EIC Accelerator 2026: grant of up to €2.5 million for deep-tech SMEs, last deadline on 4 November

The EIC Accelerator, the European Innovation Council programme under Horizon Europe, funds start-ups and SMEs with deep-tech technologies in 2026. It offers a grant of up to 2,499,999 euro, covering a maximum of 70% of costs, and an equity investment of 1–10 million euro. The total budget of the call is 634 million euro. The last 2026 deadline for full proposals is 4 November, but only companies that have already passed the short proposal stage can submit at this deadline.

In brief

• Programme: EIC Accelerator 2026 (HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01), Horizon Europe
• Authority: European Commission – European Innovation Council (EIC) and the EISMEA agency; the investment component is managed by the EIC Fund
• Beneficiaries: start-ups and SMEs (including spin-offs), individuals who will set up a company and, for investment only, small mid-caps with up to 499 employees
• Total budget: 634 million euro, of which 414 million euro for EIC Accelerator Open and 220 million euro for EIC Accelerator Challenges; 380 million euro is indicatively allocated to the investment component
• Value per project / intensity: grant of a maximum of 2,499,999 euro, at most 70% of eligible costs; investment between 1 and 10 million euro
• Submission period: short proposals can be submitted at any time; the deadlines for full proposals in 2026 were 7 January, 4 March, 6 May, 8 July, 2 September and 4 November
• Status: continuously open call; 4 November 2026 is the last deadline this year for full proposals

Who can apply?

The EIC 2026 Work Programme accepts the following applicants:

• a single company classified as an SME, established in an EU Member State or in a country associated with Horizon Europe (a company from Romania qualifies);
• a small mid-cap company (up to 499 employees), but only for investment or, in exceptional cases of rapid scale-up, for blended finance;
• one or more individuals who will set up the company before the grant agreement is signed;
• investors submitting on behalf of an SME, based on a prior agreement with it.

The technology must already have been tested and validated in the laboratory and in another relevant environment, meaning that technology readiness level TRL 5 must be completed. The grant covers innovation activities, indicatively from TRL 6 to TRL 8: demonstration, prototyping, testing, certification and market approval.

What does a funded company receive?

There are three forms of support:

• Grant only: a lump sum of a maximum of 2.5 million euro. A company can receive it only once during the whole Horizon Europe period (2021–2027) and must show that it has the capacity and intention to scale up.
• Blended finance: a grant plus an investment in equity or quasi-equity, for example convertible loans.
• Equity only: between 1 and 10 million euro, through the EIC Fund.

The remaining 30% of the activities funded through the grant is covered from the company's own resources. Activities normally last 24 months. All selected companies have access to EIC business acceleration services: coaching, mentoring and meetings with partners and investors.

In addition to the Open call, which is open to any field, EIC Accelerator Challenges 2026 funds five themes: advanced materials for renewable energy and storage, technologies for fusion power plants, biotechnologies for regenerating agricultural soils, the European critical raw materials chain, and deep-tech technologies for climate change adaptation. From 9 July 2026, dual-use (civil and military) innovations can also be funded.

How and by when do you apply?

1. The short proposal can be submitted at any time on the Funding & Tenders Portal. It includes a 12-page form, a presentation of a maximum of 10 slides and a video of up to 3 minutes. Proposals are grouped for evaluation on the first Tuesday of each month, at 17:00 (Brussels time), and the result comes in about 4–6 weeks.
2. The full proposal has a maximum of 20 pages and annexes on financial data, shareholding structure, intellectual property strategy, the implementation plan and the lump-sum budget. The evaluation result comes about 8–9 weeks after the deadline.
3. The interview with the EIC jury is held three times a year, with an invitation sent at least two weeks in advance.
4. The grant agreement and due diligence for the investment: the investment part usually takes between two and six months from selection.

An applicant can have only one application under evaluation. A new application can be submitted only after the result of the previous one has been received. Simultaneous submissions to the EIC Accelerator and to the EIC STEP Scale Up calls are also not allowed.

Can a new company still make the 4 November deadline?

In practice, no. On 4 November only companies that have already received a favourable opinion on their short proposal can submit the full proposal. A short proposal sent now enters evaluation on the first Tuesday of October, and the result comes only after 4–6 weeks. With a positive opinion obtained under the 2025 or 2026 work programmes, the full proposal can be submitted at the 2027 deadlines. Their dates have not yet been announced and will be set by the EIC 2027 work programme.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation is not to treat the EIC Accelerator as an ordinary grant. It is the most selective European scheme for companies and looks for technologies that can create new markets, not upgrades or equipment purchases. It suits Romanian companies with their own validated technology, a solid team and the ambition to attract investors.

• If you already have an opinion on the short proposal: use the free 3-day coaching offered by the EIC and prepare the intellectual property annexes and the shareholding structure well in advance. These usually take the longest.
• If you are starting now: submit the short proposal in the coming months and aim for the first deadlines in 2027. A negative result on the short proposal comes with feedback from four evaluators, which is useful for a new submission.
• Common pitfalls: an overestimated TRL, 30% co-financing without clear sources, and refusing, without a justified reason, to accept the EIC Fund in the investment round, which can lead to suspension or termination of the agreement.

If you do not know which scheme your project fits, start with the eligibility check.

Frequently asked questions

How much can a company from Romania receive through the EIC Accelerator?

A grant of a maximum of 2,499,999 euro, covering at most 70% of eligible costs, and, separately, an equity investment of between 1 and 10 million euro through the EIC Fund. The company can request only the grant, only the investment or a combination of the two.

Can I apply without an established company?

Yes. One or more individuals can submit the application, provided that they set up an SME in an EU Member State or an associated country before the grant agreement is signed.

Can I submit the full proposal directly on 4 November?

No. The full proposal can be submitted only after the short proposal has been evaluated positively. Short proposals can be sent at any time and receive the result about 4–6 weeks after the first Tuesday of the month in which they were grouped for evaluation.

What level of maturity must the technology have?

The technology must have completed TRL 5, meaning validation in a relevant environment. The grant funds the next steps, indicatively up to TRL 8: demonstration, prototyping, testing and market approval.

Can I receive an EIC Accelerator grant more than once?

"Grant only" support is awarded to a company only once during the 2021–2027 period of Horizon Europe. In addition, a company can have only one application under evaluation at a time.

Official sources

• EIC Accelerator – the official page of the European Innovation Council
• European Innovation Council Work Programme 2026, C(2026) 4080
• Funding & Tenders Portal – HORIZON-EIC-2026-ACCELERATOR-01

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.