applications, including UniSCool, Oxolife, and Mitiga Solutions.
• EU Horizon (Horizon Europe)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEIC Accelerator is a funding programme under the EU's Horizon Europe framework programme. EU Horizon provides complementary non-dilutive funding to EIC-backed companies (e.g., DEScycle received EU Horizon funding alongside EIC Accelerator support).

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• KfW Capital: German state-backed investment vehicle providing fund-of-funds venture capital and co-investment in German and European deep tech. Comparable as a publicly-backed deep tech investment entity operating in Europe alongside EIC Fund.
• Bpifrance: French public investment bank providing grants, loans, and equity to French startups and SMEs. Directly comparable as a national-level public funding programme with blended finance offerings for deep tech scale-up, similar in structure to EIC Accelerator but focused on France.
• European Investment Bank (EIB): EU's lending arm providing debt and equity financing for European innovation. Directly comparable as a co-organiser of EIC Work Programme Info Days and a complementary EU public capital provider in the European deep tech ecosystem.
• Israel Innovation Authority: Israeli government authority providing grants and funding for innovation across the technology spectrum. Comparable as a national-level public funding programme supporting deep tech scale-up, with similar mandate structure to EIC Accelerator.

Direct peers

• Vinnova: Sweden's innovation agency funding research and innovation projects. Comparable as a Nordic national public innovation funding body that complements EIC Accelerator for Swedish deep tech companies.
• SPRIND (Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovation): Germany's federal agency funding disruptive innovation through non-dilutive instruments. Directly comparable as a complementary national public deep tech funding vehicle that co-funds EIC Accelerator portfolio companies like DEScycle.
• Enterprise Ireland: Irish government agency providing funding and support to Irish startups and SMEs. Comparable as a national public innovation funding body with equity and grant instruments for early-stage deep tech companies in Horizon Europe associated countries.
• Innovate UK: UK's national innovation agency providing grant funding to UK-based startups and SMEs. Comparable as a national-level public innovation funding programme that operates in parallel with EIC Accelerator and co-funds UK deep tech companies.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico Industrial): Spanish public innovation agency providing grants and equity to Spanish deep tech companies. Comparable as a national-level Spanish public funding body operating within the European deep tech ecosystem alongside EIC Accelerator.

Regional players

• SGInnovate: Singapore government-backed deep tech investor. Comparable as a non-European public sector deep tech funding programme operating in a different geography but with similar mandate to support high-risk technology commercialisation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EUeic
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/eutube
• Facebookfacebook.com/EuropeanCommission
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/european-commission

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments561 records

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Frequently asked questions about EIC Accelerator